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Chapter 20: Sharing a Meal — Pei Shang Gets Jealous of Xie Zhuoguang

“Brother Xie, did you forget something and come back to fetch it?”

Pei Shang asked sarcastically, exuding an air of possessiveness.

His sharp, provocative words instantly heightened the tension in the room.

Xie Zhuoguang said nothing, but his gaze immediately fell on Yu Mingyao’s lips.

Her lips were still plump and vividly red, like little ripe berries. There were no visible signs of biting, but he couldn’t be sure whether they had remained chaste.

When he had stormed off, he hadn’t planned on returning. But as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he was stopped by the round-faced maid who usually followed Yu Mingyao. She smiled and asked if he had seen her.

As he hesitated to answer, the maid began to praise Yu Mingyao—how good her temperament was, how steady she was, though sometimes aloof.

Aloof?

When Xie Zhuoguang heard that, he could barely contain his scorn. A young unmarried woman getting so handsy with a man—was that what they called being aloof?

Years of self-restraint helped him suppress the fire burning in his chest.

When the maid left to attend to Shi Luo, she left Xie Zhuoguang standing there alone, caught in a hellish blend of ice and fire.

He thought, I must be sick. Why else would I be so hung up on such shameless behavior between two people?

Outside, the sun blazed brightly, but all he could picture was the two of them entangled together. A man and woman alone in a room—if even one of them wasn’t thinking straight…

In his ears, he could still hear her soft moans from when she had kissed him.

Her hot, hurried breaths brushed his nose. Their entangled lips were soft and warm, damp with heat.

She had even tried to undo his belt.

He had stopped her, but if it had been Pei Shang, who might be easily bewitched by beauty, perhaps things would have gone differently.

He couldn’t just stand by and let his close friend make a mistake!

So, he came back.

Xie Zhuoguang’s dazed look was far too obvious.

Yu Mingyao, who had shared a bed with him for seven years, instantly understood what he was thinking.

He probably now thought of her as a shameless woman, indulging in all kinds of wild speculation.

Oh sure, she thought bitterly. He’s the righteous one, the moral one, the one above desire. How noble!

Anger flared in Yu Mingyao’s heart, and she shot Xie Zhuoguang a fierce glare.

“Pei Shang, let’s go!”

“Oh, yes, yes,” Pei Shang quickly responded.

But just as he stepped forward, he caught the grim look on Xie Zhuoguang’s face. His eyes twinkled with mischief—he had a plan.

“Brother Xie, did you hear that? Yao just called me by my full name!”

“She even calls me ‘Brother Shang’ in private, and now she’s doing it openly too. But I can’t blame her—I’m smitten. Even if she scolds or hits me, I’ll gladly accept it.”

“Sigh, I wonder if she’ll still give me that sachet she was sewing for me earlier. You haven’t seen it, but her embroidery is amazing. Marrying her would be the best thing that could ever happen to me.”

He looked dreamily content, while Xie Zhuoguang sat across from him, feeling like a snowstorm had swept through his heart.

Cold—bone-chillingly cold.

Suppressing the storm brewing on his face, Xie Zhuoguang merely replied, “Such talk damages a lady’s reputation. Mind your words.”

Pei Shang shot him a glance but said nothing more.

—

Because they had previously agreed to eat together, when Yu Mingyao arrived, the table was already laden with dishes. The sweet cakes and squirrel-shaped fish she had ordered were neatly presented.

Shi Luo had even placed a bowl of almond milk custard before each seat. Most bowls had dried yellow osmanthus petals for garnish—pretty, fragrant, and delicate.

But one bowl stood out—sweetened and steamed differently.

Yu Mingyao knew at once that Shi Luo had taken her request to heart and had specially made this one for Pei Shang, who had a sweet tooth.

“Where’s Brother Shang?”

Shi Luo asked, seeing Yu Mingyao arrive alone, visibly upset.

“Still bickering with his best friend—annoying as ever,” she snapped.

She toyed with her spoon, avoiding Shi Luo’s sharp, aged gaze.

Shi Luo could only shake her head in resignation.

Her granddaughter had grown up and now had her own thoughts. No wonder she had been so eager to return home. Seeing how those two boys acted today, it was impossible not to understand.

A brush with romance is both a blessing and a curse.

“Going back tomorrow?” she asked, smiling knowingly.

“Yes, of course!” Yu Mingyao replied firmly.

