NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55: Every Heart Has Its Own Intentions
Chapter 55: Every Heart Has Its Own Intentions
The old mayor, Su Qing, smiled and bowed to the young master invited by the Fang family, “Such an impressive demeanor and extraordinary bearing! No wonder you’re the young master of the Lin family from the county. It all makes sense now.”
Xu Lian couldn’t help but take another look at Su Qing. He had to reassess him, as he hadn’t been so warm earlier.
The young master, Lin Chengyu, only offered a slight cupped hand salute in return, showing neither enthusiasm nor excessive coldness toward Green Bamboo Town’s mayor. Perhaps this was the cultivated demeanor of a noble son of the county family.
Since arriving at the mine, Fang Shaoze, the son of the Fang family patriarch, had kept his eyes on Pei Zhaoxi. After greeting the elders, Mayor Su Qing, and Pei family patriarch Pei Jifeng, he walked briskly toward Pei Heng, Pei Zhaoxi, Han Du, and Xu Lian, accompanied by Lin Chengyu.
“Zhaoxi!”
Fang Shaoze waved his hand at Pei Zhaoxi, flashing a bright and radiant smile.
It was clear that he was an outgoing, sunny youth, and with his good looks and noble status as the heir of the Fang family, he was naturally charming to young women. No wonder Pei Zhaoxi had once harbored some youthful affection for him.
Fang Shaoze was about 15 years old, a peer of Pei Zhaoxi’s, and the two of them were quite a pair, like a golden boy and a jade girl.
“Hmm, Brother Fang.”
Pei Zhaoxi responded with a slight awkwardness, her attention clearly elsewhere. The reply was almost automatic, and her mind seemed distracted. Fang Shaoze was still the same youthful boy as before, but she was no longer the same girl. She had already been with Xu Lian multiple times, and things were getting more intense.
Her peripheral vision briefly landed on Xu Lian, and if she had to describe it, the image of Fang Shaoze – the radiant youth – once painted on the walls of her heart like sunlight, but Xu Lian was like a thief who broke down the door, invading and rearranging the room to suit himself, leaving no trace of the youthful sunshine. Now, the image of the sunny boy was fading, on the verge of disappearing completely.
Her feelings for Fang Shaoze had become complex – there was a bit of guilt, a bit of indifference, even a sense of strangeness, and perhaps some resentment as well. She resented how the sunny boy had carefully tended to the garden, only to have Xu Lian, the “thief”, come and steal the flowers, with the future fruits of this garden likely to belong to Xu Lian as well.
“Zhaoxi, what’s wrong?”
Fang Shaoze immediately noticed Pei Zhaoxi’s cool response.
The Fang and Pei families had been close for generations, and they had been engaged since childhood. Although they weren’t childhood sweethearts, they had known each other well, so even the slightest change in Pei Zhaoxi’s attitude didn’t escape his notice. Something felt off.
“Are you not feeling well? Are you sick?”
He reached out to touch her forehead, trying to check if she had a fever from a cold.
Pei Zhaoxi instinctively dodged, stepping aside and bumping into Xu Lian’s shoulder.
This small action… but the reactions of everyone were different.
Fang Shaoze’s hand froze in mid-air, and the sunny smile on his face also stiffened. He and Zhaoxi were engaged, so why such a strong reaction to such a simple touch?
Pei Heng was also a bit stunned and confused. The two of them had always had a good relationship, even showing some playful affection in the past. Why did Zhaoxi instinctively treat Fang Shaoze like a stranger?
Han Du had no reaction. To him, Pei Zhaoxi’s strange behavior was nothing out of the ordinary.
However, Xu Lian felt a bit guilty. His instinct had almost made him reach out to block Fang Shaoze’s hand, but he quickly reminded himself that Fang Shaoze was the one who was betrothed to Pei Zhaoxi.
