Chapter 120: Men Shouldn’t Be Hard-Talking (Part 3)

Zhuang Wan stood in the lobby for a moment, then resignedly followed Pei Xingju upstairs.

Forget it, a wise man never suffers a loss in front of him. It is better to have a place to sleep than to stay up all night and get dark circles under your eyes.

She asked the shopkeeper for a set of clean bedding. After entering the room, she saw Pei Xingju sitting down at the table, apparently writing a letter.

Zhuang Wan didn't disturb him and just walked around the house.

As the innkeeper had said, the Tianzihao guest room was quite large, divided into an inner room and an outer room. The inner room was the bedroom, while the outer room was like a small living room, furnished with a table, chairs, and a soft couch. The couch was small, but it was perfectly adequate for a night's sleep.

After thinking about it, she decided to move the screen in front of the couch so that it would provide some cover.

Here, she was struggling to move the screen, and in a moment, a hand was on the screen, making her unable to move.

Zhuang Wan raised her eyes and saw Pei Xingju standing beside her.

"What?" he asked.

"Did I disturb you?" Zhuang Wan said, "Then I'll be quieter."

"Why are you moving the screen?"

Zhuang Wan pointed at the soft couch and said, "Of course I'm sleeping. I can sleep more soundly with the screen blocking my view."

Pei Xingju smiled after hearing this.

He exerted a little force with his palm and easily pushed back the screen that Zhuang Wan had moved out of the moon door with great difficulty.

"No need, you can sleep on the bed tonight."

Zhuang Wan was stunned: "I sleep on the bed, but what about you?"

"I won't sleep tonight." Pei Xingju walked back to the table: "I still have some things to do, you go to sleep."

"oh."

Zhuang Wan was stunned for a moment, and secretly retracted her previous criticism. She thought, I should find a folk remedy for him when I have time. What if he really has a hidden illness?

Not long after, the shopkeeper came up and asked if they wanted to bring them hot water. Pei Xingju listened and looked at Zhuang Wan.

Zhuang Wan was slightly embarrassed: "No need, I can handle it for one night."

After thinking for a while, she asked Pei Xingju: "What about you?"

Pei Xingju picked up his pen and said, "I'm fine too."

"Yes, yes, sir, please rest early." The shopkeeper left quickly.

Through the screen, Zhuang Wan stole a glance at Pei Xingju, who was sitting outside. He seemed genuinely busy, writing non-stop on paper.

She walked to the bed, took off her shoes, and lay down in her clothes.

For a moment, she felt that this experience was truly wonderful. After a moment, she smiled and slowly fell asleep in the quiet night.

.

The next day, Zhuang Wan woke up to the clamor of people. She stared at the ceiling and it took her a long time to remember that she was staying in an inn.

Immediately, she threw off the quilt and got out of bed, then sneaked out of the inner room. When she met Pei Xingju's gaze, she suddenly stopped.

Pei Xingju sat at a table piled with documents, seemingly busy all night. He looked as if he had just woken from a nap, his eyelids lazily opening and his gaze slightly dull.

Zhuang Wan was stunned.

"Awake?" he spoke first.

"Yeah." Zhuang Wan nodded, feeling a little guilty. "Did you really not sleep last night?"

"I slept for a while."

"How did you sleep? Were you sitting on a chair?"

Pei Xingju didn't say anything. He pinched his brows, and soon the dullness in his eyes disappeared, becoming as clear as usual.

"There's nothing to do today, you can sleep a little longer," he said.

Zhuang Wan woke up, and it was impossible for her to fall back asleep. Moreover, with another man in the room, her creditor, she couldn't concentrate on anything else.

She walked to the window, opened it, and let the beautiful morning light shine in.

"When are we going back?" she asked.

"No rush," Pei Xingju also stood up and walked over: "Wait a little longer."

Zhuang Wan saw him stretch his hand out the window, the sun shining on the back of his hand and between his fingers. His fingers were long and slender, and perhaps because he didn't get much sun, his skin was a little cold and pale. In the sunlight, it looked like jade, shimmering softly.

She secretly glanced at her chubby fingers and couldn't help feeling jealous.

No one can compare to the male protagonist. The male protagonist is often portrayed as flawless, even with beautiful hands. Zhuang Wan's body is exquisite and beautiful, but her hands are a bit chubby. It's not ugly, but it's not beautiful either.

