Chapter 23: Is It Too Late to Call off the Marriage?

Pei Che glanced again at the distance between them, his furrowed brows smoothing out as usual. The sunlight filtering through the curtain gap seemed to settle in his eyes, suddenly brightening, emitting a soft glow.

“Are you planning to keep avoiding me this way? What will happen after the wedding?”

Pei Che looked at her, the light falling not only on his eyes but also on her fair, beautiful face. From the moment she got into the carriage, the blush on her face had never fully faded.

Jiang Shiyuan pursed her lips, her eyes lowered, her thick lashes casting a light shadow on her face as if she were deep in thought.

Pei Che asked directly, “Will you give up on your fragrance blending for me?”

The question came suddenly, but Jiang Shiyuan wasn’t surprised. She had thought about this very issue yesterday.

Pei Che couldn’t bear the scent of fragrances. She had wondered whether she should give up her hobby in order to stabilize the marriage.

After all, no matter how well she did it, it was just a hobby.

Running a fragrance workshop would require daily contact with various fragrances, and the smell would inevitably cling to her. The little money earned from the shop was insignificant compared to the health and well-being of the current Grand Tutor.

Shen Luchu knew she was skilled in fragrance blending. She had only casually mentioned wanting to open a fragrance shop, and Shen Luchu had laughed at her. He had said that a true noblewoman would never degrade herself for such trivial gains, lowering her status and becoming tainted by the smell of copper.

Moreover, most men didn’t like their women making a public appearance.

Jiang Shiyuan knew that winning Pei Che’s favor and stabilizing the marriage to help her cousin was the most important thing for her to do right now.

But she still had some hopes. She lifted her eyes and looked seriously at the man opposite her.

“Didn’t Pei Fuzi say? A person should have a skill to make a living when poor and to cultivate themselves when prosperous.”

“Uncle also said that preferences are not bound by status, and enjoying one’s hobbies and entertaining oneself is a rare talent.”

“Blending fragrance is not only my skill in this world, but also my space to be alone with myself.”

Jiang Shiyuan shook her head and said frankly, “Lord Pei, I don’t want to give it up.”

After she spoke, she waited for Pei Che’s rebuttal, disapproval, or even disdain. Instead, she heard a burst of laughter.

“You remember what I said quite well,” Pei Che remarked.

Pei Fuzi, Pei Xiao Shu, Pei Daren—she had many different ways of addressing him.

Jiang Shiyuan lifted her eyes again, seeing a smile spread across his face, his lips curling up, and his eyes sparkling with unmasked joy.

It was like the ice and snow melting, revealing a dazzling brilliance.

Jiang Shiyuan was a bit stunned; this was the first time she had seen Pei Che so… so expressive.

Just because she remembered his words?

She remembered many things he had said to her before.

Though she wasn’t bold, she respected teachers and followed Pei Xiao Fuzi’s teachings closely.

“Pei Taifu’s teachings, Shiyuan will naturally follow as a rule.”

Jiang Shiyuan unknowingly relaxed, casually speaking and throwing in a compliment.

“Then don’t give it up.”

“Hmm?”

“Not being able to bear the fragrance is my problem. I will overcome it, you don’t need to change.”

“Be yourself, don’t change for anyone.”

Pei Che said.

His voice was like melting gold and shattered jade, each word striking deeply in Jiang Shiyuan’s ears.

Jiang Shiyuan had never imagined that the problem that had troubled her the whole night would be easily solved by one light sentence from Pei Che.

She looked at the smiling corners of his lips and the slightly raised corners of his eyes, as if it confirmed that phrase—

The corners of his eyes gently lifted, lips slightly curled, indifferent yet carrying a touch of charm.

“It’s not all lies,” Jiang Shiyuan suddenly said.

Pei Che looked confused, his narrow, deep eyes lifting slightly as he looked at her.

“Clear wind, bright moon, noble and elegant, Pei Taifu is the most dazzling man in the world, that’s the truth.”

Jiang Shiyuan spoke earnestly, even nodding heavily at the end as if trying to prove something, looking unusually obedient.

Pei Che laughed lightly, his eyebrows lifting, and he gestured to a spot beside him.

“Can the most outstanding man in the world invite you, who loves to speak the truth, to sit a little closer?”

Huh?

So Pei Fuzi could joke too!

Jiang Shiyuan’s eyes widened in surprise, her heartstrings suddenly stirred, a little shaken.

She didn’t move closer but, in a burst of boldness, invited him instead.

“Does the Grand Tutor have time tomorrow? A new restaurant opened in the southern part of the city, and they make great Sichuan cuisine.”

Pei Che looked at her, a glimmer of unknown emotions flashing in his deep eyes, and his thin lips parted slightly.

“Do you like Sichuan food?”

“The food doesn’t matter,” Jiang Shiyuan tilted her head slightly as she looked at him. “Didn’t you say, Pei Daren, that you want to help me overcome it?”

“If we don’t interact, how can we overcome it?”

Jiang Shiyuan asked, her voice now more direct, her gaze fiery, a flash of youthful mischief evident, yet it was innocent and pure.

Pei Che seemed momentarily distracted.

Seeing he remained silent, Jiang Shiyuan’s excited mood suddenly darkened, turning into a sense of unease and regret.

Had she been too abrupt? How many girls would behave so unrestrained, actively inviting a private meeting after just a few encounters?

Jiang Shiyuan looked away, about to explain herself, when a voice came from across the carriage.

Pei Che said, “Thank you.”

Jiang Shiyuan was slightly stunned, “Hmm?”

Pei Che raised an eyebrow. “Thank you, Miss Jiang, for giving me the opportunity to overcome challenges and better myself.”

Her previously sinking mood was lifted with ease, and before she knew it, a smile appeared on Jiang Shiyuan’s face.

Today’s Pei Taifu seemed a bit different.

He was not the same as the Pei Taifu from before, whether in the academy or in her dreams.

While they were talking, the carriage reached the General’s Mansion.

After confirming the time for tomorrow’s meeting, Jiang Shiyuan stood up to say her goodbyes and watched Pei Che’s carriage turn and leave.

Just as Pei Che’s carriage was moving away, Hong Dou arrived with another carriage, driven by the earlier red snake.

Before Jiang Shiyuan could ask, Hong Dou jumped off the carriage and quickly volunteered.

“It was the madam’s order. She said I should keep an eye out for any opportunity to make sure Miss and Pei Daren spend more time together.”

“The madam also said that once you two have feelings for each other, it will last forever, and we’ll have a little Miss soon.”

Hong Dou chuckled. “I also want to hold the little Miss soon.”

Jiang Shiyuan: …

“Don’t do this next time, Pei Taifu doesn’t like it,” Jiang Shiyuan said.

Hong Dou was confused. “How do you know Pei Daren doesn’t like it?”

She thought Pei Taifu seemed quite happy.

When Miss was about to refuse, Pei Daren’s face had even darkened.

“Anyway, it’s not appropriate. Pei Che is a Grand Tutor, maintaining his dignity. Since I’m going to marry him, I can’t be reckless and ruin his reputation,” Jiang Shiyuan said seriously.

Jiang Shiyuan then remembered something else. “By the way, did you find out about the rules of the Pei family?”

There was only one month left, and she should be familiarizing herself with the basic things, like the Pei family’s staff and family rules.

“Yes, I found out,” Hong Dou replied, pulling out a scroll from her pocket and quickly unrolling it.

The scroll fell from her hands and rolled a few meters across the ground.

Jiang Shiyuan: …

Is it too late to call off the marriage now?