A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go Chapter 44: Fierce Only to Him

Pei Yan stood by the window and saw the i family’s carriage stop.

i Wanying, dressed in a vibrant pink dress with her hair in a maiden’s bun, stepped out of the carriage.

A gentle breeze blew past, causing her skirt to sway and vaguely outlining her figure—a slender waist and long legs.

That willow-like waist... he had held it for real not long ago.

A perfect handful.

Very soft.

Pei Yan’s palm suddenly grew hot, and his breathing beca a little heavier.

His heart felt like a little rabbit was trapped inside, thumping wildly against his chest.

’Damn it all!’

Pei Yan clenched his fist, suppressing the strange reaction in his body. Every ti he saw i Wanying, these odd feelings would surface.

It was as if a savage beast lived inside him, one that longed to make i Wanying cry.

He had to exercise great restraint to keep from losing control.

Pei Yan hated the feeling of being out of control. Whenever this happened, he would remind himself to stay far away from i Wanying.

i Wanying was his weakness.

The man subtly exhaled, but his gaze never left, remaining fixed on that delicate pink figure.

She lifted her head to look at the shop sign, her fair little face seeming to glow.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...

Pei Yan could hear his own heartbeat.

In his line of sight, a woman of about the sa age was next to i Wanying, chattering away about sothing.

’That must be the Xue Xingyao that i Wanying is always talking about.’

He spent most of his years in military camps and rarely had the chance to see i Wanying. If she hadn’t been chattering on about her all the ti, he wouldn’t have even known a person nad Xue Xingyao existed.

He suddenly recalled the last ti he escorted i Wanying back to her residence; she really disliked Xue Yunshu.

At the ti, he had thought she was jealous.

Looking at it now, it was also because of her sworn sister.

i Wanying had always been like this. She was fiercely protective, always standing unconditionally by her own people.

’So it wasn’t just because of him...’

Pei Yan felt a little lancholy.

Seeing i Wanying smiling at soone else, her almond eyes curved and her expression so vibrant, made Pei Yan feel a knot of displeasure in his heart.

’Why is she only fierce with ?’

Pei Yan’s tone was sour. "Befriending a parrot. Isn’t she worried about the noise?"

Wei Jue didn’t dare to breathe.

’Their prince is acting like a sulking husband, finding fault with everything about Miss i.’

’When she pestered him, he wasn’t happy.’

’When she ignores him, he isn’t happy either.’

’No matter what, he seems to find fault with Miss i. His Highness isn’t like this with anyone else.’

’Miss i really has it tough...’

’And Miss Xue Er has been dragged into this for no reason.’

’If Miss Xue Er found out soone called her a parrot, wouldn’t she be furious?’

Pei Yan stared at them.

He watched i Wanying enter the restaurant he was in.

His fingers tapped on the windowsill. "Arrange for them to be in the private room next door."

eting his friend’s teasing, half-smiling gaze, Pei Yan said expressionlessly, "She’s as weak as a kitten and terribly delicate. If she gets targeted by the Crown Prince’s n again and they abduct her, I’ll have to go rescue her. It’s too much trouble! Better to keep her under my nose."

Chen Shujing chuckled lightly. "No need to explain. The more you say, the more it sounds like there’s sothing to it."

’How could he not know what Pei Yan was really like?’

’The fact that i Wanying could get him to say so much was enough to prove she was special to him.’

’A pity that so people are still so dense.’

"Miss i ca of age three years ago. Now is the perfect ti for her to marry. If she brings a brother-in-law ho one day, will you be happy or not?"

’This guy keeps saying he sees i Wanying as a sister.’

’If she really brings a brother-in-law back for him, I wonder what his expression will be.’

Chen Shujing found himself inexplicably looking forward to it.

Pei Yan scoffed. "Perfect. Saves the headache of worrying about that major life event of hers."

"I see you’re just being stubborn!"

Pei Yan shot him a disdainful look, his long fingers tapping rhythmically on the tabletop.

He stared at Chen Shujing without saying a word.

The more silent he was, the more intimidating he beca.

Chen Shujing suddenly felt a chill down his spine. "You’re not plotting against , are you?"

Pei Yan’s reply was off-topic. "You’re taking i Wanying’s side so much. What benefits has she given you?"

’Unbelievable!’

