Chapter 170 - 169: Vying for Favor and Jealousy, The Godly Assist Arrives
Chapter 170: Chapter 169: Vying for Favor and Jealousy, The Godly Assist Arrives
"Also?" Qingyuan had always been sharp. She smiled and asked, "Could it be that before running into us, Young Master Pei bumped into someone else?"
She wondered if Ning Liuyu and Pei Xuan had crossed paths first. But Pei Xuan and Ning Liuyu weren’t familiar with each other; it was impossible for them to recognize each other at first glance.
"Are you trying to fish for information?" Pei Xuan scoffed lightly. "Why should I answer you?"
Qingyuan raised an eyebrow and said leisurely, "As a big star, I took time out of my busy schedule specifically to pay my respects to Chief Guard Pei. You should be moved."
Pei Xuan stared at the foxtail grass in their hands and let out an inscrutable chuckle. "Right, I believe you."
Xie Qingshi smiled faintly, speaking without rushing. "Why is Young Master Pei standing at the gate instead of going inside? Could it be that you don’t have a reservation?"
"Oh?" Qingyuan said in feigned surprise. "So even Young Master Pei can’t ignore the scenic area’s rules and just waltz right in."
Pei Xuan’s mood plummeted further. He let out a cold sneer. "It’s not like I’d visit my own grave for fun."
Qingyuan smiled sweetly. "Then we’ll fulfill this duty on your behalf."
Under Pei Xuan’s murderous glare, Xie Qingshi and Qingyuan smoothly entered the park.
On the way to regroup with Shi Changying and Ning Liuyu, Qingyuan asked Ning Liuyu in their small group chat.
[Qingyuan]: Did you guys run into Pei Xuan just now?
[Ning Liuyu]: No, did you?
[Xie Qingshi]: He didn’t have a reservation, so he can’t get in.
[Ning Liuyu]: Tragic. Did you record it?
[Qingyuan]: I did, don’t worry. I even made a dedicated folder to store the evidence.
Qingyuan looked thoughtful. She wondered if a new colleague had arrived in Jianghuai.
Making a mental note of this detail, Qingyuan’s eyes immediately curved into a bright smile upon seeing Shi Changying. "Sister Ying!"
Shi Changying also noticed the foxtail grass in their hands. In an instant, she thought of those specific essays Cui Jinghan had written for Pei Xuan.
"It was Lord Xie who reminded me that this is the most fitting thing to use for sweeping his tomb." Qingyuan waved the foxtail grass. "Only this will leave a deep impression on Lord Pei."
Shi Changying held out her hand. "Makes sense. Give me one."
Before Qingyuan could speak, Xie Qingshi had already offered his own bunch of foxtail grass. He smiled and said, "I prepared this specifically for Your Majesty."
"This bunch of grass is so heavy, let me hold it for Sister Yingying." Ning Liuyu eagerly snatched it first. "It won’t be too late to give it back to Sister Yingying when it’s time to pay our respects."
Qingyuan’s eyes flashed, and her lips curled up. "It seems the heavy responsibility of taking photos for Sister Ying can only be left to me, then."
SWISH.
The three of their gazes locked. Sparks flew in their silent clash, no one willing to yield an inch. But when Shi Changying turned her head to look at them, the three pulled back with perfect tacit understanding, pretending nothing had happened.
Qingyuan truly lived up to her status as a pillar of the entertainment industry; her photography skills were exceptional.
Shi Changying was very satisfied with modern technology. She specifically arranged a nine-photo grid and posted a new update on Moments.
[Dad]: My daughter is the prettiest, as expected!
[Weng Jingyi]: When is Changying coming over to have a meal with Second Aunt?
[Xu Wenge]: No, is there any justice in this world? With you looking like that, how are my older cousin and I supposed to live?
[Xu Shuangqiao]: Get lost, don’t drag me into this. I already told you, you’re not even qualified to be a thirst-trap influencer!
