Chapter 95 Like Strong Wine (Part 7) As if bewitched, she called out to Wei Yuanzhan. ...

Yanxianlou.

The glaring sunlight was blocked outside, making the corridor quite gloomy. Some shouts came from the room at the end of the corridor. Although there was a door between them, the anger seemed to spread on its own. When it reached the middle of the long staircase, it was drowned out by the noise from downstairs and suffocated back into that room.

Soon someone said, "No, sir, you didn't explain clearly... None of us brothers heard you say 'man'..."

There was a moment of silence in the room, then the door was pulled open, and a group of strong servants staggered out, while the angry shouts from inside continued: "Get out! Get out!"

The group took a few steps back, bowed again to the door, and then turned and went downstairs looking disheveled.

Zhi Rou was awakened by the scolding sounds outside.

The room was bright and spacious, with a faint scent of soap. She sat up, raised her hand to touch the back of her neck, and felt a dull pain at the slightest touch.

Looking around the room after checking in, the decor didn't seem like something a thug would put up. The layout was simple and elegant, with a tea table and a painted screen dividing the north and south sides, making it more like a place for people to enjoy tea.

Zhi Rou moved her hands and feet, and as she passed the table, she grabbed the vase, pulled out a sprig of holly, and held it in her palm.

A cautious creaking sound came from not far away. The door was pushed open from the outside, and before the person could even step in, a sharp, blade-like object was pressed against their throat.

He froze, swallowed twice, and realized that there was a holly branch in front of his throat.

Zhi Rou's gaze was fixed on the man's face. It was the face she remembered. He had regular features, wore a fine fur coat, and had a slightly unruly air about him. Only when he was serious did he reveal the elegance of a scholar.

Zhi Rou slowly raised an eyebrow: "Sheng Xingyun?"

She paused, a mixture of surprise and delight welling up inside her, and couldn't help but chuckle. "You tied me up?"

"Misunderstanding, it's really a misunderstanding..." He pushed away the weapon in front of his neck, tentatively walked in, looked around, then turned back to examine Zhi Rou. His gaze fell on her drooping hands, and he was still a little scared. "Song, Song Zhi Rou, are you feeling unwell?"

He moved back as he spoke, cautiously lifting the hem of his clothes, and picked the nearest stool to sit down. As soon as he touched the seat, he immediately stood up awkwardly, his brows furrowed.

Zhi Rou chuckled, then looked at him for a moment and asked, "Who hit you?"

Sheng Xingyun grunted, perhaps embarrassed, his voice barely audible: "Besides Yuan Zhan, who else could it be?"

He hadn't seen Wei Yuanzhan for many years, and when he learned that Wei Yuanzhan had returned to the capital, he was overjoyed. He had been waiting for Wei Yuanzhan for a long time ever since the princess's carriage entered the capital, but he never expected that Wei Yuanzhan would be so forgetful and not visit him even after three days of his return.

Yesterday, the two carriages passed each other. He rolled up the curtain and called out to him, but there was no response. He watched helplessly as the carriage hurriedly went to the East Palace.

In a fit of anger, Sheng Xingyun decided to tease him and ordered several strong men to summon the person for him.

He made it very clear: it was just a game, Yuan Zhan was skilled, and they shouldn't risk getting hurt. Those guys not only targeted the wrong person, but they even went all out against Song Zhirou—they were utter idiots!

Upon further thought, Sheng Xingyun's anger was still burning. He grabbed his collar and flailed around a few times before raising his eyes again: "I've had the doctor examine you. It's an external injury, not a life-threatening one. Tell me where you feel unwell, and I'll call him back."

Zhi Rou vaguely heard him mention Wei Yuanzhan's name, and raised an eyebrow: "He's been here?"

"Doctor? Of course, how could I let those good-for-nothings..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhi Rou interrupted softly, "I'm talking about Wei Yuanzhan."

She caught a faint fragrance in the room as soon as she woke up. It felt familiar, like a thread winding through the past, pulling her back to a certain moment.

Sheng Xingyun said "Oh," and then said, "He has other things to do, so he asked me to take you home."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Zhi Rou's eyes, but before anyone could notice, it was already hidden. She moved to put the holly back into the bottle, then turned and walked away, saying, "Let's go."

Sheng Xingyun was stunned for a long time before catching up with her: "Aren't you going to eat something?" He added, "We haven't seen each other for a long time, don't be so heartless."

She smiled, turned her head and deliberately looked him up and down, her eyelashes flashing with a sly glint: "What kind of relationship do you need with the person who ambushed me?"

Having been separated for so long, Sheng Xingyun couldn't tell if the words were a joke or not, and took them as true. He stretched out his long arm to stop Zhi Rou and said confidently, "I'll bring them back to apologize to you right away!"

After saying that, he strode forward. Seeing his serious expression, Zhi Rou paused slightly and quickly raised her voice to call out to him, "No need!"

The figure in front was called to a halt and stopped. Zhi Rou stepped forward and said, "I haven't been home all night. My elders at home must be worried. I have to go back now."

"Then I'll see you off." Sheng Xingyun lifted the corner of her sleeve, pointed to the long ladder, and walked half a step ahead of her.

Yanxianlou was a property of the Sheng family. Sheng Xingyun failed the imperial examination and was forbidden from calligraphy and painting by his father. He was even stopped from going to the family school and instead went out with his elder brother to make a living and learn a little about all kinds of business.

He had loved painting since childhood, but this unexpected calamity left him dejected for quite some time. Now, having adapted somewhat, he has taken on a more businessman-like demeanor, but towards Zhirou, he remains the same as before, sincere in his attitude.

"When you and Yuanzhan left the capital one after the other, it truly broke my heart. Fortunately, I went to the Marquis's residence to inquire about him and learned of his whereabouts. We have never stopped corresponding over the years. However, finding you... is very difficult."

