Chapter 19: Why Him?

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Shen Yuan released Shen Yu’s ear.

“What right do you have to pull my ear? Do you think you can get away with it? Believe me, I’ll report this to Father, and you won’t escape punishment!”

Covering his ear, Shen Yu ran into Shen Yi’s arms, glaring at her with hostility.

Shen Lang, wanting to protect his younger brother, also spoke up: “A Yuan, what wrong did Yu’er do? Why shame him in front of outsiders?”

The outsiders, of course, referred to Pei Ji.

Shen Yuan met his gaze.

She caught the glimpse of those narrow, cold eyes, beneath which lay a deep, inky darkness.

“Father’s way of educating children has always been strict. Shen Yu bumped into me, not only did he fail to apologize, but he also spat out filthy words! Second brother, is this how Father raised you all?”

The gentle softness that usually graced Shen Yuan’s brow had vanished, replaced by a sharp chill.

Once or twice might be overlooked, but Shen Yu repeatedly insulted her—she didn’t believe no one was behind it.

“You…” Shen Lang was left speechless.

After all, Shen Yu’s loud shouting had been clearly heard by the three of them.

“Enough, it’s just a trivial matter. We’re family; why cause discord?”

Shen Yi stepped in to smooth things over, always wearing a smile as he spoke, “We’re brewing wine at the Pavilion in the Heart of the Lake. Want to come? Wan Ning is there too. You sisters can have a heart-to-heart talk.”

Where Pei Ji appeared, Shen Wan Ning was never absent.

Shen Yuan had no mood to meddle in their affairs and politely declined.

Pei Ji’s eyes dimmed slightly, the moment he had hoped for slipping away.

Shen Lang stepped forward, lowering his voice: “Last time, when Commander Pei brought you back to Qiu Shui Garden, Wan Ning was heartbroken for quite a while. If there’s nothing between you two, why hesitate to come?”

It was just a small family gathering—what was there to fear?

Shen Yuan looked up to meet his eyes.

Protected so well at home, Shen Lang had yet to experience the rigor of the court, thus he carried the arrogance of a wayward young noble.

Shen Yuan knew what he was thinking.

It was simply the fear that she favored Commander Pei, that she would take him away and leave Shen Wan Ning in tears, wasting away.

“Second brother truly cares for Wan Ning.”

For once, Shen Yuan did not refute him.

Her eyes shimmered with a faint gleam of envy.

But it quickly faded.

Shen Lang rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had seen wrongly.

Could Shen Yuan feel envy?

Envy of what?

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Envy Wan Ning for having someone to cherish her?

But she was the one who kept pushing others away.

Every time ending in mutual harm.

“Since Wan Ning is here, I’ll listen to big brother and have a proper talk with her,” Shen Yuan answered calmly.

Before anyone could respond, she gracefully walked toward the Pavilion in the Heart of the Lake.

Watching her retreating figure, Pei Ji’s thin lips curved slightly, as if he hadn’t even realized it himself.

Inside the pavilion.

When Shen Yuan and Pei Ji’s group arrived, Shen Wan Ning, who was brewing wine, bore no smile: “Weren’t you discussing matters with Aunt Wang in the main hall? Why come here?”

“Big brother said you might be bored here, so he asked me to keep you company.”

Seeing the roasted melons and fruits on the small table, Shen Yuan took one without hesitation and began eating.

“That’s for Commander Pei…” Shen Wan Ning barely stopped her, but several slices had already disappeared.

She had been carefully guarding and roasting those fruits, preparing them for Pei Ji.

Now, all gone—eaten by Shen Yuan!

With so many present, Shen Wan Ning held back her anger, composed herself, and presented the brewed wine to Pei Ji with cautious eyes: “Commander, warm yourself quickly.”

“I’m not cold.”

Pei Ji’s expression was indifferent; he didn’t take the cup and stepped back, keeping his distance.

Shen Wan Ning’s eyes reddened as she asked, “Commander, are you truly not cold, or do you just not want to drink the wine I made?”

Her father’s rank was comparable to Pei Ji’s; she was by no means inferior in status.

Her willingness to flatter him softly stemmed from genuine affection.

Yet Pei Ji remained cold and distant, seemingly not regarding her at all.

“You and Wan Ning are to become family. Why be so distant?”

Shen Lang took the wine cup from Shen Wan Ning and downed it in one go; the warm liquid burned his throat and chest.

He was a man and could see clearly that Pei Ji had no feelings for Wan Ning—that everything seemed just proper and by the book.

But Wan Ning was his dearest sister.

Whatever she wanted to do, as her second brother, he would fight for her.

Glancing at the quietly eating Shen Yuan, he concealed a thought and deliberately asked, “What did Aunt Wang want with you? Was it to discuss marriage?”

Pei Ji’s gaze faltered; his expression became somewhat distracted.

“When did second brother start caring about me?”

Shen Yuan sipped her hot tea, warmth spreading through her heart.

She placed her hand by the stove to warm it and said to herself, “Once I leave the Shen residence, no one will bother second brother anymore.”

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Nor will there be any more conflicts with Shen Wan Ning, prompting Shen Lang to rush to her defense.

Shen Lang frowned: “We’re siblings—what do you mean by bothering? When you marry, I’ll prepare plenty of gifts for you! Right, big brother?”

Shen Yi, warming wine for Pei Ji, overheard their bickering and laughed: “Gifts must be prepared. Our A Yuan will surely marry with great splendor.”

“Why must it be Lu Chengyuan?”

After a long silence, Pei Ji spoke, not looking at Shen Yuan but staring at the flickering flames, his eyes reddened.

Shen Wan Ning hurried to explain: “Commander, you don’t know? Sister and Brother Lu have been childhood sweethearts—they have a past. Mother and Father approve of this match.”

She feared Pei Ji might be unaware of Shen Yuan’s relationship with Lu Chengyuan.

Outside the pavilion, the misty drizzle deepened into a heavy rain curtain.

“Does the Commander think Sister’s marriage is unsuitable?” Shen Wan Ning cautiously inquired.

She sensed Pei Ji harbored a special feeling for Shen Yuan.

A feeling not expressed in words, but through lingering glances.

So many times, it had been like that.

“Do you all think so as well?”

Pei Ji did not answer Shen Wan Ning’s question, instead locking eyes with Shen Yi and Shen Lang.

News of Lu Chengyuan’s reputation was widespread in the capital. Though he was upright, honest, and favored by the Emperor, Shen Yuan marrying him made it hard to imagine she wouldn’t be mocked behind her back in the future.

Shen Yi remained silent, his hesitant expression already revealing his answer.

“Who I marry and live with seems none of your concern.”

Shen Yuan rose, brushing ashes from her skirt, her vermilion lips lightly parted: “But Commander Pei is no longer young. If he still doesn’t marry Wan Ning and continue the Pei family line, Madam Pei might soon have to visit in person to discuss wedding preparations.”

Though her voice was gentle, it carried a trace of coldness.

Pei Ji caught the underlying meaning in her words; his eyes darkened, and for a moment, he was speechless.

“That’s enough. I don’t want to hear you discuss who I should marry. You two can talk among yourselves.”

Shen Yuan brushed past Pei Ji without stopping, leaving without a backward glance.

The pavilion fell silent for several seconds.

Shen Lang reproached Shen Yuan for lacking manners: “The Commander is still here. Even if you don’t want to stay, you should at least wait for him to leave first.”

After speaking, Pei Ji also stood.

He nodded slightly to the Shen brothers, his expression cold, then left the Pavilion in the Heart of the Lake.

Amid the misty rain, Pei Ji’s steps were swift, as if chasing after someone.