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

Chen Shujing saw the suspicion in Xue Xingyao’s eyes and awkwardly rubbed his nose.

"Miss Xue Er, may I have a word with you in private?"

His eyes were gentle, his words and actions refined and courteous—completely different from the temperamental Pei Yan.

Xue Xingyao bit her lip, deciding to hear what Chen Shujing had to say.

’If this man is cut from the same cloth as Pei Yan, then I’ll just forget about this marriage arrangement.’

After all, they weren’t formally engaged yet, so it would be easy to resolve.

Xue Xingyao told Mei Wanying to wait for her, saying she’d be back soon.

But this left Mei Wanying and Pei Yan alone in the private room.

Mei Wanying felt uncomfortable. She picked up a porcelain cup and pretended to drink, using it as a way to avoid talking to the man.

As the liquid entered her mouth, Mei Wanying thought, ’This fruit drink is quite fragrant.’

Pei Yan opened his mouth, but it was too late to stop her.

A moment ago, the manager had come in to serve the dishes himself, bringing a pot of fruit wine. The taste of alcohol was faint, overshadowed by a rich, fruity aroma. It was a fine vintage, mild enough for a young lady to enjoy a little. The manager left only after pouring it for them.

Mei Wanying couldn’t hold her liquor; she would get drunk from the smallest drop. Unfortunately, her mind was elsewhere, and she hadn’t paid attention to what the manager said.

She had assumed it was just a normal fruit drink.

As the liquid went down, a warmth spread through her stomach. Mei Wanying knew she was in trouble.

She couldn’t drink!

Pei Yan caught her as she swayed and threatened her viciously, "If you dare touch alcohol again, you can just fall next time. I won’t catch you. You’ll be the one crying when you scar that pretty face, and I certainly won’t be finding you any scar removal cream!"

Pei Yan knew just how much Mei Wanying cherished her face.

If she hurt it, she would definitely cry.

When Mei Wanying was drunk, she was very well-behaved. She didn’t cause a scene or curse at people.

"Dizzy..."

Pei Yan snorted coldly. "You drank so fast. Who else would be dizzy but you?"

She already felt awful, and now she was being scolded. A wave of grievance washed over Mei Wanying.

She swung her hand, slapping the man’s face limply.

"Get lost..."

Pei Yan had lost count of how many times he’d heard that from her.

’Her temper was never this fierce before.’

’Why did she change so suddenly?’

"This is my territory. If anyone’s getting lost, it’s you," the man said.

Mei Wanying’s head swam. Past experiences tangled together, and she could no longer distinguish between her past life and her present one.

Hearing Pei Yan tell her to get lost, tears suddenly streamed down her face. "It’s not that I would marry no one but you. If you’re unwilling to take responsibility, you could have just said so. Why give me hope only to make me despair?"

Pei Yan frowned, not understanding what Mei Wanying was talking about.

’Responsibility... what does she mean?’

He recalled the time Mei Wanying had fallen into the water and he had saved her.

’Is she referring to that?’

But that didn’t seem right. It didn’t match what she was saying.

Pei Yan tried hard to remember if he had done something to wrong Mei Wanying.

He came up with nothing.

He could only ask her, "What did I do that requires me to take responsibility for you?"

His expression was casual, which made Mei Wanying look at him with despair. "I hate you to death."

Pei Yan’s face darkened. "You hate me? You think I love you?"

This was what he truly believed. He didn’t love her in the slightest; he was only going to marry her because he had taken her body and was forced to take responsibility.

Mei Wanying closed her eyes, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. "I don’t want the child. Let’s make a clean break."

The more she spoke, the more confused Pei Yan became.

’What child?’

’What on earth is she babbling about?’

He wanted to ask for clarification, but then he heard Mei Wanying say, "We’ll get out of the way for you and Xue Yunshu..."

Pei Yan sighed. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

’How did Xue Yunshu get dragged into this?’

’She really is talking nonsense.’

Seeing Mei Wanying furrowing her delicate brows in discomfort, Pei Yan swept her up into his arms and took a few steps around the screen.

