NFBE Chapter 254 Meeting
Chapter 254 Meeting
Upon hearing this, Shen Fuhan nearly snapped the brush in his hand.
Wen Jiayue met Pei Huaijin yesterday and left the mansion today.
Meanwhile, Pei Huaijin and Pei Shijing were at the Peach Blossom Spring Restaurant. A guard had come to report a quarter of an hour earlier that the brother and sister had been there for an hour.
The place she wants to go to is preferably not a paradise.
Shen Fuhan said indifferently, "Go and see where Madam has gone."
He remained uneasy after the guards left.
His gaze was fixed on the familiar file in front of him, but now it seemed like a book written in a foreign language, and he couldn't understand a single word.
Finally, the guard returned.
He asked, trying to remain calm, "Where did Madam go?"
The guard hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Reporting to the Marquis, the place the Madam went to was... Peach Blossom Spring Restaurant."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the brush snapped in two with a "crack," splattering ink all over the floor.
A few drops splashed onto the guard's face. The guard lowered his head tremblingly, but did not dare to wipe them away.
Faint sounds of conversation mixed with laughter could be heard outside, but inside the house was deathly silent.
After a long silence, Shen Fuhan finally spoke.
"You must not reveal a single word about what happened today. If I find out, your life will be as good as this writing brush."
His tone was flat, but the guard, sweating profusely, replied "Yes," awaiting the lord's next instructions.
Unexpectedly, the Marquis said, "You may leave."
The guard was stunned, hardly believing his ears.
He quickly realized that the Marquis was preparing to go there in person.
But even after he left the Dali Temple, he didn't see the Marquis's figure behind him.
Little did they know, Shen Fuhan remained seated in the same spot, as if he had become a motionless statue.
The sunlight slanted in through the window, but it couldn't warm the chill on his face.
Pei Huaijin was waiting for Wen Jiayue, but she also went to keep the appointment.
So blatant and open, so disregarding him.
But... Pei Huaijin was accompanied by his younger sister, so they didn't meet alone.
He shouldn't overthink it.
But she not only concealed her relationship with Pei Huaijin, she also concealed her meeting with him today.
Shen Fuhan took a deep breath, asked Lord Li for leave, and rode away.
Peach Blossom Spring.
Wen Jiayue went up to the second floor and immediately met Pei Huaijin's gaze.
Just as she was about to greet him, she suddenly caught sight of his sister, Pei Shijing, standing to the side.
Wen Jiayue immediately composed herself, pretended to be passing by, and continued walking forward.
"Eh? Mrs. Shen?" Pei Shijing suddenly spoke up, "Is it Mrs. Shen?"
Wen Jiayue then looked up, surprised, and asked, "Xiao Jing? The young master?"
“Mrs. Shen still remembers me,” Pei Shijing said with an innocent smile. “Why are you eating alone?”
Wen Jiayue smiled and said, "I had nothing to do today, so I came to sit at the restaurant. I'll head over now."
It seems the situation has changed; she should probably slip away first.
Unexpectedly, before she could take a single step, Pei Shijing grabbed her arm.
"Why don't you eat with me, Mrs. Shen?" Pei Shijing pouted and complained. "My brother is so distracted today. He won't even talk to me. Will you keep me company?"
Wen Jiayue looked at Pei Huaijin, who hadn't said a word.
Seeing him nod, she smiled and said, "Okay, I get bored by myself, let's keep each other company."
Pei Shijing said excitedly, "What would Madam Shen like to eat? I'll have the waiter come and add some dishes."
After saying that, she gripped the railing tightly and called out, "Waiter!"
Taking this opportunity, Pei Huaijin lowered his voice and said, "I'm sorry, Xiao Jing insisted on coming along."
Wen Jiayue shook her head, indicating that she didn't care.
She could tell that Pei Shijing relied on him a lot, just like she had relied on him when she was a child.
It's understandable that Pei Shijing is so attached to her older brother, whom she hasn't seen in a long time.
It's just a bit of a pity that she can't talk to Brother Dragonfly alone anymore.
The three entered the private room. Pei Shijing sat with Pei Huaijin, while Wen Jiayue sat on the other side.
The waiter quickly came over and asked solicitously, "Sir, what would you like to eat?"
Pei Shijing looked at Wen Jiayue with a big smile and said, "Mrs. Shen, please order whatever you like. My brother is treating!"
There are already several dishes on the table, but they have hardly been touched.
Wen Jiayue looked at it carefully for a moment, thinking that she shouldn't make a mistake, and then her gaze suddenly stopped.
These dishes... all seem to be foods she liked to eat when she was a child.
Wen Jiayue felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Even after so long, Brother Dragonfly still remembered what dishes she liked to eat.
She quickly lowered her eyes, casually ordered two dishes—jade shrimp and stir-fried shredded vegetables—and said that was enough.
Pei Shijing exclaimed in surprise, "Madam Shen eats such vegetarian food, no wonder she has such a slender and graceful figure."
Wen Jiayue couldn't help but cough lightly.
Pei Shijing realized she had said the wrong thing. Her brother was there, so she covered her mouth while stealing a glance at him.
Seeing him looking out the window, she said softly, relieved, "It's alright, my brother is lost in thought and can't hear us."
Wen Jiayue smiled, looking at her mischievous appearance, and asked, "Is Xiao Jing fifteen this year?"
“It’ll be soon,” Pei Shijing said proudly. “I’ll be of marriageable age next month.”
At this point, she extended an invitation: "My coming-of-age banquet is on October 30th. Would Madam Shen do me the honor of attending?"
Wen Jiayue thought for a moment, and since Shen Fuhan had not yet left the capital at that time, she agreed.
“That’s wonderful! I love a lively atmosphere,” Pei Shijing said happily. “I heard that you have a daughter, Madam. Would you like to bring her along?”
Pei Huaijin also looked over, his face still bearing a gentle smile.
"Xiao Jing loves children the most. If it's convenient for Madam Shen, please bring your daughter over."
Wen Jiayue knew that he also wanted to see, so she said, "Okay, if Zhaozhao is not uncomfortable at that time, I will bring her over."
Pei Shijing then devoutly clasped his hands together and murmured, "May all the gods and Buddhas protect Zhaozhao and keep her safe."
Wen Jiayue was amused by her, and covered her mouth to laugh softly, but her eyes seemed to have a flowing light, as bright as stars.
Pei Huaijin gazed at her quietly, not looking away when she noticed, and calmly asked, "How is Brother Shen today?"
Wen Jiayue pursed her lips, and her smile slowly faded.
She didn't care whether Shen Fuhan was good or bad.
But since he asked, she nodded and said, "It's fine, thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Pei Shijing said, "Speaking of Marquis Jing'an and Madam Shen, you two are truly a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman."
She rested her chin on her hand and dreamed, "In the future, I want to find a man even more handsome than Marquis Jing'an to be my husband. Brother, do you think I can do it?"
Pei Huaijin didn't smile much, but he still put some food on her plate.
He said gently, "Speak less."
“What kind of brother are you?” Pei Shijing pouted. “Fine, I won’t tell you then. I’m not getting married. I’m going to stick to you for the rest of my life.”
Wen Jiayue looked at the brother and sister with emotion. In her memory, she had said something similar to her brother, Dragonfly.
He replied gently, "It's fine if you don't want to get married, then your Dragonfly brother will protect you for the rest of your life."
She was just about to hear his answer when someone knocked on the door.
The three of them thought the food was about to be served, but unexpectedly the person outside the door suddenly spoke.
"Young Master, the Duke requests that you and the Third Miss return, saying that Marquis Jing'an has arrived."