“Ah, Brother Sun, wait, wait for Qing’er. Could it be that Qing’er made you buy jewelry for her and you got angry? Ah, Brother Sun, I didn’t expect you to be so petty. Just now, you said you’d be good to Qing’er and love only her, but now you’re acting like this over a few pieces of jewelry. I’m angry. You’re worse than I thought…”
Sun Fengyu’s face looked as if he’d eaten something foul, and Wan Qing inwardly sneered. The thought of him being humiliated filled her with inexplicable delight.
If just this little bit made him so uncomfortable, she wanted to see just how much tolerance he really had for her.
Sure enough, as he walked away, he practically snatched the jewelry from the shopkeeper’s hands and rushed out of the store, calling after her. At the door, she grabbed Sun Fengyu’s sleeve to stop him, her expression a mix of caution and resentment as she looked at him.
Seeing her reaction, Sun Fengyu merely swayed slightly with her tug, his gaze drifting to the side, his demeanor both helpless and aloof. Annoyed, she released his hand and took a step back, glaring at him before loudly voicing her displeasure and turning to leave.
“Ah, wait, Qing’er. Brother Sun dotes on you too much to ever be angry over a few trinkets!”
Watching the little minx turn to leave with the goods in her arms, Sun Fengyu felt a pang of regret. He’d already spent two thousand taels—if he gave up now, all his efforts would be wasted.
Seeing her storm off in anger, though his handsome face was clearly irritated, he still stopped her, forcing a gentle smile as he spoke.
“That’s good. Qing’er thought Brother Sun was angry about buying her these few pieces of jewelry. I knew Brother Sun wasn’t so petty. But why are you in such a hurry to leave? Brother Shizi, Qing’er has finished shopping.”
Sun Fengyu looked even more miserable than if he’d eaten something foul, yet he stubbornly put on a brave face. Wan Qing sneered inwardly—keep pretending. Outwardly, she sighed in relief, linking her arm with his while calling out to Leng Mingye behind her.
“Oh, that little fool, what else do you want to buy?”
With just a few simple words, she’d made Sun Fengyu squirm. Hearing Wan Qing’s loud call, Leng Mingye’s phoenix eyes lifted from the counter. He responded indifferently before walking over to ask her.
“Well, that depends on what Brother Sun thinks.”
At the entrance of the jewelry shop, Wan Qing turned to Leng Mingye with a soft smile. The thought of selling these pieces for some profit—and more importantly, making Sun Fengyu suffer—filled her with satisfaction.
“Oh, I wonder if the little fool would like to take a stroll ahead.”
Seeing the crescent-moon curve of her smiling eyes, Leng Mingye felt an inexplicable pull. For some reason, her gaze was impossible to ignore—her laughter added an indescribable liveliness and charm, making her as captivating as a sprite.
With a faint raise of his brow, Leng Mingye found himself inviting her, stepping out first.
“Sure! Brother Sun, let’s go take a look ahead too.” Seizing the opportunity, Wan Qing readily agreed, tugging at the man beside her with a coquettish pout.
“Cousin, wait! I’ve also picked out some jewelry—just these two pieces…”
Though Sun Fengyu’s face was full of reluctance, he nodded and followed her out. Just as they reached the door, a petulant voice rang out.
Wu Qingyang, looking displeased, stepped forward, pointing at the two pieces of jewelry her maid held.
These were no ordinary trinkets. If Sun Fengyu could buy them for that nobody, surely her cousin would do the same for her. Thus, Wu Qingyang pouted and whined at Leng Mingye.
“If you want them, buy them. It’s not like you’re short on money. Little fool, let’s go check out that side. I heard Linglong Pavilion is holding an auction today—it’s crowded and lively.”
Faced with Wu Qingyang’s coquettish act, Leng Mingye glanced back dismissively before turning to the little fool and walking ahead.
“You—you said you’d accompany me, but now you’re walking off with her? I’m done with this! Cuihong, let’s go back.”
Wu Qingyang watched as Leng Mingye walked away with the others. She’d only managed to join him today thanks to her grandmother, the Princess Dowager’s, influence.
She’d admired her cousin since childhood, but he’d always been cold and distant. She’d assumed he was like that with everyone—until today, when this plain-faced girl with red spots somehow melted his indifference.
Now, her complaints and anger went ignored. Wu Qingyang itched to claw at that ugly, grinning face beside her cousin, but she knew doing so in front of him would only ruin his impression of her—or worse, provoke his wrath.
Fuming, she stood rooted to the spot, biting her lip and stamping her foot before angrily signaling her maid to return the items. She stormed off in the opposite direction, ignored by the group.
“Brother Shizi, is the auction really that fun?”
As she left, Wu Qingyang could still hear the little fool’s cheerful voice tugging at Leng Mingye.
“Damn it, who is that girl? How did she catch my cousin’s eye? I—oh, who do we have here? If it isn’t Lady Mu? Lady Mu, looking so resentful—could it be because Young Master Sun is with another girl? With that bitter expression, people might think you two actually had something going on.”
The words stoked Wu Qingyang’s fury. She nearly collided with someone in her rage—only to stop short when she recognized Mu Wanxia.
Recalling how, at a previous gathering of noble ladies, she’d seen Sun Fengyu alone with Mu Wanxia, laughing intimately, Wu Qingyang’s anger twisted into something else.
Though she despised the plain, red-spotted girl Sun Fengyu had been with earlier, running into Mu Wanxia—her rival as one of the “Two Beauties of the Capital”—stirred a strange sense of balance.
Instantly, Wu Qingyang masked her anger, arching a brow as she taunted Mu Wanxia with a mocking smile.
“You—” Xiangtao and Lüxia, Mu Wanxia’s maids, had been upset all day over the conflict between their mistress and Sun Fengyu. Seeing Wu Qingyang insult their lady, they stepped forward indignantly.
“Servants should know their place. Ah, if it isn’t Princess Qingyang? Wanxia greets you. There is indeed something between Young Master Sun and me—but it’s because of my younger sister. He’s been betrothed to my second sister since childhood, and she’s also quite close to the Shizi. In fact, the Shizi has visited our marquis’ estate multiple times just to see her.”
Wu Qingyang’s mockery made Mu Wanxia’s delicate fingers tighten around her handkerchief. Suppressing her anger, she lightly scolded her maids before smiling gracefully at Wu Qingyang.
Her composed retort about Leng Mingye and Wan Qing’s relationship struck a nerve—everyone in noble circles knew of Wu Qingyang’s infatuation with her cousin.
“You—” Mu Wanxia’s words were like salt in a wound. Wu Qingyang’s pretty face darkened with fury.
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