A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go

Mei Wanying stood by the bed, bent over, and gently placed her daughter on the inner side.

Afraid Ling might wake up, she held the position, one hand braced on the edge of the bed while the other gently patted the little one’s body.

The moment she was on the bed, Ling began to whimper, squirming as if pricked by needles. Her sleep was far from peaceful.

Mei Wanying dared not leave. She just kept patting her daughter, humming a soft lullaby.

Her dark hair, tied with a silk ribbon, slid to one side of her shoulder and cascaded down. The ends brushed across Pei Yan’s sharp chin, grazed his neck, and finally came to rest on his chest.

With every gentle pat from Mei Wanying, her silken hair swayed slightly.

The man watched Mei Wanying, his gaze unabashed.

His expression was focused, his eyes swirling with an emotion he could not suppress.

His long fingers twitched, yet he didn’t dare to touch her soft, dark tresses.

He was afraid of startling Mei Wanying, who was so close to him.

Afraid she would leave.

Pei Yan stared dazedly at Mei Wanying, her gentle voice filling his ears.

His heart began to pound with life, leaving him unsatisfied with merely looking at her. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

A voice in his mind screamed, urging him to pull Mei Wanying into a tight embrace.

’The woman I love is right here, within arm’s reach. What am I waiting for?’

’Her attitude has already softened. I should press my advantage!’

"Ah Yin..."

He whispered Mei Wanying’s name and did nothing more, but was met with a cold glare.

Mei Wanying hissed in a whisper, "Can you just behave yourself?"

’I just got the child to sleep, and now he’s starting to act up.’

’Wasn’t he mute before?’

’Why is he suddenly so noisy?’

If looks could kill, Pei Yan would have been covered in fresh wounds.

Following Mei Wanying’s gaze to the now-peacefully-sleeping Ling, Pei Yan suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

’My mind was completely filled with Ah Yin. I completely forgot about Lingling...’

Mei Wanying shot Pei Yan a look, warning him not to make a sound.

’He usually puts on such a good act of being a loving father.’

’Ling is too innocent; she’s completely fallen for it. After not seeing him for just a few days, she insisted on staying and playing with him.’

’She even tolerated the nauseating smell of medicine.’

’But now, a certain someone has forgotten his disguise and let his true colors show!’

In a voice only the two of them could hear, Mei Wanying said, "If she wakes up, you’re the one who’s putting her back to sleep."

Pei Yan wasn’t afraid of calming a child; he was only afraid of making Mei Wanying angry.

’It wasn’t easy to get to this point.’

’I have to be more careful. I can’t give Ah Yin another reason to think about leaving.’

Pei Yan obediently shut his mouth, merely watching Mei Wanying with his dark eyes.

She was so used to his scheming, roguish ways that his current docility felt a little strange to Mei Wanying.

Still, her attitude softened. "Are you hurt somewhere?" she asked.

Pei Yan shook his head instinctively.

’For as long as I can remember, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been injured, how many times I’ve escaped death’s door.’

’An injury like this is nothing to me.’

’It’s not like it’s going to kill me, anyway.’

The moment he shook his head, he started to regret it.

’I should have said it hurt. Then Ah Yin would have felt sorry for me.’

It was too late to take it back now. All Pei Yan could do was furrow his brow, as if enduring immense pain.

If Pei Yan had tried to play up his suffering, Mei Wanying would have thought he was just putting on an act to gain sympathy.

But because he shook his head, Mei Wanying assumed his injuries were severe and that he was in great discomfort.

Guessing the medicine was ready, Mei Wanying instructed him, "I’m going to get your medicine. Don’t move."

Ling had just fallen asleep; even the slightest movement might wake the little one.

Mei Wanying wanted her daughter to get some proper sleep.

Ling had really been through a lot these past few days.

After another worried glance at the father and daughter, Mei Wanying lightened her steps and hurried out.

Pei Yan’s heart filled with a dizzying sweetness. He felt like he had won her favor.

He tried to remain composed, but the corners of his mouth curled upward uncontrollably.

