Spoiled Eldest Miss x Two-faced Madman

CHAPTER 116: Doctor Pei’s Fiancée

　　Medicine King Valley was truly a peaceful place, completely cut off from the outside world. An Jiu woke up early in the morning to the faint fragrance of flowers drifting in from outside. At some point, someone had opened the window halfway, and a single flower sat in a white porcelain vase on the table by the window. The cool morning breeze carried in wisps of fog-like mist, fresh and crisp. She took a deep breath, and the scent filled her lungs, leaving her feeling refreshed.

　　Shu County was already a valley region, where the sky was often shrouded in clouds and sunshine was rare. Medicine King Valley was the valley within the valley, even more secluded. While the world outside sweltered in summer heat, the climate here still felt like the gentle warmth of late spring.

　　It was the perfect place for growing plants. Since arriving, An Jiu's strongest impression of the valley was how many flowers bloomed here.

　　Just outside her house, flowers were in full bloom like a vibrant sea, making the entire place feel like it was soaking in a field of petals.

　　At first, she’d been worried about snakes and mosquitoes, but when she asked Pei Ji, he told her most of the flowers and plants outside were medicinal herbs that kept bugs away. Only then did she feel a bit more at ease.

　　An Jiu slowly got up from bed. She hadn’t even stepped down when someone walked through the door.

　　The man wore white robes, had ink-black hair, and stood tall with an elegant presence. His clothes weren’t as pristine as usual; the front was loosely fastened, and the long sleeves bore faint green stains, resembling marks left by crushed grass.

　　An Jiu could tell immediately that he had likely just returned from gathering herbs in the medicinal fields.

　　The Medicine King Valley had vast stretches of herb fields. Some of the herbs were rare, and Pei Ji didn’t trust the servants to handle them, so he often took care of them himself.

　　As he walked toward her step by step, the fresh yet slightly bitter scent of herbs reached her even before he did. It wrapped around her like an invisible, delicate net.

　　An Jiu looked up as he came closer. When he crouched by the bed and reached for her bare foot, she instinctively pulled her leg back a little.

　　“Your hand’s cold,” she said.

　　“I just came from the herb field,” Pei Ji replied softly. He pulled his hand back, rubbing his palms together until his fingertips were warm. Then he gently held her fair little foot again and helped her put on her shoes.

　　Every time An Jiu saw him like this, she felt like some kind of spoiled master bossing around a servant.

　　Sure, she was delicate, but not so pampered that she needed help putting on shoes.

　　Still, at some point, he had started taking over everything in her life. The moment she woke up, he’d appear right on time, helping her put on shoes, brushing her hair, preparing her wash basin, even serving her meals.

　　An Jiu seriously suspected Pei Ji didn’t know how to date at all.

　　Was love supposed to mean doting on someone like this, every second of the day?

　　Did he think the way she used to mess with him was some kind of love language?

　　Or worse, did he think he hadn’t served her enough before?

　　“Pei Ji, what flower is that?” An Jiu asked, pointing to a white blossom on the windowsill.

　　Pei Ji turned to glance at it and replied gently, “It’s hibiscus. Both the flower and leaves can be used medicinally. It clears heat, detoxifies, reduces swelling, and—”

　　His words cut off mid-sentence.

　　Because at that moment, the girl on the bed leaned forward and lightly kissed the corner of his lips.

　　Pei Ji instantly froze, like he’d turned into a stone statue. He didn’t even dare turn his head back. All he could feel was the warm, damp touch at the corner of his lips, slowly spreading until it reached his mouth. The girl gently parted her lips and gave him a small bite. His lips tingled with heat and numbness, like a swarm of ants crawling all over them.

　　“You…” He parted his lips slightly, wanting to say something, but not a single word came out.

　　Something smooth and soft, like a little snake, slipped between his teeth, carrying a faint, mysterious fragrance. Pei Ji’s vision nearly spun. The little snake teased him curiously, and he didn’t even know how to react. When it lost interest and tried to retreat, he suddenly snapped back like a wild beast waking up, lunging after it without hesitation. (T/N: “Mysterious fragrance”? Ahem, did you mean morning breath? 😝)

　　An Jiu lifted her eyes and glanced at the redness in the corners of his eyes, a fleeting smile flashing across her gaze.

