---

Chapter 52 — Weariness
Pei Shang wants to persuade Xie Zhuoguang to give up

After returning to his room, Xie Zhuoguang fell ill. It was only discovered when a servant came to deliver food.

Half a day had already passed, yet no one in the room had stepped outside to collect the morning meal. Knocking on the door yielded no response from inside, so the servant hurriedly contacted Cheng Qing in a panic.

Once informed, Cheng Qing could no longer worry about discretion and rushed straight to Cabin No. 5, Heaven Character.

When they forced the door open and looked inside, Xie Zhuoguang’s lips were dry and chapped, and his face was burning red. His body had only recently recovered from a serious illness, and now suffering another heavy blow, he looked even more haggard.

Cheng Qing took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and instructed the servant to find a reliable physician.

Left alone at the bedside, his brows knitted in deep worry, as if they could crush a mosquito.

All this, just for a relationship?

There were so many women in the world—why cling to Miss Yu? She already belonged to someone else; she was betrothed to Young Master Pei, the closest friend of the heir apparent.

Cheng Qing sighed deeply and pulled the blanket over Xie Zhuoguang.

Lying on the bed, Xie Zhuoguang still wore the same clothes as the day before. His cloak hadn’t been taken off, and he’d maintained this curled-up posture all night.

The blanket lay neatly folded by his side—he only had to tug it gently to cover himself. Yet Xie Zhuoguang, as if his body and soul had separated, showed not the slightest will to live.

Usually a man of elegance and grace, he now looked utterly despondent. After sending off the physician, Cheng Qing’s mind was heavy with worry. The doctor had said that after Xie Zhuoguang’s severe illness a month prior, his health had greatly weakened. Now, with his emotions in turmoil and his fever unrelenting, if he continued to languish like this, even the 90% chance of recovery would be reduced to barely 10%.

“A heart ailment must be cured by addressing the heart,” the doctor sighed and shook his head as he left, with a servant following behind to fetch the medicine.

Cheng Qing stood motionless, his thoughts growing more complicated.

In Cabin No. 4, Heaven Character

As usual, Yu Mingyao took the bowl from Li Qing’s hands and tended to Pei Shang’s meal.

Pei Shang had been seasick for several days and had looked pale and weary. Perhaps because of yesterday’s playful antics between the two, his spirits had lifted somewhat.

Today, Yu Mingyao noticed that Pei Shang’s complexion looked much brighter compared to previous days. The mischievous glint in his eyes had returned as well.

“Staying cooped up in here all day—isn’t it dull? If you’re bored, I can take you out for some fresh air when the wind dies down a bit.”

She pulled out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped the corner of Pei Shang’s mouth. Focused on cleaning the soup off his lips, she didn’t notice the new intensity in Pei Shang’s gaze—one filled with deep, possessive longing.

When she spoke, Pei Shang had no intention of arguing or teasing back. He stared straight at her, his tone languid and tender.

“With you by my side, how could I ever tire of it?”

He had changed the way he addressed her—no longer calling her Yao-meimei (Little Sister Yao).

Yu Mingyao raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. When she met Pei Shang’s deep, burning gaze, she assumed he was just entertaining some silly thoughts again and didn’t think much of it.

“I’m talking to you seriously and here you go teasing me again. Very well, Pei Shang!”

She set down the bowl and spoon, feigning anger, and reached out to pinch Pei Shang’s ear.

While Pei Shang cried out “Ow, ow, that hurts!” repeatedly, he leaned even closer toward her, tilting his head conveniently into her hand to make it easier for her to pinch him.

This contradictory reaction—protesting with words but yielding in action—did not escape Yu Mingyao’s notice.

She lightly tapped his forehead with her slender fingers, smiling as she rose to leave.

A strange, unexplainable panic welled up in Pei Shang’s heart. His mind drifted, and his face showed this indescribable anxiety.

“I…”

He grabbed the edge of her sleeve but didn’t know how to voice the confusion and fear in his heart.

“Don’t worry, all right?”

Yu Mingyao still smiled gently. She didn’t shake off his hand or do anything else—she simply leaned closer toward him again.

“I’ll always be here. What are you so worried about?”

Her gaze, filled with tenderness, saw straight through Pei Shang’s stubborn façade and false bravado.

Pei Shang’s heart ached, and he looked away to avoid meeting her eyes.

The room fell silent, cool light from outside filtering through the window and casting patches of brightness onto the bedding—fragmented, just like Pei Shang’s heart.

Slowly, Pei Shang rested his cheek against her cool pleated satin skirt and spoke softly, as if whispering a secret.

Don’t betray me, Yao-meimei. Please, don’t betray me.

Even after Yu Mingyao left, these words echoed endlessly in Pei Shang’s mind.

Like a madman, he closed his eyes and inhaled the faint fragrance lingering in the air.

How could there be such shameless people in the world—coveting a friend’s wife?

Thinking of Xie Zhuoguang next door, Pei Shang let out a cold snort, the corner of his lips twisting into a sneer.

---

When Yu Mingyao returned to her room, she saw Cheng Qing standing by the door with a troubled expression, accompanied by Yan Yue—the traitorous maid.

Moments ago, her heart had been sore from Pei Shang’s insecurity, but now her face turned cold instantly. She brushed past Cheng Qing without sparing him a glance.

“Yan Yue, see the guest out.”

Her voice was as cold as ice.

Seeing this, Yan Yue could only shoot Cheng Qing desperate looks.

But Cheng Qing couldn’t just leave—his master’s life was at stake!

