Chapter 125: Where The Heart Begin To Wander
"Furen..."
Xie Rong’s steps hastened as he tried to catch up with Shen Taotao’s.
Yet Wang Gege neither slowed down nor turned around. She merely continued walking, her sleeves swaying gently beneath the evening breeze.
Behind them, Xie An’an stood motionless outside the hall.
Her gaze remained fixed upon the pair until their figures gradually disappeared beyond the corridor.
Only then did the smile she had painstakingly maintained vanish completely. Her delicate features twisted ever so slightly.
The maid standing behind her instinctively lowered her head. She did not dare utter a single word.
Silence lingered between mistress and servant.
The moment they crossed the threshold of her courtyard and entered her chamber, a porcelain teacup flew across the room before shattering violently against the floor.
"You useless thing!" Xie An’an’s voice trembled with rage. "I told you to speak only enough to guide everyone into thinking of it themselves! So why..."
She glared down at the maid, "Why did Elder Brother turn everything back upon me?"
The maid immediately fell to her knees. "This servant deserves death!"
"Deserves death?" Xie An’an let out a cold laugh. "What use is your death now?"
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Her chest rose and fell violently.
"I was so close... So close..." She gritted her teeth. "If not for Shen Taotao..." Her eyes filled with hatred. "Elder Brother would have never looked at me with such disappointment."
The maid remained kneeling, not daring to lift her head.
After what felt like too long, Xie An’an suddenly laughed. It was soft, almost pleasant. But it was enough to send chills down the maid’s spine.
She slowly sat before the dressing table, staring at her own reflection.
Then... She spoke.
"Spread it."
The maid froze. "Y-Young Miss...?"
Xie An’an’s lips slowly curved into a faint smile. "Spread today’s incident. Spread every single word. I want every noble household in the capital... to hear that I fell into Elder Brother’s arms before everyone’s eyes."
She paused, her smile deepening ever so slightly. "And do not forget to mention... that our lips touched as well."
The maid’s pupils contracted. "But... Old Madam expressly forbade—"
"So what?" Xie An’an interrupted indifferently. "Rumors have never needed permission."
She slowly brushed her fingertips across her sleeve. "The more people deny them... the more others will believe there is something worth hiding."
The maid stared at her mistress, a shiver running down her spine. She had always known the young lady admired the Young Master. She had thought it was merely the innocent longing of an unmarried maiden.
But now, she finally understood. Somewhere along the way... That admiration had quietly twisted into something else.
Something possessive and frightening.
An obsession.
Xie An’an lowered her gaze, her voice becoming almost a whisper.
"Elder Brother... You may refuse me today. But once the entire capital believes my reputation has become inseparable from yours..." She slowly closed her eyes. "Who else would dare marry me?"
Her eyelashes fluttered before she opened her eyes once more. A trace of ridicule appeared within them.
"An adopted daughter? Who cares? As long as everyone believes there is already something between us... that is enough."
The corners of her lips lifted into a smile that sent a chill through the maid’s entire body.
"I will make certain... that Elder Brother becomes mine."
The maid’s throat tightened.
"Young Miss." Her voice came out barely above a whisper, "What if... Young Master discovers where the rumors originated?"
Xie An’an let out a faint chuckle. "He will."
The unexpected answer caused the maid to lift her head. "W-What?"
Xie An’an’s expression remained calm, as though she were discussing something entirely insignificant.
"With Elder Brother’s intelligence... it is only a matter of time."
The maid’s face turned pale. "Then why must this servant—"
"Because by the time he learns the truth..." Xie An’an interrupted leisurely, "the rumors will have already spread beyond his control."
She gently picked up the shattered teacup’s remaining lid from the table and turned it between her fingers.
"The servants will whisper... The merchants will overhear... The noble ladies will speculate. And before long... the capital will have woven a story far more convincing than the truth itself."
Her lips curved faintly. "Rumors are like ink spilled upon white silk. No matter how desperately one tries to wash them away... the stain remains."
