Chapter 9. Every day I came and saw that pair of nominal cousins kissing...
Although Pei Lang's expression remained calm, Lin Zhi was quite certain that if he were to leave today, she feared her days in the Pei residence would not be pleasant.
Her uncle-in-law was already dissatisfied with her. Even though her aunt and second cousin protected her, her uncle-in-law was still in charge of the Pei family now, and Pei Lang would be in charge in the future.
With that in mind, Lin Zhi mustered her courage and looked at the servant behind him: "You may leave now. I have something to discuss with my cousin."
Anticipating that the servant would remain unmoved, Lin Zhi remained calm and composed: "The indentures of all the servants in the manor are in my aunt's hands. If I want to, I can find my way to your home."
These words surprised Pei Lang somewhat.
That is indeed the case. The affairs of the inner quarters naturally belong to the mistress, but this is the first time Pei Lang has ever encountered someone threatening a servant in front of the master.
His indifferent gaze shifted downwards, noticing Lin Zhi's slightly trembling hands, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Alright, you can go now."
Watching the servant leave, Lin Zhi opened her sweaty palms and said, "I'm sorry, cousin. I just wanted to try again. I know you're doing this for my own good. I was just too immature before."
The little girl's slender figure looked somewhat forlorn in the summer breeze. Pei Lang looked up and stared at her for a while before finally reaching out his hand to her.
His handsome face remained expressionless: "I thought you were scared after being beaten that time. After all, my second brother seems to cherish you very much. If we become family in the future, I will feel a little guilty."
What she thought in her heart was one thing, but having it openly stated was another.
Lin Zhi clenched her fingers, and the explanation she gave sounded weak: "Cousin is joking. I wouldn't dare, after all, I was in the wrong first."
"It is an honor for Azhi to be taught by her cousin."
Pei Lang withdrew his gaze without speaking, but his hands had already turned to the homework that Lin Zhi had fallen behind on in recent days. It wasn't difficult; he simply asked her to read some articles and then write down her thoughts.
Lin Zhi was initially quite confident in her writing skills, but when she saw Pei Lang's thick eyebrows slowly furrowing, she felt flustered.
Pei Lang remained silent for a long time before finally speaking when Lin Zhi was so nervous her heart was about to jump out of her chest: "Was someone forcing you to write this with a knife?"
"...Huh?" If Pei Mingli had said that, Lin Zhi would have laughed so hard her stomach hurt, and the two of them would have been laughing heartily at each other.
But these words came from Pei Lang.
Lin Zhi leaned forward anxiously to see which place he was referring to, but didn't notice the sudden closeness between them.
The girl's fragrant, soft hair brushed against Pei Lang's hand, tickling him slightly. Pei Lang, however, subtly shifted his hand in another direction. Lin Zhi, who had been watching intently, lost her balance and lurched forward. She frantically tried to grab something to steady herself, but instead bumped into Pei Lang.
"Hiss!" The young man let out a low, hoarse groan, which was captivating.
"Yes, I'm sorry!"
Lin Zhi's face paled as she watched herself press her hand firmly against Pei Lang's injured knee, flustered and unsure of what to do with her hands.
"Did you do it on purpose or intentionally?"
"You think I'm not badly injured enough? You want to hurt me even more?"
Pei Lang's handsome face was gloomy, and the pain seemed to bring a touch of life to his usually indifferent and serious expression.
Lin Zhi was so anxious she was about to cry: "No, I wanted to see where it was written poorly... I couldn't see it from a bit far away..."
Seeing her like this, Pei Lang clicked his tongue and pointed out the shortcomings in front of her: "Enough, look at this line, the handwriting is weak and the wrist is feeble..."
As Pei Lang was speaking, he suddenly tilted his head back and stared at her with a leisurely air: "You have quite the nerve to make me look up to you."
Lin Zhi pursed her bright red lips, smearing the rouge on them with her teeth.
Tears welled up in her eyes from her anxiety.
"Come here, bend your knees and squat down."
Looking at the empty space in front of Pei Lang's knees, Lin Zhi hesitated. It wasn't about losing face, but wasn't this a bit too... presumptuous? Thinking of her own fantasies about Pei Lang, Lin Zhi felt even more embarrassed to squat down.
Seeing her hesitation, Pei Lang also became serious: "Cousin Lin, you only gave me a chance by threatening me with my servants. What else do you want to do now? My patience has its limits."
Before he could finish speaking, a dark figure appeared in front of him. The little girl hugged her knees, tilted her head, and looked at him at eye level as he sat down: "Cousin, you're right to teach me a lesson. I'll listen to you."
"The reason I couldn't write that part was because my hand was pricked by the embroidery needle."
Staring at the small whorl on the top of her jet-black hair, Pei Lang calmly withdrew his gaze and returned to the article in his hand.
Lan Xin calculated the time, thinking that the arrogant cousin should be leaving by now, and happily carried a bowl of plum soup out of the small kitchen. Her young master rarely brought up food, so she had to make sure it was to her liking.
Before they had gone far, they saw the servant who usually served the young master standing alone in one place.
Young Master's leg ailment is still not fully healed, yet this person dares to slack off here?
Suppressing her anger, Lan Xin hurriedly stepped forward and scolded, "You heartless wretch, why are you standing here instead of serving the young master?"
The servant shrank back slightly, looking somewhat aggrieved: "Sister Lanxin, it was the young master who told me to leave. The young master and Miss Biao have something to say."
Lan Xin frowned upon hearing this: "What did you say? Miss Biao hasn't left yet?"
"Young Master didn't kick her out of Lanxue Pavilion?"
The servant was somewhat frightened by her aggressive tone and shook his head hesitantly.
"Really..." Lan Xin bit her lower lip, shoved the tray of plum soup she was holding into the other person's hands, and stormed off towards the pavilion.
Afraid of angering Pei Lang, she dared not make too much noise to disturb him. However, when she saw the two of them from afar, she couldn't help but exclaim and quickly covered her mouth, not daring to let out a single sound.
The two nominal cousins were seen being very close. The delicate and slender girl seemed to be resting on the young man's lap, while the usually aloof and cold man did not reject her approach, and even had a gentle smile on his lips.
It was a picture-perfect scene of lovers, but Lan Xin was filled with rage.
Her waist is twisted like that, so thin she's not afraid of breaking it, you vixen!
"She's just an orphan girl who relies on the madam; she's not even worthy to carry the young master's shoes!"
The servant stood there watching as Lan Xin walked past him, calling out to her several times but she ignored him.
"This is well written."
After watching Lin Zhi rewrite it several times using the ink left by Lu Heng, Pei Lang nodded after reading it: "It's much better than before, but you've fallen behind in your studies. Now it's only about the same as Lu Heng's."
Lin Zhi lowered her head in shame upon hearing this. In the past, the Lin family was always busy, and she never had the chance to concentrate on practicing calligraphy.
But after a moment of contemplation, Pei Lang's voice was like heavenly music: "From now on, you will come to Lanxue Pavilion every day to practice calligraphy for two hours."
"I don't need to go to the palace while I'm recuperating. I'll teach you properly first."
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