Let's not think about tomorrow; how will we get through tonight?
"..."
As expected of the charming Left Envoy Mu Yuan, after seducing so many young ladies and handsome young men, he has indeed acquired some knowledge.
Her husband from the Bai family has indeed had no peace. The whole household probably knows that their new young mistress has been neglected by the eldest young master and has become a resentful woman in her boudoir.
—So what if you're a complaining woman? And you, Bai something-or-other, let's see if you'll still go and cheat on me this time? I'll make sure Master Bai breaks your legs!
Chapter 9 Cousins 2
As soon as Young Master Bai returned to the manor today, he was summoned by Master Bai amidst the whispers of the servants and given a half-day lecture. Master Bai ordered him not to go out at will, that he must be accompanied by someone if he went out, and that he must return immediately after finishing his business! He was practically confined to the house! In the end, it was discovered that the culprit was just a few poems that had been blown away by the wind.
—Lyrics written by his new wife, Qiu Ningxian!
He clutched the paper and strode toward the new house. He paused briefly at the door, took a deep breath to calm his turmoil, and then knocked. A lazy "Come in" came from inside. She didn't even bother to say "please."
The lazy, coquettish voice made him pause slightly, wondering if it was appropriate to go in now. He pushed open the door and immediately saw Ning Xian lounging on a recliner, peeling grapes, looking completely at ease. She was nothing like a "lazy wife in her boudoir."
Ning Xian glanced up at him, then continued to focus on the grapes in her hand, saying without looking up, "A rare guest. It seems that Young Master Bai hasn't been to this room since the first day of our marriage. Please have a seat." Right now, she looked like a delicate hibiscus lying drunk on a branch, exuding gentleness and languor, showing no sign of being unnatural because of Bai Mo's arrival.
He placed the document in front of her and asked, "What does this mean?"
"I'm too free, so I'll practice my calligraphy."
"You—!" Bai Mo took a deep breath. He owed her this, so he wouldn't blame her... "Since it's just calligraphy practice, please keep the paper you've finished writing!"
"The wind was strong, and it was blown away by accident."
Calm down, calm down—"It can't be such a coincidence that there's wind every day, and that it happens 'accidentally' every day, right?"
Ning Xian didn't refute this time, and surprisingly nodded.
Bai Mo instinctively felt things wouldn't be that simple; she had agreed too easily… Ning Xian had just peeled a grape and was about to put it in her mouth when she looked up and saw Bai Mo still standing there. Her hand holding the grape froze in mid-air—even grapes didn't taste good in front of this guy. She feigned ignorance and asked, "Is there anything else, Young Master Bai?…Would you like some grapes?"
Bai Mo suddenly felt a sense of helplessness, as if he were talking to a brick wall. He turned to leave, but as soon as he turned back, a large character was pasted on the carved partition behind him—
Water ripples reflect on the green gauze curtain, and mist shrouds the autumn waves.
A delicate lotus lies in repose, drunk on the night; I cannot share this beautiful evening with you, filled with deep regret.
—She did it on purpose!!
Watching Bai Mo's indignant departure, a captivating figure in white emerged from behind the inner chamber's curtains. Mu Yuan once again examined the words on the carved wooden partition, stroking her chin and nodding with self-satisfaction and delight.
"A delicate lotus blossom reclining in a drunken stupor"—this phrase is so apt, so vivid, so evocative that even he himself couldn't help but admire his own literary talent.
He sat down, snatched the peeled grape from Ning Xian's hand, stuffed it into his mouth, and said, "Duan Xian'er, your husband looks really handsome when he's angry."
Ning Xian looked down at his empty, wet hands, then at the devilish man who was savoring the beauty while tasting grapes with a satisfied expression. He couldn't help but think that they looked like a pair of adulterous lovers plotting how to anger the husband to death.
"Hey Duanxian, do you want me and Yulin to help you find out about your husband's mistress?"
"Why are you going to investigate that?"