There was a soft couch there for resting.

After settling Mei Wanying there, Pei Yan should have left, but for some reason, his feet seemed to have taken root.

At first, he stood by the couch, staring at Mei Wanying without blinking.

Before he knew it, he had sat down.

She slept restlessly, a cloud of melancholy hanging over her features. The corners of her eyes were still damp.

The man’s thumb brushed the moisture away, and his heart felt a prick, as if stabbed by a needle.

He didn’t want Mei Wanying to cry.

He didn’t want her to frown.

Xue Xingyao returned quickly. Not seeing Mei Wanying, she was about to go search for her when she spotted a figure behind the screen.

She went around it and gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

Pei Yan was cradling Mei Wanying’s flushed cheeks, his lips just a fraction of an inch from the space between her eyebrows.

The captivated man was jolted awake, his back drenched in cold sweat.

’What was I about to do to Mei Wanying?’

’Why didn’t I even notice someone entering the room? Where did the vigilance I’ve cultivated for years go?’

His hands clenched into fists, violent emotions churning in his eyes.

’That wasn’t me!’

’How could I lose control to this extent?’

Mei Wanying was the one who was drunk, not him. Pei Yan couldn’t accept that he, while sober, would do something so intimate to Mei Wanying.

And that he would be so lost in her presence that he’d forget everything around him.

’This is dangerous!’

’It could be fatal!’

Pei Yan’s expression turned cold as he stood up. "Miss Xue Er, you should know what should be said and what shouldn’t."

Xue Xingyao understood the situation.

But she still had to speak up for Mei Wanying.

"Your Highness, Ah Yin poured her whole heart into you, but what did she get in return? Now that she has let go and wants to start a new life, if you can’t give her what she wants, then don’t get close to her again."

It was the first time Pei Yan had ever heard such words.

He strongly disagreed.

Whether they were together or apart, it was a matter between him and Mei Wanying, and it had nothing to do with anyone else.

"Outsiders should not interfere in matters between me and Mei Wanying."

’Outsiders?’

Xue Xingyao was so angry she laughed.

’As far as Ah Yin is concerned, it’s not yet certain who the real outsider is!’

Pei Yan softened his tone. "Don’t tell her about what happened today."

His mind was in turmoil, and he needed time to sort out his thoughts. Fortunately, he was about to leave for the Border.

The trip would take a few months at the least, or as long as a year or two at most.

He would have enough time to figure out what to do about Mei Wanying.

"Have her leave the capital tonight. Miss Xue Er, when she wakes up, say a proper goodbye to her."

This was Mei Wanying’s best friend; she would certainly be reluctant to part.

A proper goodbye would leave no regrets.

Xue Xingyao’s voice rose. "You’re still making her go to Jiangnan?"

"Why not?"

Xue Xingyao stomped her foot in anger. "You kissed her!"

"I didn’t," Pei Yan corrected.

Xue Xingyao rolled her eyes. If she hadn’t arrived in time, Pei Yan would have kissed her!

’Hah...’

’Typical scumbag, denying it after getting caught!’

"Your Highness, you must take responsibility for Ah Yin!"

’Responsibility.’ That word again.

The last time Mei Wanying fell into the water and mentioned that word, he had felt extremely irritated.

He’d felt like he’d been tricked and hadn’t shown Mei Wanying a pleasant face.

But this time, upon hearing the word "responsibility," he felt a strange sense of anticipation.

Something was really wrong with him. He urgently needed to put some distance between himself and Mei Wanying.

Only then could he get his clear head back.

Pei Yan: "I will personally escort her out of the capital. We leave immediately!"

Xue Xingyao: "..."

’Seriously, is there something wrong with this guy?!’

’If he doesn’t want to see Ah Yin, he could just walk away himself.’

’On the one hand, he can’t wait to send her off to Jiangnan, but on the other, he insists on escorting her personally.’

’Does he really not want to see Ah Yin?’

’Or can he just not bear to let her go?’