The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 12

Nianxi Regains Composure

What kind of karmic debt is this?

Nianxi had clearly gone to great lengths to avoid Pei Jian, even avoiding listening when her brother spoke of the Imperial College at home. She had already started a new life, met a new man, only to discover that her old flame and her new interest were best friends.

The sun outside was bright and hot, causing people to sweat, but Nianxi felt a chill down her spine.

If she had known their relationship earlier, she definitely wouldn’t have allowed herself to associate with Gu Ci.

But the matter was already at this point. Soon, Pei Jian would arrive.

Was she expected to flee in a panic?

And cut off contact with Gu Ci?

Absolutely not!

Nianxi slowly let out a breath and took a large sip of the kumquat snow foam Gu Ci had prepared. The icy, sweet, and sour taste helped calm her heart.

Pei Jian was now merely a stranger she hadn’t planned to meet. There was no need for her to lose her composure.

“What a great coincidence,” Nianxi said, regaining her composure. When she looked up again, her mind was steady. “You actually live so close to my brother.”

Now it was Qin Lang’s turn to be dumbfounded.

“Wha-what do you mean?!”

“The little cousin and Wen Qingheng’s sister are the same person! Gu Ci, you’ve kept that well hidden!”

While Qin Lang was still reeling in shock, a figure suddenly darted out from the side and rushed directly into the flower hall.

It was so fast it was a blur—

It was hard to believe that the usually gentle Wen Qingheng could run so quickly!

While marveling, Qin Lang hurried forward to intervene. “Jinghe, Jinghe, what are you doing? Today is Qingye’s happy day! Don’t scare our little sister!”

Earlier, Wen Qingheng and Pei Jian had been walking slowly, and Wen Qingheng was just saying, “My sister has been lovely since she was a child. Not only are people drawn to her, but even the cats and dogs on the street love to gather around her and play…”

Before he could finish, he saw the beloved sister he was speaking of sitting in the flower hall, looking up and smiling while talking to Gu Ci.

Not only were the two standing close, but that Gu Ci even reached out to pluck a stray flower from his sister’s hair!

Even a saint wouldn’t be able to tolerate that!

“Gu Ci, where is your little cousin?” Wen Qingheng was slightly shorter than Gu Ci, but the momentum with which he grabbed Gu Ci’s collar completely overwhelmed him.

“Now you’ve come to provoke my sister! What kind of man are you?”

He was usually mild-mannered, and only when utterly furious would he reveal this violent side.

Gu Ci was initially feeling guilty and had been afraid to be honest with Wen Qingheng. But now that Wen Qingheng questioned his integrity as a man, he immediately flared up.

“My family is related to the Marquis of Pingyang. The Marquis of Guangping’s eldest daughter is Nian’er’s cousin who married the Heir of the Marquis of Pingyang. When you trace the relations, Nian’er is indeed my distant cousin! When did I ever lie to you?”

When it came to arguing, Gu Ci was much more nimble than Wen Qingheng.

Wen Qingheng stammered “You, you…” for a long time. So infuriated that he was on the verge of exploding, he finally bellowed, “Nian’er is not a name you are allowed to use!”

He stepped forward to punch him. Gu Ci stood stock-still, ready to take the blow. The servants dared not intervene, and Qin Lang’s head felt like it would split in two. Restraining Wen Qingheng, he yelled towards the flower hall entrance, “Shizhang, what are you standing around for? Hurry and help!”

Nianxi, who had been sitting, naturally turned her head upon hearing Qin Lang’s cry and met Pei Jian’s gaze directly.

Four eyes met.

Nianxi calmly withdrew her gaze, as if looking at a complete stranger.

Pei Jian’s Turmoil and Qin Lang’s Intervention

Pei Jian felt a sharp pang in his chest from that strange look.

The moment he gave up on Nianxi, he knew she would have a new life.

