Ning Yan said nothing, but Pei Lingshu’s mouth didn’t stop. “Being wholeheartedly thanked by someone—shouldn’t that be something to feel glad about? Why do you look so unhappy instead? Is it because you’re afraid she might find out that you could’ve stopped this from happening in the first place?”
“Why would I be afraid?”
Ning Yan’s gaze turned sharp. “I didn’t orchestrate any of this. I wasn’t the one targeting the Bai family. And I did stop those people’s scheme—why the hell should I be afraid?”
Pei Lingshu just looked at him, then let out a quiet, derisive chuckle. “Then why are you so worked up?”
Ning Yan: “…Are you looking for a fight?”
Pei Lingshu rolled his eyes—big, slow, and exaggerated. That again. After all these years, still the same old trick.
“From the moment you stepped through the Bai family’s door today, you tied yourself to them. Don’t tell me you don’t see it. You’ve long become the target of envy at court—how many people are watching you, just waiting for you to stumble so they can take your place? And yet, you handed them a chance on a silver platter. Didn’t I already warn you about this?”
“But did you listen? You used to steer clear of such messy business—so why now? Those who wanted to use the Bai family as scapegoats have likely added your name to the list too. What are you trying to get out of this?”
His tone turned grave. “Even the Emperor might start harboring doubts because of this. For someone as smart as you, why take such a foolish risk?”
Ning Yan’s lips pressed into a thin line. After a long silence, he finally muttered, “I just… didn’t want to comfort anyone. She cries too easily. Takes forever to calm her down.”
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Pei Lingshu: …Does this guy even hear himself?
Clearly, Ning Yan assumed he already knew—and the more he spoke, the more convinced he became. “Right? You have no idea, she might’ve cried. Tears rolling down one after another, like where do they even come from? And she was practically ready to throw herself at me. What I did was only human, wasn’t it? Weren’t you the one always telling me not to be so aloof?”
The more he talked, the more righteous he sounded. His back straightened without him even noticing. Pei Lingshu rolled his eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into his skull. So he does know he’s cold and arrogant?
“I didn’t have much choice, did I? The little thing’s just too delicate.”
Ning Yan’s face was full of helplessness. Pei Lingshu pressed his lips together. “Wasn’t she always delicate? That’s just how she is—you knew that, didn’t you?”
Ning Yan’s eyes sharpened. “Always? Knew what?”
Pei Lingshu froze. “You didn’t know? You really didn’t know and still…”
“What are you talking about?”
Seeing Ning Yan’s brow furrow in frustration, Pei Lingshu’s lips slowly curled into a mischievous grin. He chuckled and poured himself a drink. “Hehehe… so you didn’t know…”
Oh, this was going to be fun.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Let’s drink.” Check latest chapters at n0velfire.net
He smoothly changed the subject, but from time to time, his eyes slid toward Ning Yan with undisguised amusement. He had thought Ning Yan’s special treatment of Bai Qingqing came from recognition—but it turned out he didn’t even realize. How delightful.
“I think,” Pei Lingshu said lazily, “fate in this world—it’s worth believing in.”
Ning Yan rolled his eyes. Boring.
Meanwhile, Bai Jinghuai found a chance to have a quiet talk with his daughter. He casually asked about Ning Yan. “Qingqing, what kind of connection did you have with Lord Ning before all this? I’m not trying to meddle, really. It’s just—well, your stations are so different. I’m just curious.”
Bai Qingqing felt that her acquaintance with Ning Yan had all started with a misunderstanding. It was a bit embarrassing, but nothing unspeakable. So she told her father the whole story, carefully and in full.