Chapter 12: I Understand, I Understand

As soon as Song Huan finished speaking, Pei Chen’s voice came from outside the door: “My lord, Eunuch Zhao has departed.”

“Mm, you may withdraw,” Pei Yan replied indifferently.

Pei Chen acknowledged the order from outside, and silence fell again.

Song Huan turned to Pei Yan with a cheerful smile. “Then I…”

Can I withdraw too?

Pei Yan saw right through her thoughts and chuckled softly, but he didn’t comply: “Tie this waist sash on me.”

“……” Song Huan wanted to curse. Forcing herself to maintain a smile, she replied, “Right away.”

She picked up the sash from the bed, leaned close to Pei Yan, and wrapped it around his waist from behind.

As she bent down, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted from her body, gradually invading Pei Yan’s senses.

His eyes darkened involuntarily, and the rhythm of his heartbeat once again became erratic…

System: [Target ‘Pei Yan’s’ affection toward you has changed. Affection +50.] 

Song Huan’s hand froze mid-tie. “……” A demon? Is this how affection works? Jumping from +15 to +50 just like that? Is that even logical?”

“System, tell me, have you been infected with a virus?”

“Just admit it! I won’t laugh!”

System: “…….” Silence is golden.

Though the System didn’t reply, Song Huan’s sudden stillness caught Pei Yan’s attention.

Seeing her stop so abruptly, Pei Yan lowered his gaze. Her face was nearly pressed against his chest, her bright eyes blinking rapidly, long dark lashes fluttering like feathers—each flutter brushing against his heart.

System: [The target “Pei Yan” has had a change in affection toward you. Affection +60.]

Song Huan: … Frozen in fear! Dare not move!

If the System kept malfunctioning like this, Pei Yan’s affection level would hit 100 in no time!

But it was all a lie! If she actually dared to act on this fake affection, she’d be torn to pieces!

“System! Come out now!”

“Have you even secured your funding yet!?”

“You’re broken! If I really believed these fake numbers and tried to seduce Pei Yan into ‘consummating,’ I’d end up torn apart!”

System: “……” I’m just a system following protocols. The disconnection wasn’t my fault.

After venting, Song Huan took a deep breath and calmed herself. No, I can’t keep going like this.

There must be a glitch somewhere in the System.

She hadn’t hugged or kissed him, so there was no reason for Pei Yan’s affection to spike like that.

She slowly lifted her head and looked at Pei Yan. “I… I forgot what to do next. Maybe you should finish it yourself?”

Pei Yan looked her in the eye, his gaze flicking uncomfortably toward the window. He finally muttered, “Stupid”

Song Huan: “……” Listen to that! Such a disdainful word! There’s no way the affection just jumped by 60!

She straightened up and took a small step back.

The lingering fragrance near Pei Yan faded. His erratic heartbeat steadied, and his deliberately slow breathing returned to normal.

System: [Target ‘Pei Yan’s’ affection toward you has changed. Affection +20.] 

“Mmm, that’s more like it,” Song Huan murmured, exhaling in relief. Her heart couldn’t take any more surprises.

Pei Yan fastened his waist sash and slipped on his outer robe. His movements were fluid and elegant, radiating refined grace.

Watching him, Song Huan’s heart started racing again.

Tsk, tsk. Pei Yan is such a cultured scoundrel. Even putting on clothes is so alluring.

“Today, I’ll have Pei Xi guard the entrance. No one is to be admitted to the Marquis’s Estate. Especially you—you’re not to see anyone. Understand?” Pei Yan’s voice was deep and serious, his eyes fixed on her with concern.

How could Song Huan not understand? She nodded repeatedly. “Yes, I understand. Don’t worry.”

She had sustained serious injuries, and her wounds were still healing—a perfect excuse to avoid attending court.

Since she couldn’t attend court, she naturally couldn’t receive visitors either. As for Eunuch Zhao, who had earlier delivered the imperial decree, she was confident Pei Yan’s ruthless nature would guarantee his silence.

