Chapter 17

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It was a look of disdain even deeper than when he had previously discovered her feigning illness to deceive him, a look that made Shen Zhiyi feel both ashamed and embarrassed.

"Hua..."

"Tonight, I will sleep in the outer room."

The man's cold and distant tone was like a bucket of icy water poured over her head.

Shen Zhiyi barely had time to react before he had already left the inner room without looking back.

The candlelight flickered and danced a few times, the beaded curtain rustled noisily, mirroring Pei Huaijin’s disordered footsteps as he departed, and like the sudden fall of Shen Zhiyi’s tears.

Shen Zhiyi barely slept all night.

Before dawn the next day, she heard movement in the outer room, the sound of someone rising.

She hesitated for a moment, about to get up and apologize to him, when she heard the door gently open and then mercilessly close, before the room instantly fell silent again.

Shen Zhiyi stood frozen, and soon, tears of grievance began to fall uncontrollably once more.

During the journey these past few days, Pei Huaijin’s unusual tolerance and indulgence toward her had always given her the illusion that perhaps he cared for her.

She admitted that last night she had been overwhelmed by her emotions.

Shen Zhiyi thought, no matter when Pei Huaijin returned, she must apologize to him properly.

If only a few months remained in her life, she still wished to get along well with him.

But after waiting the entire day—from dawn until night—only then did the courtyard stir.

She hurriedly wrapped herself in an outer garment and stepped outside. "Husband..."

She barely uttered the two words before the rest caught in her throat.

Not far off, Pei Huaijin, still drunk and dazed, was being supported by a woman in yellow as they approached.

The woman’s eyes were full of seductive softness, her voice gentle and caring:

"Li Lang, slow down, watch the steps carefully."

The smile on Shen Zhiyi’s face gradually faded. The scene before her was unbearable, leaving her at a loss for how to respond. She lowered her gaze slightly, pretending not to have seen anything, and silently returned indoors.

After a short while, the courtyard returned to silence.

Sitting alone in the dark, Shen Zhiyi slowly bowed her head. The faint light streaming through the window illuminated the marks on her palm—fingernail indentations—and a sharp ache rose to her nose.

At that moment, a knock came from the door.

Startled back to reality, Shen Zhiyi sniffed, composed herself, and went to open it.

Su An smiled and leaned in, whispering softly:

"Auntie, get ready. The master is waiting for you by the carriage."

Shen Zhiyi was taken aback, quickly replying, then hurried back inside to throw on a coat before rushing to the door.

No one was beside the carriage. She glanced around, got in, and quietly took a corner to sit down.

The carriage wheels rolled on, and the glow of the city’s nightlife filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling upon Pei Huaijin’s sharp jawline and Adam’s apple.

Shen Zhiyi stared at him for a few moments, then opened her mouth to explain:

"Last night—"

"Let me rest."

Pei Huaijin interrupted her.

His voice was hoarse. Leaning on one elbow against the carriage, his eyelids half-closed, his long, pale fingers pressed slowly against his brow—he looked utterly exhausted.

Shen Zhiyi remembered the faint scent of alcohol inside the carriage when she entered. He must have been entertaining all day. Though she had a hundred things to say, she ended up biting her tongue.

She fidgeted nervously with her fingers, unable to hold back the tears which silently stained the pure white hem of her dress, spreading into a dark blot.

Silence enveloped the carriage.

After an unknown length of time, the carriage stopped by the lakeside.

Pei Huaijin rose and stepped out. She hurriedly stood, trailing him onto the boat.

"Master Li didn’t bring Wan Niang?" The same woman from last night spoke again.

Shen Zhiyi was momentarily stunned before realizing she meant the woman in yellow.

Pei Huaijin smiled:

"Wan Niang drank too much and is resting. Today’s gamble—is it still ‘big or small’?"

The woman gave a knowing smile, covering her lips with a soft laugh:

"Not ‘big or small’ today; today we play for higher stakes."

Pei Huaijin casually twirled his folding fan between his fingers and raised an eyebrow:

"What do you mean by ‘higher stakes’?"

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The woman smiled:

"Master Li, please wait a moment. Our shopkeeper will come to see you personally soon."

With that, she signaled a servant to pour wine for Pei Huaijin and Shen Zhiyi, then stepped back.

The servant finished pouring, said, "If you need anything, ring the bell," and also withdrew.

Soon, only Pei Huaijin and Shen Zhiyi remained in the cabin.

Outside, boats drifted across the lake, their soft murmurs faintly audible, making the cabin feel even quieter.

Pei Huaijin’s gaze rested on Shen Zhiyi’s face. After a long moment, he sighed softly and spoke in a low voice:

"Don’t repeat what happened last night."

Hearing him bring up last night’s matter on his own, Shen Zhiyi’s cheeks flushed slightly.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if measuring his words, and after a pause said:

"Shen Zhiyi, you’re still too young. It’s not the right time."

Shen Zhiyi was taken aback. She had expected him to reject intimacy because he despised her, but had never imagined it was because she was too young for him to touch.

Thinking this over, her heart beat a little faster, but she dared not meet his penetrating gaze, instead lowering her head and softly murmuring, "Oh."

Pei Huaijin fell silent for a moment before asking:

"Have you always disliked Qin Yin as your stepmother?"

Shen Zhiyi said nothing, silently biting her lip. Her resistance was unmistakably clear.

After waiting for a reply that never came, Pei Huaijin lifted his eyelids, glanced at her, and after some contemplation, said slowly:

"In that case—"

Shen Zhiyi’s breath tensed.

Suddenly, the sound of splashing water erupted around them, and the cabin shook violently.

