Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 910 - 885: Ambiguity

After the Great General left, Fang Chuning remained silent for a long time. His father truly repelled Xie Jue, and felt very apprehensive, yet Xie Jue was not a murderous thug. What was the reason that made his father so wary?

Two days later, Fang Chuning’s fever subsided, and his body somewhat recovered. He craved wine again. Xie Jue took him to Luoying Manor, and the shopkeeper, seeing them, was helpless, and brought out a jar of Daughter’s Red. Fang Chuning couldn’t help but say, "Last time I came, you brought a tankard of wine. Now just a jar? Too little."

"There isn’t any more!" The shopkeeper shrugged, "There’s so little Daughter’s Red; I still need to do business. Being able to give you one jar is already quite good; don’t complain."

After the shopkeeper finished speaking and left, Fang Chuning and Xie Jue drank wine and listened to opera on the second floor. Fang Chuning originally had high musical acumen and hummed along with the tune. When the opera began, he was a bit speechless. The opera portrayed the romantic affairs of Fang Chuning and Xie Jue.

Fang Chuning cautiously glanced at Xie Jue, who remained expressionless, showing no signs of pleasure or anger. Fang Chuning said, "Actually, there are many such operas in Yangzhou. The local authorities cleared out a batch, and later these operas didn’t dare to use the Ningzhou Battlefield as a backdrop, but instead the Sannan Royal Palace, describing some tender and lingering romances, which are very popular with the public."

Xie Jue has heard them in the Capital City. They weren’t performed openly, but they changed the names and scenes, using allegory to criticize. He naturally understood them. Originally, there wasn’t any literature about male romances in Beining, but now there were many, mostly using him and Fang Chuning as prototypes. Xie Jue didn’t mind; seeing Fang Chuning being so cautious actually amused him.

"Do you enjoy listening?" Xie Jue asked, "I see you are quite fascinated."

"I don’t like these tender plots at all."

"Then what kind of plots do you like?"

Fang Chuning propped his head, thought for a while, "I prefer stories about resisting the Beiman and fighting on the battlefield. If I hadn’t been sick since childhood, perhaps I’d have been a Great General."

Xie Jue couldn’t help but laugh, "Yes, you would have been a remarkable Great General."

"Certainly!" Fang Chuning remained confident as ever. Seeing Xie Jue not talking much, he couldn’t help but ask, "How did you and Fang Chuning... get acquainted?"

Xie Jue was slightly surprised; Fang Chuning seemed interested in their matters for the first time. A sigh of relief escaped Xie Jue’s heart as he softly said, "Our families have been friends for generations."

"Then you must have known each other when very young?"

"Yes, we’ve known each other since childhood."

Fang Chuning mused, knowing each other since childhood only to lose to Prince Yan! You ungrateful one, surely you’re too reserved, with no words. The look in his eyes—too obvious in its disappointment—amused Xie Jue. Perhaps they knew each other too well; he didn’t need to guess to know what Fang Chuning was thinking. But he couldn’t explain anything. If it hadn’t been for Fang Chuning’s desperate approach, they might not have had a result. He was the most timid in this relationship, always considering retreat, never having steadfastly chosen him.

"Then how old were you when you met him?"

"Four years old," Xie Jue said, "met him when attending school."

"You’re family friends. Why meet so late?"

"I was weak as a child, didn’t see guests, only could barely stand at age three." Xie Jue didn’t hide anything. These matters naturally don’t appear in stories. As the second son of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, neither receiving as much attention as Xie Zhang nor having the brilliance of Xie Xun, before going to Ningzhou, the second young master was like a hidden figure in the mansion, not contending or competing. Only those close knew his childhood. When Xie Jue emerged, the second young master had become a cold, strong think tank, capable of issuing battle orders instead of the marquis in Ningzhou. Therefore, some stories even portrayed Xie Jue as forcefully seizing from Fang Chuning. Fang Chuning once listened, engrossed while munching sunflower seeds.

"Then why do you like him? What has he done for you?" Fang Chuning didn’t know why he asked. Idle chat becomes unnecessary, but not asking leaves a nagging itch, an urgent need to ask.

Why curious about why Xie Jue likes Fang Chuning, he didn’t understand himself.

"He’s done too much for me."

"For example?"

Xie Jue softly laughed, "Interacting with people is like silent rain; affection accumulates over time. We grew up together, shared habits, similar interests. We’re well-matched, with similar backgrounds, easily understanding each other’s unusual decisions. We can accompany each other through hard times and share the same sense of crisis in the tense Capital City. Therefore, our understanding brought us closer, forming the same ideals. Liking him is natural. Before realizing why spending time with him brings joy and interest, I already liked him."

"Perhaps it’s the illusion of childhood companions."

"I used to think it was indeed the illusion of childhood companions, intentionally distancing myself, traveling alone to perilous places. But encountering him there made me realize; liking is liking, childhood companions are childhood companions. Among many childhood friends, the one who moves my heart remains singular."

Fang Chuning drank the Daughter’s Red, sensitively catching a discrepancy, "Why encounter Fang Chuning in perilous places?"

"Destiny!" Xie Jue replied.

Feeling brushed off, Fang Chuning was displeased, "Do I seem gullible, easy to fool?"

Xie Jue lightly laughed, suddenly presenting a sandalwood gift box, square and palm-sized, carved with patterns. Fang Chuning was puzzled. Xie Jue said, "A gift for you."

Fang Chuning opened the box, revealing a white circular jade pendant, milk-white and polished to a glistening transparency, flawless, soft, and warm to touch.

Amazed, Fang Chuning held the carved jade pendant. Both he and Xie Jue shared a tacit understanding: once the jade pendant was carved, Xie Jue should leave, no longer having excuses to stay at Lu Liu Villa. Fang Chuning was awash with mixed feelings—some joy, some melancholy. Now that it’s carved, does this mean he’s leaving?

"You..."

Xie Jue took off the jade pendant from his waist, placing it next to Fang Chuning’s gift; they were identical, differing only in color. Seeing the matching pendants, Fang Chuning’s ears inexplicably flushed. The implication was too blatant. Should he accept this gift or not?

Clearly something he desired, yet now it felt troublesome!

Too troublesome! 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Are you leaving?"

"Do you like the gift?"

Both almost asked simultaneously, their gaze fixed on the jade pendants, followed by an unspeakable silence. Then Xie Jue asked, "Do you want me to go, or to stay?"