The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 50

Even after they had left, Pei Jian remained rooted, staring fixedly at the opposite side of the street.

His face was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury.

This restaurant was one that Nianxi and he used to frequent. She loved its signature dish—roast rabbit.

The first time Pei Jian brought her here, he didn’t dare tell her what meat was being roasted. He assumed that girls, generally, would feel pity for cute, fluffy animals.

Nianxi’s palate was light, yet she had a peculiar fondness for this single dish of roast rabbit. Whenever she indulged, she would invariably suffer from internal heat and mouth sores afterward.

Subsequently, chewing and swallowing would be difficult for days.

Pei Jian was forced to tell her that the meat was rabbit, hoping she would curb her appetite.

To his surprise, Nianxi was silent for a moment, then pointed at the fresh sore in her mouth and said, “Bunnies are so cute, and they even bite back after they die.”

“Once the sore in my mouth heals, I’ll take revenge next time.”

Heaven knows how adorable she was when she was talking nonsense so seriously.

Pei Jian couldn’t stop chuckling.

He cupped her face in his hands, leaned down, and kissed her lips several times, promising her, “We’ll roast the whole family, old and young.”

It was only then that Nianxi showed a hint of embarrassment, refusing to let him continue kissing her. “I’m in pain.”

He still held her face, applying slight pressure. Her rosy, alluring lips parted slightly. His gaze deepened, and he leaned in to deepen the kiss, whispering gently, “A kiss will make the pain go away.”

In many subsequent instances, after she finished the roast rabbit, he used this same method to ease her pain.

Now, Nianxi had taken Gu Ci to this very place.

Pei Jian stared expressionlessly across the street, clenching his internal organs into a knot until he managed to restrain the urge to storm in and drag Nianxi out.

He dared not let himself continue thinking.

He was afraid he would go mad.

Pei Jian gave a self-mocking smile. Now, even if he were to beg humbly, crushing all his self-respect, Nianxi would likely never turn back.

“Cousin, was the man across the street Gu Ci just now?”

Pei Jian hadn’t noticed when Xu Wanxin had alighted from the carriage and stood quietly behind him, asking softly:

“Why didn’t he respond? Which young lady was the woman beside him? They seemed to have very good feelings…”

“No.” Pei Jian suddenly interrupted her sharply.

This startled Xu Wanxin beside him.

He did not want to vent his anger on an innocent party, yet he couldn’t stand staying here. He left without looking back.

Xu Wanxin was puzzled, calling after him repeatedly, “Cousin, Cousin…”

Only when he had completely disappeared did Xu Wanxin shed all her fragile, pitiful expressions, becoming utterly calm. She stared thoughtfully at the restaurant across the street for a long time before allowing her maid to help her back into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the maid knelt on the floor, holding up a bronze mirror. Xu Wanxin carefully wiped away the tear stains on her cheeks while looking into the mirror. Gazing at her delicate, beautiful face, she sighed sadly, “Cousin seems quite interested in that young woman.”

The maid knelt on the ground, lowering her head even further, not daring to speak.

Xu Wanxin naturally knew Nianxi.

That day during the Shangsi Festival, by the winding stream, Nianxi had drawn the attention of many gentlemen as soon as she arrived, who watched her both openly and secretly. Even Gu Ci, who usually held his head high, was attentively following her around.

So, Cousin likes such a dazzling and beautiful woman.

Xu Wanxin looked down at her plain dress and ordered the driver to turn the carriage around. “To the Jewel Pavilion.”

She intended to carefully select a meeting gift.

The day before yesterday, at a friend’s place, she saw the invitation and delicate pouch Nianxi had sent, which reportedly contained incense pellets Nianxi had made herself.

In the capital’s circles, the social sphere was small, and the attendees for banquets at various residences were basically fixed. Although she and Wen Nianxi were not close, they were acquainted enough to nod to each other.

Yet, she didn’t know if Wen Nianxi had forgotten her. Many people around her had received invitations, but she was the only one overlooked.

