Chapter 122: You have a new love, so you think I'm an eyesore? (Update 1)

Liu Ningyan's pleasure boat was spacious and elegantly furnished. Just like her, it looked plain but exuded sophistication.

As she entered the pleasure boat, she was greeted by a delicate fragrance. Gauze curtains hung around the boat, gently fluttering in the lake breeze. A carpet of peony flowers covered the floor, and her favorite black orchids were placed on the small table.

Zhuang Wan also discovered a row of bookshelves on the west side of the pleasure boat, and behind the bookshelves was a long table with some wet pens and ink on it.

Liu Ningyan said, "I came here early in the morning to wait. I had nothing to do so I decided to paint. I'm sorry if my painting is not good."

Zhuang Wan went to watch.

A landscape painting in ink. The composition is unique and the brushwork is quite interesting. People sit on a boat, and the boat sails in the painting, creating a harmonious harmony between man and nature, and a vivid and lively atmosphere.

How could she be a bad painter? Her skills were simply unparalleled. She could compose poetry, embroider, play the zither, and paint. Even her manners were refined, and what was rare was her intelligence and sense of propriety. It was no wonder that such a person was so favored by Pei Xingju.

However, at this moment Pei Xingju seemed a little distant and indifferent. He just glanced at the painting and sat down at the table to drink tea.

Soon, Miss Ningyan also sat back and boiled water and made tea herself.

Her tea-making skills were also quite good, she could stir the tea leaves without disturbing them, and pour the tea from the pot high up without spilling it, her movements smooth and graceful. This made Zhuang Wan sigh once again, "It's a pity that someone like Liu Ningyan came from a brothel. If she were in the capital, she would definitely be a talented and beautiful woman, famous in the capital."

She watched for a while at the desk, and when she saw a book of strange stories on the desk, she casually flipped through it.

Pei Xingju glanced over and said, "What are you still doing? Come here."

Zhuang Wan didn't want to go over there. Although she enjoyed the couple's CP, she didn't want to be a third wheel. They were sitting together, drinking tea and talking about romance. She wouldn't feel comfortable standing there.

She raised the book in her hand and said, "I'm reading. Have some tea."

However, the local gazetteer in hand was very thin, only a dozen pages, and Zhuang Wan finished reading it in a few seconds. Just then, she heard Liu Ningyan ask Pei Xingju, "Is Master Chen from Anzhou?"

"Yes, I live in Ji'an County."

Liu Ningyan smiled. "When I was little, I went to Anzhou with my father and also spent some time in Ji'an County. Ji'an has beautiful scenery and is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery."

Pei Xingju smiled politely.

"I still remember the lion dance in Ji'an vividly. It's said that the people of Ji'an are so skilled at it that even children who have just learned to walk can carry a lion head and perform." Liu Ningyan was curious: "Is that true?"

"That's true," Pei Xingju said, "Lion dancing is a tradition in Ji'an. There's a lion dance competition every year. When I was a kid, I also..."

When talking about Ji'an County, Pei Xingju's expression relaxed a little. He seemed to be very happy to talk about this topic. He knew all about the customs and interesting things in Ji'an in the past.

Zhuang Wan found it strange. Pei Xingju was clearly from the capital, so when had he ever lived in Ji'an? Of course, the book didn't mention his upbringing, nor did it dwell on his childhood.

After listening for a while, she felt bored and simply lay on the table and looked at the two people through the gap between the bookshelves.

Good-looking people are indeed pleasing to the eye. A handsome man and a beautiful woman sat together, one cool and reserved, the other delicate and gentle. Zhuang Wan held her face and began to imagine some discordant scenes.

Her gaze was so direct that Pei Xingju could feel it even through the bookshelf.

He took a sip of tea and glanced over.

Zhuang Wan immediately put away her expression of watching the fun and not minding the trouble, smiled awkwardly and sat up straight, "You guys keep going, keep going."

Pei Xingju withdrew his gaze, a helpless smile on his lips.

