Brother Jing was still waiting for her — but she… she was no longer worthy of him…

She was the one who had wronged him.

If Xie Yan had not brought her up to the mountain, perhaps they would have already been married by now, with children at their knees.

Yan Shiyao’s heart ached as she patted her on the back. She was determined to help A’Chu reunite with Brother Wenjing.

…

Chuyu Pavilion.

Wen Wanyu had accidentally strained herself and disturbed the fetus, and Mu Shiqing refused to let her leave the guest room — he stayed with her and kept her company for their meal.

Xie Yan, as the Second-in-Command, had arrived early with Nanchu to the Chuyu Pavilion to host Yan Yunning and the others.

The atmosphere at the table was, for the most part, amicable.

“Xuan Yanyu.” Yan Yunning prodded his hand, which rested on his knee.

Xuan Yanyu leaned toward her. “What is it?”

Yan Yunning raised her hand to cover her mouth, and whispered in a low voice, “I think something seems off with Nanchu.”

“Oh?”

“She actually made soup for Xie Yan with her own hands.”

Nanchu despised Xie Yan to the core — so why would she suddenly make him soup herself? And with such tenderness, no less?

“Second Miss Yan, Master Xuan — what are you two whispering about?” Nanchu spoke up with a smile.

Seeing the two of them with their heads pressed close together reminded her of how she and Brother Jing used to be. It truly made one envious.

Yan Yunning raised her hand to cover a light laugh. “Second Madam, I was just saying that the Second-in-Command is so fortunate — the soup Second Madam made must be absolutely delicious.”

Xie Yan let out a hearty laugh. “Ningning, the First-in-Command’s sister is my sister too — I’ll sacrifice a little and let you have a sip.”

This was the first time his Chu had made him soup. He was reluctant to share it with anyone, but since Ningning was the First-in-Command’s sister, he supposed he could give her one sip — just one sip — for the First-in-Command’s sake.

A flash of fleeting panic crossed Nanchu’s eyes. She smiled gently. “If Second Miss Yan would like some, I’ll make it for you at tomorrow’s morning meal — but this soup was made for my husband.”

As she spoke, she lowered her head with a shy, tender blush.

At the word “husband,” Xie Yan’s eyes lit up with an almost startling brightness. He clasped Nanchu’s hand in his, and his laughter rang out, full of joy.

Nanchu looked up at him, concealing the revulsion behind her eyes. “Husband, aren’t you going to drink it? If you wait any longer, it’ll go cold.”

“Drink, yes, of course.” Xie Yan lifted the bowl, and without minding how hot it still was, tipped his head back and drained it in one long gulp.

The corner of Nanchu’s lips curved ever so slightly — a faint, fleeting smile.

Two more packets, and she would be free.

Yan Yunning rested her chin in her hand and watched Nanchu, feeling that something was off in every possible way.

After the meal, Xie Yan took Nanchu’s hand, and the two returned to Chuyue Pavilion together.

“Husband, it was Chu who was immature before — I won’t be like that anymore.” Nanchu nestled in Xie Yan’s arms and pressed her lips lightly to his chin on her own initiative.

“Chu.” Xie Yan’s voice trembled.

He felt like crying.

His Chu was finally accepting him!

That heartless Wenjing was not worthy of his Chu at all.

He had coaxed Chu into abandoning her parents, yet Chu had not known that Wenjing already had a child before he even met her — and that he had been deceiving Chu in order to sell her to a wealthy local household as a concubine.

Xie Yan had been dining at a tavern when he overheard their conversation, spoken without a single trace of shame. He had felt such pity for the young woman.

Unable to bear it in his heart, he gave Wenjing a hundred taels of silver and brought Chu up the mountain. At first, he had only felt sorry for her, thinking that after a year passed and she gradually forgot about Wenjing, he would let her go back down.

What he had not expected was that without knowing when or how, he had fallen in love with her, and found himself unable to let her go.

It was not that he had never told Chu the truth — but every time he tried, after only a sentence or two, Chu would tell him to get out. She did not believe him, thinking he was only trying to deceive her. Even so, Chu was finally willing to accept him now.

