showdown
Seeing this, Pei Zhiyuan's lips curled up imperceptibly, as if his little gesture had achieved the desired effect, and he was secretly pleased with himself. He continued to affectionately link arms with Zhang Xiande, and the two walked side by side toward the study.
At that moment, Zhang Xiande was preoccupied with another matter, so he didn't pay much attention to You Jiale's slightly unusual behavior and left with Pei Zhiyuan.
In the empty courtyard, only a few swaying lanterns remained, silently recording the brief, undercurrent-filled encounter that had just taken place.
Back in her room, You Jiale grew increasingly angry. "You two were out cuddling in the middle of the night, and you dragged me back to watch a show? Are you crazy?"
Ever since he heard that Zhang Xiande had brought You Jiale back to live with him at Yunyin Hall, Pei Zhiyuan's heart had been in turmoil, unable to find peace for a long time.
When would someone like Zhang Xiande ever show such concern for a complete stranger?
This is far too dangerous.
In Pei Zhiyuan's mind, Zhang Xiande's world was calm and aloof; he wasn't used to truly caring about anyone. But now, You Jiale's appearance had shattered this seemingly unbreakable balance. Zhang Xiande should be his!
They had known each other since childhood, and in the eyes of outsiders, he and Zhang Xiande were a match made in heaven.
Although it was just outsiders joking, hadn't he himself had such expectations? They were a match made in heaven, so how could You Jiale suddenly appear and interfere?
He was restless, his heart gnawed by intense jealousy and unease. He had to figure out what was going on, and what Zhang Xiande's true feelings were for You Jiale.
Finally, unable to contain his anxiety, he decided to go and find out the truth from Zhang Xiande.
As he was on his way to Zhang Xiande's study, he bumped into the two people who had just returned together in the courtyard.
———
The investigation into the identity of "Yu Shanhe" has yielded no results so far.
But Zhang Xiande found out who stabbed "Leji" in the back.
Zhang Xiande and Pei Zhiyuan entered the study one after the other.
Zhang Xiande took out a letter from his hand.
"Xiande, it's rare that you have time today. It's been so hard to see you lately."
Zhang Xiande put down the letter in his hand, glanced at him indifferently, and said, "You should know that I don't like beating around the bush."
Pei Zhiyuan's eyes flashed, but his smile remained: "...Xiande, I don't understand."
Zhang Xiande spoke slowly and deliberately, yet with an undeniable sense of pressure: "'He Mingzhou, I think you should be familiar with him, and Chi Ye should be quite familiar with him as well.'"
He paused, his gaze sweeping lightly over Pei Zhiyuan, his tone unhurried: "The details listed in that whistleblower letter are not something an ordinary outsider could easily grasp."
Pei Zhiyuan was taken aback, then disbelief flashed in his eyes, and his voice trembled slightly: "Xiande... are you doubting me? You think I did it?"
Zhang Xiande did not answer directly, but walked up to him and said in a calm but firm tone: "Zhiyuan, I'm giving you a chance. Out of consideration for our old friendship and Pei's father, I will not pursue the matter from before. But there will be no next time."
"I can tell you and You Jiale don't get along."
"But I don't like people doing things behind my back, no matter what their purpose is."
Pei Zhiyuan paused for half a second, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but his face still showed a weak and aggrieved expression.
He bit his lip gently, his eyes reddening: "Xiande, what do you mean by this? Why are you pinning these unfounded accusations on me? If I have really done something to wrong you, you can produce the evidence, and I will move out of your house immediately and will not get in your way or—" He paused, "...and your eyes."
Pei Zhiyuan took a deep breath, as if he had suffered a great injustice, "Xiande, I have lost both my parents, and I have always regarded you as my closest person. How could I possibly do such a thing? You know me best, why—"
“Precisely because I know you,” Zhang Xiande interrupted him, his tone extremely soft yet brooking no argument, “that’s why I know that whether you do it or not isn’t up to you to decide with your words.”
Pei Zhiyuan stared at him with red eyes, his throat moved but he couldn't say a word.
Zhang Xiande's gaze had already shifted away: "I don't want to repeat myself."
For a moment, the study was silent, with only the sandalwood incense slowly wafting through the air.
Pei Zhiyuan stood there, his expression changing several times, but in the end he said nothing. He simply clenched his sleeves, lowered his head, and turned to leave.
The moment the door closed, Zhang Xiande knew that judging from Pei Zhiyuan's attitude today, he was sure that Pei Zhiyuan would not be truly repentant. However, he did not have any solid evidence at the moment, so he could only suppress the matter for the time being and be on guard in secret.
Inside a private room on the second floor of Fumanlou Restaurant.
He Mingzhou had been waiting there for a long time.
The person who came was Pei Zhiyuan.
"Zhiyuan, how is it?" He Mingzhou spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of concern, but his eyes flashed with a different meaning.
Pei Zhiyuan took off his hat, and the gentle smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a gloomy and angry expression.
"Xiande... he actually traced it back to me so quickly!"
Upon hearing this, He Mingzhou showed an expression of expectation. He slowly poured two cups of tea, handed one to Pei Zhiyuan, and said calmly, "He is more difficult to deal with than I imagined." "However, Zhang Xiande has always been cautious and suspicious. Without solid evidence, he will not easily draw conclusions."
Pei Zhiyuan took the teacup, but had no interest in tasting it. He gripped the cup tightly, his knuckles turning white, and his voice carried a hint of resentment: "Am I just going to let this go? Watching that pretty boy surnamed You swaggering around beside him, and the old lady still liking him so much, what's so good about him?"
He Mingzhou chuckled softly, his tone carrying a hint of meaning: "Of course I won't let you suffer in vain. I just went to see a play with You Jiale today."
Pei Zhiyuan suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "You went to see him? What did you say to him?"
He Mingzhou told Pei Zhiyuan in detail about his meeting with You Jiale during the day, including the appreciation and interest he showed in You Jiale.
“I just think that someone like him shouldn’t be tied down to Zhang Xiande. He’s... quite interesting, isn’t he?” He Mingzhou said, his tone slightly nonchalant.
After listening, Pei Zhiyuan looked somewhat confused.
He Mingzhou's lips curled up slightly, with a hint of amusement: "He's cute and clever, and it's fun to be with him. Someone like Zhang Xiande is so deep and calculating; it would be exhausting to be around him."
Pei Zhiyuan revealed a sinister smile: "Can you help me get him to leave Zhang Xiande?"
He Mingzhou picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and a barely perceptible smile flashed in his eyes: "What difference does it make whether I'm helping you or just want to meet more interesting people? The real important thing is that once he's no longer Zhang Xiande's favored assistant, you'll have no obstacles in front of Xiande, right?"
Upon hearing this, Pei Zhiyuan became even more puzzled, but then he thought that as long as he could get You Jiale away from Zhang Xiande, it would be beneficial to him no matter what He Mingzhou was planning.
"What do you need me to do?" Pei Zhiyuan asked, his tone tinged with urgency.
He Mingzhou smiled enigmatically: "You just need to continue to play innocent in front of Zhang Xiande and maintain his trust."
The two exchanged a glance, each with their own thoughts.
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