The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 41

Nianxi and Gu Ci’s carriage had just left when a second carriage immediately drove out of the Wen residence.

Wen Qingheng did not want to go. “Two men going together to West Market’s Lantern Festival—isn’t that odd?”

Qin Lang clearly had his own agenda. “Are you really at ease letting your sister tour with Gu Ci? As her elder brother, you need to be more mindful.”

Wen Qingheng was speechless. Even if he wasn’t at ease, the opportunity to stop it had already passed many times.

Since even their parents tacitly permitted the matter, how could he, a brother, possibly control a sister completely infatuated with beauty?

Moreover, he had observed coolly that Gu Ci’s feelings for Nian’er appeared genuine. He visited their house daily, more enthusiastically than reporting for court duty, and was clearly eager to present his whole heart to his sister, a fact evident to everyone in the mansion.

Because of this, he himself was frequently pressured by their mother to quickly find a partner, set an engagement, and not delay his sister’s marriage.

“Where is Shizhang? Didn’t you say he was coming too?” Wen Qingheng asked. “Although I was drunk that day, I faintly remember hearing your discussion.”

“How are things now between Shizhang and that earring girl? Has he gotten what he wished for? Also, who exactly is that woman?”

His string of questions gave Qin Lang a headache.

He could only answer vaguely, “You’re asking me? How would I know his private matters? Well, let’s not talk about that; how about we enjoy the lights with your sister later?”

Wen Qingheng frowned, his heart stirring at the mention of his sister. He speculated, “Why must we join Nian’er? Qingye will certainly not appreciate us interrupting them.”

Qin Lang wiped the sweat from his forehead. Wasn’t it precisely because he was afraid Pei Jian might act shamelessly and cause the situation to escalate into a fight?

“A large crowd makes it lively.”

Qin Lang lifted the curtain and looked at the bustling street market, not noticing Wen Qingheng’s darkening expression. He continued, “Didn’t you used to be quite annoyed by Qingye’s closeness with your sister? Today, you should assert yourself as the older brother; that will surely make them restrain themselves.”

He needed to prevent a certain person from losing control entirely.

After that day, Qin Lang thought long and hard and felt he had a responsibility in the matter. He couldn’t allow Pei Jian to act recklessly. However, since he knew he couldn’t restrain Pei Jian himself, he invited Wen Qingheng, the elder brother, to stand guard.

No matter what, having him and Wen Qingheng there was better than having Gu Ci and Pei Jian confront each other directly.

“Qingye is at Star River Tower; we’ll go find him directly later.”

“I’m not going!” Wen Qingheng’s face was now completely cold. He said sternly, “And you aren’t allowed to go either!”

Qin Lang: …

It was rare for Wen Qingheng to be so cold, and Qin Lang immediately sensed trouble.

“Why? Shizhang will be here soon; didn’t we agree on this?”

Wen Qingheng sneered at the remark. “Put away your filthy thoughts!”

“Out of consideration for our friendship, I will help you conceal this matter this one time and not inform Qingye. From now on, you are not to appear before my sister again.”

“Who are you talking about?” Qin Lang pointed a finger at his own nose, incredulous. “Me?”

Wen Qingheng simply regarded Qin Lang as being momentarily confused by passion, and earnestly advised him, “Many men have admired my sister since childhood, and many are better than you. It’s not strange that you’ve developed feelings. Although Qingye has his flaws, he is at least an honorable gentleman. Putting all that aside, my sister favors handsome men. You… won’t have a chance.”

In summary: You are too ugly; my sister won’t look at you. Give up your toad’s desire for the swan!

Qin Lang: …

Very well. This is a world where only he is hurt.

“Jinghe, I absolutely harbor no such intentions toward your sister, believe me…”

Completely unaware of the commotion in the carriage behind them, Nianxi and Gu Ci happily entered the restaurant. Gu Ci ordered her favorite fragrant drinks and pastries as usual, and then stepped out briefly. When he returned, he was holding two Mohelo dolls.

One had delicate features, and the other had rosy lips and white teeth.

They were adorned with gold beads and beautiful clothing, and decorated with elaborate gold jewelry, vibrant in color, lifelike, and utterly charming.

These were the pair of Mohelo dolls sold at Panlou.

