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

Mei Wanying didn’t beat around the bush with Pei Yan and laid her thoughts out plainly.

"I haven’t fulfilled the duties of a wife, yet I’m asking you not to have any other women. If you can’t accept that, then... let’s just call it off."

Once you enter the palace gates, leaving again is nearly impossible.

It’s a place of flashing blades and hidden daggers, impossible to defend against. Anyone who isn’t hard-hearted would find it difficult to survive deep within the palace.

Without Pei Yan’s support, Mei Wanying wouldn’t be able to take a single step. How could she protect herself and Ling?

She believed Pei Yan’s feelings for her were true, but she also knew that true feelings aren’t eternal.

’In the maelstrom of power, how long could love really last?’

Wanying had no answer to that question.

If she were alone, she could bear the consequences of any misstep herself without dragging anyone else down with her.

But she wasn’t.

She had her mother and Ling.

She couldn’t let the people she cared about risk everything alongside her.

Pei Yan had already acknowledged Ling’s identity. As long as his position was secure, no one would dare gossip about the child being raised in Jiangnan.

If, one day, Ling felt it was better to return to the Capital City, Wanying wouldn’t stand in her way.

Mei Wanying didn’t want to give up the good life she had now. She didn’t want to cut off her own escape route.

For her, staying in Jiangnan was the best choice.

Mei Wanying’s stance was firm, her stunningly beautiful face was serious. This was her bottom line; she wouldn’t yield an inch.

Pei Yan had long since guessed Wanying’s thoughts and had no intention of forcing her to return to the Capital City.

He had also thought through their future and had already begun making preparations.

As long as Ah Yin’s heart was with him, as long as she was willing to accept him, Pei Yan was already content.

’So what if they were apart more than they were together?’

’They belonged only to each other!’

’One can’t be too greedy. He wouldn’t push his luck anymore.’

’The price of insatiable greed was losing everything.’

That was a price he couldn’t afford to pay.

Pei Yan reached out and gently squeezed Wanying’s cheek, trying to get her to relax. She just needed to live her life as she wished.

’He would take care of any other obstacles.’

Wanying glared at him and swatted his hand away. "I’m talking about something serious. Keep your hands to yourself."

The man sat down beside her and pulled her into his embrace. "As long as you don’t abandon me, I’ll listen to whatever you say."

He could accept anything, even the hardship of living apart.

The only thing he couldn’t accept was Wanying not loving him—or worse, leaving him!

Wanying: "You mean it?"

Pei Yan: "Absolutely!"

Wanying: "If you ever feel this is unfair, you can back out at any time. But you can’t hide it from me. If you dare marry another woman in the Capital City and keep me in the dark like an idiot, I will hate you for the rest of my life!"

Pei Yan had no intention of marrying another woman, nor would he ever presume to deceive Wanying.

’He would be completely honest with Ah Yin and never make her guess his intentions again.’

The lesson from his past life had been painful enough. Pei Yan would not make the same mistake twice.

Besides, Chen Shujing’s fate—losing his wife and children—was a clear warning right in front of him. He’d have to be insane to do something that stupid!

Pei Yan didn’t make any grand promises. He simply said, "Our family of three will be together forever."

’Ah Yin was his reason for living.’

Every time Pei Yan recalled those dark, hopeless days, he was plunged back into despair.

He stared at the woman before him, as if he could never get his fill of looking at her.

’This is my Ah Yin.’

’My good girl.’

Sitting in his lap, Wanying turned her head to look at Pei Yan. The light was dim, and she had to lean in very close to see the emotion deep in his eyes.

Pei Yan didn’t flinch or look away, letting her study him as he gazed down at the woman he loved.

She leaned in, so close that her breath, tinged with a faint, warm fragrance, ghosted across the side of his face.

The dim, yellow candlelight cast a golden sheen on her, giving her fair skin a warm hue, making her look like a piece of alluring, exquisite jade.

The large hand resting on her waist tightened instinctively.

His gaze fell to Wanying’s lips, filled with the specific desire a man feels for a woman.

In the dim light, the intimate tension grew wildly.

