Chapter 12 He said, "Don't move. Just bear with it a little longer, it'll be over soon."...
The next morning, Chun Tao yawned as she went to bring water for her mistress to wash up, but to her surprise, the door was opened from the inside first. Chun Tao was startled. Her mistress had no other hobbies besides embroidery; her only hobby was sleeping, just like a cat.
"Didn't you sleep well, Miss? Why did you wake up so early today?"
Seeing the faint bluish tinge under Lin Zhi's eyes, Chun Tao quickly put down the water and pulled her to sit in front of the bronze mirror: "Oh dear, we have to have lunch with the master, madam, and eldest young master today. It's not appropriate for Miss to be like this..."
Lin Zhi's walking posture was slightly unusual, and she herself was quite surprised that she had such a strange dream because of her curiosity about the storybook!
She didn't know who came up with those positions. After all that tossing and turning in her dream, her back ached and she didn't get any enjoyment out of it. Now that she was awake, she only felt numbness and pain in her back and knees.
Not only that, but I also wasted an entire evening reviewing my studies, truly losing both ways.
After dressing up, Lin Zhi remained seated on the round stool. After seeing the item, she felt a mix of indescribable emotions towards Pei Lang, as if she had vaguely sensed something unusual about him.
No matter what, she could never go back to the time when she regarded Pei Lang as a gentle breeze and a bright moon.
Having witnessed such a private matter, whether Pei Lang knew about it or not, she felt she couldn't face him anymore. It seemed she wouldn't be able to continue practicing calligraphy.
Lin Zhi sighed softly and lingered in the room for a while. Seeing that it was almost time for dinner, she reluctantly left the room.
Today was just a day for the Pei family to dine together according to their rules, nothing special, and naturally there weren't many servants to attend to them. Pei Lang and his son had already sat down, seemingly discussing some official business.
The aunt sat to one side watching the servants serve the dishes. When she saw Lin Zhi arrive, she quickly invited her to sit down next to her: "I heard yesterday that you had heatstroke. Your little body is too delicate. Are you feeling better now?"
Lin Zhi pursed her lips and nodded: "I'm sorry to have worried you, Aunt. I'm fine now."
Throughout lunch, Lin Zhi didn't dare to look up at Pei Lang even once. Even when she did look up unintentionally, she hesitated and dared not look him directly in the eye.
Pei Lang naturally noticed her unusual behavior. He lowered his eyes to hide the fleeting smile in them and didn't say much in front of his elders. After the meal, he was pushed away by someone.
Lin Shaowan, who had been dealing with noble ladies in the capital for many years, could tell that her niece had something to say to her. She found an excuse to call her into the room: "Does Azhi have something to say to her aunt?"
Lin Zhi bit her soft lower lip, somewhat embarrassed, unsure of how to begin.
Seeing this, Lin Shaowan felt even more affection for her: "Good child, if you still have any awkwardness with your aunt, just say it."
“Aunt, Azhi doesn’t want to go to her older cousin’s to learn calligraphy anymore. Her cousin’s leg ailment is still not healed, and I’m afraid I’m holding him back.”
Lin Shaowan had initially thought it was something serious, but upon hearing this, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Azhi, have you forgotten what your aunt told you before?"
"Now it's just the two of us, aunt and niece. Your aunt won't treat you like an outsider. You know I want to help you and Mingli get together. If you become your aunt's daughter-in-law, it will be a double blessing for us."
"Now that Mingli is not in the manor, if you also avoid Pei Lang, how will the two of you establish yourselves in the manor in the future?"
“Pei Lang is the eldest son of the Pei family and the elder brother of Mingli. They are not biological brothers. Only if you are obedient to him now will he take better care of you and Mingli in the future.”
Lin Zhi was about to speak when Yu Shu, who had just entered, interrupted her: "Madam, it's a letter from the Second Young Master!"
Lin Shaowan was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly waved her hand, "Mingli's letter? Bring it here quickly!"
This time, however, there were not just one letter, but three in total. Lin Shaowan frowned in confusion, but her expression relaxed after she saw the words on them.
