Evening Fragrance Hall.
When Fu Huaizhou carried a woman back home, the butler showed no surprise.
Because he had clearly seen her face.
Before the butler could ask any questions, Fu Huaizhou said, “Is the bedroom ready?”
He had called the butler on his way back from Haitang Bay.
The butler replied, “It’s ready.”
Fu Huaizhou said, “Have the housekeeper help her wash up and remove her makeup. Also, prepare a set of women’s clothes so Miss Pei can go directly to work tomorrow morning.”
“Yes.”
Fu Huaizhou carefully carried her into his own bedroom.
He had never brought anyone back here before, as he usually met with Gu Jingyi and others outside.
Although the guest room was also tidied up, it had been unoccupied for years and lacked a lived-in atmosphere.
Fu Huaizhou couldn’t bear to let her stay there, so he resigned himself to spending the night in the guest room.
However, he slept rather poorly that night.
The thought of Pei Yan sleeping in his bed made him feel restless all over.
His mind was flooded with chaotic thoughts.
How would she react when she woke up tomorrow morning? Would her scent linger on his bedsheets?
What if she got angry at him for taking the liberty of bringing her home?
It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that Fu Huaizhou finally managed to close his eyes.
The next day, sunlight slipped through the gaps in the window and fell on the face of the person sleeping soundly in the bed.
Pei Yan covered her head and muttered something unintelligible.
After a while, she sniffed lightly.
Though her consciousness was awake, her eyelids were still heavy. Pei Yan felt that the fragrance in the bedroom was unfamiliar.
It was a steady and restrained scent, fresh with a hint of natural bitterness, making one feel as if they were in a forest.
Pei Yan opened her eyes and was met with an unfamiliar sight. The clean, sharp lines of the windows illuminated the entire room in an orderly yet free-spirited manner.
Outside the window, green trees swayed, completely replacing the function of curtains.
She sat up abruptly: “Did someone pick me up while I was drunk?”
Pei Yan quickly checked herself but found nothing unusual.
Just then, there was a knock on the door: “Pei Yan?”
Pei Yan was stunned. That familiar voice… was it Fu Huaizhou?
Was this Fu Huaizhou’s home?
Pei Yan hurriedly straightened her clothes and got up to open the door.
Fu Huaizhou was dressed in a refined formal suit, his hair impeccably styled. Behind him stood a middle-aged man holding a set of clothing.
“Sorry for waking you.”
Pei Yan quickly shook her head: “It’s fine, I was already awake. Um…”
Fu Huaizhou chuckled lightly: “I know what you want to ask. Why don’t you take a shower and change first? I’ll wait for you downstairs.”
Pei Yan took the clothing from the butler and nodded slightly in thanks.
It was a white pearl halter-neck dress. Fu Huaizhou had also arranged for high heels to be prepared.
Her clothes from the previous night reeked of alcohol, and even she found them unpleasant.
She took the quickest shower possible and changed into the new clothes. When she went downstairs, Fu Huaizhou was sitting on the sofa, talking on the phone.
Pei Yan took a moment to observe the old Western-style house. The stair railings and balustrades were carved with exquisite Chinese patterns, and the colorful retro glass on the landing was magnificent and elegant.
The artworks hanging on the walls and displayed on the cabinets were rare and priceless.
After hanging up the phone, Fu Huaizhou noticed her interest and explained, “Many of these were left by my mother, and some I acquired from auctions. My mother liked impressionism, so I tend to lean toward that when collecting art.”
Pei Yan stood upstairs meeting his gaze and said, “What a coincidence. One of my favorite jewelry designers incorporates Impressionist style into her pieces. Her works have been included in the permanent collection of the Floating Palace and are permanently exhibited alongside masterpieces from world-renowned jewelry brands. I also quite like Impressionism.”
Fu Huaizhou self-deprecatingly remarked, “Impressionist art is more accessible to the general public. For someone like me who doesn’t understand art, when encountering those wildly imaginative paintings with human heads on horse bodies, I genuinely find them unattractive.”