Just as Pei Yan lowered his head, Wanying covered his mouth. Her tone was a playful reprimand. "Go back to your own courtyard!"

Pei Yan didn’t budge.

’They’d come this far. He was determined to have a... deeper discussion with Ah Yin.’

He said with perfect self-assurance, "Let’s wait until Lingling is all better before we go out together. We shouldn’t trouble the physician or risk spreading it to anyone else in the manor."

His courtyard was right next door. Wanying pushed at his shoulder. "Then just climb over the wall to get back. You’re an expert at that, anyway."

Wanying couldn’t even count the number of times Pei Yan had scaled a wall or slipped through a window.

Tonight had been no different.

He hadn’t come through the main door at all; he’d snuck right into her bed.

’So shameless!’

Pei Yan put on a look of utter exhaustion. "I’m too weak. I can’t make it over."

But despite his words, the arm wrapped around her slender waist tightened, his firm muscles bulging, hard as iron. He held her so tightly Wanying couldn’t move an inch.

’He doesn’t look weak at all.’

Nuzzling the crook of Wanying’s neck, Pei Yan murmured, "I haven’t forgotten my place. I have to serve you well."

Wanying pinched his chin. "You’ve certainly learned the ways of a kept man quickly!"

Pei Yan felt a flush of embarrassment, and his ears turned so red they looked like they might start bleeding.

’He admitted he was shameless, but if he weren’t, how else could he win the girl?’

Afraid Wanying would tease him again, he decisively lowered his head to capture her red lips.

His long, slender fingers once again untied the sash of her robes.

The air grew thick.

Scorching.

Wanying’s consciousness shattered.

In that final moment, Wanying had a thought. ’This time really is different... I’m happy, too.’

Too exhilarated to sleep, Pei Yan found it impossible to drift off.

It all felt too unreal, like something that could only happen in a dream.

He peppered kisses on the crown of Wanying’s head, holding her soft body close. He focused on her warmth and her breathing, using the sensations to convince himself that he and Ah Yin had truly reconciled.

In the darkness, the man’s eyes grew moist, filled with the lingering fear of someone who had survived a catastrophe.

He had been prepared to cling to her shamelessly, to never let her go for the rest of his life, but deep down, he had been terrified.

Terrified that Ah Yin would never forgive him.

Kissing Wanying’s forehead one more time, Pei Yan whispered, "Ah Yin, thank you."

’Thank you for giving me another chance...’

Pei Yan added silently.

’This time, I will definitely do better. I will never do anything to hurt Ah Yin again.’

Wanying lay sprawled on the man’s broad chest, fast asleep.

But Pei Yan still couldn’t sleep.

Happiness had come too suddenly. He hadn’t yet cured himself of his insecurity, his constant fear of loss. He was afraid that if he blinked, she would be gone, and he would be all alone again.

So he just kept staring at Wanying.

His gaze was so intense that Wanying, deep in sleep, suddenly opened her eyes, her beautiful gaze hazy with confusion.

Pei Yan quickly patted her back, coaxing her. "Shh, Ah Yin. Go back to sleep."

There was no light in the room, so Wanying couldn’t see a thing, but Pei Yan’s voice was reassuring.

With her eyes still closed, she asked, "Are you trying to become an immortal?"

The man had rushed all the way to Jiangnan, only to find Ling gravely ill, and he hadn’t rested for a single moment since.

Now that Ling was finally starting to recover, he still wasn’t sleeping.

’Is he even human?’

Pei Yan couldn’t help but chuckle. He kissed Wanying’s forehead. "I’ll sleep."

’Everything with Ah Yin is real.’

’It’s not just a dream.’

Pei Yan closed his eyes, conflicted. Should he tell Ah Yin about those dreams he’d had?

He wanted to be open with her, but he was afraid of hurting her.

But if he didn’t, he felt like he was keeping secrets.

He’d already seen the consequences of keeping secrets with Chen Shujing, and he didn’t want to hide anything from Wanying.

’I should weigh my words,’ he thought. ’Perhaps I can just find the right time...’