At that moment, a soft chuckle suddenly drifted from behind the flower bushes.
“Pfft…”
Pei Shaohuai spun around abruptly.
Xie Zhaofan was squatting behind the flowers, holding half a pastry in her hand, the amusement on her face completely irrepressible.
She really couldn't help it; this scene was simply too hilarious.
A man who had just moments ago declared with absolute certainty that he would marry no one but Xie Jinyi had his worldview shattered in the blink of an eye by a single “I don't like you.”
Xie Zhaofan just wanted to say one thing: Well done.
Pei Shaohuai's face instantly turned a deep shade of crimson.
“Xie Zhaofan!”
Xie Zhaofan stood up unhurriedly.
“Why are you shouting so loud? I’m not deaf.”
“Have you been eavesdropping here this whole time?”
“What do you mean eavesdropping?” Xie Zhaofan raised an eyebrow. “This is my own family's garden. Am I not allowed to be here?”
Pei Shaohuai was choked by her words, his face turning ashen. Recalling the embarrassment of being rejected and seeing Xie Zhaofan’s gloating expression, the fury in his heart finally found an outlet.
“Don't get too ahead of yourself!”
“Even if Sister Jinyi doesn't agree, I could never bring myself to marry a toxic woman like you!”
Xie Zhaofan was stunned for a moment, then looked him up and down.
“Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about yourself?”
“What?”
“Go back and get a basin of water to take a good look at your face,” Xie Zhaofan said bluntly. “If there's no water, you can take a piss and look at your reflection instead. See what kind of stock you are before you go around thinking about marrying this person or that person every day.”
“You!”
Pei Shaohuai’s face turned pale with rage, and he instinctively raised his hand.
But as soon as his hand went up, he remembered something. The image of Xie Zhaofan flinging a mammy away with one hand by the lake that day flashed through his mind again.
His hand froze mid-air, and then he lowered it quite naturally.
Seeing this, Xie Zhaofan almost burst out laughing again.
This man wasn't quite stupid enough to be beyond saving. Pei Shaohuai, naturally unaware of her thoughts, could only try to maintain the last shred of his dignity as the Heir.
“Vixen, I won’t stoop to your level.”
“Don’t you dare regret this in the future! And don’t you dare come back begging me to marry you!”
With that, he let out a cold snort, turned, and strode away.
Xie Zhaofan watched his back, losing interest in dealing with such a person.
She just felt a bit sentimental. Human beings were truly a diverse species.
Some people, after being rejected, would reflect on what they hadn't done well enough. Others, however, would feel that the whole world should be the ones regretting it.
As for which category Pei Shaohuai belonged to, it was already glaringly obvious.
“Thankfully, that engagement was canceled in time!”
Xie Zhaofan lightly brushed the pastry crumbs off her hands, feeling inexplicably refreshed.
She had originally been worried about being forced to marry this man in the future, but now it seemed she could save herself a lot of trouble.
As for Xie Jinyi…
Xie Zhaofan looked toward the direction the young woman had left, and for the first time, a hint of genuine seriousness appeared in her eyes.
This sister was more interesting than she had imagined.
She seemed gentle and soft, yet she could reject the marriage proposal of a Marquisate Heir so decisively, without even a hint of hesitation.
More importantly, why did she reject him? Was it because of that Prince who appeared late at night?
Xie Zhaofan stroked her chin, a sudden suspicion forming in her mind.
Obviously, this true daughter couldn't possibly have any interest in the current Pei Shaohuai.
Why would someone who has walked with lions ever look back at a stray dog?
…
After striking a heavy blow to the scumbag, Xie Zhaofan hummed a little tune as she walked back in high spirits. Just as she approached the small courtyard where the two sisters lived, she discovered that Xie Jinyi seemed to be preparing to head out.
Seeing that familiar figure from a distance, she casually called out a greeting: “Sister, are you going out? Where are you planning to go and play?”
Her tone was as natural as could be. If one didn't know what had happened between the two sisters before, they would surely think they had an excellent relationship.
Xie Jinyi’s footsteps paused as she stepped out of the courtyard gate. She turned to look at Zhaofan, a flash of complexity quickly crossing her eyes.
She found herself increasingly unable to understand this foster sister.
Previously, whenever they met, there was almost never a pleasant look. Especially after her own identity was revealed, Zhaofan’s hostility toward her had become more and more apparent.
It had even reached the point by the lakeside where, if she hadn't been a decent swimmer, she might have actually succeeded.
Back then, the jealousy and resentment in Xie Zhaofan’s eyes had been almost completely undisguised. Yet, since being confined by their father that day, she seemed to have suddenly become a different person.
She no longer targeted Jinyi at every turn, stopped being sarcastic, and would even proactively greet her with a smile when they occasionally met, as if the previous tensions had never happened.
This change, rather than making Xie Jinyi relax her guard, only made her more cautious.
She never believed that a person’s nature could completely change in a few short days, especially someone who had once wished her dead.
Even if Xie Zhaofan had truly repented, it was impossible for her to accept this sister as defenselessly as before.
“Yes, I’m heading out for a bit.”
Xie Jinyi nodded slightly, having no intention of hiding it. “A lady has suddenly fallen ill, and she sent someone to ask me to take a look.”
“Must be hard on you, Sister,” Xie Zhaofan said casually, her gaze falling on Jinyi as she couldn't help but remark.
“Your medical skills are really getting more and more impressive. You’re practically becoming the best friend of all the noblewomen in the capital.”
As soon as these words came out, Xie Jinyi was clearly stunned for a moment.
For a moment, she couldn't tell if Xie Zhaofan was being sarcastic or truly praising her.
Looking closer, the other woman’s expression was calm and her eyes were clear; there seemed to be no hint of mockery at all.
Xie Zhaofan actually sincerely felt that Xie Jinyi’s medical skill was quite convenient.
Especially in this era, where the segregation between men and women was strict, many high-status women found it difficult to seek treatment from a male physician, even if they were ill.
It was particularly awkward when it involved private gynecological diseases.
Xie Jinyi’s presence filled that void perfectly.
Those noble ladies and young misses who usually stayed secluded within their homes finally had a way to seek medical help.
“Sister, you praise me too much.”
Xie Jinyi gave a polite response and said nothing more, simply leading her maidservant away.
Xie Zhaofan stood in place watching her back, giving a soft tsk.
“What a cold sister!”
She had originally thought that if she proactively showed goodwill a few times, perhaps the two of them could live in peace in the future.
Now it seemed the other party was not willing to play along at all.
But thinking about it, if she had been pushed into a lake herself, she probably wouldn't let down her guard just because the person suddenly started greeting her with a smile either.
“Whatever. Looks like making friends isn't very likely.”
The little maidservant behind her began to tremble. Were these things she was allowed to hear? Would the Second Young Miss kill her to keep her quiet at any moment?
Rate on N.U.