"Waiting for what?" she asked.

Pei Xingju did not answer.

But soon Zhuang Wan knew what he was waiting for.

During lunch, Guard Lu brought an exquisite letter. How exquisite was it?

The envelope was covered in gold-leafed rice paper, with "Chen Lang's Personal Letter" written on the front. A deep red wax seal was stamped on the back, and a delicate orchid was painted beneath the wax. As if to complement the orchid, the envelope emanated a faint fragrance.

You can tell at a glance that it was sent by a girl.

However, what other girl did Pei Xingju know in Liuli City? Considering the confidante he met in the brothel in the book, it is obvious that it was Miss Ningyan.

After Pei Xingju finished reading the letter, Zhuang Wan winked at him mischievously: "What did Miss Ningyan say?"

Pei Xingju put down the letter and asked, "How do you know it was sent by Miss Ningyan?"

Tsk tsk.....

Zhuang Wan's face was filled with a "do I need to guess?" expression. "You spent a fortune on a beautiful woman yesterday, and today you received such a mysterious letter. Who else could it be but Miss Ningyan?"

Pei Xingju glanced at her with a complicated expression and said, "Miss Ningyan asked me to go boating on the lake at noon. You pack up and come with me."

"No..." Zhuang Wan almost choked on her porridge. "Miss Ningyan invited you, why did you bring me along?"

"Oh," she added, remembering something, "I can't dress as a man anymore. Miss Ningyan knows I'm a woman and even asked if you and I are brother and sister. Luckily, I was smart enough to say we are brother and sister, otherwise she would have misunderstood."

Pei Xingju frowned: "Brother and sister?"

"Yes," Zhuang Wan nodded. "I told her maid that my name is Zhuang Ruyi, and that you and I are half-siblings. Mother brought you into the Zhuang family when she married, so we are somewhat related."

“.........”

Pei Xingju was speechless, not knowing whether to be angry or laugh.

"Don't be so long-winded. Just clean up when I tell you to!"

"I won't!" Zhuang Wan said, her neck stiffening in rebellion. "I'm your food maid, not your personal maid. If it's not my job, I won't do it."

"Besides, you and Miss Ningyan are having a sweet time on the lake, and I'm standing there. What's the point of me standing there? If you don't mind the brightness, I'd find it awkward."

After he finished speaking, Pei Xingju put down his chopsticks and suddenly stared at her strangely and tenderly.

Here it comes! Here it comes! Pei Xingju's habit of always looking gentle has struck again!

Zhuang Wan continued to stiffen her neck, determined not to compromise. Unexpectedly, he suddenly asked, "Are you angry?"

ha?

Pei Xingju's lips curled slightly: "If you don't want me to go, then I won't go."

"No!" What kind of logic is this: "Miss Ningyan invited you, she is your official match."

"What?"

"Oh, I mean, look at how destined you and Miss Ningyan are. She's in Hezhou and you're in the capital. The fact that you two have come such a long way to meet each other shows that you're destined to be together. You should cherish this heaven-sent peach blossom."

The gentle smile on Pei Xingju's lips gradually froze: "Do you really think so?"

Zhuang Wan found his current attitude baffling; the weather in April wasn't changing as fast as he was. She nodded briefly, "I'm genuinely thinking about you."

"Really?" Pei Xingju said with a forced smile.

Zhuang Wan was completely unaware and continued, "You've already spent five thousand taels to come here for this beautiful woman, and you're waiting for someone this early in the morning. Aren't you waiting for news from Miss Ningyan?"

“…”

Pei Xingju was still sullen for a while, then softened his heart and explained, "I am indeed waiting for news from Miss Ningyan, but it's not what you think."

He said, "I told you long ago that I came to Liuli City for something important, not just for fun."

Zhuang Wan took a bite of the crispy fish ball and asked nonchalantly, "What's the important matter?"

"I shouldn't reveal this to you, but you must understand that I have no other feelings for Miss Ningyan."

Zhuang Wan was baffled. What did he want her to do? It was none of her business whether he meant anything or not.

Men should not be too tough with their words, or it will be embarrassing when they get slapped in the face. The male protagonist is no exception!