Chaрtеr 5: Zhаоzhаo’s Hands Аrе So Soft
[Whiсh wretchеd mаid еаvеsdrоpреd оn mу convеrsation with Yingying and bеtrаyеd mе? I’ll bеаt hеr to dеаth whеn I get baсk!]
Рei Yuzhu hаrbored venоmous thоughts, yet her fаcе feignеd innоcenсe. “Sister-in-law, hоw соuld уou think of mе likе thаt? Yоu’ve truly brоken mу heart, wuwu…”
Рei Yuzhu cоvered hеr face аnd рrеtendеd tо cry.
Hаving heаrd hеr inner thoughts, Yun Zhаozhaо would nеvеr bе foоled agаin. She crоssеd hеr arms, her almond-shaped eуеs clear and iсу as they swерt over Pei Yuzhu’s hypocritical, affected face.
“Pei Yuzhu, over the past two years, the jewelry, dresses, sachets, and trinkets I’ve given you must amount to at least two thousand nine hundred taels, if not three thousand. Just because I didn’t give you anything this time, you allowed your good friend to publicly insult me?”
“Between us, who is the ungrateful one?”
Pei Yuzhu’s face flushed crimson in an instant.
Especially when she noticed the people browsing the shop pointing and whispering, she shot Zhu Yingying an embarrassed glare. Say something, quick!
Zhu Yingying grew frantic. “Yun Zhaozhao, how can you speak to Yuzhu like that! Yuzhu treats you as a sister-in-law, yet all you care about is money. You’re not worthy of being Yuzhu’s sister-in-law, nor are you worthy of marrying Grand Tutor Pei!”
[All she sees is vulgar greed and the stench of money. Yun Zhaozhao only has a pretty face—she’s not worthy of marrying the pure and noble Grand Tutor Pei!]
[Just wait! Yuzhu and I will return to the Duke’s estate together and report this!]
[Yun Zhaozhao can forget about marrying into the Duke’s estate!]
Hearing Zhu Yingying’s sour, jealousy-filled inner thoughts, Yun Zhaozhao seemed to understand something.
She immediately questioned Pei Yuzhu, “Zhu Yingying said you spoke well of me at the Duke’s estate. What exactly did you say?”
“Sister-in-law, of course I praised you and my eldest brother as a match made in heaven! I’ve been looking forward to you entering our household soon!”
Pei Yuzhu’s words were sweet as honey, but her heart was cursing viciously: [Pah! An ill-omened orphan—how could she ever be worthy of my eldest brother?]
[Our entire family will never allow Yun Zhaozhao to step foot into the Duke’s estate!]
[If it weren’t for her having a bit of silver, why would I, a young lady of my standing, ever call her sister-in-law?]
Good, good, good!
Yun Zhaozhao understood everything now. It turned out she was the only one who had genuinely regarded Pei Yuzhu as a friend. Pei Yuzhu had only seen her as a money bag, a fool to be taken advantage of!
The bitterness of being deceived and used in Yun Zhaozhao’s heart suddenly transformed into blazing fury!
Pei Yuzhu did not deserve her kindness!
Furious, Yun Zhaozhao stretched out her hand. “Pei Yuzhu, return everything I gave you! I’d rather throw it away, smash it, or give it to a beggar than let you have it!”
“Once you give something, it’s mine. What right do you have to take it back?”
Pei Yuzhu’s expression changed. Yun Zhaozhao was generous with her money, and the things she gave were expensive and exquisite, earning Pei Yuzhu great face among the noble ladies of the capital!
How could she possibly return them?
Pei Yuzhu stopped calling her sister-in-law. She jumped up, pointed at Yun Zhaozhao’s face, and shamelessly shouted, “Yun Zhaozhao, you’re stingy! Shameless!”
How dare she point at her face and insult her?
The fire in Yun Zhaozhao’s heart blazed uncontrollably. She grabbed Pei Yuzhu’s hand, twisted her waist, and with a swift flick of her wrist—
As if tossing out trash, she effortlessly and easily flung Pei Yuzhu away!
With a “thud,” Pei Yuzhu crashed into the doorframe.
“Ah—” Pei Yuzhu saw stars, unable to get up. She simply sat on the ground and cried, “It hurts so much, wuwu—”
Zhu Yingying widened her eyes and shrieked, “Yun Zhaozhao, how dare you hit Yuzhu!”
“And you too!”
Yun Zhaozhao decided to finish what she started. She grabbed Zhu Yingying’s hand and threw her out as well!