As he spoke, he turned around. She wasn't dressed as a man today; her dress was peach-colored, which suited her beautiful appearance perfectly.

"I'm so happy to see you return the jade intact," Sheng Xingyun said with emotion.

The soles of his boots clattered on the steps. Zhi Rou lagged behind him and could see the joy on his lips from above. Though it wasn't glaring, it brought warmth to Zhi Rou.

She smiled and said, "Me too."

When childhood friends reunite, it's inevitable that people will question the reasons for their separation. Sheng Xingyun had been curious for three years and couldn't help but ask, "Why did you get involved in the marriage alliance back then?"

Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou frowned slightly and replied, "It's a long story, but it's all in the past. What matters is the present, isn't it?"

She wouldn't pity Huai Xian, nor would she feel sorry for herself. As long as she could be with the person she cared about in the future, she didn't want to worry about the past.

Sheng Xingyun observed her through the sunlight. As always, she looked straight at him after noticing him, as if she never knew how to dodge and was always open and honest in everything she did.

He smiled and said, "Yes, let's all look ahead."

The hem of her skirt silently brushed against the last wooden step. There were more people on the first floor. Zhi Rou stopped and her gaze met that of a woman who stepped in from outside the threshold.

She saw her too, her steps faltered slightly, perhaps unsure if it was real, her gaze fixed on Zhi Rou with a dazed look, her lips moved slightly, but she ultimately remained silent.

Before Zhi Rou left Beijing, their friendship had already broken down. Jiang Luoya couldn't remember why they had argued, but she remembered that she was very sad when Zhi Rou left.

Sunlight streamed in, scattering across the ground. Tiny dust particles rippled like water, flowing into Zhi Rou's eyes, and she looked away.

Jiang Luoya felt a pang of sadness, but she stubbornly remained silent and walked up to Sheng Xingyun.

They were business partners, and perhaps even related by marriage. He couldn't escape it, and with a restrained expression, he whispered to her, "I'll come back to see you later."

Jiang Luoya knew that Sheng Xingyun and Zhi Rou had a past relationship, and given the current situation, he was probably going to send her away.

"Go ahead." Jiang Luoya glanced at him indifferently and went up to the second floor without caring.

Sheng Xingyun pursed his lips, unsure of what to say. He had no feelings for Jiang Luoya whatsoever. Perhaps he did have some in the past, but her temper had worn it all away long ago.

Zhi Rou sensed the subtle atmosphere between them, and she herself was not as calm as she appeared when facing Jiang Luoya.

Stepping out of Yanxianlou, one is greeted by a bustling scene of tourists, vendors singing and hawking, and a variety of shop signs fluttering high above, bringing the hustle and bustle of the capital city close at hand once again.

Zhi Rou walks fast, and even after several years, without anyone to guide her, she can still find her way back to the Song residence.

Sheng Xingyun followed beside her, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over her boots: "Have you and Yuan Zhan seen each other in the past three years?"

Zhi Rou shook her head: "No."

With a surprised look, Sheng Xingyun first raised her eyebrows, then chuckled, her tone still carrying a hint of doubt: "I thought there was something between you two that I didn't know about."

"What do you mean?" Zhi Rou stared at him for a while, pondering, before stopping in front of a stall.

The sun roams through the clouds, its light blazing intensely for a moment, then its heat recedes just as quickly.

Sheng Xingyun didn't look at her; her thoughts returned to Wei Yuanzhan, and she still felt pain all over her body.

In the afternoon, he learned that his men had tied up Zhi Rou, and he was so shocked that he couldn't speak. He then ordered someone to fetch a doctor and arrange a room for her. Just as he was about to go see her, a disturbance broke out in the restaurant, so he had to put it aside and deal with the commotion.

Worried about Zhi Rou, he acted faster than usual. Just as he stepped into the corridor, Wei Yuanzhan strode over, his face showing extreme displeasure.

He hadn't intended to pass on a message to Wei Yuanzhan, but somehow, because Zhirou was injured, instead of going to the Song residence to call for help, he was bewitched into calling Wei Yuanzhan instead.

After explaining the whole story to him, they went into Zhi Rou's room together.

The west window was wide open, and the person on the bed remained motionless, with long, thick eyelashes covering their eyes, looking somewhat indifferent yet also pitiful.

"Do not look at what is improper" is a common etiquette in noble families, yet Wei Yuanzhan disregarded it to this extent, leaving Sheng Xingyun astonished.

Looking at him again, his handsome features were filled with many complex emotions. He seemed to be heartbroken, yet he was restraining himself and ultimately didn't say a word.

The two reminisced for a while, and then Wei Yuanzhan asked him to take Zhirou back before leaving the room.

At that moment, Sheng Xingyun glanced at Zhi Rou's skirt and asked in a guessing tone, "Your leg... was it injured before?"

"I'm fine now." As soon as she finished speaking, Zhi Rou raised an eyebrow and looked at his face suspiciously for a moment. "How did you know?"

She can ride a horse without any problems now, just like before. Not to mention people who haven't seen her for three years, even Jing Yao couldn't tell that she was any different.

Sheng Xingyun thought of the kick Wei Yuanzhan gave him on the stool before he left. It was because he had messed with the wrong person and had teased Zhirou.

Although he felt guilty, he couldn't help but be happy. He and Wei Yuanzhan were still the same as before, resolving any unpleasantness on the spot without any trace of estrangement.

Therefore, within his power, he helped Wei Yuanzhan again.

Under the sunlight, Sheng Xingyun's expression was mysterious, and if combined with his previous words, it seemed he was trying to steer the conversation toward Wei Yuanzhan.

He deliberately replied to her, "That doesn't matter anymore."