Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 901 - 876: Living Together
In Fang Chuning’s sparse memories, he had never encountered anyone with such intimate touch. The beauties at Lu Liu Villa were indeed as lovely as flowers, knowledgeable and considerate, but Fang Chuning regarded them merely as lively and amusing girls. He liked them but also maintained his distance, being not the kind of dandy who flirted everywhere. That sensation was strange, with the person holding him so comfortably, as if familiar with such actions, the scorching breath seeping through a thin layer of clothing, burning his skin eagerly. Fang Chuning suddenly felt an illusion of dizziness; this was too intimate.
"Xie Tingfeng, let go of me!"
After all, this person liked men and took him as a stand-in? How could this be proper? He was very traditional and would never accept such intimacy.
But Xie Jue was drunk, oblivious, completely unaware of Fang Chuning’s thoughts. Fang Chuning wanted to push him away but ultimately didn’t act. He struggled to reassure himself, considering the sake of Daughter’s Red, he decided not to argue with Xie Tingfeng. After all, he still wanted to trick another jar of Daughter’s Red from Xie Tingfeng. The shopkeeper couldn’t stand him but dared not to go against him. Apparently, there was no problem.
For the first time, he felt that the distance between Lu Liu Villa and Yangzhou City was so far, so far away, having walked this long and yet not reached, his abdomen seemed to catch fire. Why was Xie Tingfeng’s breath so hot?
He couldn’t help but lower his head to look at Xie Jue. With a face flushed red from drinking, Xie Jue appeared even more radiant than usual, his features surpassingly handsome. Fang Chuning never saw a man born better than Xie Jue; lush forests and elegant bamboos, ethereal as jade, such adjectives seemed tailored for him. Scholarly but not frail, impressive demeanor, he certainly seemed to be born of wealth or noble lineage.
"You’re really hopeless, having such beauty yet secretly infatuated, just disgraceful!" Fang Chuning couldn’t help but curse. In his understanding, Prince Yan was deeply in love with Fang Chuning, almost inciting war over him. Xie Tingfeng’s affection was entirely one-sided, like fallen blossoms yearning for flowing water while unrequitedly loving Fang Chuning.
"If he likes men, why wouldn’t he like you? Besides being high-ranking and powerful, where does Prince Yan exceed you? Although you have a bad temper and peculiar disposition, this appearance surely captivates many hearts, yet you’re secretly infatuated. Worse, your beloved likes someone else, useless, definitely because you secretly loved him for many years without ever confessing, or that Prince Yan is a scoundrel, forcibly seizing your love, forcing you apart from your beloved, leaving you thus anguished and unwilling!" Fang Chuning already imagined a triangular tragic love story, certainly from reading too many melodramatic novels, instinctively projecting it onto him.
"Now that they’re all dead, you should grieve without harming others, especially no harm to me, a respectable merchant family with an only child, destined to continue the lineage and elevate the family name." He looked down at him but restrained himself from touching, "Give up already; I won’t ever like you."
Lu Liu Villa.
Xie Jue woke up at dusk, his stomach empty, the window wide open, the yard filled with blooming Qiangwei roses, their fragrance reaching him faintly, insect chirping audible in the distance. After drinking, Xie Jue felt a headache and burning in his stomach. He rose and drank some cold tea; the burning feeling remained strong. He vowed not to touch alcohol again, or if he did, never to get drunk.
He opened the door and saw the courtyard maid cleaning. Xie Jue remembered her clearly as a maid of Lu Liu Villa. She wore a fresh and charming green long skirt, smiled and saluted Xie Jue, "Did Mr. Xie rest well?"
"It’s alright." Xie Jue replied coolly.
The maid didn’t mind, "My master prepared supper in the veranda and invites Mr. Xie over."
"Please lead the way."
The maid led Xie Jue all the way to the veranda. Lu Liu Villa, with green trees and water at every corner, Qin terraces and buildings, was exquisitely beautiful, a good place for recuperation. Along the way, maids stood watching him but Xie Jue, accustomed to others’ gaze, was indifferent. Fang Chuning waited for him in the veranda, estimating that he should awaken by now.
The daylight in Jiangnan lasts longer than in the Capital City, especially during spring and summer, where sunsets arrive earlier, the sky dim; had they been in the Capital City, lamps would already be lit, while in Jiangnan’s green mountains and waters, there was still lingering light.
"Beautiful one, I didn’t know your tastes, so I prepared a table of my favorite dishes. You treated me to wine, I’ll treat you to supper, considered... compensation." Fang Chuning originally thought to say no debt owed, but thought it too deliberate. This beautiful one looks like he recognizes tunes and elegance easily, no need for explicit words.
Xie Jue said blankly, "My behavior intoxicated, please Mr. Fang, be forgiving."
"Say no more, say no more..." Fang Chuning didn’t know what he thought, awkwardly waved his hand, then realized, "You were quite alright after drinking, just or slept soundly, nothing strange occurred, rest assured."
"?" Xie Jue looked puzzled. He knew he’d sleep soundly after drinking, Fang Chuning and Xie Xun both said he had no bad habits, presumably wouldn’t do anything strange. Just now he was politely speaking; considering Fang Chuning’s memory loss, Xie Jue decided to reintroduce himself hoping to leave a good impression, unsure if it was too late.
Fang Chuning prepared nine dishes and a soup, all Jiangnan cuisine, while taking medication for months, he still maintained a diet avoiding overly spicy foods. Occasionally drinking was indulgence. The dishes seemed more to Xie Jue’s preferences; both Fang Chuning and Xie Xun preferred heavy flavors and hearty foods.
Fang Chuning noticed Xie Jue’s poor complexion, guessing he was feeling discomfort post-drinking, served Xie Jue a bowl of beef soup, warming the stomach and aiding digestion. Xie Jue couldn’t help but glance at him; some people even lost in memory, seemed instinctively considerate, and took care of him. It made Xie Jue somewhat hopeful.
"Beauty, when do you plan to return to the Capital City?" Fang Chuning thought, his eviction cue was pretty clear; he wished no further interaction with Xie Jue.
Xie Jue seemed oblivious, replied indifferently, "I plan to stay in Jiangnan for a while."
"Oh, Jiangnan’s scenery is exceedingly wonderful, indeed..." Fang Chuning paused, "Where will you stay then?"
"Lu Liu Villa is vast; surely, there’s a space for me, right?"
"No!"
Fang Chuning instantly felt the food bland.
"A jar of Daughter’s Red can’t cover several days’ rent?"
"Yangzhou City is huge, inns everywhere; pick any, with your refined robe, an ordinary family wouldn’t afford it even in three years, you could buy an inn, why squeeze into the wilderness with me."
Damn it, this beauty certainly harbors ulterior motives.
He wouldn’t comply even if it cost him dearly!
"On the trip to Jiangnan, I was robbed by bandits and lost contact with my servants, now without a penny."
Fang Chuning was amazed, "?"
