Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 64 - 62:

Upon first meeting, she just played and teased the man who would be awkward and inexperienced. At this moment, his rare assertiveness left Xie Wanqing somewhat stunned.

By the time she reacted, her back was already against the tree trunk, her chin grasped by him, and her lips tingling from his kiss.

Xie Wanqing’s eyes widened suddenly, a bit flustered.

But the touch on her lips was gentle and lingering, so tender it felt deadly, gradually soothing her panic.

Until the sound of breathing so close gradually intensified, Xie Wanqing could no longer hold back and pushed him away.

"Pei Changqing!"

Pei Yuqing let out a sound, took a shallow breath, and kissed her lightly while looking up at her, whispering softly. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"My heart can take it, don’t worry."

As he spoke, his lips, which hadn’t really left hers, wanted to go deeper once more, but Xie Wanqing pushed his face away.

"Stop kissing..."

Finally given a bit of breathing space, Xie Wanqing quickly turned her head to dodge his approach and said swiftly, "Let go of me quickly."

Pei Yuqing paused, his hand holding her chin slowly loosening, pursing his lips, and looking down, he said, "Didn’t you say my heart could take it, and that I could kiss you?"

"..." Xie Wanqing was struck speechless by his question, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the moisture from her lips, and said irritably, "I just said it casually, who told you to actually kiss!"

Kissing so attentively and seriously, making her inexplicably flustered.

She did have a bit of affection for him, but...

Her unfinished thoughts were quickly understood by Pei Yuqing, his tightly pressed lips slowly turning pale.

She was merely playing with him out of momentary excitement and had no real intention of involving emotions. Marrying him was just to get rid of another man, with an option for divorce anytime.

But he took it seriously.

With no status or title, she had casually mentioned that she hadn’t held hands with others so intimately before, which led him to embrace her and kiss her passionately, unable to hold back.

The atmosphere, just heated, suddenly became silent.

After a long while, Pei Yuqing said, "I’m sorry, I was too impetuous."

His voice was calm, without fluctuations.

Xie Wanqing’s ears twitched slightly, hearing something amiss, and when she caught her breath and looked up at him again, he had already returned to his previous clear and gentle demeanor.

As if the person who had just lost control and wanted to swallow her whole was not him.

She thought for a moment and said, "You’re quite skilled at kissing girls."

Look at that, in a short while, he could kiss her breathless, yet claimed to have a heart condition.

Pei Yuqing: "..."

He was silent for a few moments, seemingly extremely helpless, sighed, and softly asked, "Skilled?"

He was just acting on instinct.

Xie Wanqing had no one to compare with, the Lu Ziyuan in her dreams...

She blinked, not thinking about those ominous things anymore.

She reached out her hand into the man’s palm in front of her, looking up to ask, "You’ve only kissed me, right?"

He tightened his palm, holding the soft and boneless little hand firmly, looking down at her eyes, he let out a soft sound, lightly saying, "Only you in the future as well."

Even if she didn’t plan to get serious with him, even if she was ready to divorce before she even got married.

He would still only want this one.

Xie Wanqing listened and smiled, nodding contentedly, not saying more, directly pulling him towards her courtyard.

Pei Yuqing looked at their clasped hands, gently tightening his grip.

...

Inviting a man into her courtyard late at night, this was Xie Wanqing’s first time in sixteen years.

She hadn’t thought much when she nodded in agreement, but when he actually came in, she felt a rare discomfort.

Fortunately, compared to the room Lu Ziyuan had intruded many years ago, which she had slept in for over ten years, this room hadn’t been slept in by her for even a night, so it wasn’t particularly private.

Pei Yuqing carefully inspected the room and inadvertently glanced at the dressing table.

Inside the open jewelry box, lay the jade pendant he gave her when they first met.

... She even brought it when coming to the manor for a short stay.

With this thought, a gentle light unconsciously rose in Pei Yuqing’s eyes, and the originally tense heart slowly relaxed.

Sighing at himself fruitlessly being older than her by so many years, his usually stable emotions became uncontrollable around her, changing with her every move.

This feeling was uncomfortable, and he didn’t want to subject her to it either.

His gaze lingered too long. Xie Wanqing saw the jade pendant in the jewelry box but felt no embarrassment. She went forward to pick up the jade pendant, looked at the carving on it, and smiled at him, "Is the Jewelry Pavilion also a Duke Pei Mansion industry?"

"No," Pei Yuqing replied, "It’s my private property."

Xie Wanqing raised her brow in surprise, "You’re also in business?"

Pei Yuqing didn’t want to elaborate, simply stating, "Needed for intelligence."

As the Empire’s central hub, every political decree and imperial order is issued here, spreading to various provinces and counties.

The influential people from across the country, provided they have the capability, all want to find a way and backing in the Capital, eagerly flocking to the city.

As the emperor’s eyes, Qingtian Guard’s intelligence gathering relies on more than just covert spies; industries in both shady and prosperous areas are essential parts of it.

From the tea houses and book buildings frequented by aristocratic families’ officials, to the Jewelry Pavilion gathering high-society ladies, all are involved.

On the surface, it’s Pei Yuqing’s private estate, but in reality, it’s for collecting intelligence.

Xie Wanqing understood little but refrained from asking further, straightforwardly saying, "You’re amazing."

Truly amazing. With so many influential families in the Capital, each with a more formidable background, yet he managed to grow and expand the industry to fame, showcasing extraordinary ability.

Pei Yuqing looked at her with a smile and said, "It’s late, you should rest. I’m heading back."

Saying this, he looked at the jade bottle he gifted on the table, not wanting to touch a young lady’s belongings, and reminded, "Remember to take the pills, keep your mind at ease, don’t stay awake into the night, harming yourself."

Xie Wanqing opened the jade bottle herself, poured a brown pill into her palm, swallowed it in front of him, and then waved him off, "You can go, remember to pick me up tomorrow."

Pick me up...

Pei Yuqing pondered over these three words, smiled gently, responded well, and then turned to leave.

Xie Wanqing watched his departing figure, shut the door happily and hummed softly.

He seemed like an unattainable flower, yet she plucked him.

Less than a day at the manor, and she settled him.

Finally putting her mind at ease, getting rid of Lu Ziyuan. The person she married was her own choice. Xie Wanqing contentedly climbed into bed, hugging the thin quilt and drifting into sleep.

On the other side, after leaving Xie Wanqing’s room, Pei Yuqing still felt a somewhat floating sensation.

He walked to the tree where the two kissed, calling out, "Pei Er."

Pei Er emerged from the shadows, respectfully saying, "I’m here."

"Tell me..." Pei Yuqing’s voice carried some confusion, "Did you see?"