Did Miss become a nun today?

Halfway through the drinking session, Pei Changfeng suddenly stopped, tears streaming down his face.

He sniffed, his voice muffled, "How could she... how could she be so heartless? I've knelt down, I've begged her, why won't she forgive me? Why won't she even look at me again?"

Wei Lin didn't answer, and kept pouring drinks for Wei Lin.

After finishing the wine, he tossed the empty jug onto the table and mumbled, "She's already been quite good to you..."

She hated him too, calling him a fly, disgusting, and telling him to get lost.

As he spoke, his voice changed, and his eyes were red as if they were about to bleed.

"What...what right does she have to say that about me?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Changfeng laughed through his tears, gloating, "You're the one who's really miserable."

"Get out!" Wei Lin slapped his hand away. "Your good wife isn't yours anymore, serves you right."

Pei Changfeng fell silent, lowered his head, and tears fell onto the table one by one.

He used to find Xie Yun Chu's crying annoying, but today he just couldn't help it.

Wei Lin also remained silent, leaning back in his chair with a blank stare in his eyes.

The two sat there, neither looking at the other, with only occasional sobs.

After a long pause, Pei Changfeng whispered, "Aren't we both incredibly stupid?"

Wei Lin didn't answer; he was already leaning back in his chair, completely drunk and unconscious.

Pei Changfeng found his appearance both comical and laughable.

He lay haphazardly on the ground, his eyes hazy and his mind in a daze, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to Wei Lin, "I also think we're both incredibly stupid."

*

Xie Yun Chu has been enjoying some peace and quiet lately. Her aunt has said that she no longer needs to go on matchmaking, so she continues to stay at home reading books and copying scriptures, living a quieter life than before.

That morning, Guanyun arrived right after she finished her breakfast.

He carried in a pot of chrysanthemums in full bloom, and said with a smile, "Greetings, Miss. The eldest young master asked me to deliver these flowers to you, saying you can enjoy them."

Xie Yun Chu glanced at the pot of chrysanthemums. The petals were like silk, the color of beeswax, and they bloomed wildly and beautifully, filling the room with a bittersweet scent.

"Thank you for your trouble, cousin. I have plenty of flowers here, so you should take them back."

Guan Yun hesitated, "This is unacceptable. This was specially brought back by the young master for the young lady. If you don't accept it, you won't be able to explain yourself when you go back."

She gave Qingluo a wink before accepting the flowers.

"Please thank my older cousin for me."

Qingluo took the flowers and placed them on the windowsill.

After the others had left, Lan Yue leaned closer and whispered, "Miss, it seems the eldest young master has been sending things to our courtyard quite often lately. Could it be...?"

"Could it be something?" Xie Yun Chu glanced at her.

Lan Yue chuckled, not daring to say anything more.

Xie Yun Chu stood by the window, her fingertips gently brushing aside the petals, where dew still clung.

She had never been able to figure out her cousin's thoughts, but this time, she would rather never figure them out.

She dared not think about it, nor did she want to.

That night at Qingyun Nunnery, she kept telling herself that she must have misheard, and that the name he uttered that day might not have been hers.

She was standing outside the window and didn't hear clearly.

She looked down at the pot of chrysanthemums, feeling a bit of a headache.

If the old lady knew what her cousin was thinking, wouldn't she be furious?

commit a sin.

She clasped her hands together, recited the sutra several times in her heart, and prayed for Buddha's forgiveness.

After a moment, he instructed Lan Yue, "Move the flowers to the study."

She turned and sat back on the couch, picked up the scriptures, and began to study them slowly.

Lan Yue responded, muttering as she moved the flowers, "It's a good thing that the young master is sending flowers; others would kill for it. Why doesn't Miss like it?"

Xie Yun Chu pretended not to hear. Her older cousin used to give her gifts often, but back then they were cousins ​​and she never had any intention of becoming a nun. She just thought it was a good thing to receive good things from her.

Now, these are all external things, and since she cannot reciprocate his feelings, they have become her karmic burden.

Lan Yue was puzzled and wanted to ask again, but she shut him down with a glare.

Since returning from Qingyun Nunnery, her older cousin had been intentionally or unintentionally running into her, his words always testing her.

She had no romantic feelings for her older cousin and could only avoid him.

She never felt this way when she was with her second cousin, but her eldest cousin was too serious, and she didn't know how to deal with him.

How could the eldest grandson, whom the old lady valued most and who would become the future pillar of the Marquis's mansion, marry a cousin who was dependent on others?

Moreover, her mother is the daughter of a disgraced official. If the old lady knew her background, things would probably get even more ugly.

But her aunt absolutely refused to let her leave the Marquis's mansion, so she had no choice but to hasten the marriage she was arranged to have.

"Would you like to return the favor, Miss?" Lan Yue asked again.

"No need."

Not returning the gift will reduce entanglements.

But later that day, Pei Changyu actually came to visit in person.

Xie Yun Chu truly admired him. How could he remain calm and elegant without the slightest embarrassment when someone saw him doing that kind of thing?

"Did you like Chrysanthemum Cousin today?"

"I really like it, thank you, cousin. But you're busy with work, so you don't need to bother with me."

"It's alright, it's just a potted plant."

She lowered her head in response and did not speak again.

Pei Changyu put down his teacup, looked up at her, and asked, "I heard that my cousin has been looking at potential partners recently. Has anything come of it?"

Xie Yun Chu wanted to shake her head, but then, remembering something, she didn't deny it, "There are a few good ones, though."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the person opposite him darkened, but his reply remained perfectly calm: "Who could possibly catch my cousin's eye?"

She feigned shyness, saying, "I haven't told my aunt yet. My cousin will know once things are settled."

Pei Changyu's fingers paused slightly, the teacup twirled between his fingers, and then landed steadily back on the table.

"Oh?" A slight smile curved his lips, but it was a cold one. "You're even keeping it from your cousin?"

Xie Yun Chu lowered her eyes, staring at the tips of her shoes. "Marriage is a serious matter, how can it be taken lightly? Naturally, I should inform my aunt first before telling anyone else."

What she said was perfectly reasonable and there was nothing wrong with it.

Pei Changyu did not respond.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling of fallen leaves being blown by the autumn wind outside the window.

Xie Yun Chu gripped his sleeve, remaining as still as a mountain.

A moment later, Pei Changyu suddenly chuckled.

"Then I'd like to ask you, cousin," he moved closer to her, "how do those women you've taken a liking to compare to me?"

Xie Yun Chu was slightly taken aback, then smiled politely and distantly, "Cousin is joking. Cousin is an outstanding person, highly valued by His Majesty and the Crown Prince. How can those people compare to Cousin?"

"Can't compare? Then why would my cousin choose someone who can't compare to me, rather than...?"

"Cousin!" Xie Yun Chu quickly interrupted him, "Did you come here today for something else?"

That's all I can say, I really can't say any more.

If we don't expose it, we'll live in peace. He's her cousin, she's her cousin, we're still family, and nothing will change.