’After all that, the topic has circled right back to i Wanying!’

’He can’t go a sentence without ntioning her, yet he dares claim he sees her as a sister.’

’Even a ghost wouldn’t believe that!’

Chen Shujing was speechless. "I’ve never even t Miss i. How could she give any benefits?"

The Chen Family had a tradition of scholarship and farming, but their roots weren’t in the Capital City.

He had t Pei Yan by chance, and naturally, he had co to hear the stories about him and i Wanying.

"Heh..." Pei Yan let out a laugh with an ambiguous aning.

Chen Shujing: "Am I the kind of person who sells out a friend for personal gain?"

Pei Yan’s expression was haughty. "You’d better not be. If you dare conspire with i Wanying, don’t bla for turning on you."

Chen Shujing tutted a few tis. "A grown man, always staring at a young lady? It’s hard for not to be suspicious of your motives."

Pei Yan looked baffled.

’When did I ever stare at i Wanying?’

’When I’m busy with important matters, I don’t even think of her, okay?’

’She was only brought up now because she appeared right in front of .’

"If you keep spouting nonsense, you can solve that matter yourself."

Chen Shujing imdiately dropped his teasing tone. "I’ve had a formal eting with Miss Xue Er. A gentleman should help others achieve their goals..."

Pei Yan: "I’m no gentleman."

Chen Shujing’s mouth twitched. "Miss Xue Er and Miss i are sworn sisters. If she were to marry into the Prince Chen Mansion, aren’t you afraid their friendship would turn sour?"

Pei Yan’s lips curled into a smirk that seed rather malicious. "I’d also like to see if she only acts tough with her own people. She’s covered in thorns, so why should I be the only one she pricks?"

’But in his heart, he was thinking that i Wanying would never turn against Xue Xingyao.’

’Don’t be fooled by her little temper tantrums; deep down, her mind is as clear as a mirror. She understands the situation and wouldn’t fall out with Xue Xingyao over this.’

’Of course, he had no intention of marrying Xue Xingyao either.’

’i Wanying has only this one sworn sister, and Xue Xingyao even knows to stand up for her. He wasn’t crazy enough to try and drive a wedge between them.’

Chen Shujing stared at Pei Yan, his tone tense. "Don’t drag and Miss Xue Er into your affair with Miss i."

Pei Yan just snorted lightly and didn’t refute it.

Xue Xingyao first had a formal eting with Chen Shujing. It was only after returning to the Capital City that she learned she was on the Empress’s list of potential daughters-in-law.

As far as Chen Shujing knew, the person the Empress favored was likely Xue Xingyao.

Although Duke Xue was often muddled when it ca to private matters, the rest of the Xue Family were very accomplished. Even the young n from the branch families had their own achievents.

Furthermore, the Xue Family had deep roots. It was perfectly normal for Xue Xingyao to be noticed by the Empress.

The day the Xue Family set off for the Capital City, he had followed right behind them.

Not for Xue Xingyao, but because there was an urgent matter that required his attention.

He hadn’t expected to hear that piece of news.

Before eting with Pei Yan, he had corresponded with Mrs. Xue to confirm the Xue Family’s intentions. Only then did he ask Pei Yan for help.

Although he and the Xue Family could have resolved it themselves, having Pei Yan step forward to refuse would settle the matter much more quickly.

And it would prevent the Empress from blaming the Xue Family and Xue Xingyao.

Chen Shujing knew what kind of person Pei Yan was.

’He was just stubborn and deliberately tried to make things unpleasant for i Wanying.’

’If he were really made to marry Miss Xue Er... no, as long as the person wasn’t i Wanying, he wouldn’t marry willingly.’

’If he really did marry soone else, it would only be for the sake of the bigger picture.’

’That person would only be the Princess Consort Chen, not the wife who would walk by Pei Yan’s side through life.’

Seeing Pei Yan’s indifferent expression, as if he didn’t care about i Wanying at all, Chen Shujing shook his head.

’If he doesn’t co to his senses, no one can help him.’

As his friend, Chen Shujing reminded Pei Yan, "A childhood sweetheart is a heaven-sent fate. You must cherish it. Don’t be like ..."

Pausing, Chen Shujing’s tone beca sorrowful. "Even if I wanted to treat her well, I no longer have the chance."