Over the years, he had frequently sent people to deliver silver to Chu’s parents. The money he had given to Wenjing, he had quietly taken back as well — and by all accounts, Wenjing’s fierce wife had beaten him so badly over it that he nearly lost his life.

Nanchu pressed herself closer into his arms and said with a smile, “Husband, don’t you like it when Chu is like this?”

Xie Yan repeated over and over, “I like it, I like it.” His voice was thick with emotion.

He wiped his tears away haphazardly, red-rimmed eyes still resting against her. “Chu, I’m truly so happy — you don’t know how glad I am, here in my heart.”

Nanchu’s voice caught in her throat, and without warning, a sharp ache pierced through her chest.

She could not blame herself. It was he who had torn her and Brother Jing apart — she had done nothing wrong.

“Second-in-Command, Second Madam, the soup is ready.” A maidservant came in carrying a bowl of soup.

“What soup?” Xie Yan’s voice was still thick with congestion.

“Second Madam instructed this servant to bring it over.” The maidservant replied with a smile.

Nanchu rose with a smile and took the bowl from the maidservant’s hands. She picked up the ladle and stirred it gently. “Husband, have your soup — Chu will feed you herself.”

Xie Yan took a sip. His Chu’s soup really did not taste very good.

Nanchu watched his reaction from the corner of her eye. It wasn’t tasty? That was because she had put no heart into making it.

“Chu, can I stop drinking now?” Xie Yan asked cautiously.

He had only just finished his meal — he was not hungry yet.

A mist instantly rose in Nanchu’s eyes. “If you don’t want to drink it, then forget it.”

“Chu, don’t be upset — I’ll drink it.” Xie Yan took the bowl and drank it down in large, eager gulps.

Nanchu gazed at him, her eyes complex and unreadable. One last time.

Xie Yan smiled as he wiped the corner of his mouth and held the empty bowl out to Nanchu. “Chu, it’s all finished.”

“Mm.”

“Chu, it’s getting late.” Xie Yan set down the bowl, his gaze burning and intense as he looked at her.

Nanchu pressed her lips together.

Xie Yan blew out the lamp, plunging the room into complete darkness in an instant. He carefully lifted Nanchu and carried her to the bed, then lowered the curtains around it.

“Chu.” Xie Yan’s breath came faster as he lowered his head and pressed his lips gently to her forehead.

The kiss fell upon her lips, and Nanchu clutched his arm tightly in both hands.

This was the last time.

…

The following morning.

Yan Shiyao knocked on Xuan Yanyu’s guest room door.

“Brother Yu, could you please stop lending Ningning money?” Yan Shiyao sighed.

Xuan Yanyu picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea, holding it out to her. “What has she done this time?”

“Her room is filled to the brim with little trinkets. When we leave, how are we supposed to carry all of that?” Yan Shiyao accepted the teacup and took a small sip.

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow.

“She buys all sorts of useless things. If she keeps this habit up after she’s married, it won’t do her any good.” Yan Shiyao said helplessly.

Her future husband would scold her for it.

Xuan Yanyu ran his fingers over the teacup without responding.

Yan Shiyao continued to chatter on. “Brother Yu, you should also be more mindful going forward — don’t be too intimate with Ningning.”

Ningning had not yet left the inner chambers, after all. Her future husband would take issue with it.

Brother Yu’s birth was not notable. Her father would absolutely never permit Ningning to marry him.

If Ningning were to marry, it would have to be a prince or a royal, and at the very least, a marquis.

The fingertip with which Xuan Yanyu had been stroking the teacup stilled ever so slightly.

“Brother Yu, come down the mountain with me.” Yan Shiyao abruptly changed the subject.

Xuan Yanyu looked up and asked, “For what purpose?”

“Ningning has been going on about wanting to eat some pastries. Let’s buy some to bring back to her.”

“Mm.” Xuan Yanyu nodded.

Yan Shiyao pursed her lips and, unable to help herself, asked, “Brother Yu… do you like Ningning?”

“Like her?” Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow. “No.”

He simply did not want her to leave his side.