Chapter 40 (2/2): Apology, the next moment, he held her in his arms

She expected him to scold her for being unreasonable, but he said nothing, his expression calm and unreadable.

That made her feel guilty.

Her hand had acted before her mind did; she hadn’t expected to do that.

Now that it was done, she felt she was wrong but didn’t want to apologize—after all, she still harbored some inexplicable anger.

So no one spoke.

Even usually talkative Pei Huaian was dumbfounded, looking between her and Huaijin.

The atmosphere inside the carriage seemed frozen.

After a long moment, Pei Huaijin suddenly called out, his voice cold and sharp:

“Qingjian, stop the carriage.”

Shen Youran’s heart tightened.

Why would he order Qingjian to stop now?

Was he going to throw her off for hitting him?

No, he wasn’t that kind of person.

Maybe he wanted to get off himself…

The horse stopped.

Huaijin glanced at his younger brother beside him: “You seem better now. Go ride.”

“Big Brother, you…”

You two are arguing, but why am I the one being sent out?

Never mind, it was stifling here anyway.

Better to get some fresh air.

Pei Huaian bowed and got out.

After a moment, the carriage moved on.

Shen Youran glanced at Pei Huaijin, who looked stern.

She guessed he had sent Pei Huaian out to scold her.

It was just one hit—if anything, he could hit her back.

Lowering her head, she pondered silently.

Suddenly, she felt light.

The next moment, he scooped her into his arms.

One arm wrapped around her, the other cradling her bent leg, holding her firmly against his chest.

“Today, it was my fault for not finding you sooner. I apologize…”

Pei Huaijin rarely coaxed anyone.

His earlier silence was because he truly didn’t know how to comfort this angry little girl.

But he couldn’t let her sulk forever.

So he sent Seventh Brother away and held her first.

Shen Youran wanted to say she wasn’t mad at him for not rescuing her immediately.

She was mad because he had talked with the Meng cousin.

But saying that felt unreasonable.

The girl was newlywed and frightened and upset—turning to her own cousin for comfort was only natural.

Why should she be jealous?

Still, she was very angry.

This feeling was uncontrollable and impossible to hide, making her want to lash out.

Seeing her still silent, Huaijin hesitated, then said: “The banquet didn’t happen today, so are you hungry now? I’ll take you to Fengle Restaurant, alright?”

Shen Youran wanted to refuse out of stubbornness, but her stomach was indeed hungry; there was no point arguing with food.

“But my clothes are dirty, and my hands too…”

“That’s fine. We’ll get some water there to wash your hands first.

After we eat, we’ll go home and bathe.”

“Okay.”

“Let me wipe your face first…”

She had been sulking and refused to let him touch her, but now her half-blackened face needed cleaning.

“What? Your face is dirty too?”

There was no mirror in the carriage.

Shen Youran only knew her clothes and hands were dirty, unaware her upper face was sooty black from the smoke.

Her lower face was cleaner since she had covered her mouth and nose.

There was a water basin in the carriage.

Pei Huaijin moistened the handkerchief and gently wiped her starkly marked face, bit by bit.

The black soot from the fire wasn’t like ordinary dust—it was hard to clean off.

He patiently wiped for a long time, but the half face remained grayish.

“Hey, hey, hey…”

Shen Youran tilted her head back, wincing from the scrubbing.

“Not done yet?”

Huaijin moistened the handkerchief again, holding her face to stop her from pulling away.

“Almost done…”

The dirty face gradually regained its pale glow.

Underneath, the thin skin was flushed pink from his gentle rubbing.

His gaze shifted downward—from her bright watery eyes, to her reddened nose, and then to her lips, puckered from his touch.

His heart stirred suddenly…

He wanted to kiss her.

His wiping slowed, but the distance between him and her red lips grew shorter.

“Stop it,” Shen Youran pushed his face away, holding up her hand.

“I’m still mad. Why kiss me?”

Pei Huaijin sheepishly withdrew.

The carriage arrived at Fengle Restaurant.

After instructing Qingjian to stable the horse, Huaijin went to the nearby medical hall to buy some ointment for her injuries.

Pei Huaian dismounted too, following along to beg for food.

Huaijin booked a small upstairs room and had water brought for washing hands.

Before the meal arrived, Qingjian returned with the ointment.

Shen Youran’s right hand was injured but reluctant to apply medicine, worried it would interfere with using chopsticks.

Pei Huaijin insisted on applying it first.

He took her hand, carefully putting ointment on the scraped, red areas.

With the medicine on, the meal was served.

Shen Youran shook her hand, covered in ointment.

“How can I eat with this?”

Huaijin picked up her bowl and chopsticks.

“You want to eat what? I’ll feed you.”

Surprised, she looked at him and accepted his offer as a sincere apology.

“Then let’s start with some lotus seed soup to whet the appetite…”

“Okay.”

Huaijin swapped his chopsticks for a spoon, scooped lotus seed soup, and lifted it to her lips.

“Chengsha dumplings…”

“Good.”

“Dongpo pork…”

“Mmm…”

“Wait a moment, I’ll pick out the bones.”

“Ta-da…”

Usually composed and unhurried, Huaijin scrambled under her commands but enjoyed it.

Shen Youran ate with a smile, her mood visibly lifted.

Pei Huaian opposite them couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

He wolfed down his food, then got up to leave early.

“Already full?”

Shen Youran asked.

Pei Huaian rubbed his belly.

“I don’t know why, but just seeing you two like this, I feel full…”

Pei Huaijin glanced at him.

“Go.”

Pei Huaian grinned and left.

There was still a pot of Mei Shou wine on the table, brewed by the restaurant and given to every table.

Pei Huaian abstained since he had to ride.

Shen Youran stared at the wine for a while.

Halfway through the meal, she couldn’t hold back and grabbed a cup.

“I want to drink.”

Pei Huaijin brought a freshly rolled spring pancake to her lips.

As she bit into it, he asked, “Why suddenly want to drink?”

“Isn’t it said drinking helps calm the nerves? I was so scared today…”

She had often heard people say drinking drowns sorrow.

After such a fright and strange emotions, it seemed fitting.

Huaijin warned, “The wine smells mellow, tastes light, but the aftertaste is strong.”

“I’ll just drink a little…”

“Alright.”

Today, he owed her.

Whatever she wanted, he would fulfill.

Though she said she’d drink little, she soon forgot and kept refilling her cup.

One cup after another, she drank half the pot.

The meal ended, the wine finished, Shen Youran propped her head up watching Huaijin eat.

His eating posture was as methodical and precise as his personality.

She didn’t like his rigidity, but somehow today, it seemed quite endearing.

He was handsome, after all…

Huaijin caught her watching him, her eyes half-lidded and dreamy.

He put down his bowl at about seventy percent full and turned to her.

“Drunk?”

“No!” she denied, voice slurred with intoxication.

“Let’s go home.”

While she could still walk, he helped her up, holding her hand as they left.

Evening had fallen; lanterns flickered warmly.

The restaurant was bustling.

Beneath the main corridor’s eaves, many elegantly dressed courtesans leaned on the railing, chatting and laughing, awaiting customers.

As they walked past, unavoidable attention was drawn to Huaijin’s handsome appearance.

A bold courtesan in green seized his sleeve, her voice soft as spring water.

“Young Master, are you leaving so soon?”

Green dress, fair wrist, sleeve…

The scene reminded Shen Youran of what she’d seen at the Marquis of Changxing Manor.

Anger surged to her head.

She slapped the woman’s hand off and spun around, clutching Huaijin’s arm fiercely like a protective, frightened cat.

“Mine! This is mine! No one else’s!”