Lin Chengyu, the noble young master from the county, was a martial artist and had sharp senses. His eyes narrowed slightly as he caught a subtle detail: when Pei Zhaoxi instinctively avoided Fang Shaoze’s hand, she didn’t move toward her closest relative, her brother Pei Heng, but instead toward Xu Lian, the young mine manager.
This was interesting because humans, like animals, instinctively seek out the familiar in times of need. Why did Pei Zhaoxi go to Xu Lian, the young manager?
Moreover, another key detail-when Fang Shaoze reached out, Xu Lian’s hand had subtly moved as though trying to block him, but he stopped himself. Why did Xu Lian react like that?
Lin Chengyu gave Xu Lian a meaningful glance, his eyes filled with deep consideration.
As a martial artist himself, Xu Lian also noticed Lin Chengyu’s gaze. He nodded slightly in recognition.
Lin Chengyu was slightly surprised. Seeing Xu Lian’s keen perception, he realized that Xu Lian was also a martial artist.
“Zhaoxi, what’s really going on?”Fang Shaoze couldn’t dwell on the matter for long, his concerned gaze fixed on Pei Zhaoxi.
Pei Zhaoxi lightly shook her head, “It’s nothing. I’ve just been feeling a bit under the weather lately.”
She’s pregnant… Xu Lian briefly had that thought, but quickly dismissed it. It seemed impossible. Pei Zhaoxi was clearly brushing off Fang Shaoze’s concerns. Even if she were pregnant, it would likely be Sister Xiya first, given that Sister Xiya was more mature and Pei Zhaoxi was still far from ready, both physically and emotionally.
Such a casual remark made Fang Shaoze pay more attention, “Have you seen a doctor? If not, I can send you back to the Pei Family Manor.”
“No need, I’m fine.”
Pei Zhaoxi replied indifferently.
Listening to their conversation, Xu Lian felt a mixture of emotions. It was clear that Fang Shaoze cared about Pei Zhaoxi. To some extent, Xu Lian felt a sense of guilt towards Fang Shaoze, but he also knew that this wasn’t entirely his fault. If Pei Zhaoxi hadn’t tried to ambush him, he wouldn’t have retaliated in kind. Besides, he hadn’t known that Pei Zhaoxi was betrothed to Fang Shaoze before all of this happened. The primary responsibility lay with Pei Zhaoxi herself, and he had only a secondary role in it.
Of course, his guilt didn’t mean that he would let go of Pei Zhaoxi. He had become more and more fascinated with this little firecracker of a girl. Unlike Xiya, who was obedient, and Chan’er, who was docile, Pei Zhaoxi never showed him any affection, which made him even more eager.
Once their engagement was dissolved and Pei Zhaoxi married him and became his woman, he wondered if her feelings for him would explode, suddenly blossoming into love.
Pei Zhaoxi’s indifferent attitude left Fang Shaoze at a loss for words. He didn’t know what to say and could only offer a forced smile. “Well, when we go hunting up the mountain, take it easy. Don’t overexert yourself and get too tired.”
“Mm.”
Pei Zhaoxi responded softly, her eyes unintentionally flicking to Xu Lian’s face, meeting his gaze for a brief moment. Perhaps something had crossed her mind, as her cheeks flushed slightly. She quickly averted her gaze and looked away.
Elsewhere, the old mayor, Su Qing, the Pei family patriarch, Pei Jifeng, and the Fang family patriarch were still chatting and laughing together, unaware of what had happened between the younger generation.
Far away, the younger sons and daughters of the three great families stood quietly at the edge of the mountain field. As illegitimate children, they had no status at home, so they had little presence outside. They stood awkwardly, too shy to speak out in front of the family heads and legitimate heirs.
Although the event was labeled as a “hunt,” it was more of a social gathering. The hunt was secondary; the primary goal was to bring the families together to avoid any misunderstandings or suspicions that might arise from a prolonged lack of communication.
With bows and arrows slung over their backs, everyone chatted and laughed as they made their way up the mountain.