He hadn’t planned to avoid her; the capital was only so big, and they were bound to meet. He was merely her brother’s classmate; they wouldn’t have any further interaction.

He had already planned everything out.

But when he heard Nianxi’s and Gu Ci’s names behind the flower wall, he felt that fate had played a cruel joke on him.

Pei Jian never would have imagined that Gu Ci’s beloved would be his former wife, Nianxi.

And that they would meet under such circumstances.

While the scene beside him was in chaos, Pei Jian’s mind was blank. At this moment, he felt like an outsider, guarding his secret, completely out of sync with the lively world around him.

“Shizhang, Shizhang!”

“Pei Jian!”

Qin Lang called out to him, but Pei Jian seemed to be under a spell, unable to move. His gaze was fixed on Nianxi, standing beside Gu Ci.

Qin Lang felt a sudden alarm.

Composed and calm as Pei Jian was, he had never been so outwardly flustered.

Wen Qingheng’s sister was undeniably angelic, but staring at a young woman for so long was extremely impolite!

If the jealous Gu Ci saw it, he would surely lose his mind.

Qin Lang turned his head. Wen Qingheng and Gu Ci were still locked in a dispute, not yet noticing Pei Jian. Nianxi was looking down, her long lashes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

Thank goodness. Still okay.

Qin Lang turned back around. Pei Jian, he’s still looking at that girl!

Good heavens!

Using his male intuition, Qin Lang acutely sensed that something was wrong with Pei Jian today. They had lived in the same courtyard for so long, and the way Pei Jian was looking at Nianxi was very different.

It was completely unlike his usual expression.

Realizing this, he decisively exited the flower hall battleground. He walked up to Pei Jian, clapped him on the shoulder, “Didn’t you know? Gu Ci’s little cousin and Wen Qingheng’s sister are the same person!”

Pei Jian seemed to snap back to reality and turned to look at the other two in the flower hall.

Qin Lang breathed a sigh of relief, then continued, “Wen Qingheng’s sister is truly beautiful. I told you Gu Ci is quick and sharp-eyed.”

Pei Shizhang, you’re already a step too late. Staring won’t change anything.

But just as he was speaking, Pei Jian’s gaze returned to Nianxi. Qin Lang was exasperated. He had said all this, yet Pei Jian was utterly unresponsive.

“But no matter how pretty she is, compared to Cousin Xu, she’s still a bit lacking… Hey, hey, I’m not finished talking!”

Pei Jian thought Qin Lang was being ridiculous, comparing Nianxi to someone else for no reason.

His initial stunned reaction was because he had unexpectedly met Nianxi after learning the truth, completely catching him off guard.

Once he gathered his emotions, he didn’t bother listening to Qin Lang anymore and stepped onto the stone stairs.

In the flower hall, Wen Qingheng had also calmed down. Despite his anger, he was a genuinely kind-hearted person. In the end, his scolding only came down to a few points:

“You’re despicable for deceiving people like this.”

“A gentleman should keep his word. Your petty behavior is shameful.”

Gu Ci, however, decided to take the high road and endure the criticism. No matter what Wen Qingheng said, he added, “But I’m sincere.”

He had even more mushy things he wanted to say, but he held back out of shyness because Nianxi was present.

Wen Qingheng: …

By the time Pei Jian walked into the flower hall, Wen Qingheng had already realized Gu Ci’s cunning. Seeing Gu Ci’s fixed, affectionate gaze on his sister only increased his anger.

He immediately said, “Nian’er, you go back to Mother for now. I’ll come find you later.”

Nianxi immediately and obediently stood up.

Gu Ci quickly followed suit. “I’ll escort you.”

Wen Qingheng said coldly, “No need.”

The atmosphere became tense.

Nianxi turned back and gave Gu Ci a reassuring smile. Just as she was about to speak, Pei Jian opened his mouth at the perfect moment:

“I haven’t yet paid my respects to Madam Wang (the State Duke’s wife). Perhaps Miss Wen would accompany me?”