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Chapter 30 – Stirrings of Emotion
“I will marry you. Wait for me.”

Because of the need to avoid suspicion, nearly half a month passed, and Yu Mingyao hadn’t seen Pei Shang in person even once.

Even Lian Yanyue, who hadn’t seen him either, occasionally muttered that this unreliable man had finally gotten serious—realizing people found him bothersome, he simply stopped coming.

Yu Mingyao stayed indoors to recuperate for over half a month, resting every day on her chaise lounge.

From time to time, she gazed out the window. The large tree outside slowly sprouted brown branches, flourishing thick with leaves. In her mind, she often recalled that hand which had unhesitatingly pulled her up from the cold waters that day.

These past days, she hadn’t been entirely isolated. The three Pei sisters visited every few days.

Today, as usual, Pei Yuzhu led the way, with Pei Lianzhu and Pei Bizhu following behind.

Dressed in plain white, Pei Yuzhu looked gentle and kind. As soon as she arrived, she clasped Yu Mingyao’s hand warmly, her words full of concern and empathy, touching everyone in the Yu household.

“Elder sister is here.”

At the sight of the three of them, Yu Mingyao, who moments ago looked listless, quickly propped herself up to greet Pei Lianzhu politely.

Pei Lianzhu quickly rose and pressed her hand down.

“Sister, you’ve suffered so much already. Why be so formal? We’re not outsiders—no need for such empty courtesies.”

As soon as she spoke, Pei Lianzhu’s already weary expression darkened with displeasure, but seeing Pei Yuzhu speak, she quickly chimed in.

“Exactly. Only overly suspicious people would overthink things like that. Our eldest sister is so kind, yet some people just don’t appreciate it.”

At those words, Pei Bizhu instantly grew indignant.

Her face flushed red as she rolled up her sleeves, ready to quarrel with Pei Lianzhu.

Though Pei Yuzhu and Pei Bizhu were born of the same mother, Pei Yuzhu had always been raised by the Pei matriarch and loved to act superior as the eldest sister. Moreover, she favored Pei Lianzhu and had never been close to Pei Bizhu.

Naturally, Pei Bizhu couldn’t like this model aristocratic sister. The older she got, the more she felt Pei Yuzhu was a hypocrite.

“Enough,” Yu Mingyao, seeing the brewing argument, felt a headache coming on. She quickly sat up and tugged Pei Bizhu’s hand. “Where’s your fourth brother?”

Among Pei Shang’s generation, there were five siblings—Pei Shang ranked fourth.

“Brother Shang…” Pei Bizhu’s expression softened. “I had wanted to bring him along, but he said he felt too ashamed to see you.”

“Well, makes sense. If he hadn’t insisted on going to find fish food to amuse you, you wouldn’t have fallen into the pond.”

As she said this, Pei Bizhu looked around for Yu Jinnian.

“Where’s Jinnian? Didn’t they say he saved you? Where is he?”

“Oh, he’s probably gone out to buy pastries again. If you like, I’ll have him bring back some for you too. The pastries from Tianxiang Pavilion are truly delicious.”

As soon as Yu Mingyao brought up food, she couldn’t stop, and Pei Bizhu, a fellow food lover, eagerly joined in. Tianxiang Pavilion’s pastries weren’t just expensive—they were limited and required queuing daily.

She rarely got to eat them even a few times a year.

As the two talked more excitedly, their conversation naturally dragged on.

Seeing Yu Mingyao occasionally cough mid-sentence, Pei Bizhu’s face filled with concern, as though she wished she could bear the pain for her.

“Tch, useless thing.”

Pei Lianzhu, watching their intimacy, grew even more irked. She hadn’t wanted to come in the first place—if not for the fact that being the only one absent would look suspicious, she wouldn’t have set foot here.

“Where are you flinging mud again?”

Pei Bizhu dropped her ladylike facade completely, snapping back with a few sharp words of her own.

“Am I wrong?” Pei Lianzhu retorted indignantly. “A Jiangnan girl raised by the water, yet she can’t even swim. If that’s not useless, what is?”

She rolled her eyes, her voice increasingly mocking. “Good thing her brother who can swim saved her—otherwise, huh?”

“Lianzhu! Don’t speak recklessly. Apologize to Mingyao at once.”

Pei Yuzhu quickly intervened, and under pressure from both sides, Pei Lianzhu grudgingly muttered, “Please forgive me.”

Yu Mingyao quietly gazed at Pei Yuzhu’s saintly face.

If she hadn’t been certain that someone had indeed pushed her—and that Pei family guards had acted suspiciously on her last visit home—she might have been fooled by Pei Yuzhu’s facade.

Since this person wanted to act, Yu Mingyao felt a surge of cold hatred. Fine—she’d act along too.

She had always been someone who avoided conflict, yet for some unknown grudge, this person had repeatedly tried to take her life.

If Pei Yuzhu wanted to strike first, then Yu Mingyao would fight to the bitter end.

With a gentle smile, she softly gazed back at Pei Lianzhu.

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Amid the bustling crowds, Yu Jinnian finally appeared.

He wiped sweat from his brow—he had finally managed to buy his sister’s favorite cloud pastries.

