Chapter 188 Wanting them to consummate their marriage as soon as possible
"I..." Ye Wanning wanted to say something, but didn't know how to say it.
"No need to say anything more." Pei Zhi interrupted her. "I know you're not ready yet. I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes."
His words were like a warm current flowing through Ye Wanning's heart. She looked at him, her eyes slightly sore, but ultimately remained silent.
After bandaging him up, Pei Zhi instructed, "Rest well and don't overexert yourself. I will have the prefect severely punish Su Biao and prevent his remaining followers from harassing you again."
"Okay." Ye Wanning nodded.
Pei Zhi turned around and strode to the door, then looked back at her, his eyes full of tenderness and reluctance: "Remember to change your dressing on time, and call me anytime if you need anything."
Ye Wanning hummed in agreement and watched him leave, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
These past few days, Ye Wanning has been frantically busy with the branch school affairs, hoping to use this opportunity to forget Pei Zhi.
But his image always lingers in my mind.
She remembered how he pushed her away from the mountain path despite his own safety, how he bandaged her up with heartache and focus, and how he gently and persistently said, "I'll wait for you."
She had to admit that her feelings for Pei Zhi were growing stronger. But the betrayal in her past life was like a curse, making her afraid to trust anyone.
This conflicting feeling caused her great distress.
Pei Zhi didn't come to see her every day, but he would always send her her favorite snacks and urgently needed medicine.
I would occasionally visit her at the branch hospital to make sure she was alright.
Their relationship had become much closer than before, yet they remained cautious. This tug-of-war was unbearable for both of them, yet they also found enjoyment in it.
That day, Ye Wanning was treating a pregnant woman when she suddenly heard a commotion outside.
As she came out of the clinic, she saw Old Madam Pei standing at the entrance of the branch hospital with several maids, her face not looking too good.
Ye Wanning's heart tightened, and she quickly walked over: "Grandma, what brings you here?"
Madam Pei snorted, walked into the branch courtyard, looked around, and became increasingly displeased: "If I don't come back, are you planning to stay in Jiangnan for the rest of your life and never return to the capital?"
Ye Wanning was dumbfounded: "Grandma, I..."
"What do you mean, 'what ...'?" Old Madam Pei didn't give her a chance to explain. "You and Pei Zhi have been married for more than two years, and you've been living apart the whole time. What kind of behavior is that?"
"The Jiangnan branch is stable now, it's time to go back to Beijing to take care of important business!" Ye Wanning's cheeks flushed instantly. She understood that Old Madam Pei had come to urge her to get married.
"Grandma, there are still many things to take care of at the branch hospital, so I can't leave for the time being," Ye Wanning said, making an excuse.
"What could be more important than carrying on the family line?" Old Madam Pei's face darkened. "I'm telling you, Ye Wanning, you must come back to the capital with me this time!"
"If you still don't agree to consummate your marriage with Pei Zhi, I will petition the Emperor to grant you a divorce!"
Ye Wanning's face turned deathly pale. Divorce? She had never considered this question.
Just then, Pei Zhi came in from outside and was taken aback when he saw Old Madam Pei: "Grandma, what brings you here?"
"If I don't come soon, your wife will fly away!" Old Madam Pei said irritably. "Pei Zhi, I'm asking you, when are you going to let me hold my great-grandchild? If you can't, I'll find you another one!"
Pei Zhi's cheeks also flushed slightly, and he quickly advised, "Grandma, please don't pressure Wan Ning. We'll handle our own affairs."
"Handle? Is this what you call handling?" Old Madam Pei trembled with anger. "We've been married for over two years and haven't even had a proper wedding night. Today I'm making this clear: either come back to the capital with me to consummate the marriage, or we get a divorce!"
Ye Wanning was extremely flustered. It wasn't that she didn't want to be with Pei Zhi, but she wasn't ready yet and couldn't get over the shadow of her past life.
Ye Wanning could no longer hold back and turned to run away, saying, "I have something to do, please excuse me!"
"Wan Ning!" Pei Zhi tried to stop her, but he was too late and could only hurry after her.
Watching Ye Wanning's retreating figure, Old Madam Pei stomped her feet in anger, "That girl! She's driving me crazy!"
Ye Wanning ran out of the branch hospital and wandered aimlessly through the streets, tears streaming down her face.
She felt wronged. Why was everyone pressuring her? Why couldn't they give her some time?
Pei Zhi quickly caught up and grabbed her arm: "Wan Ning, wait for me!"
Ye Wanning stopped and turned around, her eyes brimming with tears, asking, "Why? Why is everyone forcing me?"
I'm just not ready yet, am I wrong?
Pei Zhi looked at her aggrieved expression and felt a pang of heartache. He gently wiped away her tears and said, "I'm sorry, Grandma was too anxious. I apologize to you on her behalf."
“I’m not blaming Grandma, I’m blaming myself.” Ye Wanning choked up. “I can’t forget what happened in my past life. I’m afraid… I’m afraid of being hurt again. I’m afraid that if we’re together, you will betray me like they did.”
Pei Zhi's heart clenched painfully. He gripped her hand tightly and said, "Wan Ning, I understand that you have too many wounds in your heart, and you are afraid to let go of yourself. I understand."
He held her shoulders, his eyes unwavering and sincere: "I want to live a good life with you, not for the sake of continuing the Pei family line, not for anyone else, but simply because I like you and want to be with you."
Ye Wanning looked into his eyes, which held only tenderness and determination, without a trace of impurity.
She felt a bittersweet feeling in her heart, but she still couldn't believe it.
"I...I'm not ready yet, Pei Zhi. Give me some time to think about it some more."
Pei Zhi watched her retreating figure, his heart filled with disappointment and helplessness. He knew that Ye Wanning still had a hurdle in her heart, and he could only give her time to overcome it on her own.
He didn't chase after her; he just stood there, watching her figure disappear at the end of the street, and whispered:
"I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes."
Ye Wanning ran back to the inn and locked herself in her room, crying for a long time. Pei Zhi was good to her, which made her heart flutter and made her like him, but the shadow of her past life was like a wall, preventing her from getting close.
She didn't know when she would be able to truly let go of her fear and bravely accept Pei Zhi's love.
Meanwhile, Madam Pei waited for a long time at the branch courtyard but Ye Wanning did not return, which made her extremely angry.
When Pei Zhi returned, Old Madam Pei gave him a good scolding: "Look at you, what have you done to your wife?"
"If you don't want to consummate the marriage, can't you take the initiative?"
“Grandma, matters of the heart cannot be forced,” Pei Zhi said helplessly. “Wan Ning has a lingering trauma; I need to give her time.”
"Three months! I'm only giving you three months!" Old Madam Pei's attitude was firm. "If you still can't get her to agree after three months,..."
I must write to the Emperor!
Pei Zhi knew his grandmother's temper, so he could only nod and say, "Okay, I understand, Grandma."
After Madam Pei calmed down, she settled down in Jiangnan and went to the branch hospital every day to "supervise" them, hoping they would consummate their marriage as soon as possible.
Forced by Madam Pei, Ye Wanning had no choice but to try to avoid Pei Zhi and delegate the affairs of the branch courtyard to Su Xiao and Chen Sheng.
The two pulled at each other more and more frequently. Pei Zhi wanted to get closer, and Ye Wanning wanted to get away, but in this back and forth, they showed more care and concern for each other.
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