Xue Rui was very clever; he immediately understood what kind of trick this was.
Bored, he narrowed his eyes again, completely ignoring whatever Old Lady Xue was saying beside his ear.
As for Chen Jiao, he couldn’t even be bothered to glance at her.
People he wasn’t interested in—no matter what they did—had nothing to do with him.
Yao Zuizui stood idly behind Xue Rui, watching the little act put on by Old Lady Xue and Chen Jiao, finding it utterly dull.
Chen Jiao, having received a reward, thanked her softly and demurely before returning to her seat, prim and proper, the very picture of a well-bred young lady. Old Lady Xue’s smile deepened at the sight.
What good children they were. If things could be settled today, it would be truly wonderful.
Old Lady Xue recalled that afternoon when Chen Jiao had sat in her room, head bowed shyly, her eyes shimmering with the delicate charm of a maiden, expressing her wish to spend more time with Xue Rui. It reminded her of the days when she and Old Master Xue had first met—back when she, too, had carried herself with such maidenly grace.
Old Lady Xue stood up and addressed Xue Rui and Chen Jiao: “Old bones like mine ache terribly from sitting too long. You two good children, come take a walk with me.”
Yao Zuizui immediately caught the hint and pushed Xue Rui’s wheelchair to follow Old Lady Xue, step by step.
Xue Rui was annoyed. He shot Yao Zuizui a glare.
This maid had grown bold—she didn’t even ask for his opinion.
All he wanted was to go back to sleep, not to wander in the chilly spring night with the very girl he despised the most.
Chen Jiao walked at the very back, her head slightly lowered, her slender fingers twisting a handkerchief as she took delicate, measured steps.
As she passed by Xue Qi, she glanced at him.
The two exchanged a fleeting look, as if they were old acquaintances, before their gazes drifted apart.
The meaning behind it was already understood without words.
===
When they reached another pavilion, Old Lady Xue surveyed the surrounding flowers, trees, and the tranquil water reflecting the moonlight.
She smiled in satisfaction. “One must admit to growing old. At this hour, I’m already tired. Rui’er, take Jiaoniang around for a stroll—she is, after all, your cousin… I’ll retire for the night.”
Without waiting for Xue Rui’s response, she swiftly departed, leaving behind a speechless Yao Zuizui, a drowsy Xue Rui, and a still-bashful Chen Jiao.
Xue Rui slowly roused from his half-asleep state, disturbed by the sudden silence.
Indeed, the absence of buzzing chatter around him had woken him up.
“Let’s go back,” Xue Rui assessed the situation quickly and ordered Yao Zuizui.
“Wait a moment.” A young maid suddenly ran up from the path and called out to Yao Zuizui, “Sister Huahua, Old Lady said she forgot something. Could you fetch it for her?”
“What thing?” Yao Zuizui frowned.
“It’s just a small trinket, left somewhere around here. Sister Huahua, please come with me.” The maid stood at the opposite path, beckoning.
“But I have to take the young master back,” Yao Zuizui tightened her grip on the wheelchair’s handles, unmoving.
“Huahua, Old Lady said Young Master Xue should show me around,” Chen Jiao suddenly stepped forward and gave Yao Zuizui a light push.
Caught off guard, Yao Zuizui stumbled aside.
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Jiao positioned herself behind the wheelchair, gripping its back firmly.
“You may go and attend to Old Lady’s errand without worry,” Chen Jiao urged, eager to send Yao Zuizui away at once.
Yao Zuizui pursed her lips and glanced at Xue Rui. “Young Master, I’ll be back soon.”
“Hmph.” Xue Rui responded with a single nasal sound, his face full of displeasure.
This little maid was actually abandoning him with Chen Jiao! Being around her made him feel utterly wretched!
But he knew Huahua couldn’t refuse Old Lady’s request. As for the idea of getting up from the wheelchair—Xue Rui didn’t even entertain the thought.
Helpless, he watched as the maid walked away, her slender figure and steady steps filling him with a deep sense of abandonment, an uncomfortable feeling from head to toe.
Chen Jiao, relieved that the annoying maid was finally gone, began speaking sweetly to Xue Rui.
“Young Master Xue, today… you actually admired my painting. It must be fate,” she said shyly.
“…” Xue Rui closed his eyes, tuning her out as he drifted back to sleep.
“Old Ancestor said we should pick a day to formalize our engagement…” Chen Jiao, oblivious to Xue Rui’s closed eyes, continued pushing him forward while chattering.
Her only response was Xue Rui’s steady breathing, punctuated by soft snores, unusually loud in the quiet night.
Chen Jiao’s face instantly darkened, her shyness replaced by anger as she gritted her teeth.
===
Meanwhile, Yao Zuizui followed the maid along the lakeside path.
After walking for a while, Yao Zuizui sensed something amiss.
She stopped and stared at the maid. “What exactly did Old Lady forget?”
The maid’s expression changed, and she immediately bolted, disappearing into the thick darkness.
At the same time, rustling leaves sounded behind Yao Zuizui.
She turned to see the repulsive Xue Qi approaching, his face twisted with malice as he rubbed his hands together. “Old Lady didn’t forget anything—but you did.”
