Duan Wujiu put away the broom and pushed open the door to Liu Zhiheng’s room.
Liu Zhiheng was already sitting by the window, continuing to draw.
She had thought drawing would calm her mind, but she hadn’t expected Duan Wujiu to come in again. The moment he entered, she felt the temperature around her rise inexplicably.
Liu Zhiheng’s face flushed slightly, and her heartbeat threatened to race out of control again.
“Get out! Don’t provoke me again today!” Liu Zhiheng pouted and complained.
Seeing Liu Zhiheng’s flustered appearance, a smile spread across Duan Wujiu’s eyes and brows.
“I’ve swept the snow at the door and fed the chickens and donkey in the yard. It’s so cold outside…” Duan Wujiu said pitifully. “I won’t bother A Heng. You just focus on drawing. Let me grind the ink for you, okay?”
Without giving Liu Zhiheng a chance to refuse, Duan Wujiu walked to the desk, picked up the ink stick, and began grinding ink for her.
Although being attended to felt quite nice, having Duan Wujiu standing so close to her still made her mind wander.
“If you’re grinding ink, why are you standing so close to me?”
Noticing Liu Zhiheng’s flushed face, Duan Wujiu smiled imperceptibly and asked mischievously, “Is A Heng feeling hot? Let me open the window for you. It’s good to let in some fresh air during the day.”
The window in front of her was pushed open, and a rush of cold air swept in. Liu Zhiheng finally felt herself calming down and could focus on drawing again.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Duan Wujiu deliberately leaned on the table, bending down to look at Liu Zhiheng’s drawing.
“Hmm?” Liu Zhiheng looked at Duan Wujiu. What was he trying to do by staring at her like this?
Holding her brush, Liu Zhiheng felt Duan Wujiu’s closeness and looked up at him, meeting his gaze—a look that was half-smiling, half-teasing, with a hint of mischief in its gentleness.
Confused, Liu Zhiheng asked, “What’s wrong? Did I draw something funny?”
“No, it’s just that looking at A Heng makes me so happy.”
Liu Zhiheng’s face flushed again. This man, his sweet words flowed as if they cost nothing.
She had intended to glare at him, but as she raised her eyes, she found herself trapped in Duan Wujiu’s gaze.
The way Duan Wujiu looked at Liu Zhiheng was so doting and tender, and the tear mole at the corner of his eye added a hint of allure to his expression, making her momentarily forget to look away.
She was mesmerized.
A smile spread across Duan Wujiu’s face as he reached out to wipe the drool from the corner of Liu Zhiheng’s mouth, then brought his finger to his own lips and tasted it.
“So fragrant…”
Liu Zhiheng’s face turned so red it felt like it might explode!
…
When Xie Tinglan reached the courtyard gate, he noticed it wasn’t closed but slightly ajar, as if deliberately left open for him to sneak in.
Xie Tinglan sneered. Fine, he would see for himself what that man wanted him to witness.
Without knocking, Xie Tinglan pushed the gate open and entered. Turning around, he saw the window of Liu Zhiheng’s room was open.
Through the window, he saw Liu Zhiheng holding a brush, while a man leaned over the table, almost encircling her in his arms. The two were gazing at each other with ambiguous intensity, as if they were about to kiss at any moment.
If not for Xie Tinglan’s strong self-control, he would have almost shouted out loud. In the end, reason prevailed, and he suppressed his voice, calling out sharply, “Miss Heng!”Suddenly hearing Xie Tinglan call her name, Liu Zhiheng was startled. She turned her head to see Xie Tinglan standing outside the courtyard, glaring at her angrily, which made her hair stand on end.
Why was he here?
But she had strong nerves and quickly steadied herself. She put down her brush, pushed Duan Wujiu aside, and stood up.
Feeling Liu Zhiheng push him away, Duan Wujiu’s gaze darkened for a moment before he swiftly concealed the displeasure in his eyes.