Pei Huaijin sprang up, pulling Shen Zhiyi into his arms, pressing her face against his chest, his voice icy cold:

"Don’t move."

No sooner had he spoken than dozens of men dressed in black burst into the cabin, instantly surrounding them.

Shen Zhiyi shrank into Pei Huaijin’s embrace, only able to see the cold gleam of long knives in the dark.

She gripped his clothing tightly, her palms slick with cold sweat.

Before they could react, the men attacked, their blades slicing through the air like icy gusts, bloodthirsty and terrifying.

Pei Huaijin’s expression remained calm. With a swift flick, he opened his folding fan, blocking the attackers’ strikes.

At the same time, another group emerged from beneath the water.

Shen Zhiyi’s eyes brightened as she recognized the leader—one of Pei Huaijin’s secret guards.

"Brother Chu!"

Seeing his men, her anxiety eased suddenly.

Just as she thought relief had come, a black-clad man shouted:

"We’ve been set up! Brothers! Capture Qin Yin and use her as a hostage!"

Qin Yin?

Before Shen Zhiyi could react, the men nearest to them launched a fierce assault on Pei Huaijin’s back.

In the chaos, another man seized Shen Zhiyi, pulling her roughly.

Her vision blurred; when she regained focus, a dagger was pressed to her neck, its icy touch crawling down her skin to her back.

"Don’t move!"

In an instant, all the fighting ceased.

Pei Huaijin spun around sharply, locking eyes with Shen Zhiyi.

The night was too dark to discern the emotions in his eyes, but after the initial panic, Shen Zhiyi felt a strange calm settle in her heart.

She was certain he would come to save her—just as on the day they first met, when he had caught her as she fell from a tree.

Pei Huaijin slowly turned to face her, their eyes meeting. Yet his words were directed at the kidnappers:

"Release her, and I will let you leave."

His tone was composed, as if plotting a grand strategy, so calm that Shen Zhiyi’s last trace of unease finally faded away.

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The kidnapper seemed shaken by his composure, hesitating briefly.

One of the kidnappers behind him shouted:

"Don’t forget! Our master ordered us to eliminate this woman who came with him! If we let her go, how will we answer? It’s a dead end either way!"

The kidnapper, clearly terrified of his master, straightened up and accidentally grazed Shen Zhiyi’s fair, delicate skin with his sharp blade, drawing a shallow cut.

As he dragged Shen Zhiyi out of the cabin, he yelled:

"Tonight, we must take this woman away! Tell your men to stand down quickly, or I’ll make her bleed right here!"

The man Shen Zhiyi called Brother Chu stepped forward, sword tip aimed at the kidnappers. His comrades closed in, shrinking the circle.

The tension tightened like a drawn bow.

"You let her go, or I—"

"Chu Hong!"

Pei Huaijin interrupted him.

As they shifted position, the light fell across Pei Huaijin’s eyes, and Shen Zhiyi finally saw clearly the cold, almost indifferent depth within them.

Yet for some reason, seeing that icy detachment made her heart sink to the bottom of a valley.

It all suddenly made sense...

Qin Yin had said before departure that she should come herself, but Pei Huaijin had insisted on sending Shen Zhiyi instead.

That night, drowsy, he had told her to "stay close to him."

And these past few days, he always made her wear white—the color Qin Yin loved most—while Shen Zhiyi preferred bright colors.

Plus, the kidnapper’s words...

So Pei Huaijin had known this was a trap, knew the danger was grave, yet chose to let her face it instead of Qin Yin?

Those occasional tender moments were nothing but a performance to delude her?

A flush of red flooded Shen Zhiyi’s vision; her heart twisted painfully, nearly bending her over.

But any movement would drive the dagger deeper, the sticky, cold liquid trickling into her collar.

She felt drained of all strength.

The cold wind bit through her bones. The man before her suddenly seemed utterly strange—years of shared feelings now appeared to be a pitiful one-sided joke.

Since entering the Pei household, she had always believed that eventually, she would earn Pei Huaijin’s favor and live peacefully with him.

But as she waited and waited, all she received was news of her terminal illness and his impending marriage to a proper wife.

She had hoped that in these final months, she might at least feel some care from him, but instead, she learned he was willing to abandon her at any moment for Qin Yin.

Shen Zhiyi suddenly felt like a laughingstock.

All the false affection he had feigned only made her appear more ridiculous—whenever he beckoned, she eagerly rushed to him.

Now, standing before her as she was taken hostage in place of the woman he loved, perhaps he was inwardly relieved.

Her reddened eyes traced his cold, rigid features.

Pei Huaijin furrowed his brows faintly, staring silently at her.

Shen Zhiyi withdrew her gaze, refusing to look at him again.

She curled her pale lips, her voice trembling:

"You’re mistaken, I’m not Qin—"

"Release the arrows."

Pei Huaijin’s sudden command cut her off.

Shen Zhiyi looked up in surprise, shock and disbelief overwhelming her sorrow at hearing those words.

She almost doubted her own ears.

Yet Pei Huaijin’s expression remained unchanged, his tone steady and calm, as if casually explaining their plans to visit the lantern festival tomorrow.

"Leave one alive. The rest... show no mercy."

Shen Zhiyi shivered uncontrollably, eyes fixed on his thin lips that opened and closed. Despair darkened her eyes like ink spilled in water.

Noticing her change, Pei Huaijin frowned.

Just as he took a step forward, Shen Zhiyi cast him one last, resolute glance filled with all her unwillingness and determination, then twisted her body, leapt over the railing, and plunged decisively into the icy lake with the kidnapper holding her.

The pure white hem of her dress, like a blooming epiphyllum in the night, traced a dazzling arc through the darkness.