"You're not so magnanimous as to let them continue like this, are you? The obvious solution is to get rid of that woman and snatch him away—"
"No way!" Ning Xian made a firm, resolute, no! gesture. "He's not my type! I just need to teach him a lesson, let him be confined by Master Bai and unable to see his little lover, that's enough for him. I have no interest in breaking up lovers."
Mu Yuan looked at her as if she were a monster. "Shouldn't you and him be a perfect couple? Aren't you even a little bit curious about that woman?"
"I couldn't live with him as a lover for the rest of my life! We're like chickens and ducks, we'll never walk the same path in this life! Instead of wasting my time being curious about him and his lover, I'd rather be curious about where my future lover is!" Ning Xian wiped her hands and got up, too lazy to talk to him here, she'd rather go find Yu Lin to kill time.
Mu Yuan's interest in her was instantly extinguished by those words—no matter how appearances change, a facade of propriety can't become reality—he was definitely into the "good girl" type. As for someone with a similar vibe to himself… he simply couldn't muster any interest.
Mu Yuan picked another grape and popped it into his mouth. Maybe... he could go and meet that young master Bai first.
Since their complete confrontation, Bai Mo now fully understands that his seemingly delicate new wife is neither delicate nor weak. He already disliked having much contact with her, and now he has no intention of going near the bridal chamber. However, the bridal chamber is his room, and the study is in the same courtyard. Confined to his home, how far can he go?
He lingered in the garden for a while, but eventually had no choice but to return. As he walked towards his study, a voice suddenly called out, "Young Master Bai."
He suddenly stopped and turned around, only to find that Mu Yuan had appeared beside him at some point—had he been lost in thought and not noticed? How could he not have noticed such a large, living person approaching him? However, he had seen this person before and had already heard about his identity from Madam Bai.
"Young Master Qiu, please forgive my rudeness in not greeting you properly earlier."
"Not at all, Young Master Bai is already my 'brother-in-law,' we're family, no need for formalities." He smiled alluringly, his white robes billowing, his bewitching charm captivating. His amber eyes seemed to steal souls, his alluring demeanor was innate, neither pretentious nor concealed.
Bai Mo was taken aback, quite surprised by this "brother-in-law".
Mu Yuan stared at the curves of his waist and back—although the two were of similar height, Mu Yuan was slender and alluring, while Bai Mo appeared tall and slender with well-proportioned bones and flesh, especially the curves from his waist and back to his hips... which were truly captivating.
"It seems there are some issues in your relationship with your 'little sister'? As her brother, I'm naturally quite concerned. If there's anything wrong, why don't you tell me about it, and I'll give you some advice...?" As he spoke, he moved closer and closer. Bai Mo felt a chill run down his spine and carefully and subtly backed away... This... "brother-in-law" is a bit... strange, isn't he?
Unbeknownst to him, Mu Yuan's hand had already reached towards his waist—
Kinnara moved slightly, and a small pebble flew through the air, striking the back of Mu Yuan's hand. He had already noticed it and quickly withdrew his hand, the pebble hitting Bai Mo's buttocks. He was startled, turned around in astonishment, but there was clearly nothing there. Beside him was only a "brother-in-law" with a blank, innocent yet still alluring smile.
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing..." Bai Mo turned back in confusion. Mu Yuan glanced behind her—the bushes rustled, revealing Ning Xian's face. She made a fierce "I'll kill you if you dare to lay a hand on me again" gesture—that charming devil! Sure enough, he gets aroused if she doesn't look at him for a moment, even though she warned him not to make a move before she left the Bai family! Luckily, she hadn't gone far... otherwise, if Mu Yuan really attacked, how would she face the Bai family? Should she run away now?
If the wife runs away, it will give others leverage against her. When the Bai family comes to the Qiu family, she will be dragged back by Long Jue just the same.
Why does she have to protect Bai Mo's chastity?!
Chapter Ten: Cousins 3