Gu Ci said gently, “When we go back, we can display this pair of clay dolls on the Qiqiao decorated tower. It’s fitting for the festival.”

Nianxi accepted the two Mohelo dolls, feeling a wave of wonder. Every one of her spoken and unspoken regrets seemed to be completely fulfilled by Gu Ci, exceeding her expectations.

It gave her a sense of unreal perfection, like a beautiful dream.

She hugged the two Mohelo dolls to her chest, looking up at him. “How can you be this good?”

Gu Ci laughed, pointing to the base of the dolls. “Actually, I’m not that good. When I carved the name just now, the character ‘xi’ in your name got carved crookedly.”

Nianxi paused and flipped the Mohelo dolls over to look. The bottom of the girl doll was inscribed with “Qingqing Nianxi,” and the boy doll with “Gu Liuge” (Sixth Brother Gu).

Upon closer inspection, the final stroke of the character “xi” was indeed a bit crooked.

Nianxi was amused, and the moisture in her eyes slowly dissipated. She held up the “Gu Liuge” doll and asked, “Why not ‘Brother Ci’?”

In the past few days, Gu Ci had been inexplicably insistent that Nianxi call him “Brother.” “Sixth Brother Gu” or “Brother Gu” wouldn’t do; it had to be “Brother Ci.”

Nianxi naturally found it hard to say.

But Gu Ci had a hundred ways to make her speak it.

Nianxi became so annoyed she finally gave in. To her surprise, when the tender, soft “Brother Ci” slipped out, Gu Ci’s face instantly flushed red.

Now, the tables had completely turned.

Nianxi would tease him with “Brother Ci” from time to time, and no matter how many times she did it, he would still look uncomfortable.

Hearing Nianxi mock him again, Gu Ci was both helpless and amused—he had truly shot himself in the foot. Every time he heard that delicate, sweet “Brother Ci,” even though he knew she was teasing him, he still felt completely numb for a good while.

“It wouldn’t look good if others saw it.”

Gu Ci had originally wanted to carve “Brother Ci” on the boy clay doll, but this pair of Mohelo dolls would be displayed on the decorated tower in the Wen residence courtyard, and it wouldn’t be appropriate if others noticed.

Nianxi smiled, playfully pointing at his nose from across the table. “Brother Ci is shy, aren’t you~”

“Stop teasing me.” Gu Ci felt a rush of heat from her address. Concerned about the public setting, he could only hold her hand and ask softly, “If you keep teasing, you won’t get any rǔtáng zhēnxuě (milk-sugar true snow).”

Nianxi wasn’t afraid of him at all. “How heartless of you, Brother Gu Ci~”

Just then, Wen Qingheng and Qin Lang pushed the door open and entered. Both of them heard Nianxi’s words of affection.

All four people fell silent.

It was Gu Ci who first broke the awkwardness. “Jinghe, are you two also here to see the lantern festival?”

Gu Ci addressed Wen Qingheng, but his gaze swept toward Qin Lang.

Qin Lang knew he was being insensitive and unwelcome at that moment.

But what malicious intent could he possibly harbor?

It was all for his brother’s sake!

He could only nervously cover up the situation. “Yes! We wanted to join the fun too. But downstairs is completely full, so we could only bother you here. Qingye, you don’t mind, do you?”

Gu Ci was quite gracious. “It’s perfect; I ordered extra dishes, so we can eat together.”

With Wen Qingheng present, Gu Ci felt quite at ease and told the two of them, “Please sit down. I’m going downstairs to buy cold treats.”

He hadn’t brought a servant with him today, and he preferred to be personally involved in matters concerning Nianxi.

“Besides rǔtáng zhēnxuě, what else do you want?” Addressing Nianxi, Gu Ci used an entirely different, gentle tone. “I’ll buy it all at once.”

“There are too many people today; forget it, don’t go.” Nianxi pointed to the lychee water on the table. “This is perfectly fine for me to drink.”

Gu Ci was persistent, however. “The cold treats stall is very close; it’s not far at all.”

“Then shall I go with you?”

“No need. It’s too hot. I’ll be right back.”

Wen Qingheng and Qin Lang silently drank the tea on the table.

In that moment, they increasingly felt like they were completely superfluous.