[Lu Mi]: Crazy for Yingying, mad for Yingying, I’d run through a brick wall for Yingying!
Soon, Shi Changying had racked up dozens of likes, but she felt like something was missing. After counting the people who liked the post, she immediately found the source and decisively tapped on Shaoyuan’s profile picture.
[Only I am the first]: Go like the first post on my Moments.
He didn’t reply to her, but a second later, a new like popped up in her notification list. That was more like it. Shi Changying put her phone away and went back to sweeping Pei Xuan’s tomb.
The sun climbed higher. When noon arrived, Qingyuan immediately suggested, "Sister Ying, let’s grab lunch together."
Shi Changying said lazily, "Sure. After eating, I’m going to a bar to study."
"A bar?"
"I’ll drink orange juice with pulp."
"..."
Shi Changying thought for a moment, then called Yan Sinian to ask, "Do you want to have lunch together?"
Yan Sinian replied mournfully, "No thanks. Senior Brother is marching me to death right now. I have to follow him to the ruins of the Jianghuai Pei Family later, so you guys go ahead."
The call ended. Seeing that Cui Jinghan had already walked another dozen meters away, Yan Sinian had no choice but to hurry after him again.
It wasn’t until two o’clock that Cui Jinghan finally decided to leave the Zhongwu Tomb. He glanced at the profusely sweating Yan Sinian and suddenly said, "That’s enough, you can head back."
Yan Sinian was ecstatic inwardly but didn’t dare show it. "Isn’t Senior Brother still going to the ruins of the Jianghuai Pei Family?"
Cui Jinghan said flatly, "It’s fine if I go by myself. Go back and write a reflection essay. Send it to me before eleven tonight, written in Cui Style."
"O... okay, Senior Brother. Take care." Yan Sinian stared blankly as Cui Jinghan strode out of the exit.
He was doomed! He had to hurry back and do his homework. Yan Sinian wiped the sweat from his forehead and left in a rush.
Pei Xuan was still waiting outside. He had always been relentlessly persistent when it came to things like this. His eyesight was excellent, and he instantly spotted Cui Jinghan striding out.
He was out. Good.
But Pei Xuan didn’t step forward immediately. After all, there were too many people around. He unhurriedly trailed behind Cui Jinghan, eventually arriving at the ruins of the Jianghuai Pei Family.
Compared to the Zhongwu Tomb just a street away, the Pei’s former residence had very few visitors and didn’t require a reservation. Every year, the Pei Family would proactively donate a large sum of money to restore and protect Jianghuai’s ancient cultural heritage buildings. The ruins of the Jianghuai Pei Family were one of these projects.
The manager of the ruins recognized Pei Xuan and immediately stepped forward to ask if he needed any help.
Pei Xuan waved him off. "Just looking around. Don’t be nervous."
He wanted to see what this man, suspected to be Cui Jinghan, was up to. Pei Xuan adjusted his Inner Strength, silently stepping forward at a slow pace without making a single sound.
Thus, Cui Jinghan was completely unaware that he was being followed. He took a few turns and arrived at a pavilion.
Pei Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly. He looked up at the plaque on the pavilion, which bore four flamboyant, boldly written characters: Resting on the Moon, Listening to the Pines.
He suddenly remembered the origin of this name. Once, when the Empress visited Jianghuai, Cui Jinghan had accompanied her. These four characters had been written by Cui Jinghan.
However, this detail had never been recorded in the historical annals. Therefore, no tourists today knew the origin of the pavilion’s name, and very few people visited this spot.
Pei Xuan watched as the man placed the bundle of foxtail grass on the stone steps of the pavilion. After several hours, the foxtail grass had visibly wilted. The man’s expression seemed a bit dazed, tinged with a hint of loneliness.
Pei Xuan suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Cui Jinghan, I knew it was you. Did you really come here to weep at my grave?"
He should open his eyes wide and look carefully—Pei Xuan was alive and well!