Still, she thought Pei Yan was being overly cautious. Apart from the Song family, no one else would seek her out. And she had no interest in seeing them anyway.

***

That evening, Pei Yan attended the palace banquet alone.

As soon as he left the marquis’s residence, Song Huan’s nerves relaxed completely. She didn’t stay long in Huichun Courtyard before heading to the kitchen with Jin Yue and Jin Le.

Though the head chef, Old Li, had a stubborn personality and hadn’t had a good first impression of her, Song Huan wasn’t afraid.

Relationships take time. The more you interact, the more affection naturally grows.

But halfway to the kitchen, Song Huan ran into Pei Xi hurrying toward the courtyard.

Jin Le called out, “Brother Pei Xi, why are you rushing?”

Pei Xi looked up. His small eyes lit up at the sight of Song Huan, and he hurried over. “Madam, I have urgent news to report.”

Song Huan blinked. “Report to me?”

Pei Xi nodded vigorously. “Yes, Madam.”

“What is it?”

“Lord Qin of Shangbao Manor wishes to see you,” Pei Xi said.

The Manor Lord of Shangbao Manor?!

The wealthiest man in ‘My Husband Dominates the World’?!

Song Huan froze, stunned. In the novel, the leads had conquered the world and reached the peak of their lives—but none of it would have been possible without the unwavering financial support of the Shangbao Manor Lord.

Why would such a figure seek her out?

She frantically searched the original owner’s memories but found no record of any interaction between them.

“He’s here to see me, not the marquis?” she asked.

“Lord Qin specifically requested an audience with Madam,” Pei Xi replied.

This puzzled Pei Xi as well. His master had spent two years searching for Lord Qin without success. Now, out of the blue, the man appeared on his own.

But unfortunately, the marquis wasn’t at home.

Still, no matter what, he had to stall Lord Qin until the marquis returned.

Song Huan narrowed her eyes. “Did the marquis leave instructions that no visitors should be received today?”

Pei Xi froze slightly, glanced up at her, then quickly looked away. After a pause, he said, “Lord Qin is very important to the marquis. I’ve already sent someone to inform him at the palace. I hope… Madam can help stall him.”

Song Huan was silent for a while. “…Let me ask again—are you certain Lord Qin asked to see me?”

Pei Xi nodded. “Lord Qin’s attendant personally told me—he’s here for you, Madam.”

Song Huan responded, “In that case, decline the meeting. Tell Lord Qin I’m unwell and unable to receive guests today. Ask him to return another time.”

Pei Xi’s head snapped up. “Madam—”

Song Huan pressed her lips together. “If he truly wants to see me, he’ll come again. If not, even if I meet him now, I won’t be able to keep him. Pei Xi, just deliver the message.”

With that, she led Jin Yue and Jin Le toward the kitchen.

Pei Xi stood frozen in the narrow path for a long moment before finally snapping out of it.

What Madam said… actually made sense?

Was it his own thinking that had been in disarray?

Pei Xi returned to the main hall and repeated Song Huan’s words to Lord Qin of Shangbao Manor.

After hearing them, Lord Qin’s expression turned grim.

“Why won’t she see me?”

Pei Xi didn’t dare look up. “Lord Qin, you may not be aware, but several days ago, assassins attacked the manor. Madam was injured and hasn’t fully recovered. She’s been unable to receive guests.”

“Moreover, there is a palace banquet today, and the Marquis was originally supposed to bring Madam with him. However, he refused even His Majesty’s and Her Majesty’s requests, insisting that Madam rest and recover. His concern for her is unwavering.”

“Since the Marquis is away, I humbly ask for your understanding. Please don’t make things difficult for this humble servant.”

Hearing this, Lord Qin’s expression grew complex—a mixture of anxiety and relief.

“Huan’er was injured? How serious is it?”