Tianxiang Pavilion always required at least two hours to queue no matter what—such a hassle.

Clutching the pastries close to his chest, he hurried along—if they cooled, they wouldn’t taste as good.

Just as he neared Lihua Courtyard, he spotted Pei Shang, whom he hadn’t seen in ten days or so, pacing in a corner of the courtyard wall.

What was this guy doing here?

Frowning, he strode over.

“Hey!”

The pat on his back startled Pei Shang so much his heart nearly stopped. He had just sent Li Qing off to carry out some shady task and was already nervous. Now caught off guard, his face turned pale.

Seeing it was Yu Jinnian, he failed to hide his panic.

Yu Jinnian’s suspicion deepened.

He narrowed his eyes and growled, “Don’t think saving my sister means our whole family will suddenly warm to you. You want to marry my sister? That’s still a long way off.”

Pei Shang, though nervous, perked up instantly when he heard mention of marrying Yu Mingyao. He ignored Yu Jinnian’s actual warning, his face lighting up with delight.

“Rest assured. I won’t let Mingyao down. I, Pei Shang, am the eldest son of Pei family’s main branch. My father is Minister of Personnel, a second-rank official. My mother comes from an old noble family, and my maternal grandmother is a titled county princess. There’s not a single maid in my chambers—not even a mosquito. Our Pei family doesn’t take concubines. If Mingyao marries me, I promise she can bear ten or eight children, and they can all take your surname if you like.”

Pei Shang’s excitement made him ramble.

Yu Jinnian was indifferent at first but grew increasingly black-faced as he listened.

“With nonsense like that, and you still think you can marry my sister? Dream on!”

He punched Pei Shang hard—Pei Shang’s wail of pain echoed far and wide.

Snorting coldly, Yu Jinnian strode toward the courtyard. Just as he reached the entrance, he spotted Pei Shang’s most frequent attendant, Li Qing, walking out.

“Stop.”

His voice turned stern. “Why aren’t you with your wretched master? What are you doing here?”

Yu Jinnian’s expression darkened.

Li Qing bowed obsequiously. “My young master felt too embarrassed, so he sent me to deliver a message and check on Miss Yu’s recovery, lest he worry himself sick.”

That sounded more reasonable.

Yu Jinnian felt a bit more satisfied but wasn’t about to let it slide easily. “What message did he send? Let’s hear it.”

“Well…”

Li Qing straightened, looking troubled.

Yu Jinnian glared fiercely. Startled, Li Qing shivered.

“Nothing much—just that Miss Yu should rest well.”

“Is there some other nonsense too?”

Yu Jinnian squinted, feeling rather clever.

“No, no.” Li Qing waved frantically.

Seeing how spineless he looked, Yu Jinnian finally felt more at ease. The servant is like the master; surely that brat won’t dare try anything!

Smirking, he picked up his pace toward Yu Mingyao’s room, unaware that behind him, Li Qing wiped cold sweat from his brow.

As Yu Jinnian neared the west wing’s door, Yanyue walked out, shooting him a fierce glare.

“I didn’t even do anything…”
Yu Jinnian, holding his pastries, was left scratching his head.

That night, a familiar tapping sounded at the window.

The moment she heard it, Yu Mingyao swiftly pushed open the window, creating an opening wide enough for an adult man to slip through.

Her graceful figure turned away from the window.

“It’s cold outside… come in, don’t catch a chill.”

At those tender words, Pei Shang outside felt his bones melt. Without hesitation, he braced his hands and climbed in, landing on the chaise by the window.

The sudden added weight made the chaise creak.

“Mingyao, I…”

His beloved stood before him, clad only in a thin nightgown. Pei Shang’s gaze burned as he stared fixedly at her delicate back, his blood surging.

He couldn’t control himself.

The rich woody scent from him wrapped around her tightly.

She wasn’t an ignorant girl. She knew well the implications of their current situation.

He knelt on the chaise, dark hair cascading down.

He gazed intently at her frail and beautiful silhouette, desire blazing in his heart.

Neither broke the charged silence.

Pei Shang felt like he would explode—she was so close, so vulnerable before him.

If he simply extended his arms, he could pin her down and do all sorts of outrageous, pleasurable things.

If she was willing, so was he.

His Adam’s apple bobbed in the darkness.

In the pin-drop silence, his swallowing sound didn’t escape Yu Mingyao.

Her ears burned red, and her body softened.

If he pushed a little harder, she…

She shrank her chest slightly, feeling an itch where a small mole sat.

“Mingyao, I’m leaving.”

With wolfish eyes fixed on Yu Mingyao’s butterfly-like back, Pei Shang finally squeezed out the words.

He desperately held back from embarrassing himself in front of her—or defiling her.

“I will marry you. Wait for me.”

Once a young man’s determination set in, it was absolute. Before Yu Mingyao could react, Pei Shang had shot out the window like something was chasing him.

She couldn’t help but laugh and cry. After closing the window, his scent lingered on the chaise long after—clinging to her even in her dreams.

That night, in Pei Shang’s dreams, someone straddled him over and over, calling his name all night long.

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