Early the next morning, Su Niao was eating breakfast at the Su Residence when crackling firecrackers burst outside. Loud cheers and excited shouting followed.
Curious, she asked Lichun, “Is someone getting married?”
Lichun went out to inquire and soon returned. “Miss, it’s the second son of the Chen family. He earned the title of Jieyuan in the provincial examination. People have come to announce the good news.”
Su Niao nodded. “A Jieyuan, huh? Looks like he really does have some ability.”
In Jianning County, producing a provincial examination champion was a major event. But Su Niao had grown up in the capital. She had even seen imperial scholars parade through the streets after taking first place in the national examinations. Compared to that, a provincial champion wasn’t especially remarkable. Still… This was a good opportunity.
As Su Niao considered visiting the Chen household, Chen Xu was coincidentally thinking of doing the exact opposite. Since that first meeting, when he had caught a glimpse of Su Niao while half-dizzy and nearly lost his senses at her beauty, he had been hopelessly captivated. All this time, he had restrained himself because he knew the gap between their families was immense. But now he had truly earned the title of Jieyuan. Next spring he would sit for the metropolitan examination. He dared not promise first place. But he was absolutely confident he could become a jinshi. Because of that, his heart was overflowing with excitement. All he wanted now was to find Miss Su and confess his feelings. If Heaven was kind and she looked favorably upon him, he wished to ask her to wait half a year. Then, once he passed the metropolitan examination next spring, he would formally come to propose marriage.
“Big Brother.” Chen Xu clenched his fists nervously.
“I know I’m reaching above my station.”
“But we only live once. If I meet someone I truly admire and don’t even dare tell her how I feel, wouldn’t that be a terrible regret?”
Looking hopefully at his brother, he asked: “Big Brother, do you think I should go?”
He had expected encouragement.
Instead, as soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yan replied expressionlessly, “If I were you, I wouldn’t.”
Looking at his brother’s stunned expression, Chen Yan said calmly: “She doesn’t like you.”
“And she won’t be moved in the slightest just because you like her.”
“If you go, you’ll only bring humiliation upon yourself.”
Chen Xu’s face immediately reddened. The excitement he’d felt since learning he had placed first in the provincial examination gradually subsided. Slowly sitting back down, he murmured: “I suppose I should think it through more carefully…”
Chen Yan glanced at him, then turned and headed outside to help his aunt entertain the steady stream of neighbors arriving to offer congratulations.
Because both Chen Yan and Chen Xu were capable and accomplished, the Chen family had been treated with reasonable respect since moving to Ping’an Lane two years earlier, despite Madam Chen being a widowed woman with poor eyesight.
Now that Chen Xu had stunned everyone by taking first place in the provincial examination, it was obvious to all that the Chen family’s future prospects were extraordinary.
Combined with the considerable commotion made by the official messengers announcing the result, visitors came in an endless stream.
After helping his aunt see off another group of neighbors, Chen Yan was about to head back inside when he spotted a familiar figure approaching from the direction of the Su Residence.
Su Niao, who was dressed beautifully and accompanied by two guards carrying gifts.
Chen Xu’s heart was already aflame with infatuation. If Su Niao appeared before him now, he would likely lose what little restraint he had left. And if he publicly confessed only to be rejected, his reputation would suffer, and the blow might even affect next spring’s metropolitan examination.
With a silent sigh, Chen Yan walked forward to intercept her. “Miss Su.”
His gaze shifted to the gifts in the guards’ hands. “To what do we owe this visit?”
Su Niao smiled brightly. “Chen Xu passed the examination. I’ve come to congratulate him, of course.”
Chen Yan looked directly at her. Without bothering with politeness, he spoke plainly: “My family appreciates your good intentions.”
“However, my younger brother previously misunderstood certain things regarding you. To avoid causing unnecessary speculation, there’s no need for gifts.”
“Please return, Miss Su.”
Su Niao raised an eyebrow. “I’m here to congratulate Chen Xu, not to see you.”
“What right do you have to stop me?” She stepped around him and continued forward.
“If you have something to say, let him tell me himself.”
In the next instant, Chen Yan reached out, caught her arm, and pulled her into a corner beside the Chen family courtyard, a secluded spot where firewood was stacked during the winter.
“Su Niao.” His voice was low.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
Su Niao waved off her guards before they could intervene. Then she tilted her head back to look at him. “Wasn’t it you who said I enjoy toying with your brothers?”
“Since you won’t let me toy with you anymore, I’ll just go find Chen Xu instead.”
Chen Yan looked at her and slowly drew a breath. “Even capriciousness has its limits.”
Su Niao was furious. “What gives you the right to control me?”
