Chapter 131: Just a Little Closer

After Wang Yunzhi left, Xue Fanzhi was about to head back when Hong Xiao approached her.

Seeing the maid hesitate as if wanting to speak but holding back, Xue Fanzhi nodded slightly.

In a low voice, Hong Xiao said, "Mistress, does Second Young Master Wang like you?" For families like theirs, Wang’s affection could spell trouble rather than good fortune.

Xue Fanzhi smiled and replied, "Why would you think that? How could he like me?"

Because you’ve kissed!

"If he didn’t like you, why would he give you gifts?" Hong Xiao worriedly said, "Just now, I saw it all—the anger and unwillingness in Second Young Master Wang’s eyes, then the sorrow and his refusal to give up! Mistress, if he didn’t like you, why would he behave like this? He got angry over just a gift!"

So, it really does seem like he likes me.

But in her previous life, Wang Yunzhi had only ever robbed her and done nothing else.

Still smiling, Xue Fanzhi said, "As you said, it’s about resentment and anger, nothing to do with affection. It’s because I don’t like him that he’s irritated. Young gentlemen like him from noble families can’t bear setbacks—they take things seriously! This isn’t love; it’s just frustration."

So, this is what frustration looks like!

A gift causing frustration!

Yet, Mistress’s explanation sounds quite reasonable.

Hong Xiao glanced back at the phoenix tree. Beneath it, the handsome young master was gone, but the sorrowful look he wore seemed still vivid. Wang, could it really be love? Love for Mistress?!

Hong Xiao didn’t have time to ponder further because it was time for Xue Fanzhi to pay her respects.

Being twins, she and Xue Jiaoyue performed the ceremony together, but their sponsors and guests differed. Anyone with eyes could see the factions forming within the Xue family, even splitting the twins into two camps.

Yet this didn’t affect the interactions of close relatives and longtime friends with the Xue household.

No matter how many factions there were, the Xue family was still the Xue family. One brushstroke could never write two Xues. As long as one mingled with the Xue family, it sufficed.

So, everyone continued joyfully watching the ceremony and then happily attended the grand feast the Xue family prepared for the guests.

Originally, the banquet separated men and women into inner and outer halls.

But some elders and peers wished to present gifts to the newly come-of-age twins, making such divisions impossible. Many from the outer courtyard also came to sit in the residence of Grand Madam Xue.

Though Xue Fanzhi was the guest of honor today, the rare presence of some old acquaintances at Grand Madam’s place led her to offer her seat to guests, choosing instead to sit in the middle seat on the left row.

Since seating was by arrangement, when she sat down, no one was beside her. Hong Lian, having something to say, quietly settled next to her, and while refilling the honey drink, whispered, “Seventh Mistress has gone out, and Qin Jianyu is nowhere to be found. This servant is powerless and couldn’t find them!”

Xue Fanzhi nodded and said, "Do all you can."

Leave the rest to fate!

If heaven truly forbids it, then so be it.

Hong Lian bowed and withdrew.

At the corridor where Grand Madam Xue stood, amidst the bustling crowd, Xue Qiniang and Qin Jianyu brushed past each other. In that moment, Qin Jianyu whispered, “The young master of the Sun family intends an assassination—to divert the disaster eastward!”

Xue Jiaoyue smiled sweetly, “Thank you for the warning, brother-in-law!”

How could that be thanked? He’s not even a brother-in-law!

If the young master of the Sun family succeeds, and Xue Jiaoyue’s plan succeeds, then even if Xue Fanzhi survives, she would be crippled. Then how could she bear to marry me?

Xue Jiaoyue believed she could harm Xue Fanzhi, and the young master thought he could exact revenge, yet neither knew the true mastermind behind it all was him.

Ha ha!

Walking forward, Qin Jianyu almost laughed aloud.

Only when he met Kong Linglong, disguised as a servant accompanying him, did the confident smile return to his face.

“What are you laughing at, my lord?” Kong Linglong cautiously asked in a secluded spot.

Qin Jianyu tilted Kong Linglong’s chin, speaking flirtatiously, “Of course, I’m laughing about us—our wishes are about to come true!”

Wishes coming true? Didn’t he just see Xue Fanzhi and regret it?

Kong Linglong truly feared Qin Jianyu meeting Xue Fanzhi, so she followed him closely, always watching to prevent him from approaching the latter, because that Xue Fanzhi was far from the ugly, overweight woman she expected—she was undeniably beautiful.

She feared that if he saw her, he would abandon Kong Linglong.

Unlike Xue Fanzhi and Qin Jianyu, who had never met, Kong Linglong was already his.

If Qin Jianyu didn’t want her anymore, she would truly have no face left to live.

“My lord, don’t you want to meet Eighth Mistress before deciding? What if she is beautiful?”

Qin Jianyu had considered this, but having seen her silhouette through the screen, he was sure she was fat and ugly.

He replied softly, “Why look so? Am I a lustful man? I like you, not because you’re beautiful. I don’t like her, not because she’s ugly. You’re overthinking. I simply don’t like her because my heart belongs only to you.”

Whether true or not, Kong Linglong felt comforted hearing this. She called softly to him, and if it weren’t for being at the Xue residence, she would have thrown herself into his arms already…

………

Afterwards, Xue Jiaoyue returned and sat beside Xue Fanzhi. Seeing Xue Fanzhi frown slightly, Xue Jiaoyue looked apologetic and said, “Sister, may I sit here?”

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for nearby people to hear.

Since Xue Fanzhi had been the center of attention today, it gave the impression that Xue Jiaoyue was greatly oppressed at home.

Some disapproving gazes shifted toward her.

Xue Fanzhi calmly replied, “You’re already sitting down, so why ask me?”

Her voice was low, and Xue Jiaoyue inwardly sneered, knowing she didn’t dare make a scene.

But this younger sister had changed greatly from before. Previously, the glances from relatives would have made her nervous enough to invite her to sit without any fuss.

“Sister, there are so many guests today. We are siblings—what’s there to hold grudges over? Must you treat me this way?” Xue Jiaoyue said, leaning closer and raising a cup of honey drink, “Why not drink this with me, and let’s wipe the slate clean of all past matters?”

If she truly sought forgiveness, she wouldn’t say such things in this setting.

Xue Fanzhi’s expression remained icy, but looking around, she still raised her cup.

In Xue Jiaoyue’s eyes, this was a surrender.

She thought to herself that this foolish sister was, after all, soft-hearted no matter how much she changed.

Xue Jiaoyue took a large sip of the honey drink, then leaned closer and said, “Delicious. Sister, I remember you like this kind of drink. I’ll pour you another cup.”

Xue Fanzhi nodded stiffly, refusing neither…

As more guests settled, Xue Jiaoyue was less than half a step from Xue Fanzhi.

Xue Wanying sat directly opposite them and, seeing Xue Fanzhi’s sullen face and Xue Jiaoyue’s flattering manner, her eyes darkened. She looked toward Grand Madam Xue and said, “Grandmother, is the hairpin Eighth Mistress wears a gift from you? It’s truly beautiful!”

At last, the moment had arrived!