Pei Qianhuai, as he appeared now, really did seem like a genuinely responsible, good man.
The care he showed toward his elder brother’s two children—to such a degree—was enough to move anyone.
Raising two children calmly and steadily, without panic or emotional outbursts, was no easy feat.
Even with occasional help from neighbors, when you really thought about it, it was still an exhausting ordeal.
A man like this—someone who could shoulder family responsibility—ending up as a high-ranking official in the future actually made a lot of sense.
“I didn’t know you could tell stories,” Pei Qianhuai said, turning to look at Song Shiyu after coaxing the two children to sleep.
Song Shiyu: “…Haha, I just made it up. How was it? Not bad, right?”
In the Great Li dynasty she had transmigrated into, there were no Four Great Classical Novels.
Song Shiyu was certain Pei Qianhuai wouldn’t know it, which was why she had told the children the story of Journey to the West.
Pei Qianhuai glanced at her. “That story is pretty long, isn’t it? You talked for half an hour and only got to the Monkey King being born.”
Song Shiyu nodded. “It’s really long. Just the journey to retrieve the scriptures alone involves eighty-one trials!”
Pei Qianhuai gave a simple “Oh.”
Song Shiyu continued, “Do you think if I turned it into an illustrated primer for learning characters, it would sell well? You know our family’s short on money… I want to help share the burden. Like I told you before—can’t just eat and drink for free, right?”
Pei Qianhuai looked at her and suddenly said, “It’s a good idea. But your handwriting… I’m afraid the audience would be limited.”
Handwriting?
Song Shiyu raised her eyes to look at him.
“I saw you writing on the sand before,” Pei Qianhuai said. “That handwriting really isn’t very good…”
His eyelashes fluttered slightly, concealing his thoughts.
Though he didn’t say more, Song Shiyu keenly sensed what he meant: based on the education she should have received in the past, her handwriting ought to have been much better.
In Great Li, people were taught from a young age that handwriting was a person’s face.
Beautiful writing left a very different impression on the reader.
Song Shiyu could read, analyze texts, tell stories, and even paint.
She could already be considered a talented woman—but her handwriting truly was poor, which naturally raised suspicion.
Song Shiyu smiled.
“Yes, my handwriting is bad. My father used to scold me for being lazy— even the maids wrote better than I did.”
“If… I could do it all over again, I’d definitely practice seriously.”
“After all, now I really have to rely on these skills to make a living.”
Having said that much, Pei Qianhuai couldn’t press further.
Any further questioning would only dig up painful memories.
It would inevitably lead to how the Song family had fallen from glory overnight, their prosperity vanishing in an instant.
So he changed the subject.
“You’ve worked hard, Second Miss.”
Song Shiyu grinned. “Not hard at all.”
She quietly let out a breath of relief.
Pei Qianhuai’s suspicions forced her to tread carefully at every step.
Luckily, she had blocked the line of questioning this time.
In the future, she’d need to be even more cautious.
Just casually doodling on the ground with a small stick had already made him suspicious—and he had held it in for so long before finally bringing it up.
If she slipped up more in the future, who knew what Pei Qianhuai might think?
“It’s already very late. Since they’re both asleep… I’ll head back first.”
Song Shiyu bit her lower lip.
Under the candlelight, her expression looked a little dejected.
Pei Qianhuai narrowed his eyes and glanced at her. Just as Song Shiyu reached the door and was about to leave, he suddenly said, “If you’re worried about the two of them, you can sleep on the floor here.”
Song Shiyu: “???”
She spun around, staring at the handsome man in shock.
Pei Qianhuai seemed not to notice her surprise. Calmly, he began laying out his bedding.
His voice, however, still came muffled.
“The children are still young. They might wake up at night and need someone with them. If you don’t mind, you can sleep next to Xixi.”
“Xixi is already grown. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to stay with her.”
“If you two get along well, I plan to have you sleep with Xixi at night.”
Song Shiyu’s eyes widened instantly.
This was great!
She’d been worried she’d be scared sleeping alone and wouldn’t rest well—just when she needed a pillow, one appeared!
If Pei Jinxi slept with her, even as a child, it would still make her feel much safer.
“Okay! I’ll definitely make Xixi like me. I’ll go get my bedding.”
Only after Song Shiyu stepped out did Pei Qianhuai stop what he was doing.
He turned and sat on the neatly laid quilt. His fair face flickered in and out of shadow beneath the candlelight, mirroring the depth and obscurity of his thoughts.
Ever since Second Miss Song woke up today, she had truly been different from before.
He had noticed early on that her coming into this room had a purpose.
Had she really realized her situation and decided to curry favor with him?
Heh.
Playing hard to get, perhaps?
The creak of the door opening sounded again. Pei Qianhuai quickly lay down, pulled the quilt over himself, and pretended to sleep.
Song Shiyu looked around the room and relaxed.
Good—Pei Qianhuai was asleep now.
She found a comfortable corner, spread out her bedding, thick and snug, and lay down.
Only then did she feel truly relaxed and at ease.
After letting her thoughts wander for a while, she eventually drifted into sleep.
Early the next morning.
Song Shiyu woke up to see Pei Qianhuai packing away his bedding.
She immediately got up as well and folded hers.
Then she put both sets into the cabinet together.
Pei Jin’an and Pei Jinxi were still in their growth years and needed proper rest. The two adults tacitly refrained from speaking.
They left the room and began their morning routines.
“Morning!” Song Shiyu greeted Pei Qianhuai after stepping outside, where he was chopping firewood.
Pei Qianhuai stiffened slightly, then nodded reluctantly.
He continued swinging the axe.
Each strike was precise, his control of strength impeccable.
Song Shiyu glanced over. The chopped firewood was stacked neatly under the shed—piled as high as a person and packed full.
And…
His physique was excellent as well—lean, strong, solid.
To make working easier, he wasn’t wearing thick clothing, so his build was clearly visible as he chopped wood.
Song Shiyu suddenly felt her appetite stir.
Ahem!
As expected of the famed top scholar—this kind of figure was truly a feast for the eyes.
While Pei Qianhuai continued chopping wood as a form of strength training, Song Shiyu began her own tasks.
No matter where you were, taking care of yourself always came first.
The house had everything from copper mirrors to daily necessities. Looking at her unwashed hair from the past few days and the clothes left in the room, she twitched the corner of her mouth and decided she’d better wash all the clothes the original owner had worn as well.