Chapter 10: Just on Tiptoe, I Could Reach Your Kiss

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Pei Jiuru saw her own reflection in Jiang Nian’s wide-open eyes.

He pulled Jiang Nian aside and whispered, “Lying openly at the doorway eavesdropping like this, are you trying to bring trouble upon yourself?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

Pei Jiuru explained, “When I passed by earlier, I overheard that the person in the private room was Miss Xiao, the one who went to the manor that day. Miss Xiao harbors ill intentions toward you. You were eavesdropping to protect yourself, not out of malice.”

“Enough with your excuses...” As she spoke, Jiang Nian caught sight of someone striding straight toward the first private room labeled ‘Heaven.’ Swiftly, she grabbed Pei Jiuru and slipped behind a curtain by the door.

The curtain barely had space for a single vase, and now the two were squeezed in tightly.

Pei Jiuru was momentarily stunned, glancing down at the person pressed close against his chest. Her trembling lashes suggested she was wondering how to explain if discovered.

Before he could think further, the noise outside the curtain drew his attention.

Meng Yingying stormed angrily toward the private room, paying no heed to the bulging curtain at the side of the door.

She kicked the door open with a bang, then slammed it shut behind her.

The occupants inside were startled. Xiao Ru scolded, “If you’re going to be so reckless, do you want everyone to know about this?”

Meng Yingying ignored Xiao Ru and turned to the disheveled Tang Qingwan, demanding, “What on earth is going on here?”

Feigning anger but secretly delighted, Xiao Ru looked at Meng Yingying and said, “I came to Fan Mansion to see Brother Jin, but heard Tang Qingwan was here too. When I entered, she was hanging on Brother Jin with her chest exposed. I wanted to ask what was going on, but couldn’t get an answer, so I sent for you.”

Meng Yingying stared at Tang Qingwan and Bo Yijin in shock and fury.

Tang Qingwan remained silent, sobbing tearfully and looking beseechingly at Bo Yijin.

Silent all along, Bo Yijin finally responded under three pairs of accusing eyes. “This isn’t Qingwan’s fault. I was drugged and tricked. Qingwan stumbled into the private room by accident...”

Tang Qingwan protested, “I only wanted to help Yijin detoxify...”

“Fine!” Meng Yingying’s face turned pale with anger. These two had addressed each other formally before, but now that they were physically intimate, they were quick to drop that pretense.

“Tang Qingwan, do you think we’re fools? Stumbling into the room by accident?”

Xiao Ru chimed in, “It’s exactly like at the Marquis’s residence—she’s just acting it out herself!”

“I didn’t...” Tang Qingwan cried with tear-streaked cheeks, shaking her head pitifully at Bo Yijin. “I really didn’t...”

Bo Yijin was angry about being tricked, but at this point, he didn’t want to escalate matters.

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Moreover, since he and Tang Qingwan were now intimately involved, he didn’t dislike her.

“I will find out the truth,” Bo Yijin said, looking at Meng Yingying and Xiao Ru. “But Qingwan, I will take responsibility for her.”

Xiao Ru was surprised. “It’s very likely she was the one who tricked you. Even so, you want to marry her?”

Meng Yingying was incredulous. “She’s so cunning, and you’re going to indulge her?”

“Yingying, sometimes a small tolerance preserves a greater plan.”

Thinking of the greater scheme, Meng Yingying calmed somewhat and asked, “Jin, we agreed that after my mourning period, you would come to the General’s Mansion to propose...”

“I will grant Qingwan the status of concubine.”

Hearing this, Tang Qingwan softly said, “As long as I can stay by Yijin’s side, I don’t care about titles...”

Seeing Tang Qingwan’s feigned innocence, Xiao Ru couldn’t contain her temper and scolded loudly. Meng Yingying also pressed Bo Yijin for answers, while he alternated between explaining and defending Tang Qingwan.

The private room descended into chaos.

Outside the curtain, Jiang Nian was still a bit stunned.

She had accidentally stumbled into the plot, but fortunately, it didn’t concern her.

Yet, her cousin still became Bo Yijin’s concubine, and Meng Yingying and Xiao Ru were still tearing into each other. The drama that had not unfolded at Yongning Marquis’s residence was happening today...

“Still not leaving?” Pei Jiuru reminded her.

Lost in thought, Jiang Nian looked up to see an arresting sight: a handsome face with sword-like brows, starry eyes, and a deep gaze just before her.

She could even tiptoe and brush his lightly pursed lips...

Her heart raced. “Let me listen a bit longer...”

Pei Jiuru couldn’t stand it any longer.

At first, he had listened carefully to the sounds inside, but soon he felt Jiang Nian’s softness pressed against him.

He urged, “You... should stop while you can. People come and go in the corridor. What will happen if someone finds us?”

His warm breath brushed her forehead.

Jiang Nian nodded nervously. “You’re right, I won’t listen anymore!”

She glanced out quietly, saw no one paying attention, then pulled Pei Jiuru and stepped out from behind the curtain.

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The private room remained noisy, but the two left as if they had heard nothing.

After accompanying Jiang’s elders to finish lunch, the pair tacitly avoided mentioning their eavesdropping behind the curtain.

The wedding date was set for half a month later. Jiang’s elders were reluctant to rush, but Pei Jiuru wanted to settle things quickly so he could focus on his studies.

Since Pei Jiuru had privately asked Jiang Nian, and her birthday was the day before the wedding, she persuaded her parents by citing a double celebration.

During the wedding preparations, Jiang Nian kept busy, arranging the new residence while secretly probing Madam Jiang.

“Mother, you went to my maternal grandparents’ yesterday. Did you see Cousin Qingwan? She didn’t speak disrespectfully to you because of the last incident, right?”

“No...” Madam Jiang looked somewhat embarrassed.

Jiang Nian pressed, “Don’t lie to me!”

“Qingwan is... getting married, so she’s been more cautious in speech. How could she be disrespectful to me?”

“Cousin is getting married too!”

Madam Jiang lowered her voice, “Your cousin is becoming a concubine. It’s not honorable, so don’t spread it around. Your cousin from your eldest uncle’s side hasn’t even been betrothed yet!”

Jiang Nian nodded calmly. Indeed, the plot was unfolding.

She decided to keep her distance from Xiao Ru. If she couldn’t avoid the storyline, the one where Xiao Ru slaps her ten times was bound to happen eventually. What could she do then?

“Nian Nian, not to mention your cousin, your maternal grandparents are very concerned since you’re suddenly getting married. You should find time to visit the Tang household.”

Jiang Nian smiled lightly. Her second uncle was surely scheming at the Tang family—her grandparents loved their son more than their granddaughter!

She had no intention of rushing to court trouble.

“All right, but I’m busy with the new residence these days. I probably won’t have time...”

Mentioning the new residence, Madam Jiang couldn’t hide her smile. “I thought Jiuru would buy a small house, but his family’s wealth runs deep. He’s so generous when he spends!”

Jiang Nian nodded knowingly. She had long known this man she’d picked up along the way was well-off.