Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 54

Since she grew up, Xie Wanqing had only been here once a few years ago, how could she know that the neighbor next door was...

She was suddenly startled, something flashed through her mind, but she couldn’t grasp it.

Xie YanYu had no intention of reminding her.

Xie Ruyu, who got off the carriage afterwards, didn’t hear the conversation between the brother and sister. As soon as she got off, she looked around happily: "We’re finally here."

She took Xie Wanqing’s hand and complained a little: "When you came here to recuperate a few years ago, I wanted to come with you, but Mother wouldn’t allow it."

Back then, the sisters’ relationship was awkward. They would always clash when they met, and Xie Wanqing was sick at the time. Aunt Liu didn’t dare let her daughter come and annoy her sister.

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener took it to heart. Xie Wanqing stiffened all over, finally catching the thought that had flashed by earlier.

She slowly turned her head to look at her brother beside her: "I know now."

Xie YanYu glanced at her: "What do you know?"

Being siblings, Xie Wanqing had nothing to hide. She said directly: "I know when Pei Yuqing met me."

Why hadn’t she thought of it earlier?

She hadn’t lost her memory, and she was sure that if she’d met him before, it would be impossible to not remember.

So it must have been in the year she was fourteen when the capital experienced a once-in-a-century snowstorm. She developed snow blindness, covered her eyes, unable to see, and came specifically to the suburban farm to recuperate.

A sudden realization hit her, and Xie Wanqing’s gaze fell on the Hot Spring Villa next door.

The winter when she was fourteen was the only slightly turbulent time in Xie Wanqing’s otherwise smooth and effortless life.

With an eye illness that rendered her blind, the doctor told her to rest quietly. The bustling environment of the capital was not conducive to her recovery, and nearby the farm was a natural spring. It wasn’t spring all year round, but compared to the snow-covered capital, it was indeed much better.

... So, was the music she remembered played by Pei Yuqing?

The person who patiently coaxed her wasn’t the son of a tenant farmer nor a rural scholar—it was him?

Xie Wanqing’s heart pounded desperately. She almost wanted to turn the carriage around immediately, head back to the capital, and ask him.

But her arm was held by Xie Ruyu, who was eagerly asking, "Pei Yuqing? Is he the Heir of Duke Pei? So, Sister, you have such a connection with him."

The capital was abuzz with rumors, and as a cousin, she certainly heard about the incident a few days ago where Lu Ziyuan had a scuffle with the heir’s guard at the Duke Pei Mansion.

Xie Wanqing briefly explained to her sister and then said, "It actually happened just two years ago."

Two years ago, she was fourteen, and Pei Yuqing was twenty-five...

If he liked her two years ago, how was he able to keep from revealing his identity?

Clearly, she asked him many times, his...

Xie Wanqing suddenly raised her head: "Brother, what’s Pei Yuqing’s courtesy name again?"

Xie YanYu gave her a casual glance, having no intention to answer her, and led his two sisters toward the entrance of the villa, where the steward was already waiting.

The look in his eyes didn’t seem pleased, and Xie Wanqing immediately stopped talking, not daring to ask out of turn.

Indeed, her brother was stern and uninteresting, well aware of Pei Yuqing’s feelings. How could he possibly answer her question?

She would have a chance to ask him in person.

Thinking so, Xie Wanqing couldn’t help but look next door again.

As if by coincidence, the tightly closed gate slowly opened inward in her view.

All three Xie siblings looked over.

A familiar figure appeared before them.

......

Except for the servants moving boxes and chests, everyone on both sides fell silent.

Not only were the Xie siblings surprised by such a coincidence, but even Pei Yuqing didn’t expect the girl would come to the suburban farm.

His gaze swept over several carriages loaded with luggage.

... It seemed they were planning to stay for a while.

Behind him, Pei Er whispered, "Heir, are we returning to the capital?"

"..." Pei Yuqing was silent for a few moments, glanced at him sideways, and said nothing.

Xie Wanqing stood rooted to the spot, watching him approach step by step, her heart inexplicably tense, pounding in her chest.

Beside her, Xie Ruyu, seeing this scene, tightened her hold on her cousin’s arm and asked, "Is this the Heir Pei?"

Pei Yuqing had visited the Xie family several times, but she hadn’t seen him. Even at the last flower-viewing banquet, they hadn’t met.

Thus, this was Xie Ruyu’s first time seeing this heir of the Duke Mansion, who had argued with Lu Ziyuan for her cousin’s sake.

Xie Wanqing nodded haphazardly, and as the sisters spoke, Pei Yuqing had already walked up to them.

After a few days of not seeing him, he still looked as he did on their first meeting—refined yet distant, with a bright and cold face. His wide sleeves billowed in the wind, giving him an even more unapproachable air.

He first nodded to greet Xie YanYu, and when his gaze fell on Xie Wanqing, he smiled slightly and said, "Came to the farm for a short stay?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"...Yes," Xie Wanqing thought for a moment and asked, "Didn’t I tell the person delivering the medicinal meals yesterday that I won’t be at the mansion for these few days, so they shouldn’t send them?"

Pei Yuqing lowered his eyelashes and said, "I see," then smiled again, "I’ve been at the villa annex in recent days and haven’t received reports from the servants."

Xie Wanqing raised an eyebrow, looking at the villa behind him, "Is this the famous Ming Mountain Hot Springs?"

She had long heard that nearby there was a natural hot spring. Previously, it had been in the hands of a royal merchant, who combined it with precious herbs to open a hot spring health club for the nobility.

Later, the merchant got into trouble and needed funds to cover losses, so this hot spring villa was resold. Unexpectedly, the Duke Pei Mansion acquired it.

"Yes," Pei Yuqing’s eyes flickered slightly, he said, "I spend more than half the year living here."

...Indeed, as the capital gets very cold at the year’s end, this hot spring villa is suitable for keeping warm. Pei Yuqing’s congenital frailty probably required no small effort from Princess Duan Yang and Duke Pei to get him in such a healthy state.

Thinking this, Xie Wanqing had no doubts that he came specifically for her.

Xie Ruyu, who had been silently observing his cousin’s heir for a while, suddenly spoke up: "I’ve never seen a hot spring before."

Pei Yuqing hesitated and then looked at Xie Wanqing, "I’ll instruct the steward. If you don’t mind, you can visit anytime."

"And you," Xie Wanqing pointed to the carriages waiting behind him, "Are you heading back to the capital?"

"...No, I plan to take a walk around the nearby orchard." Pei Yuqing lowered his eyes and said, "I will be staying here for the time being."

Behind him, Pei Er’s mouth twitched. Afraid someone would notice his expression, he quickly bowed his head lower.

"Orchard?" Xie Wanqing’s eyes lit up, "There are..."

"Enough," Xie YanYu, who had been quietly listening to them speak, finally interrupted, unable to hold back, "This isn’t the place for conversation. Brother Changqing, go ahead if you have matters to attend to."