Chapter 4: Falling Into the Arms of Young Master Pei

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“Forget it.”

Shen Shuyi was speechless.

Did the system have amnesia? And why did it always forget the important things?

In the end, she resigned herself to fate and decided to redo the mission.

At that moment, the maid Ah Jian beside her reminded, “Miss, where is your veil?”

Shen Shuyi was taken aback, touching her face only to realize her veil was missing.

She had been too focused on escaping to notice when it fell off—could it have been left in the bamboo grove?

“It might have dropped in the bamboo grove, or maybe I lost it when I returned to Fusang Courtyard,” Shen Shuyi sighed miserably, feeling unlucky.

“Shall I send someone to retrieve it?” Ah Jian didn’t know what important matter her mistress was involved in, but it was clear she couldn’t be seen openly; otherwise, why wear a veil?

After consideration, Shen Shuyi shook her head, “No, it’s not something crucial.”

She feared Pei Nanzhou might be lying in wait, so it was safer to keep a low profile. Besides, tonight was pitch dark; there was no way Pei Nanzhou could recognize her.

Before drifting off to sleep, Shen Shuyi vaguely wondered if she had forgotten something.

Meanwhile, in the southern courtyard.

Pei Nanzhou examined the veil under the lamplight.

Mingyue, his attendant, also saw it and exclaimed in surprise, “Is this veil made from a mosquito net?”

What sort of woman was so careless as to use a mosquito net for a veil? It surely wasn’t one of the ladies from this mansion; the Pei family daughters would never stoop to such shabby means.

Pei Nanzhou’s expression was indifferent, his cold gaze fixed on the rough, poorly made veil, offering no reply.

Mingyue knew her master was aloof, indifferent to people and matters alike.

He probably thought one of the maids was trying to seduce him with this trick to catch his attention. But alas, the master was untouched by worldly desires; even the most exquisite temptresses could not sway him. No matter what was done, it would be futile.

Early the next morning, Shen Shuyi finally remembered what she had forgotten.

Did Xia Nianchu go to the Fragrance Pavilion last night?

By coincidence, on her way to greet the matriarch at Cranes’ Longevity Hall, she encountered Xia Nianchu.

The moment Xia Nianchu saw Shen Shuyi, her eyes blazed with fury, but to maintain her pure and innocent image, she held back from erupting on the spot.

“Look at me being so well-behaved—cousin must be very disappointed. Luckily, I was cautious, or else I’d have been ruined by her by now,” Xia Nianchu said with a smile, but her lowered voice was full of icy venom.

She had sent a cleaning maid ahead to scout the Fragrance Pavilion, but the maid never came out. Then Lady Hou arrived, claiming someone had tried to seduce the Marquis of Pingyang.

In the end, the maid’s innocence was destroyed by the marquis and she was sold off overnight by Lady Hou.

This scandal hadn’t spread through the Hou household, but even recalling it now gave Xia Nianchu a cold sweat.

Shen Shuyi was so vicious it was almost beyond belief!

Shen Shuyi gave Xia Nianchu a sweet smile. “Oh, cousin, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Shen Shuyi’s subtle sarcasm made Xia Nianchu laugh angrily, ready to retort, but before she could, Shen Shuyi suddenly vanished behind the flowerbed without warning.

She was bewildered when a figure appeared—Pei Dongzhou, dressed in elegant blue robes, refined and graceful.

Pei Dongzhou was not blind; he noticed the shift in his sight and saw that Shen Shuyi, who had been standing next to Xia Nianchu, was gone.

This caught him off guard.

Whenever the brothers were present, Shen Shuyi always made her presence known, using every trick to attract their attention. Today, however, she was behaving completely differently—what was she up to?

“Greetings, cousin, the heir apparent,” Xia Nianchu’s voice was soft enough to drip water.

Pei Dongzhou withdrew his gaze from behind the flowerbed and returned a polite bow. “Greetings, cousin.”

“I heard the heir apparent enjoys collecting famous paintings. May I be so fortunate as to have a glimpse?” Xia Nianchu looked at him shyly.

She adored the heir apparent’s appearance and good nature; he had never taken a concubine, a man of such chastity she admired greatly.

“It’s just hearsay,” Pei Dongzhou replied, his eyes drifting again toward Shen Shuyi’s red skirt trailing behind the flowers.

Following his gaze, Xia Nianchu suddenly saw an opportunity to get back at Shen Shuyi.

Since Shen Shuyi fled at the sight of the heir apparent, she must have been scolded by him.

It was no secret that the Pei brothers detested Shen Shuyi, especially since she had tried to trap Xia Nianchu the day before.

The more Shen Shuyi hid, the more Pei Dongzhou’s attention would be drawn to her.

Shen Shuyi truly did not want to face Pei Dongzhou.

After all, his loathing for her had reached its peak; she planned to avoid him at all costs for the next 363 days.

But just as she feared the most, Xia Nianchu suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Cousin Shen was fine just a moment ago—why is she hiding as soon as she sees the heir apparent? Has she done something shameful?”

Shen Shuyi thought the heroine was both sly and malicious, dragging her out at such a moment.

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What puzzled her most was that Pei Dongzhou, who used to avoid her gaze, actually approached her, towering above with a lofty air.

Though still refined and courteous, Shen Shuyi felt as if the heir apparent was savoring her embarrassment.

She averted her eyes; given her current predicament, she dared not provoke this noble young master.

“What are you doing crouching here, cousin?” Pei Dongzhou imitated her by stooping down.

Shen Shuyi looked away, biting her tongue in frustration, silently cursing herself before quietly answering, “I lost my handkerchief…”

Could she stay far away from him? If she couldn’t provoke him, couldn’t she at least avoid him?

“Isn’t that a handkerchief in your hand?” Pei Dongzhou gently tugged at the cloth in her grasp, his long fingers entwining a corner.

Only then did Shen Shuyi realize she was holding a handkerchief. Embarrassed, she tapped her toes and snatched it back. “Ah, this… haha, it was in my hand all along. I was looking for it for nothing.”

Flustered, she quickly added, “It’s almost time to pay respects; I must be going.”

As she tried to flee, Pei Dongzhou rose as well, and before she could react, she accidentally stumbled into his arms.

Her heart sank; the color drained from her face. She froze, afraid that the system would inform her that she was about to be erased.

Pei Dongzhou, seeing her rush into his embrace, thought she was incorrigible. Yet her wide-eyed, frightened expression seemed genuine.

“Cousin?”

His voice was faint and distant. Shen Shuyi felt dizzy.

She shook her head, but the dizziness worsened.

She thought perhaps Pei Dongzhou’s favor toward her had plummeted to zero—that she was truly doomed.

Pei Dongzhou stepped aside just in time as Shen Shuyi fell forward.

At the last moment, Ah Jian sprang into action, barely catching the unconscious Shen Shuyi…

—

Ah, where is everyone?