Liu Zhiheng forced an awkward smile and looked at Xie Tinglan. “Young Master Xie! What brings you here?”
“It seems I shouldn’t have come?” Xie Tinglan asked coldly.
“That’s not what I meant at all! Don’t misunderstand me!”
Liu Zhiheng explained urgently, afraid of earning Xie Tinglan’s resentment.
To Duan Wujiu, this scene looked like she cared deeply for the man outside.
Xie Tinglan sized up the man standing beside Liu Zhiheng. A man who looked like a seductive enchantress—had Liu Zhiheng changed her tastes and started liking this pretty-faced type?
Duan Wujiu also sized up Xie Tinglan. He had some presence, but he was far too arrogant, which only deepened Duan Wujiu’s dislike for him.
Hmph, who does he think he is, daring to speak so harshly to his A Heng?
…
“A Heng, aren’t you going to introduce me to this person?” Duan Wujiu asked with a smile.
A Heng?
Xie Tinglan raised an eyebrow slightly. Were they already on such intimate terms?
Before Liu Zhiheng could speak, Xie Tinglan took the initiative. “I am Xie Tinglan, Miss Heng’s fiancé.”
“Fiancé? I’ve never heard A Heng mention you. It seems you’re not someone important…”
Xie Tinglan suppressed his anger as he scrutinized Duan Wujiu, asking in an unfriendly tone, “May I ask who you are? Why are you in my fiancée’s room? Even in broad daylight, this isn’t quite appropriate.”
While Liu Zhiheng was still trying to figure out how to explain things to Xie Tinglan, she heard Duan Wujiu fabricate an identity for himself.
“I am A Heng’s cousin, Duan Xuelang.”
“Yes, yes, he’s my cousin,” Liu Zhiheng quickly nodded in agreement.
Xie Tinglan was skeptical about the cousin story. The Liu family had been in Peach Blossom Village for ten years, and he had never heard of any relatives. Back when Liu Zhiheng was constantly pestering him, she had never mentioned having a cousin.
Soon, a realization dawned on Xie Tinglan. Was this the reason Liu Zhiheng had suddenly become cold and distant toward him lately?
She had fallen for this pretty-faced man, whether he was her cousin or not…
“Come out. I have something to ask you alone.”
Xie Tinglan turned and strode away, not wanting to spend another second in the Liu family’s courtyard.
…
Seeing Xie Tinglan leave the courtyard, Liu Zhiheng hurriedly prepared to follow, but Duan Wujiu grabbed her sleeve.
Even in such a moment, Duan Wujiu remembered not to touch A Heng’s body casually, only daring to hold onto her sleeve.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want you to go… A Heng… don’t go with him.”
Duan Wujiu’s eyes looked like those of a drowning puppy, and Liu Zhiheng genuinely felt her heart soften.
But weighing the pros and cons, Duan Wujiu would forget about her in a few months, while Xie Tinglan could hold a grudge for a lifetime.
Besides, she was, after all, engaged to someone else. Being entangled with another man was indeed her fault to begin with.”Xuelang, I’ll be back after a few words with him. Don’t mind it—aside from our engagement, there’s nothing else between us. I need to make things clear with him. Wait here for me!”
Liu Zhiheng pulled her sleeve free and hurried out to find Xie Tinglan.
Duan Wujiu watched as the sleeve slipped from his fingers, his eyes darkening with a cold, profound intensity.
He curled his lips into a bitter, chilling smile, revealing the obsessive nature he usually kept so well hidden. If Liu Zhiheng had turned back at that moment, she would have seen the sinister expression on Duan Wujiu’s face.
But she didn’t look back. She ran off in such a hurry, as if the person at the door mattered so much.
Was she really that concerned about what that man thought?
So concerned that she would shake off his hand for him.
Duan Wujiu withdrew his empty, outstretched hand and clenched it into a tight fist, his knuckles turning white with the force, veins bulging as if ready to burst.
What should he do? He was truly furious—so furious he wanted to kill that man.