Seeing that she was completely impervious to reason, and mindful that there were still guests in the Chen family courtyard, Chen Yan forced himself to remain patient. “What would it take for you to behave?”
Su Niao’s lips curved upward. “You take responsibility.”
Chen Yan looked at her. “And what exactly would that responsibility be?”
“I already told you…” She poked him in the chest. “You stay with me from now on.”
His reply was immediate. “Impossible.”
Su Niao spread her hands. “Then I’ll go ask Chen Xu…”
She had barely moved before she was pulled back again.
A vein throbbed at Chen Yan’s temple. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Choose another condition. Anything except that.”
Anything? Su Niao raised an eyebrow. “Then kiss me right now.”
She knew a hypocrite like him would never agree. She was curious to see what he would do.
Sure enough, his voice sank even lower. “Another condition.”
Su Niao turned around. “Then I’ll go find Chen Xu…”
She had only taken a single step when her arm was suddenly tightened, and she was pulled back. Then she saw Xie Chenyan lean down toward her. It was only a fleeting touch, as brief as a dragonfly skimming water. The moment it ended, he stepped away. Yet his breathing sounded strained, and his voice had gone slightly hoarse. The cold edge from earlier had inexplicably softened.
He seemed helpless, or perhaps exhausted. In a low voice, he said, “Be good and go home, all right?”
Su Niao’s eyes widened. She was so shocked that her mind went completely blank. By the time she returned to the Su Residence, she was still dazed.
Sitting before the window, Su Niao stared into space in complete bewilderment. In his previous life, even when driven to the brink, he had refused to yield an inch. Yet now, after only a few words, he had actually kissed her?
It was not until Lichun brought in lunch that Su Niao finally snapped out of her daze. No. She needed to strike while the iron was hot and get a clear answer.
What she hadn’t expected was that, while she spent two hours wandering around in shock, Xie Chenyan had already changed his attitude again.
“Even if I was the one who started it last time, you can’t deny what happened today, can you?” Su Niao spoke with complete confidence.
“Come on. Return to the capital with me immediately. I’ll buy you a courtyard of your own…”
A courtyard of his own? So she intended to keep him outside like some privately maintained companion?
Chen Yan’s face darkened. “Have you forgotten, Miss Su? Today, you forced me.”
Su Niao choked on her anger. “So now you’re refusing to take responsibility?”
“Fine. Then I’ll go find Chen Xu.”
Chen Yan replied calmly: “Chen Xu has gone to his teacher’s residence to report the good news.”
Su Niao laughed in exasperation. “So that’s why you’re so fearless now? You think Chen Xu won’t come back later? I…”
Before she could finish, Chen Yan interrupted: “I had thought that, given Miss Su’s noble upbringing, you would understand propriety and know when to advance and when to retreat.”
“Yet it seems you don’t even know what modesty is.”
Looking directly at her, he clearly intended to drive her away once and for all.
“Thinking about it now, perhaps this behavior of yours is precisely why you could not find a suitable husband in the capital.”
“Reduced to a remote backwater like this, the moment you see a man who’s merely somewhat presentable, you resort to every possible trick in hopes of trapping him.”
In other words, he was saying that her conduct was improper, that she lacked any sense of decorum, and that she was so unable to secure a husband that she was now trying to ensnare men by force.
Even though Su Niao had her own ulterior motives and possessed no genuine feelings for him, those words were still deeply unpleasant to hear.
Then she saw the coldness in his eyes. In an instant, memories of her previous life surfaced again.
The realization struck her sharply:
She couldn’t kill him.
She couldn’t deceive him.
And she still had to endure his ridicule.
She was utterly useless.
The frustration of it all crushed her remaining spirit. Why? Why was she the one burdened with the fate of cannon fodder? She had never harmed anyone. Yet in her previous life she had been bullied and tormented into that state. Now, even when she wanted to avenge herself, she couldn’t do it.
Every other method she tried failed as well. She was useless. Stupid and useless.
Sniffling, Su Niao didn’t say another word to Xie Chenyan. She turned around and left in silence.
Chen Yan clearly saw the proud little peacock’s face turn deathly pale because of his words. He also caught the glimmer of moisture gathering on her eyelashes before she turned away. The heart he had finally hardened trembled at once. Subconsciously, he took a step forward. Then he stopped himself.
Feelings couldn’t put food on the table. Even if he chased after her, what would it change? Tell her that those words had been spoken against his true feelings?
And then what? Would he really do as she suggested? Follow her back to the capital? Let her buy him a courtyard and keep him there?
Chen Yan quietly drew a breath and forced himself not to pursue her.