Xu Wanxin lowered her head and gave a soft smile, her gentle and beautiful face filled with a sense of amusement.

What does it matter?

When Wen Nianxi’s tea and drink shop opened, she would go anyway.

The person Cousin was interested in—she needed to see her and get acquainted with her.

“Their roast meat is their specialty.”

Gu Ci poured Nianxi a cup of tea and asked with a smile, “Roast meat is heavy and spicy. When did you change your taste? And how did you even know about this place?”

Normally, Nianxi ate the blandest food. Gu Ci never dared to bring her to such places when dining with her.

Today’s choice of restaurant was Nianxi’s suggestion.

“Judging by your tone, it sounds like you felt very wronged when dining with me in the past?” Nianxi countered.

Gu Ci repeatedly waved his hands. “It was my absolute pleasure.”

In fact, this was Nianxi’s spur-of-the-moment decision.

In the scorching summer, sweets felt overly cloying, and Gu Ci did not have a sweet tooth anyway.

When in a bad mood, it was better to eat something spicy and stimulating, sweat profusely, and release all the gloom in one’s heart.

She just hadn’t expected to run into Pei Jian here.

Nianxi gently exhaled, pushing aside the old memories, and replied to Gu Ci, “Little rabbits are so cute. It’s better not to eat them. Let’s order something else.”

Gu Ci naturally took this as the inherent kindness of a girl. He cast aside the unpleasantness of seeing Pei Jian and intentionally teased her, “Well, calves and lambs are cute when they’re young, too. How can you bear to eat them?”

Men likely all have a childish side, especially loving to quibble, and Gu Ci was no exception. Seeing Nianxi speechless, he smiled, showing all eight teeth.

Nianxi extended her arm.

She was wearing a wide-sleeved bì bō (jade-green wave pattern) dress today. Raising her hand revealed a small section of her fair wrist. “I am the least cute. Why don’t you eat me instead?”

Gu Ci felt that section of snow-white skin was dazzlingly bright, making his heart feel like it had been lightly stroked, tingling and numb.

Mindful that they were outside, he reached out and pulled her sleeve up. “Who said that? You are the cutest.”

Nianxi then said, “I look around, and you are the least cute.”

Gu Ci burst out laughing, nodding in admission, his eyes full of indulgence. “Yes, yes, everything you say is right. You are so childish.”

Nianxi: “…”

Who is the childish one, exactly!

Her almond eyes wide, she intended to argue, but Gu Ci laughed uncontrollably and immediately corrected himself, “No, no, I am the childish one.”

With his utter lack of backbone, Nianxi was completely derailed.

She couldn’t stay angry. The two stared at each other, then burst into laughter simultaneously.

Nianxi ultimately did not order the roast rabbit.

Gu Ci was a man and naturally favored meat dishes. Coupled with his cheerful mood, he ate almost the entire large table of food.

Nianxi ate very little.

Gu Ci was right; the dishes here were indeed heavily flavored. Eating them now, they lacked the flavor of the past.

She only tasted a few bites before putting down her chopsticks and drinking tea.

On the way back to the residence, Gu Ci bought her some bāo luó dī sū (snail shell butter drops) separately. “Next time, let’s order something light. You barely ate anything today.”

Nianxi didn’t mind. “You wouldn’t understand. I pursue a slender, graceful waist. Eating less ensures the dress looks good when I wear it.”

Gu Ci thought to himself: Then in the future, I must persuade Nianxi to eat more. It’s enough for her to drive just me crazy.

Upon reaching Yi Qiao Street, Nianxi alighted from the carriage. The two happily agreed to eat Nianxi’s favorite fish sashimi (yú kuài) at the Guangde Tower tomorrow.

Who knew that after Nianxi saw her parents and left the main courtyard to return to her own, Old Madam Wang had already been waiting for a long time. Her face was full of difficulty, and she whispered, “That gentleman… he has come again.”