Unlike all the panicked and frightened guests, Qin Wan appeared remarkably composed and serene.
Her ink-black dress swept past the abundant wisteria on the flower trellis. For a moment, the subtle fragrance drifted in the warm yellow lantern light, stirring something in Yan Chi’s heart as he watched from afar. His lustrous pupils suddenly cleared, and the crimson ceremonial hall and night sky silently faded away, leaving only Qin Wan’s figure reflected in his eyes.
Yan Chi watched from a distance, initially planning to follow, but then remembered tonight’s incident at the Marquis’s residence. He remained cautiously alert. Just as he was about to continue outward, his peripheral vision caught a young man in fine clothing approaching from afar.
With one glance, Yan Chi could tell the man was heading toward Qin Wan.
Pausing his steps, Yan Chi decided to delay his trip to the manor gate.
Qin Wan was walking unhurriedly westward when she looked up and saw a man approaching her from the west.
At this time, all guests were walking west, but this man moved against the crowd, quite conspicuously. What Qin Wan found strange was that his gaze was fixed on her. Qin Wan frowned as she looked – wasn’t this the young master who had bumped into her earlier?
Fu Ling also noticed the approaching figure and let out a soft “ah,” instinctively grabbing Qin Wan.
Qin Wan turned back, puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
Fu Ling’s face showed difficulty and nervousness, wanting to say something but holding back as the man drew near.
This delay allowed the man to reach them, firmly blocking Qin Wan’s path.
Qin Wan frowned, looking at him questioningly.
This person had bumped into her earlier, and now he was blocking her way – why?
The newcomer was tall and handsome, with refined features. His luxurious blue robe gave him an air of nobility. At this moment, he was studying her with deep eyes. Qin Wan’s heart tightened – could he be an old acquaintance?
This thought made Qin Wan uneasy. Would it seem too fake if she didn’t recognize an old acquaintance?
“What? Are you pretending not to know me?”
As Qin Wan hesitated, the man spoke. At his words, Qin Wan’s brows furrowed.
The man’s eyes narrowed, chin slightly raised, clearly displaying a sense of superiority. Qin Wan’s lips turned down – this person was indeed an old acquaintance of the Ninth Young Lady, but his attitude was rather presumptuous.
Who was he? What right did he have to assume she was pretending not to know him?
Qin Wan felt displeased but, uncertain of his identity, remained silent. As she considered how to respond, Qin Shuang appeared in the distance. Qin Shuang scanned the area, immediately spotting Qin Wan. Her gaze swept across the man’s back, her eyes widening before she stormed toward Qin Wan with fury!
“How dare you, Qin Wan! We’re all waiting for you, yet you’re here pestering Brother Huo!”
Qin Shuang was furious, her voice extremely loud. Qin Wan started, then suddenly understood.
So this was Huo Ning, the Prefect’s son whom the Ninth Young Lady had liked before!
Huo Ning hadn’t expected Qin Shuang to return, but hearing her words, his face showed no displeasure. He didn’t even refute Qin Shuang’s misunderstanding, as if Qin Wan truly had been pestering him.
Qin Wan couldn’t help but smile. She rarely smiled, but when she did, her features held unmatched grace.
Qin Shuang and Huo Ning were stunned, and in the distance, Yan Chi narrowed his eyes.
“So it’s Young Master Huo. Having fallen into the lake half a month ago, I indeed have trouble remembering people. I still remember those I see often, but I’ve forgotten those I didn’t pay much attention to. I hope Young Master Huo won’t take offense.”
Huo Ning’s expression immediately turned extremely unpleasant. Those she didn’t pay much attention to were forgotten?
She, Qin Wan, didn’t pay attention to him?!
Huo Ning’s lips pressed tightly together as he asked arrogantly, “Why did you fall into the lake?”
He knew very well – she had jumped in for him!
Qin Wan looked at Huo Ning before her with real disappointment.
This young man with good looks and a family background surely didn’t lack admirers. To him, Qin Wan was merely one among many. If he simply didn’t like Qin Wan, that would have been fine, but he simultaneously disdained her while enjoying her affection.
Once Qin Wan showed negligence toward him, he felt uncomfortable and unwilling, even naturally assuming that Qin Wan couldn’t stop liking him, which was why he thought she was pretending not to know him.
Qin Wan laughed inwardly again – the Ninth Young Lady’s taste had been quite poor.
“I simply slipped and fell into the lake. It was raining heavily that night.”
Huo Ning’s brows furrowed slightly. “You weren’t, you did it for—”
Qin Wan watched him, waiting for him to say the word “me,” but her thin smile was mocking. Huo Ning’s face reddened slightly, and he couldn’t bring himself to say that word.
“What does Young Master Huo think Qin Wan did it for?” As Huo Ning hesitated to speak, Qin Wan shook her head and sighed, “Qin Wan fears death. There’s truly nothing in this world that would make Qin Wan willingly embrace death.”
Huo Ning’s lips pressed into a line as he stared at Qin Wan. She had changed – her temperament, her gaze, and even her way of speaking were different. He gradually realized that the Qin Wan before him was no longer the one who had looked up to him, and his superiority before her seemed somewhat ridiculously self-important.
But how could one person’s feelings for another change so easily?
“Is Young Master Huo finished? Then please step aside, I need to return home.”
Qin Wan felt no goodwill toward Huo Ning, her tone growing cold. Huo Ning looked at her, his lips pursing several times before he suddenly said in a condescending tone, “It’s unsettling tonight. I… I’ll escort you home.”
If this were the previous Qin Wan, she would have been moved to tears of gratitude at these words.
But now, Qin Wan simply walked past Huo Ning, “No need to trouble yourself, Young Master. Qin Wan will go ahead.”
Huo Ning’s eyes widened in surprise, then he frowned and stepped back twice, blocking Qin Wan again.
He studied her carefully, seeing that her gaze was clear and showed no sign of admiration or affection for him. Anger rose in Huo Ning’s heart, “Are you trying to attract my attention this way?”
Qin Wan was slightly stunned, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Perhaps the Prefect’s son was indeed outstanding among the young people of Jinzhou, but in the vast Da Zhou dynasty, in this vast world, Jinzhou was merely the tip of an iceberg. The person before her was truly ignorant and arrogant!
Seeing the mockery in Qin Wan’s smile, Huo Ning straightened his back, still holding his chin high, “Using such methods won’t work. I only felt some guilt because I heard you jumped into the lake for me.”
Qin Wan suddenly felt sorry for the former Ninth Young Lady.
The reason Huo Ning was so certain she was putting on an act must have been because the former Ninth Young Lady had genuinely liked him. Unfortunately, Huo Ning had always maintained his superiority, showing no respect or care.
However, even the former Ninth Young Lady would never have attempted suicide for someone like Huo Ning.
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, facing Huo Ning’s self-important arrogance with a raised lip.
She spoke with resignation, “What makes Young Master Huo think I jumped into the lake for you? Is it your ignorance or your stupidity? Or is it your appearance and status as the Prefect’s son?”
As her words fell, Qin Wan watched with satisfaction as Huo Ning’s expression changed dramatically.
Unless necessary, Qin Wan never easily offended others’ dignity, but if others disrespected her first, she would never tolerate a shallow and arrogant fool showing off before her.