“Greetings, Second Young Master Xue,” Yao Zuizui gave a perfunctory curtsy, her eyes fixed on Xue Qi’s sickly complexion. “Second Young Master must be mistaken. I didn’t forget anything.”
“Oh, really?” Xue Qi feigned thoughtfulness. “Ah, it’s my mistake. *I* forgot something—right in this lake. Jump in and fetch it for me.”
Yao Zuizui chuckled, her tone laced with mockery. “Oh~ Could it be that Second Young Master was so frightened that night that his health hasn’t recovered, making it inconvenient for him to dive in? If so, this servant will gladly help you search!”
At the mention of *that night*, Xue Qi’s face twisted in fury.
“Who allowed you, a lowly maid, to spout nonsense? What night? I’ve never seen you after dark!” He snapped off a branch and pointed it at Yao Zuizui’s face.
“Second Young Master promised to take Guigui as his concubine. A few days ago, I saw her curled up in a corner, covered in bruises, muttering about reliving that night’s events.” Yao Zuizui smirked, unfazed, as she took a few steps back.
“Pah! A maid like her—just a plaything to discard after a few days of fun,” Xue Qi scoffed, though the thought of his shrewish wife at home sent a chill down his spine.
But under the moonlight, the maid’s bright, clear eyes seemed more enchanting than the lake’s shimmer and brighter than the moon itself.
He swallowed hard. “But you’re different, Huahua. If you follow me tonight, I’ll ask Madam Xue for you tomorrow, take you as my concubine, and make sure you live in pleasure every day.”
Yao Zuizui felt nauseated by his words, her skin crawling at the sight of his face.
She let out a light laugh, as if shaking the moon hanging on the treetops, its glow hazy.
Xue Qi was mesmerized.
“Very well, Second Young Master Xue. Come closer,” Yao Zuizui suppressed her disgust and beckoned him.
Blinded by lust, Xue Qi’s heart raced with excitement. So Huahua was just another maid greedy for wealth and status—she had only refused him before out of fear!
Unable to contain himself, Xue Qi lunged forward.
He failed to notice that Yao Zuizui had positioned herself at the water’s edge, just a step away from the lake.
===
Xue Rui felt that the maid had been gone for far too long.
By now, she should have had enough time to make a round trip to Old Lady’s quarters. Why hadn’t she returned?
Xue Rui found himself unable to sleep.
He gazed at the silent moon in the sky, listening to the howling wind that carried a faint, eerie wail.
To make matters worse, Chen Jiao’s incessant chatter filled his ears with meaningless words.
Xue Rui zoned out, staring at the stone slabs of the garden path, their edges blurred under the dim lantern light.
He remembered that night—the same wind, the same moon, and the maid’s trembling sobs.
Her swollen, red-rimmed eyes, her delicate cheeks like porcelain, and the glistening tears in her gaze.
Suddenly, Xue Rui couldn’t sit still.
What if something had happened to her?
Once the thought took root, it spread like wildfire, unstoppable as spring weeds creeping through cracks.
Xue Rui leaned forward.
He wanted to find her.
Chen Jiao was still prattling behind him. “It’s so dark tonight—let’s walk slowly and enjoy the garden’s nighttime scenery.”
Xue Rui abruptly stood up and strode forward.
Chen Jiao stared at his retreating figure, lips parted in shock.
Xue Qi hadn’t lied—Xue Rui *would* leave his wheelchair for that vixen.
Had Xue Rui fallen for a maid? Was he willing to change his lazy ways for her?
No! She would never allow it!
Xue Rui was meant to be *her* husband, to change for *her*!
Hatred flared in Chen Jiao’s eyes as she quickened her pace to catch up.
She grabbed Xue Rui’s sleeve and whimpered, “Cousin, where are you going? It’s so dark—don’t leave me alone.”
Xue Rui halted, turning to glare at her with icy impatience.
The next moment, he violently shook her off, sending her tumbling into a patch of dark bushes.
“Chen Jiao, do you have no sense of propriety?” Xue Rui spat, each word dripping with disdain.
Every syllable pierced Chen Jiao’s tender heart like a needle, drawing blood.
As a well-bred lady, she had been taught propriety, virtue, and feminine arts since childhood.
Never had she imagined that her future husband would accuse her of lacking propriety.
Chen Jiao burst into tears, burying her face in the flowers, no longer caring about maintaining her ladylike image.
===
Yao Zuizui watched Xue Qi flail in the water, his teeth chattering, lips blue with cold.
Xue Qi could swim, but every time he tried to climb out, Yao Zuizui stomped on his fingers as they grasped the rocks, forcing him to let go and struggle anew.
Just as Yao Zuizui was reveling in her victory, footsteps approached.
Was that Xue Rui?!
Disbelieving, Yao Zuizui immediately jumped into the water.
She began thrashing and crying for help: “Young Master! Save me!”
Hearing her cries, Xue Rui’s expression darkened as he sprinted over.
Seeing Yao Zuizui struggling in the water, he didn’t hesitate to dive in after her.
…
Moments later, Yao Zuizui hauled a half-drowned Xue Rui onto the shore.
Xue Rui, unable to swim and having inhaled water, was on the verge of passing out.
Yao Zuizui had no choice but to perform chest compressions—and then…
Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
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