A glimmer of light appeared in his perpetually icy eyes.

’A father’s status rises with his daughter’s,’ he thought. He knew this was all thanks to Ling.

’But there’s no denying that Ah Yin still has feelings for me. Otherwise, everything I do would be in vain.’

’Ah Yin isn’t this emotional with any other man.’

Mei Wanying had given him this small crumb of affection, and Pei Yan felt like he was floating on air. Even the pain from his wounds vanished.

Supporting his bandaged arm, Pei Yan carefully turned onto his side and smiled as he looked at his and Mei Wanying’s daughter.

’She’s so adorable.’

’So tiny all over, with such a tiny face.’

’Just like Ah Yin.’

’And just like me, too.’

’Anyone could see she was our child, our flesh and blood.’

He whispered, "Daddy will keep working hard. I promise I won’t hold you back."

’Ling is already so well-loved. But if she has a father who isn’t, she might find me embarrassing one day.’

Pei Yan secretly resolved to become the most important person in Mei Wanying’s heart.

That way, Ling’s status would also rise with her father’s.

No one would ever be able to threaten their position as father and daughter again!

Ling’s little hand rose to rest by her ear. Hearing a voice, her little face scrunched up, and she began to whimper, showing signs of waking.

Pei Yan nearly died of fright.

’If Ah Yin finds out I was the one who woke the baby, she might kick me out of the family home.’

Ignoring his injuries, he propped himself up and gently patted the little one. "Daddy’s here. Don’t be afraid."

Eyes still closed, Ling snuggled closer to him. She didn’t wake up, gradually settling back down.

Pei Yan’s heart melted.

’Has Ling already accepted me in her heart?’

’Does she think I’m a good daddy?’

Hearing that Pei Yan was awake, Wei Jue came in to report on official matters.

But what he saw was his wise and mighty Highness sitting on the bed, his uninjured hand patting a little tyke, the very picture of a doting father.

The little one was sprawled out in her sleep, drool about to trickle from her mouth.

Although Wei Jue had often seen Pei Yan with the child, he still found the scene surreal.

This time last year, His Highness had been a clueless block of wood.

Even when he first arrived in Jiangnan, His Highness hadn’t even known how to hold a child.

Now, he was an expert at putting a child to sleep.

The change was truly astonishing.

If those people back in the Capital City were to see this, their jaws would probably hit the floor!

Just as Wei Jue was about to speak, he was met with a razor-sharp glare.

"Get out!"

The man on the bed made no sound, but Wei Jue read his lips perfectly.

He cupped his fists in a salute and promptly "got out."

Having followed Pei Yan for so long, Wei Jue had finally gotten the picture: nothing, no matter how urgent, was more important than Miss Mei and Ling.

If he failed to read the room, he’d just be sent off to be punished again.

Since speaking was out of the question, Wei Jue wrote the message on a piece of paper and had it sent in.

The Useless Crown Prince’s identity was a sensitive matter. The arrow had pierced his heart.

Even if he hadn’t fallen from the cliff, he would not have survived.

The Useless Crown Prince’s body had to be sent back to the Capital City, and there were other follow-up matters that His Highness needed to be aware of.

The townspeople now knew they had misunderstood Pei Yan and Ling.

The people who were vomiting and had diarrhea were not afflicted with a plague, nor had anyone actually died. It had all been an elaborate ruse, a counter-plot.

The real poisoner was now being held in the Government’s prison, awaiting capital punishment.

Now, everyone praised Pei Yan’s brilliance. He had personally faced danger to root out the criminals, proving himself a courageous and resourceful Crown Prince.

Ridden with guilt, the townspeople gathered near the Mei family residence once more. They had selected a few respected elders to apologize on their behalf.

Mei Wanying handed the medicine to Wei Jue, telling him to give it to Pei Yan. "I’ll be right back."

’Mother has worked so hard looking after Ling lately, and she’s been so worried about me. She has so many more white hairs now.’

’I should let Mother get some proper rest. I can handle all the household matters, big and small, myself.’