Cen Xi looked at him shyly, her voice slightly hoarse. Things had come to this point, and she hadn't wanted it to be this way. If she had to get married, if she had to choose someone, she hoped it would be Jun Jianchou, but the world doesn't offer so many "what ifs."
"You... then what do you mean by coming to see me again? Are you fickle and want both?"
Jun Jianchou was burning with anger. She walked right into the line of fire, and the words just slipped out without thinking.
"You're fickle and want both? You think too highly of yourself, Jun Jianchou. I just feel a little sorry for you. Since that's what you think, let's never see each other again."
Cen Xi licked her teeth, and her initial sense of guilt was instantly overshadowed by his words about being fickle and wanting both.
"Fine, if we don't want to associate with each other, then I don't want to associate with you. Get out of this mansion right now, I don't want to see you even once."
Jun Jianchou and Cen Xi never backed down when they argued. He was already holding back his anger, and seeing Cen Xi still disregarding his feelings only fueled his rage.
If he doesn't want to see me, he doesn't want to see me. Can't Jun Jianchou live without me?
"Fine, fine, you think I still want to stay in your Jun Mansion? Get out then! Since you've said that, don't come looking for me again. This is the end of our relationship. If we ever meet again, we'll be strangers."
Cen Xi had thought this way before, so since he said so, should she agree? Wasn't this what she was considering before? This is good! It relieves her of her psychological burden.
"We met as strangers, you... ha!"
For some reason, Jun Jianchou suddenly became extremely sad. He chuckled softly several times, squatted down, and a few tears suddenly welled up in the corners of his eyes.
"you…"
Seeing him like that, Cen Xi felt a mix of emotions. After a moment of silence, Cen Xi squatted down, took out her own handkerchief, and wiped it on Jun Jianchou's face.
"Things have already come to this. Perhaps our fate is truly shallow. As a man, isn't it ridiculous for you to cry like this? Weren't you speaking so righteously in Shen Jinchen's room just now? Since you said you'd let go, let's both take a step back, okay?"
"There's more to the world than just love, isn't there?"
"I promise I'll treat you like a brother from now on, and let's just let this go, okay?"
Cen Xi wiped away his tears and spoke gently.
"I want you to cook me a delicious meal tonight and spend the whole day with me."
Seeing Cen Xi smear his tears all over her face, Jun Jianchou shoved his hand away, opened his eyes, and looked at her with a bewildered expression.
Hearing her words, Cen Xi burst into laughter, a truly hearty and unforgettable laugh.
Hahahaha…
"Don't laugh!"
"We've known each other for so long, and I've never seen you act like a spoiled child. Fine! Do whatever you want. I was planning to talk things out with you today and spend the New Year with you. Actually, I had a gift for you. If you don't want it, I'll give it to the patient in that room."
After laughing enough, Cen Xi looked at him seriously and said slowly.
"You dare!"
"Didn't you tell me to get out of the mansion immediately? Why wouldn't I dare?"
Seeing that he was finally in a better mood, Cen Xi picked up on what he had just said and used it to shut him up.
"Those were just words spoken in anger, don't you understand? Come on, let's go to the kitchen in my yard."
Jun Jianchou stood up abruptly, composed himself, and glared at her.
"I can only cook, and I'm not very good at it! Don't have too high expectations of me."
Seeing that the matter could be resolved so easily, Cen Xi finally felt relieved. This time, Jun Jianchou should have come to his senses and wouldn't dwell on it anymore.
"All you have to do is do it, don't say you can't. You think I don't know that Aunt Li taught you how to cook before?"
Jun Jianchou glared at him, then smirked and said.
"Alright, if you're not afraid of eating people, then I'll make a fool of myself."
Cen Xi also curled the corners of her mouth and followed him.
Two hours later, Cen Xi was exhausted and managed to prepare five or six dishes, which were then placed in front of Jun Jianchou.
"Eat up, sir."
"It looks pretty good, but I wonder how it tastes."
Jun Jianchou smiled and sat down with an air of authority, picking up his chopsticks as if he were about to savor a delicacy.
"How is it? Is it delicious?"
Seeing how serious he was, Cen Xi smiled and asked him.
"It's delicious. Will you make it for me again?"
Jun Jianchou chewed a few bites, a hopeful look appearing in his eyes.
"You are my older brother. I will definitely make it for you whenever I have the chance, as long as you want to eat it."
Cen Xi knew the deeper meaning behind his question, so she answered solemnly.
"Then I will be your elder brother from now on. Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you anymore."
Jun Jian paused, glancing at him with a hint of sorrow, hiding the resentment in his heart. Now that things had come to this, he would just be a good older brother to her.
"Hmm, is it so quiet for your Jun family during the New Year?" Cen Xi responded, changing the subject. She couldn't get any more sentimental, or she might ramble on about something completely unrelated.
"The Jun family's New Year's banquet is in the evening, but Shangyang City has just gone through a plague and a great battle, so I'm afraid everyone won't be able to gather together this year. I estimate that Father will invite you and Shen Jinchen to the banquet together tonight."
Jun Jianchou also knew certain things, and there was no point in continuing to talk about them, so he went along with Cen Xi's words.
"Where is your mother? Why does the Jun family seem so sparsely populated? And does your father have any concubines?"
Cen Xi, trying to make conversation, chatted with Jun Jianchou about everyday things.
“My father had a wife and a concubine, but they both passed away five years ago.”
Jun Jianchou thought for a moment, as if he had thought of something, but ultimately said nothing more.
"Judging from your expression, there must be more to this story. Anyway, let's gossip a bit!"
Cen Xi watched him eat, her smile deepening as she rested her chin on her hand. Seeing Jun Jianchou's expression, she knew something was amiss.
"Six years after my father and mother got married, a cousin from my father's maternal family suddenly came to our door. The old lady took pity on her and let her come into the mansion, intending to prepare a dowry for her so that she could remarry."
“One day, my father got drunk and she secretly climbed into his bed. The deed was done, and in the end, my father’s cousin became his concubine. Although my mother was angry, she knew it wasn’t my father’s fault, so she was understanding and let it go.”
"My father and mother were deeply in love, so even though he took that cousin as a concubine, he didn't treat her very well. That cousin obediently served my mother until five years ago when I returned home and accidentally discovered poison in my mother's medicine residue. Things changed dramatically, and it ended with both of them passing away."
Seeing that she wouldn't give up until she got to the bottom of things, Jun Jianchou told her everything. In his eyes, these things weren't exactly taboo.
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