Chapter 4

Under the lamplight, Wang Xi smiled at Zhao Qingyi. He placed food in her bowl, and she smiled shyly in return.

What a perfect match: a gifted man and a beautiful woman, destined for each other.

“Brother, whose daughter is this? She’s so pretty.”

He had told me not to come. Naturally, I came.

His expression shifted. His gaze was a little cold, a little unfamiliar.

I felt chilled all over. Rubbing my arms, I gave him a bright smile and questioned him with my eyes.

What was this? Pretending he no longer knew me?

He looked away.

Then he had better never come to my courtyard again.

Zhao Qingyi rose gracefully and smiled at me. “You must be Yaoyao. Just as your brother said—a stunning beauty.”

I had intended to provoke her.

But her smile was so gentle, rather like my sister’s.

I sat beside her and began to wheedle.

“Sister Zhao, look at my brother. He doesn’t seem pleased to see me. Am I interrupting?”

She glanced at Wang Xi’s slightly darkened face and smiled with gentle composure. “He couldn’t be fonder of you. You’re not interrupting at all. Food tastes better with more people around the table.”

She had all the poise of a mistress of the household. Zhao Qingyi was actually very nice. I did not dislike her at all. Why did she have to marry Wang Xi?

Wang Xi had gone mute. He sat there with a dark face, saying nothing.

I kicked him under the table, finally forcing him to look at me.

“Why won’t you talk to me, Brother?” I propped my chin on my hand and blinked at him, looking wounded.

Anger already touched his brows. His voice was low. “Yaoyao, Sister Zhao and I have something to discuss.”

What? The betrothal gifts? The dowry? Or something further off—how many babies they would have?

“Brother’s being so mean.” I hugged Zhao Qingyi’s arm and pouted.

Wang Xi rubbed his brow and was about to speak again. I smiled at him, and he gave a muffled grunt.

Beneath the table, I had touched him.

A blush slowly crept up the ears of the solemn, proper Wang Xi.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Qingyi had heard his grunt and asked in concern.

“Nothing.” A light sheen of sweat appeared on his nose.

“Are you hot?” She studied his face, puzzled.

“No.”

I watched him in amusement. “Can my brother say anything besides no?”

Zhao Qingyi had lost her hairpin, and Wang Xi and I were helping her look for it.

With the rockery screening us from view, I reached toward him.

He seized my hand. A vein stood out at his temple.

“Stop it,” he said so quietly that only I could hear.

On the other side, Zhao Qingyi called, “Yaoyao, have you found it yet?”

“Not yet.”

I tried to free my hand, but he held it fast.

I laughed softly, my eyes gleaming.

“Brother, your ears have gone red.”

I stepped forward and backed him against the stone wall.

“What am I to do? Whenever I see you looking so impeccably proper, I want to bully you…”

He covered my mouth. The corners of his eyes were red, his gaze watery, like an innocent being tormented.

My eyes curved with laughter. Covering my mouth could hardly keep me from making sounds.

“Mmm, do you think that will silence me, Brother?”

He stared at me with a frown.

My interest only grew. “Bro-ther… mm—”

Before I could finish, we had switched places. The uneven stone scraped against my back.

“How about this?”

Wang Xi sealed my mouth completely with a kiss.

The docile prey I thought I had caught had become the hunter, and I was trapped.

A lotus-scented breeze drifted past. Ripples stirred among the lotus leaves, the water unusually clear in the silence.

Footsteps sounded on the ground.

His long, fair fingers covered mine, pressing them against the rugged stone; they straightened, curled, straightened, curled.

Zhao Qingyi called, “I’ve looked everywhere here. Still nothing. I’ll come over and help you.”

Wang Xi’s heart was pounding.

“Mm…” I wanted to answer. I wanted him to kiss me where others could see.

He released me, his gaze deep. “It’s not here either. No need to come over,” he answered her.

His voice sounded perfectly steady and unruffled.

Still slightly breathless, my limbs weak, I glared at him.

Wasn’t I the one supposed to be using a beauty trap?

My cheeks grew hot.

A smile slowly spread through his eyes. Gently smoothing my hair, he murmured, “Be good.”

His voice had changed, deeper and rougher. It was downright bewitching.

For a moment, I lost myself.

A soft glimmer spilled into the dark opening among the rocks.

“Then never mind. Let’s stop looking and go back together.”

Zhao Qingyi was coming with her lantern.

The corner of a pink, lotus-colored skirt entered my sight.

He wanted me to be good? I rose swiftly on tiptoe and kissed him.

I meant to drag him into wrongdoing in the open.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

Almost at the same instant, Zhao Qingyi looked our way. As my lips met his, a small flying stone struck the lantern, putting it out.

Her startled cry rang beside me.

“Oh, it’s so dark.

“I’m afraid of the dark. I can’t see anything.”

Wang Xi calmly pushed me away.

“Don’t be frightened. I’m coming.”

He left me alone.

I stood there in the darkness, suddenly unsure where to go.

Wang Xi’s tenderness was not reserved for me alone.