Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The night was cool as water. The only sound was the spring breeze tapping softly against the gauze window.

Miss Zhao sat on the canopied bed. After hearing the whole story, she laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. “Is that true? Ah Yu really stepped on Young Master Pei’s foot?”

Nanny Li nodded with a smile. “Not only did she step on him, she stepped so hard Young Master Pei’s foot went numb. When he left, he was still limping.”

I sat at the foot of the bed, arms wrapped around my knees, and pouted in frustration. “Don’t make me go next time. I only embarrassed myself for nothing!”

Miss Zhao gently pinched my cheek. “Oh? Are you sulking?”

I turned my face away in a huff and ignored her.

Miss Zhao burst out laughing. She sat down beside me, rested her head on my shoulder, then hugged me from behind and swayed me gently. “Good Ah Yu, don’t be mad anymore.”

In the past, April Charm had scolded me for having servility in my bones. It seemed she had been right.

I really couldn’t resist being coaxed. With just one sweet, honeyed sentence from Miss Zhao, all my anger vanished like smoke.

“Ah Yu, what do you think of Young Master Pei?” Miss Zhao asked softly.

I came to a serious conclusion. “He’s not bad.”

Miss Zhao asked, “What about him is not bad?”

I was clumsy with words, and it took me a long while to organize them. “He’s good-looking, tall, and quite mild-tempered. Even after I stepped on him, he didn’t scold me. He even called me big sister.”

At that, Pei Jianchen’s face suddenly appeared in my mind.

His smile was truly beautiful, like Lantian jade that had fallen into spring water, cool yet carrying a hint of warmth.

My heartbeat quickened before I knew it, and my ears began to burn. “I asked him. He said he only went to restaurants to drink and gather with a few friends. He has never visited brothels, nor has he ever had any female confidante. Miss Zhao can rest assured.”

Miss Zhao gave a soft hum and patted my shoulder. “Ah Yu, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to meet Young Master Pei one more time.”

I pulled a long face. “Can I not go? I don’t want to see him again for the rest of my life.”

Miss Zhao smiled wickedly. “When you come back, I’ll make you clear-braised eight-treasure duck.”

I swallowed. “All right. I’ll go.”

Miss Zhao soon sent Pei Jianchen another invitation, asking him to meet at a restaurant operated by the Zhao Family.

The restaurant was closed for the day, specifically to receive Young Master Pei.

Following Miss Zhao’s instructions, I went there early and ordered the cooks to prepare several delicate dishes.

According to Miss Zhao, if the two of them were to marry in the future, they would be spending a lifetime together.

So their tastes at the table had to match. Otherwise, if one liked spicy food while the other insisted on sweets, wouldn’t that lead to endless quarrels?

At a quarter before noon, Pei Jianchen arrived. He wore a pale purple, round-collared gauze-lined robe, making him look refined and noble.

The moment our eyes met, my face grew hot, and my gaze drifted unconsciously toward his feet.

To my surprise, he stopped at the doorway and did not enter the private room.

“Why won’t you come in, Young Master?” I asked, puzzled.

Pei Jianchen inclined his head in greeting, his eyes smiling. “I’m afraid you might step on me again, miss.”

I nearly wanted to bury my head in the floor. I took a small porcelain box from my sleeve and placed it on the table. “This ointment improves blood circulation and disperses bruising. It’s for you.”

Pei Jianchen pressed his lips together, holding back a laugh, then took his seat.

He did not pick up the ointment. Instead, he glanced over the delicacies on the table and asked with a smile, “And this is?”

My back went ramrod straight. “About what happened last time, I was truly rude, so I specially arranged this banquet today to apologize to you. These dishes are all signature dishes of the restaurant.”

I waved my hand, signaling Nanny Li to come over and pour the wine.

“Please, Young Master.” I raised my cup.

“Please.” Pei Jianchen drained it in one bold swallow.

He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of pan-fried tofu, and tilted his head. “Aren’t you eating, miss?”

I hurriedly said, “I am, I am.”

In truth, I didn’t like these dishes at all. Miss Zhao was frail and preferred light flavors, eating only vegetarian dishes.

But I liked strong flavors, especially meat. I was practically unhappy without it.

To me, all the tofu and eggplant on the table tasted like chewing wax.

Just then, Pei Jianchen set down his chopsticks and shook his head. “Forgive my bluntness, but the food at this restaurant is truly awful.”

My eyes lit up. A kindred spirit!

But right now, I was Miss Zhao-Zhao Jianan-so I had no choice but to defend my family’s business.