Chapter 76: If She Really Dared to Do That

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: If She Really Dared to Do That

The fact that she was now willing to yield was an unexpected delight.

"I’ll give you time. You can think it over slowly, but there’s just one thing..."

Xie Jinbai’s eyes narrowed slightly. He stared intently at the vibrant young woman before him and said in a low voice, "You are not to get too close to Shen Tingyu. Make it clear to him that your verbal agreement to marry is off."

’He didn’t want to think about whether her engagement to Shen Tingyu was from before her rebirth or after.’

’As long as she was willing to come back to him, he would pretend that the one who had pledged herself to Shen Tingyu was the original Pei Shuyao.’

’He would pretend she had never truly liked Shen Tingyu.’

Cui Lingyao froze.

’A verbal engagement...’

Before today, she had thought Xie Jinbai only suspected her identity, and her mind had been consumed with finding a way to dispel his suspicions.

To that end, she had genuinely considered marrying Shen Tingyu.

Just as he had said, it was a stopgap measure.

But now, her identity had been completely exposed to Xie Jinbai.

After three years apart, Xie Jinbai’s obsession with her had repeatedly shattered Cui Lingyao’s expectations.

Faced with his lover, found again after being lost, there was absolutely no way he would let her go easily.

Under these circumstances, the reason for marrying Shen Tingyu no longer stood.

In fact, if she didn’t distance herself from him, given Xie Jinbai’s madness, he was probably capable of murder.

For Shen Tingyu’s own good, she had to call off their engagement.

With that in mind, Cui Lingyao nodded and agreed.

The tension in Xie Jinbai’s heart finally eased.

A smile touched the corners of his lips, and his voice softened as he coaxed her, "Then let him in. I’ll be with you while you make things clear to him."

"No need," Cui Lingyao refused his help without a second thought. "I want to handle this myself."

’Given his sharp tongue and domineering nature, if the three of them met, he would certainly ridicule Shen Tingyu.’

’Just thinking about it made Cui Lingyao cringe at how awkward the scene would be.’

She had a good impression of Shen Tingyu. After he learned her true identity, he had been willing to help her, even at the risk of exposing her and offending Xie Jinbai. He had even offered her the position of his official wife to repay her for saving his life.

He was a true gentleman, inside and out.

Cui Lingyao didn’t want to see such a gentleman be harassed and ridiculed.

Rejected once again, Xie Jinbai’s expression froze for a moment. He looked at her for a long while, sullenly silent.

His stare made Cui Lingyao feel a little guilty.

She thought for a moment and explained, "Shen Tingyu doesn’t know my real identity. From his perspective, you and I have only met twice. If we show up together to call off the engagement, it would be a great humiliation for him, and I would look like a vain, unscrupulous woman who’d do anything for power."

As for the former, Xie Jinbai couldn’t care less.

’To be honest, his murderous intent toward Shen Tingyu hadn’t faded in the slightest. Forget humiliation—he was perfectly capable of slicing him up, one cut at a time.’

’But when it came to Cui Lingyao’s reputation, he had to care.’

Xie Jinbai mulled it over for a long time. Only when the commotion at the door grew louder, to the point where Shen Tingyu was about to break it down, did he slowly nod.

"Fine," he said softly. "But Yaoyao, you must remember: you must call this engagement off."

’Even if it was just a verbal agreement, made without the elders’ approval or the exchange of betrothal cards and marriage documents, he still couldn’t bear it.’

Cui Lingyao agreed without hesitation.

Having said that, she turned to leave.

But she had barely taken a step before her wrist was seized.

Xie Jinbai pulled her hand, drawing her into his arms, and his large palm cupped the back of her neck.

"I trust you," he said in a low voice. "I trust that you’ll make things clear to him, and I’m willing to give you time to accept me again."

’She had indeed been swayed just now.’

’Whether she was moved by his promise to have only her for the rest of his life and never take a concubine, or by his declaration, ’I’ll listen to you. Whoever you want me to sleep with, I’ll sleep with them’...’

’In any case, the thought of marrying him again had truly crossed her mind.’

Many thoughts ran through Xie Jinbai’s mind. He pressed his lips to her forehead in a light kiss, his tone carrying a hint of warning, "I’m trusting you this much, so don’t just go through the motions. Don’t feign compliance while secretly defying me, and absolutely do not continue this ambiguous relationship with him."

’If she dared to use delaying tactics on him while continuing to whisper sweet nothings to Shen Tingyu, sharing romantic moments under the moon and flowers, and confessing her love...’

’Would he still have this much self-control?’

’No!’

’If she really dared to do that...’

’Then even he didn’t know what he would be capable of.’

...

「Outside the courtyard.」

Shen Tingyu had lost count of how many times he’d called out. Just as he lost his patience and was about to force his way in, there was a soft CREAK.

The brown courtyard gate was slowly opened from within.

Shen Tingyu and Li Yong, who were in the middle of a fight, both paused and looked over in unison.

A young woman in a pale yellow dress appeared before them.

Her features were lovely and radiant, her bearing graceful and poised.

"Yaoyao."

Shen Tingyu let out half a breath of relief. He pushed Li Yong aside and walked up to the young woman who was descending the courtyard steps.

"Are you all right?" He held her by the shoulders, looking her over from top to bottom.

She was still in the same clothes she’d worn when she left that morning. Other than her hair being slightly disheveled at the temples, everything from head to toe, even the jade pendant weighing down her skirt, was unchanged.

A thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, and her makeup was a little smudged, but it didn’t detract from her beauty at all. Instead, it added a vibrant, lively aura.

Fresh and delicate.

"I’m fine," Cui Lingyao said. "I lost a bet earlier, so Prince Yu had someone summon me to pay up. He asked me a personal question, and I was just about to leave after answering when you found me."

’As if Shen Tingyu would believe that.’

’But he guessed that these words were probably meant for the man inside to hear.’

He played along seamlessly. "I see. And where is the Prince?"

Cui Lingyao said, "His Highness is inside. Given my status, why would the Prince need to see me off personally?"

The two of them walked side by side, moving further and further away. In the setting sun, their shadows stretched out long, overlapping from time to time.

It looked like a picture of serene, peaceful times.

Behind them, a tall, slender figure suddenly appeared at the courtyard gate.

It was none other than the man who, according to Cui Lingyao, would not see her off personally.

Xie Jinbai stood tall and poised, his gaze fixed on the pair.

The knuckles of the hand clasped behind his back slowly tightened.

Having finally left that secluded little courtyard, Cui Lingyao’s tense body slowly began to relax.

She was about to speak when the man beside her gently shushed her with a smile. "Let’s talk about it when we get back."

This was the Duke Zhao Mansion.

On the surface, only Zhao Shijie of the Duke Zhao Mansion was Xie Jinbai’s man.

But secretly, who knew if the Lord Duke had already pledged allegiance to this all-but-certain Prince.

There could be Xie Jinbai’s people watching from all around. This was no place for a private conversation.

Cui Lingyao understood. She nodded and said no more.

The two of them walked to the elegant hall.

Most of the guests had already left, and the remaining few were preparing to take their leave as well.

The two masters of the Zhao Family were seeing guests out. The Princely Heir, Zhao Shijie, and his wife were also there, surprisingly.

Seeing the two appear, a smile spread across Chen Minrou’s pale, sickly face.

She said lightly, "Miss Pei, where did you go just now? You had your fiancé searching everywhere for you."