With a smile on her face, she said, "Azhi, look, this is a letter from your cousin."
Lin Zhi reached out and took it with some surprise, only to see that it was clearly written with the words "To A-Zhi" on it.
On her way back, clutching the letters, Lin Zhi frowned slightly. She had just noticed that there was not only one letter from her aunt and uncle, but also another that seemed to have Pei Lang's name on it.
"Why did my second cousin send so many letters home all at once? He used to think even half a page was too much."
Chun Tao tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Perhaps the Second Young Master has a lot to say this time. Miss used to look forward to the Second Young Master sending letters home the most. Aren't you happy?"
Lin Zhi managed a weak smile, but her heart felt heavy.
Back in her room, she didn't even have time to drink a sip of tea before eagerly opening the letter Pei Mingli had sent. The contents weren't long, but they terrified Lin Zhi.
[How are you, my cousin Azhi? My mind is made up about marrying you, and I've enclosed a letter to inform our parents and brothers. Please rest assured, I await my triumphant return.]
These few lines of text sent a chill down Lin Zhi's spine even in the summer heat.
Pei Mingli not only told his aunt and uncle about their affair, but also told Pei Lang? Lin Zhi jumped up, but then slumped back down, powerless.
What can she do? She can't do anything.
Lin Zhi clenched her fists tightly, biting her lower lip. A few days ago, she might have been happy. But now, Pei Lang had said such ambiguous things, and Pei Mingli had acted this way. If Pei Lang were narrow-minded, what might he say to her uncle...?
Last time, her two cousins had only slightly sided with her because of Lu Jue's matter, and her uncle looked at her as if she were a dead object. Lin Zhi felt a void in her heart. She had already experienced being sold into marriage by her elders once, and she did not want to go through it a second time.
If things really came to that point of walking on thin ice, even her aunt might not be able to protect her. Lin Zhi closed her eyes in despair, but when she opened them again, she was still thinking about her aunt's words.
To curry favor with Pei Lang.
Even if she manages to marry her second cousin in the future, she will ultimately have to rely on her brother Pei Lang.
Thinking of that storybook, Lin Zhi hesitated for a long time before taking it to Lanxue Pavilion. She hesitated at the door for a moment, but the door opened to her from the inside.
The person who came was not Lan Xin, but a servant boy who looked unfamiliar.
This man was taciturn; after bowing, he led her to the door of Pei Lang's study.
“Our young master is a little tired and needs to rest for a while. Please come in and wait for him, Miss.”
Lin Zhi felt it was inappropriate and opened her mouth to say something, but the servant was quick on his feet and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
She sighed softly. The courtyard and the corridor were unbearably hot, so she had no choice but to quietly push open the door and slip inside. She didn't notice a pretty figure flashing by behind the vermilion pillars not far away.
Pei Lang's room was filled with the finest things. As soon as she entered, she felt the benefits of the ice chest; even in the sweltering summer, the room remained comfortable and cool.
She had assumed he was taking a nap on the soft couch, but she never expected that behind the table was the back of a wheelchair facing away from her. He had actually fallen asleep in the wheelchair.
Lin Zhi moved quietly and carefully walked over, circling around to face Pei Lang and holding her breath. She saw that his eyes were slightly closed, and after his sharp, icy gaze disappeared, his whole demeanor softened.
His already outstanding features were now enhanced by the sunlight, giving him an ethereal and divine quality. Lin Zhi's slightly intoxicated gaze flowed from his brow bone to his pale lips.
She had heard that Pei Lang had never lost a debate in court, and that every word he uttered touched her fragile heartstrings, whether it was out of fear or excitement...
Have you seen enough?
Pei Lang had already felt the intense gaze, and although he deliberately lowered his voice, he still managed to scare the person.
With a snap, the thing Lin Zhi was carrying behind her back fell to the ground.
She was still a little shaken; Pei Lang's voice, still tinged with weariness, had softly lingered on her, making her ears tingle.