　　This guy was still pretending to be all pure and innocent. Yet just a while ago, when he was using Fei Yi’s identity, he did all sorts of things to her. Now that he’s wearing Pei Ji’s face, he’s playing all shy and proper?

　　But the second she made a move on him, didn’t he immediately drop the act?

　　This kiss was their first real intimate moment since they’d both admitted their feelings for each other.

　　An Jiu herself didn’t really feel much, only a numb tingle on the tip of her tongue. Even when she got burned during breakfast, it hadn’t felt this hot.

　　Pei Ji, on the other hand, reacted like crazy. His pale face was flushed all over, the corners of his eyes were red, and his lashes trembled nonstop. The way he looked at her was so intense it was like his gaze could melt water.

　　An Jiu couldn’t handle him looking at her like that. Every time he did, she felt like some heartless scumbag who played with people’s feelings.

　　After they finished eating breakfast, she rushed him, “Weren’t you going to treat someone? Don’t keep them waiting.”

　　Maybe it was because her image of ‘liking good guys’ was too solid, and Pei Ji had been trying his absolute best lately to act like one in front of her. Even though An Jiu could totally see through it, he clearly just wanted to stay by her side.

　　Still, she kicked him out without mercy.

　　After all, wasn’t it the gentle doctor who healed the world that she liked?

　　Once Pei Ji left, An Jiu asked the maid to take her for a walk around the valley. It had been almost ten days since she arrived at Medicine King Valley, and this was pretty much how she spent her days. Pei Ji must’ve said something to the people here, because the whole place was open to her, and she could go anywhere she wanted.

　　Medicine King Valley had been around for nearly a hundred years. There were lots of courtyards built here, most of them funded by patients who came seeking treatment. Since many illnesses couldn’t be cured overnight, they had to receive daily care. That’s why some of them chose to build houses and stay in the valley for a while.

　　When a patient recovered and left, the house would stay behind, ready for the next one to move in.

　　These houses came in all shapes and styles. Some were grand pavilions, some were cozy cottages, some large courtyards, others quiet little retreats. A few were lavishly decorated, some elegant and serene, others rough and simple, and a few were charmingly delicate.　　

　　Most of them were already occupied. An Jiu would occasionally bump into patients out for a stroll. The maid would quickly step in and introduce her as the Valley Master's fiancée, and just like that, An Jiu would be showered with compliments and praise.

　　They wandered all the way to the far end of the valley, where An Jiu spotted a little courtyard that looked straight out of Jiangnan. White walls, dark grey tiles, a red-painted porch. Just outside the courtyard was a small peach grove. The blossoms had long since fallen, and the trees were now heavy with ripe peaches. Many had dropped to the ground, filling the air with a sweet, fruity scent.　　

　　“So many peaches. Let's pick some today!” An Jiu told the maid to fetch a basket.

　　While waiting alone in the peach grove, she suddenly heard someone coughing faintly behind her.

　　She turned around and saw a delicate beauty, looking as fragile as a wisp of smoke.

　　The woman was slim and frail, her cheeks pale as snow without a trace of color. Her lips were faint and soft, and her beautiful eyes held a watery sheen. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and she looked the picture of illness from head to toe.

　　The woman seemed to recognize her. After two light coughs, she said, “Are you Miss An?”

　　An Jiu nodded. “That’s me. You know me?”

　　The woman replied, “You’re Doctor Pei’s fiancée. How could I not? Every patient in the valley who knows Doctor Pei knows he has a fiancée.”

　　An Jiu frowned slightly, though she kept it subtle.

　　There was nothing wrong with the words themselves. It was the tone that had a strange edge to it, like something offbeat hiding under the surface.

　　She looked at the woman and asked calmly, “Who are you?”

