Longing for Love (Twice Reborn) - Chapter 60

Xuyang assumed she was just shy and said with seasoned composure, “Feel free to give an honest evaluation. Criticism leads to improvement.”

Juchen pressed her fingers to her temples, using the gesture to block the man’s gaze drifting her way. “No, no, it was fine. Really good.”

Xuyang repeated with subtle emphasis: “Fine?”

“I mean excellent! Absolutely perfect!”

Xuyang remained silent, his eyes lingering on the cluster of love bites adorning her neck marks left during last night’s drinking session when Song Mi had kissed her there.

Xuyang reached out, tracing the air near the bruises. The pattern felt strangely familiar. Perhaps there was some magic in A’Chen’s snow-white neck that made everyone want to nibble there.

The marks looked positively brutal. What kind of force did it take to leave such traces?

Unable to resist, Xuyang turned toward the tea table and offered solemn advice: “I understand young men sometimes lose control in the heat of passion, but you must remember no woman dislikes gentleness. While A’Chen might tolerate it to spare your feelings, you shouldn’t be so ruthless. Look what you’ve done to her neck.”

Her lecture carried such dignified authority that every strand of hair at Juchen’s temples seemed to stand on end. Had she removed her shoes, her ten pale toes might have clawed trenches in the floor.

Since when did nieces instruct their uncles on bedroom matters?

Juchen massaged her temples, not daring to glance in Song Mi’s direction.

“I’ll be more careful next time,” Song Mi said unexpectedly, his tone repentant.

Juchen’s hands froze mid motion. She peeked at him, astonished she’d never heard such docility from him before.

Xuyang, ever the shocker, nodded approvingly before posing another bombshell: “Between him and that other one you’ve been sneaking around with whose better?”

Song Mi’s gaze snapped back to them.

Juchen realized these two truly shared bl00d each lost in their own thoughts yet united in tormenting her.

“Both! Both are good!” she lamented.

Her answer clearly indicated lingering attachment. After some thought, Xuyang generously proposed, “Shall I find another way to deal with Feng Zhenzhen and gift him to you then?”

As the saying goes: new love makes old love obsolete. Xuyang’s devotion to Juchen could move sun and moon.

The situation felt awkward agreeing seemed strange, but refusal might prove fatal.

Juchen nodded. At least if he was “gifted” to her, Song Mi probably wouldn’t secretly trouble Xuyang or Senior Lin anymore. Saving lives built seven story pagodas of merit.

Surprisingly democratic, Xuyang sought the man’s opinion: “Would you consent to serving Lady Li henceforth?”

Juchen looked up apprehensively, their gazes colliding midair. “Yes,” said Song Mi.

Juchen suspected he had expended a lifetime’s patience enduring this incense time with them.

Playing matchmaker left Xuyang deeply satisfied. As Juchen’s eyes wandered, Yuan Ruo’s sleeve appeared at the window likely summoning Song Mi back to Jiangnan after his brief overnight return to the capital.

Juchen didn’t want to delay him from handling official matters, so she quickly found an excuse to lead Xu Yang out of the house.

When they reached the entrance of the Crane Mansion, Xu Yang suddenly remembered something and asked Juchen to wait while she bid farewell to her senior brother and discussed the matter of the honey trap once more.

Juchen watched her leave and obediently stood waiting by the back gate when familiar footsteps approached from behind. Turning around, their eyes met, and she said with slight surprise, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Song Mi replied, “I came to say goodbye.”

Juchen paused, her eyes curving into a smile, “When will you return?”

“In about half a month.”

“Mm, travel safely.”

Song Mi nodded but didn’t leave immediately. After a moment of silence, he casually asked, “Am I the one Xu Yang mentioned who’s secretly involved with you?”

Juchen’s cheeks flushed as she muttered softly, “Who else could it be but you?”

“Did you tell her about us?”

Juchen hurriedly explained, “At the time, she accidentally saw the marks on my neck, and I didn’t want to lie to her. But don’t worry, I didn’t say it was you. She doesn’t know who the other person is.”

Song Mi gave a low hum, “It wouldn’t matter if you told her.”

Juchen’s eyes widened in astonishment, still processing the implications of his words when Song Mi leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“Wait for me to return. I have something to tell you.”

—

Even by noon, Juchen’s lips still tingled slightly.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but today’s kiss felt different. They had shared many kisses in secret deep, light and he was always skilled, each one making her heart race.

But today, for the first time, she felt something pure and innocent, completely devoid of desire.

Not at all like a fleeting affair.

Sitting before her bronze mirror, Juchen smiled dreamily.

Xu Yang, practicing calligraphy at the table, noticed Juchen’s dazed expression and silly grin. She folded a small piece of paper into a dragonfly shape and tossed it at Juchen’s head.

Startled, Juchen rubbed the back of her head and glared at Xu Yang before laughing and rushing over to playfully retaliate.

The two chased each other around the table until Juchen pinned Xu Yang down on the mat, tickling her mercilessly. Glancing at the daylight outside, Juchen suddenly pulled Xu Yang up. “Let’s go.”

Xu Yang looked puzzled. “Where?”