The maid felt a chill run through her body. Only now did she understand. Old Madam’s order had never been Xie An’an’s concern because Old Madam could command silence within the Xie Residence... But she could never command the mouths of the people outside its walls.
Xie An’an carefully placed the porcelain lid back onto the table.
Without looking at the maid, she spoke quietly, "Go."
The maid hesitated.
"You know what to do."
The maid lowered her head even further. Cold sweat silently trickled down her temples.
She knew, once the young miss had made up her mind...
No one could change it and the only thing she could do... Was obey.
"This servant obeys." The maid bowed once before quietly retreating from the chamber.
As the door slowly closed behind her, the room fell into silence once more. Xie An’an remained standing where she was. Her eyes slowly drifted toward the embroidered sachet resting upon the dressing table.
It had been made years ago. Every stitch had been sewn by her own hands. Yet... It had never found its way into Xie Rong’s possession.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
"For all these years... I thought waiting would be enough." Her fingers gently brushed across the faded embroidery. "But Shen Taotao taught me otherwise."
The warmth in her eyes vanished completely.
"If waiting cannot bring Elder Brother to me... then I shall force fate itself to do so."
The flickering candlelight cast a wavering shadow across her face. The smile lingering on her lips was as gentle as ever.
Only... There was nothing gentle left within it and beneath such an innocent appearance hid the thoughts capable of shaking the entire Xie Residence.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"Furen."
Xie Rong’s footsteps quickened until he finally caught up with Wang Gege.
"Yes, Young Master Xie..." She greeted him with a gentle smile before continuing to walk.
Xie Rong naturally fell into step beside her and neither of them spoke.
Only after several moments did he slowly notice something. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. "This path... does not lead to our courtyard."
Wang Gege looked ahead before she nodded lightly. "It does not."
Xie Rong’s gaze shifted toward the familiar direction.
If they continued, they would arrive at the secluded courtyard where Wang Gege had first stayed after entering the Xie Residence.
The place had remained vacant ever since.
After a brief silence, he asked, "Why are you going there?"
Wang Gege lowered her eyes. "Young Master Xie..."
"Mm?"
"Is anyone residing in that courtyard now?" She suddenly asked.
"No." Xie Rong shook his head naturally.
"I see." She nodded as though she had merely confirmed something trivial. "Then..." She stopped walking before turning to face him. "May I stay there tonight?"
At that moment, Wang Gege could see Xie Rong’s expression visibly change.
"Why?" He asked, the tone did not sound pleasant.
Wang Gege smiled apologetically. "I simply wish to clear my mind. There has been too much happening these past few days. "I fear..." She paused briefly, "that if I continue forcing myself to think about everything tonight, I shall not be able to sleep."
"So..." She lowered her head slightly. "If Young Master Xie does not mind... I would like to spend the night there."
Silence.
The evening breeze gently stirred the loose strands of her hair.
Xie Rong simply stood there, looking at her. This quiet request to distance herself from him literally sent him into speechless.
"Then... Can this husband stay with Furen?"
Xie Rong’s question was met with a soft chuckle. A chuckle that never quite reached her eyes.
She slowly shook her head, "I am afraid that would defeat the purpose."
Xie Rong remained silent.
Wang Gege smiled faintly. "Young Master Xie has always been a very thoughtful person. Surely... you understand that there are times when one simply wishes to be alone."
She lowered her gaze. "This one merely wishes to spend a quiet night sorting through her thoughts. There is nothing more to it." After a brief pause, she added softly, "So... I hope Young Master Xie can grant this one a single night’s peace."
Xie Rong looked at her for a long while.
"Furen..." He called softly, "Have I..."
The words reached his lips before coming to an abrupt halt. He had wanted to ask if he had done something wrong. He had wanted to ask whether she was still troubled by what happened at the lotus pond.
Or perhaps... Whether she had truly begun to distance herself from him.
But in the end... None of those questions left his mouth.
Letting out a quiet sigh, he forced a faint smile.
"Then... allow this husband to escort Furen there."