Across from them, Liu Ningyan, who was speaking, noticed this and also secretly looked behind the bookshelf. She saw Zhuang Wan lazily sitting in a chair, her face in her hands, and slowly swinging her legs.

She covered her long eyelashes and continued to make tea calmly.

Pei Xingju's purpose was not to have romantic fun with Liu Ningyan, so after sitting in the pleasure boat for a while, he planned to leave.

Liu Ningyan stood up to see them off and led the way.

Behind him, Zhuang Wan followed Pei Xingju closely and asked quietly, "Going back so soon? Won't you sit for a while?"

Pei Xingju turned around and asked, "Do you like this?"

Zhuang Wan glanced at Liu Ningyan, who was walking alone ahead, and dropped the hint, "Miss Liu asked you out, it's not good for you to go back so soon, is it?"

Pei Xingju knocked her forehead: "Mind your own business."

Hey! You're not grateful for a good deed, are you?

Zhuang Wan curled her lips.

Up ahead, the pleasure boat had already docked, and the servant had set up the steps. Pei Xingju was the first to step over, then thought for a moment before turning back and reaching out.

Liu Ningyan and Zhuang Wan were standing side by side at the back, and were both stunned when they saw him stretch out his hand.

Soon, Zhuang Wan stepped back with a hint of understanding, making room for Liu Ningyan.

Looking at it this way, it seemed like Pei Xingju wanted to help Liu Ningyan.

Pei Xingju stretched out his long arms, neither wanting to retract them nor not. Finally, to avoid embarrassment, he said, "Miss Liu, the pedals are unstable, be careful."

Liu Ningyan bowed softly: "Thank you, Master Shen."

Pei Xingju helped her down from the pleasure boat and turned around to help Zhuang Wan. Unexpectedly, Zhuang Wan smiled and lifted her skirt and jumped down by herself.

“........”

.

After seeing Pei Xingju and Zhuang Wan off, Liu Ningyan returned to the pleasure boat.

"Why don't you keep Mr. Shen longer?" Lingshan asked.

Liu Ningyan said, "I'm already satisfied that he's willing to come to the appointment today. It means I'm still of some use to him. Just understanding this is enough. Why force anything else?"

Ling Shan didn't understand what she meant, and only said: "This servant sees that Mr. Shen is a handsome man, different from those people who came back. If he can..."

"Lingshan," Liu Ningyan interrupted her, "You also said that he is different from those men before. With other men, I only need to use a little trick to lure them into the trap, but Master Shen is not an ordinary person. Besides, I have already been a broken flower in the mud, how can I be worthy of such a person?"

Lingshan wanted to say something else, but saw Liu Ningyan's expression suddenly change.

She turned around and saw a man sitting in the houseboat. When she saw his appearance, she was suddenly filled with fear.

"Why are you here?" Liu Ningyan's expression froze.

"Why can't I be here?"

The man was dressed in a white robe as white as snow, with a slender figure and a handsome face as gentle and harmless as a scholar. His crippled legs and the fact that he was sitting in a wheelchair made him look even more pitiful.

It's a pity that his eyes were cold and icy: "Why? You have a new love and you think I'm an eyesore?"

Liu Ningyan didn't say anything.

"Be good! Come here!" the man said gently.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Ningyan slowly walked over.

The man raised his hand and suddenly pulled her into his arms. His long fingers gently brushed across Liu Ningyan's cheek, then he whispered in her ear like a lover, "You look so reluctant to leave. Are you in love with him?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? It was you who allowed me to approach him, and it was you who asked me to investigate his background. I'm just trying my best to do what you asked. What's wrong with that?"

"Really?" The man's eyes were as white as snow, and he said lightly, "You'd better remember."

"It's also best to remember..." He sniffed the fragrance of her hair and said word by word: "Who do you belong to?"

After a moment, he let her go, and his expression returned to gentleness, as if the cold and stern person a moment ago was not him.

"Tell me, what have you found out?"