Pei Yan was amused by his comment and gracefully descended the stairs, stopping before him. “The reason you find them unappealing is simple. Although I studied abroad for many years, I’ve always believed that Eastern aesthetics represent the pinnacle, with Chinese aesthetics at its very core.”
Fu Huaizhou: “I agree.”
The East includes various countries and ethnic groups across Asia, each with its unique cultural history, philosophy, and religion.
The standard of Chinese artistic appreciation lies in its vital energy and charm.
Pei Yan’s grandfather was a master of traditional Chinese painting and exceptional at calligraphy. Both she and her mother Xuan Hong had been influenced by Chinese painting since childhood, imbuing their designs with strong personal characteristics.
These personal characteristics were merely a drop in the vast river of traditional Chinese culture.
Pei Yan felt she still had much to learn.
The Butler approached at that moment to remind them: “Sir, Miss Pei, please proceed to the dining room. Breakfast is ready.”
Fu Huaizhou made a “please” gesture. Under the circumstances, Pei Yan could only graciously accept the invitation.
The table was filled with Chinese breakfast dishes, which Pei Yan greatly enjoyed.
“The housekeeper’s cooking skills are quite good,” Fu Huaizhou said as he used serving chopsticks to place a crab roe soup dumpling on her plate. “Try this.”
Pei Yan nodded reservedly. Fu Huaizhou waited for her feedback without picking up his own chopsticks.
She took a small bite, and a stream of broth flowed into her mouth.
The home-style version made by the housekeeper was relatively small, allowing the broth to be easily consumed with one sip.
Pei Yan gave a thumbs-up: “The flavor is exquisite and delicious.”
Only then did Fu Huaizhou begin eating.
Pei Yan was so hungry she felt her stomach touching her backbone, leaving no opportunity to converse with Fu Huaizhou.
Having been raised with the etiquette of not speaking during meals, Fu Huaizhou remained silent. For a while, the dining table was filled only with the faint clinking of bowls and spoons.
After about fifteen minutes, both gradually stopped eating.
Fu Huaizhou looked up at her: “Shall I take you to your studio?”
Pei Yan nodded: “Okay.”
Some matters were better discussed in the car.
As Fu Huaizhou’s car passed through the gates of Evening Fragrance Hall, Pei Yan fiddled with her seatbelt and glanced sideways: “Last night… how did I end up coming back with you?”
At the first intersection’s red light, Fu Huaizhou gradually pressed the brake and said, “I did take you to Haitang Bay last night, but…”
Pei Yan tilted her head, quietly waiting for him to continue.
“But you didn’t tell me which building you lived in.”
Pei Yan: “…”
“I drove around Haitang Bay with you for a while. I suggested taking you back to Xihe Garden, but since you’d spoken with your sister earlier, I assumed you didn’t want to worry her. Most importantly, Haitang Bay is much farther from Xihe Garden – the round trip would have taken until morning.”
As the light turned green and the car moved forward again, Fu Huaizhou added: “I had no choice but to bring you back last night. There was housekeeping staff present, and I slept in the guest bedroom downstairs. Still, I should remind you – don’t drink like that again. It’s harmful to your health.”
Pei Yan nodded blankly: “I know. I was just feeling depressed yesterday.”
Fu Huaizhou forced a slight smile. “I understand. After all, you and Li Yueting grew up together and dated for three years. It’s only natural to find it hard to let go after a sudden breakup. I—”
“Stop right there.” Pei Yan’s expression instantly darkened. “Who said I can’t let him go? I’m just frustrated about wasting three years of my prime youth on him.”
Fu Huaizhou raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
Pei Yan snorted. “Of course. If I were still hung up on him, how pathetic would that make me?”
Fu Huaizhou’s heart ached with a bittersweet numbness, inwardly cursing Li Yueting as a “fool.”
He dropped Pei Yan off at her studio and left. She had barely sat down for two minutes when her phone rang.
Her parents had already boarded their flight and would arrive home around noon, asking her to come back for lunch.
Pei Yan sighed in relief. They were finally back.
She didn’t want to deal with the Li family’s nonsense anymore—better leave it to her parents.