Chapter 435: Chapter 437: Not Soone Else’s Stand-in
Pei Huaian watched the painfully distressed person with cold eyes, without a shred of sympathy,
“Next ti you wag your tongue carelessly, I’ll cut it off and feed it to the dogs.”
“Subordinate… understands their wrong.” An Jiu barely opened her mouth, her faint voice spoke.
Pei Huaian flung her away with a swing of his arm, and she fell heavily to the ground.
An Shi knelt on one knee and cupped his fist in the other hand, “Thank you, my lord.”
Frightened, An Jiu trembled all over. After getting up from the ground, she quickly lowered her head, not daring to speak carelessly again.
Pei Huaian turned and walked toward another street.
Shao He arrived at the restaurant where a waiter hurried forward to greet her.
“Please co in, honored guest.”
Shao He made her way to the second floor, walked over to a seat by the window, and sat down.
“What would the young lady like to eat? We have many specialties here, and we also have new osmanthus cakes,” the waiter enthusiastically recomnded the restaurant’s dishes.
Shao He listened very attentively, occasionally asking a question or two.
From beginning to end, Pei Hanze’s gaze stayed on Shao He; he couldn’t understand how there could be two people so similar.
Not only did they look alike, but their personalities and preferences seed extrely similar, yet there seed to also be differences.
“That will be all,” Shao He said, turning her head and just catching Pei Hanze’s lingering gaze.
From his eyes, Shao He saw that he was looking beyond her at soone else and couldn’t help but recall that he once ntioned she resembled soone he used to know.
“By staring at in this manner, sir, can you discern any differences between myself and your acquaintance?” Shao He asked unabashedly.
Pei Hanze was slightly startled, but soon broke into a hearty laugh, “You have too many similarities, the only difference is that she was as gentle as water in her disposition, not as outspoken as you.”
“Each person is irreplaceable, and it’s impossible for two people to be exactly alike. If you regard as that person from your past, it would be a disrespect to her,” Shao He kindly reminded him.
Pei Hanze lowered his eyes, his long lashes veiling the expression beneath, a slight smile played on his lips, this girl was too clever for her own good.
Soon, the food was served.
As they ate and chatted, and upon finishing their al, Shao He stood up, ready to take her leave.
Pei Hanze called after her, “Miss Shao, if you wouldn’t mind honoring with your company, would you join for a cup of tea?”
“Of course,” Shao He agreed readily, since he had taken the initiative to ask, she had no reason to refuse.
Qingxia tugged at the sleeve of her dress from behind and whispered, “Miss, it’s getting late, we should head back early.”
“Why rush back so early just to be alone and dreary?” Shao He deliberately raised her voice.
The person hiding on the rooftop happened to overhear this remark and slowly clenched his hand that lay by his side.
Pei Hanze brought Shao He to a street stall where an old lady greeted him with great joy. Her eyes fell on Shao He and she smiled, “Have you found your beloved?”
“Granny, you are mistaken, we are just ordinary friends,” Jhiang Yijia explained with a smile.
Hearing this, the old lady took another careful look at Shao He, then sighed and shook her head, “She looks very like her, but in the end, she’s not her.”
“Granny, please brew us a pot of tea,” Jhiang Yijia requested.
“Alright, the usual?”
“Hmm,” Pei Hanze nodded and turned to sit across from Shao He.
“I hadn’t expected you to be a regular here.”
Shao He felt that soone of his noble stature wouldn’t usually frequent such a place.
Pei Hanze smiled faintly, “It has been several years since I’ve been here.”
The old lady quickly brought over a pot of hot tea, its fragrant scent invading their nostrils.
After a light sip, Shao He set down her cup and thanked her, “This tea has a hint of a floral fragrance.”
Pei Hanze watched her intently, his voice gentle, “Granny enjoys putting sun-dried petals into so of her tea.”
Shao He looked up at him, her radiant smile revealed, “So that’s why.”
From behind, Qingxia muttered discontentedly, “How have these two struck up such a conversation? And this man, of all people, why does he have to be interested in her mistress?”
“Her mistress is supposed to beco the Prince’s Consort, and the marriage was personally decreed by the Emperor. He shouldn’t even think about stepping in,” Qingxia said.
Hearing Qingxia’s words, Shao He pursed her lips, barely restraining a smile.
Pei Hanze’s handso, scholarly face exuded a warm smile. He extended his hand to present a jade pendant to Shao He.
“Miss Shao, you appear to be lacking an accessory for your attire, this jade pendant would suit you perfectly.”
Shao He lowered her eyes to the table, looking at the jade pendant carved with dragons and phoenixes—an auspicious symbol often representing the union of two lovers.
Seeing her mistress hesitate, Qingxia straightforwardly rejected the offer, “The gentleman need not go to such lengths; my mistress is not fond of such accessories.”
Pei Hanze ignored Qingxia, still insisting, “What do you think, Miss Shao?”
“I am flattered by your generosity, sir, but I must decline,” Shao He did not reach out to take the pendant.
A flicker of surprise showed in Pei Hanze’s eyes before his smile once again beca genial, “Are you afraid, Miss Shao? Surely you are not worried that because of this jade pendant, I would start bothering you.”
“Considering your good looks, you will surely find a better woman than , sir. How could I be worthy of you?” Shao He explained with a smile.
Pei Hanze pushed the jade pendant towards her again, this ti his attitude slightly more assertive, “Miss Shao, please indulge by accepting this jade pendant, how about it?”
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