Marrying the Sweet Story’s Melodramatic Villainess [Transmigration] - Chapter 32

“That is a fluttering of the heart. You are falling for me.”

It was an affirmative, certain answer.

Pei Mingjiao gazed blankly at Cui Yi. Her heart, which had just begun to slow, once again began to beat violently and uncontrollably.

A moment later, a sudden realization dawned upon her.

Pei Mingjiao accepted this fact with complete candor: “So that is how it is.”

Her gold-embroidered robes shimmered like ripples under the warm light. Her features were radiant as she expressed her feelings with charming innocence: “So it turns out I like you, Yi-niang.”

Cui Yi kept her gaze fixed on Pei Mingjiao. With those blunt, unmasked words ringing in her ears, the heartbeat in her own chest grew increasingly disordered—a strange emotion that was neither familiar nor subject to rational control.

Though it felt somewhat peculiar, at this very moment, Cui Yi seemed to share the exact same sensations as her newlywed wife.

In a rare lapse, Cui Yi found herself at a loss for words. The temperature around them began to grow scorching until “Longevity” gently nudged her leg. Cui Yi shifted her gaze away, hurriedly feeding the little deer some hay to mask her flustered state.

Pei Mingjiao, possessing no sense of the atmosphere, cried out in surprise: “Yi-niang, your ears are completely red!”

Cui Yi pursed her lips and ignored her.

Pei Mingjiao bent over to lean in closer, reaching out to touch Cui Yi’s ear. The burning heat spread from her fingertips; inexplicably, Pei Mingjiao also began to feel flushed. She coaxed in a soft, coquettish voice: “Yi-niang, you haven’t said you like me yet.”

Cui Yi did not enjoy excessive outward displays of emotion. She truly had no prior experience with romance; her temperament had always been reserved, and she had never known that such things could be so trying.

Yet Pei Mingjiao continued to chirp in her ear like a bothersome honeybee: “Say it, say it quickly.”

The hay gripped in Cui Yi’s palm felt as though it might ignite from the rising heat. Longevity tugged hard with its mouth but couldn’t budge the grass, so it resorted to butting the “two-legged beast’s” leg with its head. Just as Cui Yi’s attention was drawn away, the other “beast” restlessly tugged at her sleeve, buzzing for an answer: “Quickly, say it! I want to hear it.”

Feeling remarkably busy all of a sudden, Cui Yi let out a long sigh: “Be a bit more well-behaved, alright?”

It was unclear to whom she was speaking.

Pei Mingjiao puffed out her cheeks. Displeased, she took a handful of hay to appease Longevity, her voice sounding dejected: “If you won’t say it, then forget it.”

As she spoke, her entire face slumped; she looked listless, like a puppy that had been soaked in the rain.

After a long pause, a clear, soft voice drifted into Pei Mingjiao’s ear: “I like you.”

The “soaked puppy’s” fur instantly fluffed up, radiating the scent of sunshine. Pei Mingjiao practically hung herself onto Cui Yi’s body. “I knew it! You do like me.”

Pei Mingjiao had never learned the meaning of restraint. To her, love was something that should be spoken of grandly and openly; otherwise, how would anyone else know?

Smothered by this enthusiasm, Cui Yi held the bouncing Pei Mingjiao still, her eyes brimming with a soft smile. “Enough now, you’ve frightened Longevity.”

Pei Mingjiao stroked the deer. “Don’t be afraid, Longevity. I am just too happy.”

Cui Yi joined her, smoothing the deer’s fur to comfort it.

…

The two stayed in the menagerie for a while before heading to the front hall for the meal. Seeing the unstoppable good mood in Pei Mingjiao’s eyes, the Eldest Princess glanced at the elegant, orchid-like Cui Yi and grew increasingly satisfied with this marriage.

The luncheon was very harmonious. However, upon hearing that Pei Mingjiao was returning to stay at the Cui Residence, the young Pei Mingxuan’s eyes turned red with sorrow. Pei Mingjiao patted his head as if he were a dog, suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, and offered a perfunctory comfort: “Fine, then. Why don’t you come stay with us for a few days? Brother Ting was just mentioning you.”

