Good start! Much more interesting than Murong Xiao. She looked at him, expressionless, mainly because she didn't know what expression to make.
“Xiao Yuan…you don’t understand me, and I don’t expect you to understand me.” He tilted his head slightly and squinted at the clouds in the sky.
Hmm, that posture is beautiful, worth learning! The atmosphere is really well-developed! Murong Xiao and him are simply not in the same league. Xiao Yuan looked at him with some admiration.
He turned his head and looked at her with affection in his eyes, "Xiao Yuan." He called her name softly. Although she knew he was acting, her heart still fluttered slightly at his words. Not bad, not bad at all!
“I know that you have to pay a price for following Xiao Juyuan and Pei Junwu.” He suddenly turned around, looked directly at her, and changed the subject.
She looked at him in surprise. This was a huge turn of events! "Yes," she nodded in agreement. The news of Yi Chunjun discussing compensation in public should have leaked out long ago.
"Several people sharing one percent is too little!" Getting to the point, his eyes lit up, a stark contrast to his previous tenderness, and he seemed somewhat impatient. "If you can lend me a hand, I can give you far more than one percent." When he said "more," he used his refined and alluring charm, making it sound very meaningful.
"Help you...how can I help you?" she answered him softly, her voice growing softer and softer.
"The biggest obstacle is Pei Junwu. If we get rid of him, we'll be halfway to success," he said confidently.
Seeing her surprised look, he quickly explained, "I didn't mean to kill him."
Xiao Yuan chuckled to himself, "Even so, you have to be able to do it!"
"As long as Juyuan is disappointed in him and no longer wants to marry him, that's fine." His answer really discouraged her.
"Why do you think I would help you?" She looked at him and smiled, genuinely curious. Wasn't he afraid she would tell everyone, given how blunt he was? Perhaps he knew his chances were slim and was taking a desperate gamble.
“Because you are a smart person.” He gazed at her with an approving look.
She sighed, truly disappointed. He hadn't even grasped the whole story before rushing to make a deal with her; he certainly didn't know what Xiao Juyuan's betrothal gifts were. Aside from Pei Junwu himself, this lavish gift alone made Nangong's whole scheme seem insignificant.
However, he's still better than Murong Xiao, at least he knows how to utilize her and maximize her effectiveness.
He thought the treasure was something everyone desired, and his stakes were high enough that he and she would definitely hit it off. He even used his charm to his advantage.
He revealed his hand before even figuring out what she wanted, which shows how impatient he is and is a waste of his impressive demeanor.
She thought of another man she had made a deal with... Compared to him, people like Murong Nangong were like sparrows compared to eagles.
"Let me think about it some more." Now that he had revealed his true colors, she no longer needed to pretend to be an innocent little fool. She gave him a cold, perfunctory reply and quickly sent him away.
"There's no time left. I have no reason to stay any longer." He finally revealed the truth, no wonder he was so anxious.
“Thirty percent,” she said, looking into his eyes.
"Okay!" He didn't hesitate at all.
She shuddered. This man... if he really wanted the treasure, the first thing he would do would definitely be kill her, so he had no need to talk to her about payment.
"Young Master." Nangong's personal attendant hurried over, stopping below the stone platform without approaching. He also showed no intention of revealing anything in front of outsiders.
There must be something important going on, otherwise he wouldn't have come running after us at this time. Xiao Yuan looked at the man curiously.
"Speak up, we're on the same side." Nangong Zhan said with considerable composure, this was just for show, wasn't it?
"There's a rumor that the concubine of the Palace Master of Mieling Palace has defected from the palace. She knows the secret about the treasure that Gao Tianjing revealed. Now everyone is looking for her."
Nangong Zhan and Xiaoyuan were both taken aback. Nangong Zhan was somewhat excited. "Xiaoyuan, we can discuss our matter later. I'll take my leave first."
Xiao Yuan nodded, but her heart wasn't with him.
Strange. Gao Tianjing couldn't possibly know any secrets about the Xiao family's treasure; she knew that better than anyone. And that concubine of the Palace Master of Extinction... it was clearly a trap set up by some persona!
Chapter 34 of "The Smiling Flower": Only My Senior Brother
Unable to wait for the meritorious officials, Xiao Yuan slowly walked down the mountain on his own. He had thought it would be very difficult, but since he had no one to rely on, it was much easier than he had imagined. He was just a little weak and couldn't walk fast, so there was no need for anyone to help him.
She turned the corner through the moon gate and saw him.
Pei Junwu stared expressionlessly at the newly blooming flowers in the flowerbed, his eyes deep and unfocused.
Xiao Yuan lowered her eyes, showing no intention of greeting him. What was there for her to say to him? As they brushed past each other, she couldn't see his expression, only the fist clenched tightly on the side of his long robe.
She didn't want to talk to him, but when she walked past him with her head down and he really didn't say a word, her heart ached.
"Xiao Yuan..." he finally spoke, without turning around. She wanted to continue walking, but her body involuntarily stopped.
"Don't trust Nangong Zhan and Murong Xiao." He was still looking at the flowers, his words brief and concise, leaving her unsure whether it was a warning or advice. Of course he knew what had happened at the Pei family; she wasn't surprised.
She sneered, "You should say that to your sister Juyuan."
"Xiaoyuan, why?" His deep gaze finally fell on her, into her eyes.
"What do you mean, why?" she asked impatiently. In broad daylight, this man who had kissed and hugged her acted as if he wanted to distance himself completely, standing far away with a cold expression, as if afraid of causing any misunderstanding! How ridiculous!
He fell silent. What did he ask her? Her kisses, her tears, her hatred... her ever-changing attitude towards him?
"You... are you jealous of Juyuan?" He was dazzled again, looking into her beautiful eyes, the cold gaze beneath her long eyelashes, he couldn't bring himself to say these words.
Jealousy?! Xiao Yuan involuntarily took a step back, staring at him expressionlessly. Was this the only reason he could come up with? She was jealous of Xiao Juyuan?!
"Xiaoyuan, you are beautiful." He sighed. She was truly too beautiful, so beautiful that she could easily manipulate other people's hearts, like his, if she wanted to. "No matter how beautiful you are, you can't have everything. You are unique, and so is Juyuan. You have things she can't have, and she has things you can't have."
She was trembling all over, unable to tell whether it was from anger or resentment!
Even if you win my heart, it doesn't mean you've surpassed Kikugen.