She hurriedly squatted down to pick up the storybook and held it in her hand, but someone grabbed her wrist: "What are you holding?"
Seeing that she couldn't free her hands, Lin Zhi, who had only intended to secretly put the storybook back, became a little anxious: "Cousin, the servant told me to wait here, I, I didn't..."
Lin Zhi racked her brains trying to make herself look like she didn't have any ulterior motives, but Pei Lang was clearly more interested in what she had in her hands: "Where did you get this storybook?"
Pei Lang had excellent eyesight and could see clearly even though Lin Zhi tried her best to hide. His expression gradually darkened.
Having been caught and unable to escape, Lin Zhi had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "This is something my cousin put in his books yesterday when the servant brought it to me. I thought it might be something from my cousin... so I brought it back to you."
After she finished speaking, there was a long silence in the room. Pei Lang then raised an eyebrow and looked at her: "Have you seen what's inside?"
Lin Zhi quickly shook her head: "No, since it's not mine, A-Zhi would never look at it privately!"
But a half-smile appeared on Pei Lang's face: "Since it's sandwiched in your homework, how do you know it's not homework I assigned to you?"
"Or is it that my cousin is being lazy and doesn't want to study or practice writing again?"
Lin Zhi felt a buzzing in her head, unsure whether to acknowledge it or not.
But under Pei Lang's intense gaze, she finally gave in: "...I saw it."
Seeing her candor, Pei Lang chuckled softly, but Lin Zhi inexplicably felt that the laugh was somewhat bitter.
"Since you've already realized it, I don't want you to look down on me. You can leave now, and you don't need to come back from now on. Whether you think I'm disgusting or despicable, please at least save face for me in front of outsiders."
Seeing Pei Lang's dejected and disheartened expression as he reached for the storybook, Lin Zhi felt a sudden surge of pity. Instead, she dodged his touch, her soft features hardening as she asked, "What are you saying, cousin?"
"Everyone is born different, with different appearances and different preferences. You haven't bothered anyone, so why are you belittling yourself like this?"
Pei Lang stared at her intently for so long that Lin Zhi became somewhat uncomfortable. She lowered her head to look at the storybook in her hands and whispered, "But reading these things is harmful to your health, cousin, you should be more moderate..."
As Lin Zhi spoke, she bent down and handed the storybook in her hand to Pei Lang. When she tried to turn away, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
The attack was sudden, and Lin Zhi was completely unprepared. She even stumbled and fell face-first towards Pei Lang.
Pei Lang's wheelchair has a wide backrest, so even if two people are in it, they can be completely hidden from view from behind.
Lin Zhi was frail and leaned against Pei Lang's lap as if she were being held in his arms. Her face was flushed, and she tried to struggle to get up, but found that her hair and hairpins were caught on Pei Lang's clothes and she was unable to move.
Pei Lang was also taken aback, and the words caught in his throat for a moment before he slowly said, "Don't move, I'll untie it."
When a long, slender hand stroked her cheek, Lin Zhi's eyes darted around nervously, looking at the sky and the ground but not daring to look at Pei Lang. She pursed her lips, as if remembering something: "Cousin, will I hurt your injury if I do this?"
Pei Lang glanced down and saw the little girl straining to support herself, but ultimately lacking the strength, her forearms trembling. Pei Lang's eyes darkened, and he reached out to support her waist for leverage, bringing them closer together.
"No, you won't if you behave."
Hearing this, Lin Zhi dared not move anymore. With support, she gradually lost her strength and let herself press tightly against Pei Lang. The room was silent, with only the steady thumping of his heartbeat in her ears. The scent of cedar on Pei Lang's body seemed even more refreshing in the summer.
The cool air emanating from the ice chest seemed to thicken in mid-air, as if it dared not disturb the beautiful couple.
"Just bear with it a little longer, it'll be over soon." Pei Lang kept moving his hands, but there wasn't much progress.
The two leaned against each other in silence, but suddenly they heard someone knocking on the door and announcing that it was Lan Xin.
"Young master, the master has come to see you."
With a creak, she said crisply, "Please, go ahead."
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