Just one glance at her grandmother’s teasing expression told her that the old woman was scheming again. But was it Pei Shang she favored—or Xie Zhuoguang? Surely not both?

What a nightmare, she thought.

“What’s this talk of leaving? Who’s going where?”

Pei Shang had just walked in and overheard her. Without thinking, he blurted out his question.

Yu Mingyao gave him a side-eye.

“I am. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

She cast a glance at the silent figure behind him.

When did this man become so thick-skinned? Even after being snubbed, he refuses to leave? Then again, no one usually dared to snub the heir of the Duke of Xie—his family was among the capital’s most powerful.

Her brows knit slightly. Could it be Xie Zhuoguang actually enjoys being cold-shouldered?

“Do I have to invite the two of you to sit down? Is this how guests behave in someone else’s home?”

Yu Mingyao considered herself a gentle and patient person.

But for some reason, seeing Xie Zhuoguang’s face lately just made her want to act petty. She felt physically uncomfortable if she didn’t throw a little tantrum.

Shi Luo tried to smooth things over. “What’s this, Mingyao? If you keep talking like a spoiled child, I’ll have to punish you.”

As soon as punishment was mentioned, Pei Shang stood up from his seat.

“No, no—that won’t do. We came uninvited. How could it be her fault?”

He stared stubbornly at Shi Luo until she relented and reassured him it wasn’t Yu Mingyao’s fault, then sat back down.

Shi Luo smiled more warmly and invited Xie Zhuoguang to join them as well.

Four people sat at the table: Pei Shang in the main seat, with Xie Zhuoguang to his left, Shi Luo to his right, and Yu Mingyao across from him.

During the entire meal, Pei Shang couldn’t stop talking.

Yu Mingyao watched him in bewilderment. It’s just a meal—what’s got him so cheerful? Even the food can’t shut him up.

She sighed and passed him a piece of the squirrel fish using public chopsticks.

“Thank you, Yao!” he beamed before the fish even hit his bowl.

Meanwhile, Xie Zhuoguang, sitting beside him, clenched his chopsticks so tightly his knuckles whitened.

He had worn a cold expression since entering. He wasn’t one to show warmth easily. Compared to Pei Shang’s open cheerfulness, Xie Zhuoguang was quiet and reserved—some might say calm and mature, others would just call him a block of ice.

But who could tell how much warmth a block of ice concealed?

And who could guess if he was happy or not, when he never said a word?

Yu Mingyao, however, could read him instantly—he was sulking again.

But why should she be the one to comfort him? Just because he was jealous or angry?

Don’t be ridiculous!

Her face hardened, and her tone turned cold.

“Eat more. Once we return to Suzhou tomorrow, we might not get the chance to share a table like this again.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the entire room went silent.

Pei Shang dropped his chopsticks, and Xie Zhuoguang froze mid-bite.

Shi Luo sighed inwardly, exchanged a knowing glance with Yan Yue, both of them smiling bitterly in resignation.

“What’s this temper again? Are you trying to make Young Master Xie feel bad, or guilt your cousin Pei?”

“Fate brought you together. Life is long, and it’s not like you’re strangers in the capital with no money or family. Who knows? You might come back again soon.”

Pei Shang, who’d just lost his appetite, suddenly brightened.

“Auntie, do you really mean that? We might come back?”

Shi Luo comforted him with a smile.

Xie Zhuoguang, meanwhile, remained silent like a block of wood.

Yu Mingyao was fuming.

After the meal, she clearly showed her displeasure. Everyone could tell she was chasing them out. Naturally, no one felt like continuing.

Pei Shang glanced nervously at her and politely took his leave.

Shi Luo had just called Yan Yue to see them out when Yu Mingyao stiffly interjected.

“No need—I’ll go.”

And with that, the three of them disappeared from view, leaving Shi Luo and Yan Yue behind.

Just as Yan Yue began to clear the table, Shi Luo waved her down to sit.

“Mingyao’s temper like this—who could endure it once she marries? A husband and wife must compromise and love each other for a lifetime.”

Shi Luo rarely showed worry, but now her brows knit slightly with concern.

Yan Yue glanced toward the direction they had gone and replied, “I think that quiet young man seems good. People say the ones who appear coldest often care the most.”

Then her tone shifted, “But Young Master Pei isn’t bad either. Miss was really harsh just now, but he didn’t get mad. What do you think?”

“I think…” Shi Luo began—but then fell silent, saying no more.

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