Spoiled Eldest Miss x Two-faced Madman

CHAPTER 61: Hush Money

　　The moment the words left his mouth, Pei Ji immediately sensed something was wrong.

　　He shouldn't care about this.

　　Not to mention that Fei Yi was actually himself—the more An Jiu liked Fei Yi, the more it would benefit him.

　　And besides, whether or not she liked Fei Yi had nothing to do with ‘Pei Ji.’

　　Who An Jiu liked, who she cared about—none of it should concern him, Pei Ji.

　　Then why had he asked?

　　Pei Ji closed his eyes, the darkness in them gradually turning cold.

　　He tilted his head slightly, wanting to push the girl off his shoulder.

　　These past few days, An Jiu had grown much more familiar with him—so much so that even he had unconsciously ignored the distance between them.

　　But Pei Ji knew well that her sudden change in attitude was only because he had saved her.

　　Just like she often said—he was a ‘good person.’

　　Because he was a good person, the young miss had finally grown a conscience, started to trust him, treating him like a close confidant, even revealing the feelings she kept buried deep in her heart.

　　A trace of silent mockery flickered in Pei Ji’s eyes.

　　He had always shown a warm, kind face to the world—so others believed he was gentle and compassionate, a rare good soul in the ruthless jianghu.

　　Everyone thought that.

　　Now, she was no different.

　　She would never know what kind of cold, heartless face hid beneath that smiling mask.

　　A sneer had just begun to pull at his lips when, as he turned his head, his eyes landed on the girl’s face—peacefully asleep, her eyes closed tight.

　　That explained her silence—she had fallen asleep.

　　She’d drunk too much. Her cheeks were flushed red, the corners of her eyes still glistening with tears, shimmering like water.

　　Her delicate brows were faintly furrowed, and maybe she felt cold—her lips were puckered into a pout, and she hugged her arms close to her body, curling up. Her head slipped forward, landing squarely in his chest. Then, still half-asleep, she groped around until she tugged his wide sleeve over herself like a blanket.

　　Once she was covered, her tightly knitted brows gradually relaxed, and her expression softened into peace.

　　Pei Ji: “…”

　　He lowered his eyes and looked at the small figure who had found a cozy spot on her own, curled up on his lap, holding his sleeve like a blanket. His fair, handsome face was blank.

　　After a long silence, Pei Ji slowly leaned down, gathered her soft, fragile body into his arms, and stood up.

　　This would be the last time. He swore to himself.

　　He would never indulge her like this again.

　　The wound on his upper back still hadn’t healed. When it was pulled with force, a jolt of pain shot through him.

　　Pei Ji didn’t even flinch. Without a change in expression, he turned and walked inside.

　　The girl was sound asleep, completely unaware. Her flushed little face rested against his chest, long lashes casting delicate shadows like a pair of intricate fans.

　　Above them, the magnolia tree was in full bloom. Under the night sky, a petal quietly fell and landed among her dark, cloud-like hair.

　　The soft pink and white stood out starkly against the inky black.

　　Pei Ji’s eyes shifted slightly. He leaned down, about to blow the petal away, when her lashes suddenly fluttered, and she sleepily opened her eyes.

　　She looked completely dazed, as if drunk enough to forget what day it was. Her gaze was unfocused as she stared blankly at him. Then, suddenly, she frowned and slurred accusingly, “Pei Ji, you—you stole a kiss!”

　　Pei Ji: “???”

　　Caught off guard, he instinctively wanted to deny it: “I didn’t—”

　　But before he could even finish, the girl shut her eyes and passed out again.

　　Pei Ji: “…”

　　It felt like punching a pillow—no resistance, nowhere to land his frustration.

　　He inhaled deeply, stopped wasting time, and strode into her room, tossing her onto the bed.

　　Just as he was about to leave, he felt something tug at his sleeve. He turned back and realized—at some point, her weight had pinned it under her body. She was already fast asleep, completely unaware.

