Chapter 29 – Did Uncle Come to Be Our Matchmaker?

Pei Che frowned slightly and said in a cool voice, “You’re drunk.”

Jiang Shiyuan instantly sat up straight, shaking her head like a rattle drum. “No, I haven’t had a drop. It’s such an important day for the two families to meet—how could I drink?”

Feeling her explanation didn’t quite express her elegance, she quickly folded her hands in front of her and added earnestly, “No, no, I never drink at all, really.”

Pei Che looked at her swaying posture and let out a helpless laugh.

“There’s no Pei Ziye today, only me.”

“Only Uncle?” Jiang Shiyuan blinked and seriously pondered for a moment before suddenly coming to a realization.

“Ohhh~~ Uncle’s here to be our matchmaker, right?”

Pei Che’s temple twitched sharply. Yet the culprit remained completely unaware, staggering over to the seat beside him, clutching his sleeve with pitiful eyes and giving it a little shake.

“Teacher…”

Pei Che’s breath caught. He looked down at the sleeve she was tugging and his expression softened slightly.

She called him Teacher.

He wondered how drunk she really was.

He sighed inwardly—it was his fault for not watching her closely.

“What is it?” Pei Che asked.

The moment she got a response, Jiang Shiyuan perked up like a cat. She climbed up his arm and leaned in close, whispering:

“Teacher, if I marry Pei Ziye and he bullies me in the future, can you protect me a little?”

Pei Che’s face darkened. He gritted his teeth and spat out two words: “I can’t.”

Jiang Shiyuan froze. Rejected?

Just now, Teacher had looked at her so gently.

“Why?”

Did he still dislike her that much?

Jiang Shiyuan lowered her head, eyes brimming with tears.

“Because the one marrying you… is me.”

Pei Che said each word slowly and clearly.

The words hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her tearful eyes froze, her whole expression went stiff, then her already flushed face burned up to her ears like a wildfire.

Pei Che: “Now do you remember?”

Jiang Shiyuan lowered her head, withdrew her hand, climbed down from his lap, and nodded shyly.

The shock sobered her up a little, but it was quickly replaced by overwhelming shame. She didn’t dare look at Pei Che. She wished she could crawl into a hole and hide. Her hand even reached instinctively for the wine cup.

She was drunk. She didn’t know anything. It wasn’t her—it had nothing to do with her.

But before she could touch it, her hand was firmly held down by Pei Che.

“The pot’s empty. No more wine,” he said, his displeasure evident in his tone—so evident that even the muddle-headed Jiang Shiyuan could sense it.

Her stomach burned. She felt like a child caught doing something wrong and mumbled, “It was too spicy…”

Pei Che then noticed she was holding her stomach. Her lips were bright red—not from cosmetics, but clearly from the wine.

He sighed, turned to brew tea, and muttered, “Can’t handle spicy food, yet still came here? And didn’t refuse anything.”

“I just blurted it out… That’s the only place I could think of at the time,” Jiang Shiyuan said, watching his back with a bit of regret. “I was too nervous.”

“I don’t know why… but I always get nervous around Teacher.”

Her voice was small and soft, with a hint of grievance.

Pei Che’s hand paused mid-pour. He looked at the swirling tea leaves and asked casually, “Are you like that around others too?”

Jiang Shiyuan shook her head hard and quickly clarified, even wanting to raise her hand to swear an oath.

“No, only with Teacher.”

“Is that so?”

With his back still facing her, Pei Che let out a soft chuckle.

The haze of wine and the heat in her stomach made it hard for Jiang Shiyuan to focus. She didn’t really know what she was doing or saying. She simply answered whatever he asked—just like in the old school days, when she would obediently respond to whatever Teacher Pei asked.

She regretted it.

She wanted to be a good student again.

That way, Teacher Pei—Little Mister Pei—wouldn’t dislike her so much.

She heard him chuckle the moment she finished speaking.

Why was he laughing?

Was it because she lied again?

Yes. She had lied again.

Jiang Shiyuan reached out and grabbed Pei Che’s arm again, leaning her whole body against him.

Though she wore no perfume, the subtle scent unique to a young girl instantly filled his senses. Pei Che lowered his gaze just as Jiang Shiyuan looked up at him.

“Actually, I didn’t completely make it up. The Grand Tutor’s first post was here in Shu,” she said seriously.

“I thought, maybe you’d like it here.”

She looked at him steadily, her eyes full of open hope.

“Do you like it, Teacher?”

…

Upstairs, on the second floor of Tianxiang Pavilion

“Luchu, stay here and keep watch. If you see them, you must let me know right away!”

Madam Zhou had taken a fall and urgently called Zhou Jingshen home. Still thinking about the “Grand Tutor’s wife” upstairs, Zhou Jingshen left strict instructions for Shen Luchu to keep watch and report back.

Shen Luchu was speechless and didn’t take it seriously at all.

The room quieted down. Shen Luchu sat in front of a table full of fine dishes, completely lacking appetite. His mind kept drifting back to Jiang Shiyuan.

What’s she doing now?

Would she like the food here?

Shen Luchu was startled by his own thoughts. This was the first time he’d ever been so curious about Jiang Shiyuan’s preferences.

She probably would like it.

She always showed interest in everything he liked—even things he mentioned offhand.

She had always tried to be a part of his world.

If he brought her here, she’d probably cry tears of joy.

He made up his mind: once she recovered from her illness, he would take her here for a meal.

Clack—

As if affirming his decision, Shen Luchu slammed down his cup and stood up excitedly.

He reached the stairs, about to go down, when he suddenly heard footsteps above.

Looking up, he saw a man descending from the third floor, carrying someone in his arms.

Who else could it be but Grand Tutor Pei?

Shen Luchu froze. His gaze shifted to the person in Pei Che’s arms—but she was completely wrapped in an outer robe, tightly cradled against his chest. Not even a strand of hair was visible, let alone her face.

So this was Pei Che’s wife?

He was guarding her like she was treasure, completely discarding his usual cold and aloof demeanor.

Heh.

Shen Luchu sneered internally.

Or rather, he found Pei Che laughable.

He didn’t even know why he felt so antagonistic toward Pei Che. Technically speaking, Pei Che had taught at Luming Academy for half a year ten years ago—he was half a teacher to him.

Yet every time he saw Pei Che, Shen Luchu felt an urge to defeat him, to trample him underfoot.

When had this feeling started?

He thought for a moment—three years ago.

Three years ago, during a plum blossom banquet he hosted at home, he’d invited all the young talents in the capital—including Pei Che.

Pei Che had not only shown up late but had the audacity to criticize him.

Shen Luchu clearly remembered what he’d said that day:

“Treat Jiang Shiyuan better. Her affection for you is a blessing, not something to trample on.”

Sure, Pei Che held high status—but what right did he have to lecture him about his personal affairs?

He always acted so lofty and self-righteous. Yet now, the moment he touched a woman, he completely lost his head?

What a joke.

As Shen Luchu sneered to himself, Pei Che reached the landing with the person in his arms.

At that moment, thud—a sachet embroidered with a cornel branch fell from Pei Che’s arms and landed right at Shen Luchu’s feet.