At the mention of Cui Ting, Pei Mingxuan remembered the coursework assigned by the masters. Given Cui Ting’s nature, he likely hadn’t even picked up his brush. If he went, Cui Ting would undoubtedly cling to his legs, wailing to high heaven for help, and Pei Mingxuan would inevitably end up ghostwriting for him. Pei Mingxuan strongly disapproved of such behavior, yet he could never resist Cui Ting’s persistent pestering. At this thought, Pei Mingxuan’s gaze cleared. He politely declined and looked toward Cui Yi: “Sister Yi, we must return to the academy the day after tomorrow. Please remember to remind Brother Ting to bring his coursework.”

Cui Yi: “…Very well, I shall.”

That evening, when Cui Ting was hauled into the study by Father Cui and told to produce the topics assigned by the masters, his world instantly collapsed.

Compared to Cui Ting’s tragedy, the atmosphere between Pei Mingjiao and Cui Yi back in their quarters was exceptionally warm and ambiguous.

Pei Mingjiao was a pleasure-seeking soul. Being young, she was intensely curious about exploring the unknown; one could say she had been “clinging” to Cui Yi every single night. Cui Yi, thinking she was young, had indulged her every time, assuming the curiosity would fade. But seeing Pei Mingjiao’s restless look again tonight, Cui Yi knew that subtle hints would be lost on her. She spoke quite bluntly: “Not tonight.”

Pei Mingjiao, her black hair draped over her shoulders and her bare face looking somewhat youthful, asked with great concern: “Are you feeling unwell?”

She was about to call for a physician, but Cui Yi quickly stopped her, explaining with an air of calm: “Excessive desire is not good.”

Pei Mingjiao blinked, speaking with complete frankness: “How is it not good? I find it very comfortable and happy. Besides, I sleep so soundly every time afterward.”

Inside the bed curtains, there were only the two of them. Pressed close together, their breaths mingled, and the temperature gradually rose. Cui Yi averted her eyes, her lashes drooping slightly to hide her dark pupils. Under the warm yellow candlelight, her plain features looked somewhat frail. “It is my own constitution that is lacking; I have dampened your spirits, Jiao-jiao.”

Pei Mingjiao’s heart suddenly fluttered with panic. She grasped Cui Yi’s hand. “So you were feeling unwell? It is all my fault for only thinking of myself.” As she spoke, her eyes grew red.

Seeing her young bride overwhelmed with guilt, Cui Yi’s eyelashes trembled. “No, I am not unwell.”

Pei Mingjiao stared at her with teary eyes.

Cui Yi explained very seriously: “Indulgence is bad for the health.”

Hearing that Cui Yi wasn’t sick, Pei Mingjiao breathed a sigh of relief. However, the thought of not being able to be “comfortable” every day made her look listless. She put on an expression of making a great sacrifice: “Then in the future, we shall do it once every two days.”

Cui Yi looked away, refusing to acknowledge Pei Mingjiao’s pitiful look. She spoke coldly: “Every three days.”

Pei Mingjiao’s eyes widened. Unwilling to comply, she hugged Cui Yi’s slender waist and acted shamelessly: “No! I don’t want that!”

Cui Yi’s expression remained indifferent, completely unmoved: “Every four days.”

Pei Mingjiao was so incensed that she pinned Cui Yi down and gave her a resentful little bite on the cheek. She was fuming: “How can you raise the price like that?”

Her right cheek stung slightly, but it was bearable for Cui Yi. She reached out to brush away the hair Pei Mingjiao had scattered over her face and said, leaving no room for negotiation: “If you keep making a fuss, it will be five days.”

Pei Mingjiao realized then that throwing a tantrum was useless; her wife was cold and unyielding to the core. She pouted aggrievedly: “Fine, three days it is. I promise.”

Cui Yi was satisfied. Seeing her pouting, Cui Yi thought for a moment. Her gaze shifted as she propped herself up, tilted her head slightly, and let a gentle kiss fall upon Pei Mingjiao’s forehead. “Wait until I have rested my body.”

Pei Mingjiao’s grievance vanished instantly. She nuzzled into Cui Yi’s embrace and lay down obediently by her side, resting her head on Cui Yi’s shoulder. Just as Cui Yi was dazed and about to fall asleep, she heard Pei Mingjiao muttering: “No wonder I’m always so thirsty.”

She then comforted herself: “Indulgence really is bad.”

Cui Yi: “…”