But gradually, he found that these things had suddenly bee a burden for him, as if everything he was doing was about climbing the social ladder, unrelated to his studies.
Seeing him sitting still, his classmates urged him a few more times, saying things like “Xiaobei, you’re still dawdling, if you wait any longer, Miss Pang might ignore you,” “Xiaobei, the food will not taste good once it’s cold, don’t wait any longer, just go out.”
Tian Xiaobei inevitably felt a bit annoyed: Why should I be afraid of Pang Yanyan ignoring me?
Because of her distinguished status?
But he was no fool, and now it was Pang Yanyan who was chasing after him.
After a long time, Tian Xiaobei finally went out.
Pang Yanyan was still in the carriage, and as soon as she saw Tian Xiaobei e out, she eagerly waved at him: “Xiaobei, over here!”
At that moment, Tian Xiaobei felt a tingling sensation in his scalp, as if seeing Pang Yanyan was merely out of obligation.
He walked slowly towards her, his tone not as respectful as before, “Yanyan, why have you e again?”
“I brought you some stew, look, this is Gastrodia elata pork brain soup, it’s good for the brain. Aren’t you reading a lot? Drink this to nourish yourself, don’t exhaust your mind,” Pang Yanyan handed the food container to Tian Xiaobei.
Tian Xiaobei took it, then said faintly, “Thanks, but in the future… there’s no need to bring it.”
Pang Yanyan paused, then asked him, “Why is that? Xiaobei, are you feeling shy? Or did your classmates tease you, and that’s why you feel embarrassed? What’s there to be embarrassed about? You’ve always been helping my grandfather with his health. I’m grateful for that, and my parents feel apologetic, so they asked me to bring you some soup. Please just drink it. If your classmates laugh at you again, tell them it was my grandfather who asked me to bring it.”
Faced with such enthusiasm from Pang Yanyan, Tian Xiaobei had no rebuttal and could only smile faintly.
“By the way, do you have time tomorrow evening? The Chongyang King’s young prince is having a birthday banquet, and they’ve invited all of us over. e with me, won’t you?” Pang Yanyan finished speaking, watching Tian Xiaobei with a pair of phoenix eyes.
Over this period, Tian Xiaobei had met many gentlemen and young ladies of Capital City through Pang Yanyan and was somewhat tired of it, fearing that others might say he was social climbing. Yet, when Pang Yanyan mentioned it, his interest was piqued.
The feeling of weariness was cast to the skies, and he felt like he could see himself mingling with a bunch of important ministers and noble relatives once again.
Regardless of whether he detested it or not, being able to hang out with these people meant having status and position, right?
“Xiaobei, why are you taking so long to decide? Do you have time or not? Though, I really hope you do, because I’d really like to go with you,” Pang Yanyan said smilingly. Because Tian Xiaobei hesitated for a moment, Pang Yanyan felt even more that he didn’t harbor intentions of social climbing, which endeared him to her even more.
“Tomorrow night…”
“Tomorrow night I’ll send someone to pick you up,” Pang Yanyan said with a smile, then winked at him before instructing the coachman to drive the carriage back home.
Tian Xiaobei held the food container in his hand, watching the carriage gradually departing, and once again, Dabao’s face floated in front of his eyes.
Abao, do you know what you are doing?
But then, what does it matter if you do know? You might not understand the ways of officialdom.
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