Anxious to save his lord, he didn’t hesitate any longer. With a loud thump, he knelt before Yu Mingyao.

“Miss Yu, I beg you. I know you don’t want to be disturbed by me anymore, and you have no affection for our young master. But right now, he’s burning with fever and unconscious—the doctor said if this continues, his life will be in grave danger!”

“Please have mercy and save our young master’s life!”

Had he not spoken that final sentence, Yu Mingyao might not have gotten so angry. What does it mean to “save Xie Zhuoguang’s life”? He didn’t want his life anymore! If someone has a death wish, then let him die and stop dragging others down!

She cast a cold glance at Cheng Qing and said nothing more.

Seeing this, Yan Yue quickly scolded, “Brother Cheng, what nonsense are you saying? If your young master is sick, that’s your own affair! Our young lady is now the betrothed of the Pei family’s eldest branch. You shouting like this—where does that place her?”

Angrily, she shoved Cheng Qing, making him stagger.

With a loud bang, Yan Yue slammed the door shut.

Watching the tightly closed door and realizing Yu Mingyao and her maid were truly furious, Cheng Qing’s face showed bitter resignation. His master had brought this on himself—his heart had been good, but his mouth too stubborn.

Now he was truly despised. Heaven wouldn’t help him, and earth wouldn’t heed his calls.

Cheng Qing let out a long sigh, thinking of Xie Zhuoguang’s frail figure, his spirits sinking even lower.

As he walked back toward Cabin No. 5, just as he neared the door, a figure in a moon-white, round-collared brocade robe blocked his path.

Following the sightline to a green bamboo-scented sachet, Cheng Qing looked up—it was Pei Shang, the person their young master had wronged most deeply.

Even after entering the cabin, with the bitter scent of medicine thick in the air, Pei Shang’s expression didn’t change.

Xie Zhuoguang still lay unconscious.

Pei Shang realized it had been a long time since he’d seen Xie Zhuoguang like this. Yesterday he had knocked on the door, and though the man had come close, separated only by the door, neither had spoken first.

Old friends—they could guess each other’s thoughts.

Pei Shang wanted to persuade him to give up.

There were so many talented and beautiful women in the world. Xie Zhuoguang didn’t have to fight him over Yu Mingyao. And yet…

He stared at Xie Zhuoguang’s weak, shallow breathing, and a strange feeling flickered through his heart.

There was no resentment, no relief. If this man were to die like this, then in Yu Mingyao’s heart, Pei Shang would never be able to surpass a dead man.

That was what crossed his mind in that moment—unexpectedly.

Casting a brief glance at Cheng Qing, Pei Shang didn’t say much.

“Take good care of him. If anything happens, come find me.”

A rare weariness surged within Pei Shang.

He lowered his gaze and had just lifted his foot to leave when he saw Cheng Qing about to speak, face full of hesitation.

“Speak,” Pei Shang said wearily, too exhausted for small talk.

With a thud, Cheng Qing knelt before him again.

“Young Master Pei, I beg you… could you ask Miss Yu to come see our young master, just once?”

His face flushed deep red, he didn’t dare lift his head to meet Pei Shang’s eyes.

Pei Shang’s heart sank like a stone to the bottom of the sea; for a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

“You’re threatening me?”

Rage surged aimlessly in his chest. Pei Shang felt bitterness rising to his throat, but he forced himself to swallow every chaotic emotion.

Cheng Qing didn’t dare lift his eyes; he only kowtowed repeatedly.

Pei Shang glanced at the unconscious figure on the bed, then at Cheng Qing, who was nearly breaking his head from bowing. Exhaustion and helplessness almost drowned him.

The towering resentment from moments ago suddenly hung suspended mid-air. He lowered his gaze and left behind a faint sentence.

“I’ll think about it.”

The sound of footsteps faded into the distance, yet Cheng Qing remained kneeling, twisting around on the floor. He stared blankly in the direction Pei Shang had gone, lost in thought for a long time.

One man’s illness tugged at the hearts of several people.

In the following two days, Yu Mingyao acted as if nothing had happened, her face revealing no hint of turmoil. Each day she either chatted with Madam Shi Luo or Yu Jinnian, or stayed in her room with Yan Yue, reading or embroidering.

Sometimes, she simply kept Pei Shang company, talking with him to ease his boredom.

Her mind never wandered elsewhere.

In contrast, Pei Shang grew more silent with each passing day. The spark that had just begun to return to his eyes dimmed again like a pearl covered in dust.

Yu Mingyao noticed it. Though she didn’t know the exact reason, she could more or less guess.

A man with such pride and a broad heart wouldn’t be so dejected over a trivial matter. Only when something concerning himself was involved would he be this unhappy.

That day, after Pei Shang finished his meal and the others had left, Yu Mingyao turned to him.

“My dear Shang-gege, what is making you so unhappy?”

She winked at him playfully, her eyes full of mischief.

The moment their gazes met, Pei Shang’s face flushed crimson. Slowly, he lowered his head and buried it under the covers.

“Yao-meimei, you’re mean. You only know how to tease me.”

As his words fell, soft footsteps approached.

Yu Mingyao pulled back the covers and cupped his face in her hands. “Not calling me Qingqing today?”

Pei Shang blushed even deeper and pretended to play dead in her arms.

Her warm fingers ran gently through his cool hair. Like a puppy, he let her stroke him for a long while before finally stealing a cautious glance at her and murmuring softly—

“I have something to tell you… promise me you won’t get angry.”

Her fingers threaded through his hair tightened slightly.

---