　　The woman gave a slight curtsey and replied softly, “My name is Wen Yueling. My father is the head of Qingfeng Sect.”

　　“Oh, so that’s you,” An Jiu said with a look of realization.

　　Wen Yueling’s pale face showed a flicker of joy, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. “So Miss An has heard of me?”

　　Since Wen Yueling arrived at Medicine King Valley, she’d hardly gone outside or met anyone. The only person she saw regularly was the man who treated her every day—Doctor Pei.

　　As her condition gradually improved, she was finally able to get out of bed and take a few steps. She was no longer trapped in bed, staring blankly at that small patch of sky outside her window.

　　That graceful man in white, calm and gentle like jade, slowly worked his way into her heart as she began to heal.

　　Falling for Pei Ji was the easiest thing in the world.

　　Wen Yueling had been sick since birth. From the day she was born until she turned eighteen, she’d never seen outsiders and had never interacted with men. Most doctors had told her she wouldn’t live past twenty.

　　Now that Doctor Pei had saved her, like a god granting her a new life, how could she not fall in love with him?

　　Besides, he was so ridiculously handsome. Always dressed in white, pure as moonlight. Gentle and patient, no matter the time. Even when Wen Yueling was at her worst, pale and sickly, feeling ashamed of her appearance, he never once looked down on her. He treated her kindly and respectfully, always.

　　But just as her body started to recover and she was finally able to go out again, she suddenly heard some devastating news.

　　It turned out that Doctor Pei already had a fiancée.

　　She didn’t want to believe it at first. But one time, when he came over to check on her, she gathered her courage and asked him directly. To her surprise, the man who was always calm and composed in everyone’s eyes actually broke into a bright, joyful smile. He told her with absolute certainty that yes, he did have a fiancée.

　　And his love for his fiancée wasn’t something he hid. Wen Yueling had heard from other patients that Doctor Pei often talked about her. It was because he brought her up so often that everyone in the valley knew he was about to get married.

　　Just from that, you could tell how much he loved her.

　　Wen Yueling couldn’t help but feel jealous. She had wondered countless times what kind of woman could win his heart. Was she beautiful? What made her special? What kind of luck did she have to make someone like Doctor Pei fall for her so deeply?

　　Until she finally met this Miss An.

　　And the moment she saw her, Wen Yueling felt even more jealous.

　　Unlike Wen Yueling, who was frail and weak, An Jiu was full of life and energy. She stood there with her chin slightly raised, red dress blazing like fire, her whole presence bold and commanding.

　　Wen Yueling couldn’t understand it. How could Doctor Pei be in love with someone like her?

　　An Jiu didn’t look like the gentle, kind type at all. She was clearly from a rich, high-ranking family, full of pride and arrogance. How could someone like her take care of a husband or manage a household?

　　Honestly, it seemed more likely that she needed people to take care of her instead.

　　But when Wen Yueling overheard what An Jiu said, a tiny spark of hope flickered in her chest. Could it be… had Doctor Pei actually mentioned her in front of Miss An?

　　Otherwise, who else would even remember the name Wen Yueling?

　　Sure enough, when she asked that, the red-clothed woman’s expression shifted. Her gaze toward Wen Yueling became a little odd. Wen Yueling couldn’t quite read it, but then heard her say, “Pei Ji mentioned you once.”

　　Wen Yueling’s face flushed deeper as she quickly asked, “How did Divine Doctor Pei bring me up?”

　　An Jiu noticed the clear anticipation on her face and gave a slight smile. “He told me you weren’t expected to live past twenty, just like him.”

　　Wen Yueling froze. “What do you mean ‘just like him’?”

　　She didn’t understand.

　　An Jiu chuckled softly. “You didn’t know? Pei Ji isn’t expected to live past twenty either. Maybe he felt a sense of sympathy when he saw you—so he brought it up.”

　　The next moment, she watched as the color drained completely from Wen Yueling’s face.

　　Instant reaction. Immediate effect.

________________

Author Note:

Jiu Jiu: I’m saving you, sis~

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