　　Naturally, Pei Ji wasn’t going to wake her—not when he was standing over her like this. That would be hard to explain.

　　With that thought, he raised his hand and let out a controlled burst of internal energy, cleanly slicing off the caught sleeve.

　　The white fabric drifted down like snow and landed on the bed. The girl rolled over, squashing it beneath her, completely hiding that sliver of white from view.

　　—

　　The next morning, An Jiu sat up in bed, holding her aching head, trying to piece together the events of the previous night.

　　Every time she drank, she really did get drunk—just not completely. She always kept a sliver of clarity, which meant she never said or did anything wrong, even if she looked thoroughly intoxicated.

　　Otherwise, how could she possibly fool someone like Pei Ji?

　　He was a divine physician. Of course he could tell whether someone was truly drunk or not.

　　An Jiu never fought battles unprepared.

　　After flipping through her memories, the corners of her eyes curved, and a bright smile danced across her delicate features.

　　Humming a tune, she slowly got out of bed and walked out the door, only to meet Ah Qi’s eyes as he chopped wood in the courtyard. His gaze sparkled unmistakably with gossip.

　　“Ah Qi, heat some water. I want to take a bath,” she said with a sweet smile.

　　“Right away, Miss An,” Ah Qi replied enthusiastically.

　　After answering, he added with a knowing tone, “Miss An, our young master is in the pharmacy. If you’re looking for him, that’s where he is.”

　　An Jiu raised her brows and smiled. “Thanks.”

　　But of course, she wasn’t going to look for him—there was no need.

　　She spent the whole day quietly at home. Pei Ji didn’t return once and even had his meals outside. It wasn’t until dusk fell and the sky darkened that he finally came back.

　　Hearing the familiar sound of wheels rolling across the courtyard, An Jiu rubbed her sore wrist—worn out from too much writing—and looked down at the completed book in front of her. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

　　Pei Ji wheeled himself toward his room. As he passed the door to the room next to his, it suddenly opened from within.

　　A crisp, soft voice called out: “Pei Ji, wait a moment.”

　　Dressed in a light yellow blouse and skirt, the girl stood at the doorway like a blossoming winter jasmine on a branch. Her pale, delicate face looked especially charming and full of life.

　　Pei Ji’s hands paused, and the wheelchair came to a stop.

　　He raised his head slightly, his deep black eyes calmly meeting her gaze.

　　His voice was as gentle as always. “What is it, Miss An?”

　　Her red lips pressed into a line, and she lowered her lashes, avoiding eye contact for some reason—almost as if she were hiding something.

　　She was holding something in her hand. After a brief glance at him, she tossed it his way. The object, wrapped in a handkerchief, landed with a heavy thud in the white-robed young man’s lap.

　　“This is for you. See for yourself.”

　　With those hurried words, the girl slammed the door shut with a bang.

　　The redwood door closed tightly in front of him, yet Pei Ji could still hear her footsteps unmoved.

　　She was still standing right behind it, back against the door—like she was waiting for something.

　　A trace of confusion flickered across his expression. He picked up the item she’d thrown into his lap and unwrapped the handkerchief.

　　One glance—and his eyes instantly sharpened.

　　Pei Ji hadn’t expected that An Jiu would give this to him.

　　The item she had tossed into his arms was none other than the martial arts manual that had caused countless people to fight over it—the legendary secret technique from Jinshe Villa.

　　Did she even realize how many people in the martial world were after this manual?

　　Did she understand just how valuable it was now?

　　How could she just hand it over so casually?

　　What’s more, Jin Yanwan had explicitly warned her in that letter, again and again, not to reveal that she even knew about the contents of the manual. Had she completely ignored those warnings?

　　Thinking of all the sects still lingering in Jinshe Town—how they were unwilling to leave, how they were even willing to go to war with the Demonic Sect—wasn’t it all because of this manual?

　　The thought made Pei Ji tense.

　　He quickly tucked the manual into his sleeve and, face dark, knocked on the tightly closed door.