When tossing out trash, toss out the pair!With a dull thud, Zhu Yingying and Pei Yuzhu tumbled together and crashed into the doorframe once more. The impact was so forceful that the frame vibrated with a low hum, and a layer of dust drifted down from the ceiling.
The onlookers stared in stunned silence—this delicate young lady was incredibly fierce!
She looked like a soft, beautiful maiden, yet she could toss two full-grown people around with one hand!!!
How astonishing!
Yun Zhaozhao clapped her hands gleefully, her eyes crinkling into crescents as a proud smile curved her lips.
What a pity the little system monster hadn’t seen it—she’d always said brute force worked wonders, far more effective than just listening to inner thoughts!
Just as Yun Zhaozhao was swelling with pride, Pei Yuzhu and Zhu Yingying, still tangled on the floor, glanced behind her and suddenly burst into loud, dramatic sobs. “Big Brother, save us! Yun Zhaozhao’s gone mad—she hit us, waaah—”
Zhu Yingying immediately struck a pitiful pose, weeping as delicately as a flower drenched in rain. “Grand Tutor Pei, that lunatic Yun Zhaozhao hurt me so badly~”
Yun Zhaozhao’s smile vanished.
She felt a chill, like frost and ink, spreading from behind her, enveloping her entirely. A cold shiver ran down her neck.
Yun Zhaozhao stiffened her spine and slowly turned around, nearly bumping into Pei Yan. She hastily lowered her head and stepped back to put distance between them, missing the flicker of displeasure in Pei Yan’s eyes.
[Why are you avoiding me?]
Yun Zhaozhao felt guilty!
She stole a cautious glance from the corner of her eye—her cousin’s face was icy cold!
Had he seen everything?
“Hold out your hand,” Pei Yan’s voice was frigid, carrying a stern urgency.
Yun Zhaozhao’s eyes instantly welled up with grievance. Was her cousin going to strike her palm?
She refused, softening her tone in a plea. “Cousin.”
Her almond-shaped eyes glistened like spring water, filled with a pitiful, heart-melting appeal. If he had to punish her, let it be at home—she didn’t want to become a laughingstock in front of Pei Yuzhu and Zhu Yingying!
[Disobedient…]
Pei Yan’s inner voice was icy, and his tone grew even colder and sharper, frighteningly severe. “Hold it out!”
Her cousin was so harsh!
A film of tears clouded Yun Zhaozhao’s eyes. She bit her lower lip and slowly extended her right hand. Pei Yan moved swiftly, grasping her slender, pale wrist firmly, leaving her no chance to pull back.
Seeing this, Pei Yuzhu stopped crying in excitement. “Big Brother, hit her!”
Zhu Yingying added fuel to the fire with feigned fragility. “Grand Tutor Pei, I’m in so much pain—you must stand up for me!”
Pei Yan raised his other hand. Yun Zhaozhao’s heart pounded so hard it felt lodged in her throat.
The next moment, everyone was stunned.
The cold, saintly Grand Tutor Pei, who seemed as untouchable as an immortal, stooped to cradle Yun Zhaozhao’s small hand in his own. He lowered his head and blew gently on it. “Does it hurt?”
“Huh?” Yun Zhaozhao stared at him blankly. That breath of air tingled her fingertips and warmed her heart.
Pei Yan then gently stroked and kneaded her palm and fingers.
His thick, lowered lashes veiled the thoughts in his eyes. Though his handsome face appeared frosty, his heart burned with fervor: [Zhaozhao’s hand is so soft…]
[With such soft hands, how could she throw two people without hurting herself?]
Pei Yan’s long, jade-like fingers, which had been caressing her hand, began to drift toward her sleeve… Yun Zhaozhao’s mind went blank, her face flushing crimson with a mix of panic and embarrassment. She yanked her hand back forcefully and hid it behind her.
“Cousin, I’m not hurt! I’m fine! Really!” she insisted urgently.
“Big Brother, I’m hurt!”
Pei Yuzhu stared in disbelief, a sense of grievance swelling within her. Why hadn’t Big Brother punished Yun Zhaozhao?She anxiously leaned forward, showing her reddened wrist. “Big brother, look! Yun Zhaozhao pinched me until it turned red, it hurts so much!”
Pei Yan lowered his gaze, still savoring the lingering sensation on his fingertips.
[Is Zhaozhao… that soft everywhere else?]
He swallowed, restraining himself with gentlemanly composure, refusing to indulge in further sacrilegious thoughts. Only then did he cast a cold, indifferent glance at Pei Yuzhu. “Who said I’m your big brother?”