“To the city gates to meet Yuan Zheng. He’s returning to the capital this afternoon.”

The Prince of Yunnan’s condition had temporarily stabilized. Due to the damp climate of the southern border, the Empress Dowager had written to Yuan Zheng suggesting that the prince recuperate in the eastern capital. With his father’s permission, Yuan Zheng brought both his parents back to the capital.

Upon reaching the nearest post station outside the city, he had sent word to Juchen as usual.

“So this is why you had so much free time to accompany me today your true intentions lay elsewhere,” Xu Yang grumbled, trying halfheartedly to pull her hand free.

Juchen held firm. “Last time, you made me see him off. This time, I’m making you welcome him back. Fair’s fair.”

Xu Yang sighed and stuck out her tongue in resignation, allowing Juchen to drag her to the city gates.

Along the way, Juchen couldn’t resist asking, “If you truly have no feelings for Yuan Zheng at all, why did you send him that cloak when he left to suppress the bandits?”

Xu Yang frowned. “How did you know about that?”

“How could I not know? He treasures it dearly takes it with him wherever he goes.”

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have coincidentally worn matching outfits. As two noble scions from prestigious families, they certainly were not lacking in fine silks and satins, with tens of thousands of garments awaiting their selection. For them to match could only mean they wore these particular outfits frequently.

“Is that so?”

Xuyang raised an eyebrow with an indifferent expression. Juchen became serious, stating earnestly, “Ranran, you must tell me today what exactly you are thinking?”

Xuyang initially wanted to brush it off with casual remarks, but Juchen’s gaze was too penetrating, a sincere inquiry from the heart. After a moment’s hesitation, Xuyang bit her lower lip and admitted, “I don’t know.”

She truly didn’t know.

From the beginning, she never imagined she would marry Yuan Zheng. Yet after that incident, she knew she couldn’t marry Senior Brother Lin either. On her wedding day, she had somewhat resigned herself to fate. As humans aren’t unfeeling plants, she wasn’t oblivious to Yuan Zheng’s kindness over the years.

Besides, that night, without him, she would have died.

She had considered building a life with him. But on their wedding night, Yuan Zheng voluntarily made a bed on the floor.

Knowing she married him unwillingly, he had since maintained strict propriety, keeping their relationship nominal without ever crossing boundaries.

He treated her exactly as he had in childhood even after marriage, nothing changed. Given his attitude, how could Xuyang possibly initiate affection? Her personality would never allow her to make the first move.

Compounded by the Yunnan Princess Dowager’s constant dissatisfaction and endless harassment, the idea of Xuyang swallowing her pride just to secure status as a princess-in-law in Yuan Zheng’s heart was utterly impossible.

Youth often fails to recognize love’s value.

Xuyang didn’t believe her life depended on Yuan Zheng now. So when she stood by the city gates and saw the Yunnan princely house’s cavalry from afar, she instinctively stepped forward only to witness Yuan Zheng riding close to the princess’s carriage curtain, leaning in attentively. As the curtain lifted, a young woman’s lovely face appeared, smiling as she handed him a lotus seed pastry. Xuyang’s steps faltered, and she turned away abruptly.

“Ah, Ranran.” Juchen’s attempt to stop her failed, leaving him no choice but to chase after Xuyang.

“Cousin, your aunt asked me to give you this pastry,” came the girl’s honeyed voice from inside the carriage.

Yuan Zheng frowned slightly, unmoved, until the old princess admonished from within: “I made this with my own hands. Don’t waste my kindness.”

Compelled, Yuan Zheng accepted the pastry and tucked it temporarily into his sleeve. Turning back, he vaguely spotted two familiar figures in the crowd ahead one striding hurriedly back toward the city without a backward glance, the other scrambling after while glancing back once, revealing Juchen’s devastatingly handsome face.

Yuan Zheng’s heart clenched as he stared at the disappearing graceful figure ahead, sensing something amiss. He tightened his legs around the horse, about to give chase, when the old prince’s feeble cough suddenly sounded from the carriage.

Forced to halt, Yuan Zheng lifted the carriage window curtain to ensure his father’s condition wasn’t serious, saying gently, “Father, endure a little longer. We’ll arrive soon.”

When he looked up again, both figures had vanished from sight.

The Yunnan Prince steadied his breathing and peered through the lifted curtain corner toward the city gates. “Why hasn’t anyone come to greet you?”

He was, of course, referring to his son’s wife.

The old princess dowager sneered upon hearing this, “Do you still expect that golden branch and jade leaf to lower herself and come all this way just to fetch your son? I told you back then we shouldn’t have agreed to this marriage arranged by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, but you wouldn’t listen. Look now where is the caring wife you promised? My Zheng’er must have suffered countless grievances in her hands!”

“Mother, I haven’t suffered any grievances, I….”

Before he could finish, the old princess dowager cut him off sharply, “Then why hasn’t she come to fetch you? It’s been nearly a year apart doesn’t she miss you at all?”

Yuan Zheng choked on his words. Hearing his father’s renewed coughing, he could no longer argue with his mother in front of him, and could only heave a deep sigh.