　　Two knocks.

　　A small crack opened.

　　“Do you even know what it is you gave me?”

　　Only half of the girl’s face peeked out through the gap, and she looked at him quietly, speaking in a small voice: “Of course I know.”

　　“I think you don’t,” Pei Ji’s voice was icy, that smoldering fury in his chest reigniting all over again.

　　He used to think this woman wasn’t that foolish. That when danger struck, she at least knew how to protect herself—a far cry from a helpless, clinging vine who relied on others for everything.

　　But now? Looking at her like this—she wasn’t just foolish, she was downright stupid.

　　With a personality like hers, if she dared to wander the martial world, she’d probably be tricked and sold off within days—and worse, help her buyer count the money. (T/N: LoL, are you so sure about it, Pei Ji?😏)

　　How could there be such a… such a hopelessly dumb and naive woman?

　　Someone saves her, and she throws her whole heart at them without hesitation.

　　Once she acknowledges someone, she gives without the slightest reservation.

　　That bad temper she always showed must’ve just been like the spines of a hedgehog—something to protect her soft and vulnerable insides.

　　And once she trusted someone, that softness bloomed right out.

　　Should he call her naïve—or just plain idiotic?

　　“You wanted it, right? I’m giving it to you, so just take it… Just don’t tell anyone else, okay?”

　　The girl cracked the door open a bit more, poking her little head out. Her big, innocent eyes blinked up at Pei Ji as she said this.

　　The man in white stared at her with a calm, unreadable gaze, his dark eyes locked onto her delicate features as if seeing her for the first time. Inch by inch, he studied her.

　　Under his focused stare, the girl’s pretty face slowly flushed with unease.

　　“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”

　　She probably knew, deep down, that what she’d done wasn’t proper.

　　Maybe she’d struggled with the decision.

　　But in the end, she’d still chosen to copy the manual and give it to him.

　　Her eyes swirled with hesitation. When she noticed the man still staring at her in silence, she bit her lip, cleared her throat nervously, and finally stammered out:

　　“Pei Ji… I know you like me. You risked your life to save me again… I—I don’t have anything to repay you with, and besides, I already—already like someone else, so I figured… I’d give you this as thanks. Is that okay?”

　　At those words, Pei Ji’s expression finally shifted ever so slightly.

　　“You’re saying… this is your way of repaying me?”

　　“Yeah! What else?” she replied, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

　　But when she saw the strange look flash across his face, her expression suddenly turned horrified.

　　“Don’t tell me—you want me to repay you with my body? No way! Absolutely not! A lady like me would never marry a cripple!”

　　The girl who had, just days ago, been unusually well-behaved and docile out of guilt for being rescued, now seemed to feel she had settled her debt.

　　And with that ‘life-saving favor’ repaid, she had fully returned to her arrogant, sassy young lady self—speaking with boldness and not a shred of hesitation.

　　“I still remember a bit from last night—did you kiss me or not? Anyway, since you saved my life, this lady won’t hold it against you. But don’t you dare take advantage of me again, got it?”

　　She said this fiercely but with a timid undertone, scrunching her nose, then awkwardly tossed out, “Also, whatever I said last night, just pretend you didn’t see or hear anything, okay!”

　　With that, came a harsh bang as the door slammed shut without mercy, followed by a flurry of quick footsteps.

　　Pei Ji could almost picture the scene from the sounds alone.

　　The girl dashed to her bed, buried her face deep in the soft quilt, and let out a muffled sob.

　　“Ahhh, how could this happen! I actually cried on his shoulder!”

　　“So embarrassing, so embarrassing!”

　　“Is that hush money enough? Should I give more? Boohoo...”

　　Pei Ji lowered his head, eyes fixed on the manual in his hands, a question mark slowly rising above his head.

　　Hush money?

________________

Author’s note:

When the young lady acts, of course it’s top-dollar hush money. She won’t marry a cripple, so once he’s not crippled anymore, then maybe it’s possible. qwq

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