After those two slaps, Cui Jintang felt a bit more awake.
She fixed her eyes on Pei Zhaolin's movements. As long as he got any closer, she was ready to deliver a third slap!
But this time, Pei Zhaolin directly reached out and grabbed her wrist.
He said in a low voice, "I'm just afraid Miss Cui will run away again."
Cui Jintang was slightly stunned.
But once the words were out, Pei Zhaolin seemed to feel no burden at all and started to explain everything that had been weighing on him for days.
"The box I prepared that day contained nothing else. The Chinese flowering crabapple on the box was supposed to prove that it was yours and help clear your name. I didn't mean to be perfunctory."
Cui Jintang's muddled mind couldn't process it all at once. She just subconsciously pushed Pei Zhaolin away with her free hand.
A flash of loneliness passed through Pei Zhaolin's eyes as he was pushed away.
"That night, I thought this was something only you and I knew, and I didn't want to tell Nurse Zhang. That's why I told you we'd talk about it later."
Pei Zhaolin took another step closer to Cui Jintang.
Cui Jintang felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze. She let out an "oh" and quickly turned her face away.
"I'm sorry."
He got extremely close to her. It seemed like he was saying such an apology for the first time, and even his usually calm face showed a bit of embarrassment.
The whisper was so soft that even Yan Liangwen, who was sitting right beside them, couldn't hear what Pei Zhaolin had said.
Then, the next second, Pei Zhaolin was pushed away by a slap from Cui Jintang.
She was a bit annoyed. "Just talk. Why do you have to get so close?"
"What exactly do you mean by these explanations today, Lord Pei?"
Pei Zhaolin lowered his eyes. "Miss Cui, could you please stop avoiding me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in Huang Zuoshi's group pricked up their ears.
Thinking about Cui Jintang's reputation, Pei Zhaolin added, as if to make up for it, "You once saved my grandmother's life. To me, you're a very important person."
Although the words were true, Cui Jintang just didn't like to hear them.
She refuted expressionlessly, "Lord Pei is overthinking. I haven't been deliberately avoiding you."
Pei Zhaolin frowned. "But..."
"I'm tired."
Cui Jintang sidestepped Pei Zhaolin. With just one look, she made the innkeeper, who was watching the show, give up his curiosity. "Prepare hot water and food and send them to my private room."
The innkeeper quickly replied, "Yes, boss."
Yan Liangwen, who had been quite unhappy just now, immediately stood up cheerfully. He reached out his hand to pat Pei Zhaolin on the shoulder, but Pei Zhaolin sidestepped to avoid him.
Yan Liangwen wasn't annoyed. He raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "It seems Jintang is still angry with Lord Pei. Lord Pei still has to work hard!"
Pei Zhaolin ignored him and walked upstairs.
Yan Liangwen snorted and turned to the innkeeper. "Innkeeper, give me a top - class room!"
But the innkeeper looked embarrassed. "Sir, there are only four top - class rooms in total, and they're all occupied now."
"If you want a top - class room, why don't you discuss it with that lord?"
Yan Liangwen, who had just made sarcastic remarks about Pei Zhaolin: "..."
How could he discuss it now?
——
The next day.
Cui Jintang had been so dizzy yesterday that she hadn't sorted out many things.
She took a couple of bites of the light snacks but soon lost her appetite.
She simply went to find the innkeeper. "Why are you the only one in this inn? And what did you mean by being scared yesterday?"
The innkeeper quickly put down the abacus and let out a sigh. "Boss, you're far away in the capital and may not know about the tragic case that happened a few days ago. Seven families in Wenling were all massacred."
"This inn is in a remote area. After the tragedy, those who could leave have already left."
Cui Jintang frowned. She took a step forward and asked in a low voice, "Wenling is the territory of the Xie family from Chenjun. Have they taken any action?"
"These seven families were all wealthy merchant families, which dealt a heavy blow to the local economy in Wenling. It's said that when the head of the Xie family heard the news, he was so angry that he spat out blood. He specifically sent the eldest young master of the Xie family to investigate."
Cui Jintang only knew Sister Rou from the Xie family in Chenjun.
This matter just flashed through her mind, and she didn't want to get involved.
She guessed that the reason Pei Zhaolin appeared here should be related to this incident.
Cui Jintang turned to order Zhu Er, "Don't take the main road today. Take the small path instead."
She mustn't let Pei Zhaolin know the purpose of her trip this time.
She had to take a different route.
As for Yan Liangwen, who had tossed and turned all night on the hard wooden board and didn't sleep well, as soon as he got into the carriage, he directly occupied Cui Jintang's soft couch.
"Is it really that exaggerated?" Cui Jintang showed a bit of disgust. "A grown man, how can you be so delicate?"
Yan Liangwen was furious. He angrily flung his sleeve. "I don't want to talk to someone who slept in the best room last night!"
Cui Jintang was too lazy to pay attention to him. She lifted the curtain and sat directly on the driver's seat.
She closed her eyes and stopped Zhu Er from persuading her to get in. "I get dizzy sitting inside. Let me get some fresh air outside."
Zhu Er whipped the reins and laughed. "Most people get seasick on boats and prefer to travel on land. Miss is just the opposite."
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Er directed the horse to turn, and then he froze.
Suddenly, three men on three horses appeared in front of them. They were the three people they had left at the inn.
Zhu Er quickly whispered, "Miss, wake up quickly. Lord Pei has caught up!"
Cui Jintang frowned with her eyes closed.
She slowly opened her eyes.
The man in front of her was dressed in black, standing against the wind. His features were handsome. A gentle breeze blew, fluttering his clothes.
Seeing Pei Zhaolin suddenly when she opened her eyes made Cui Jintang feel as if she was looking at a painting.
A peerless painting carved out of the gorgeous spring colors with a stroke of cold ink.
Cui Jintang raised her eyebrows and put one hand on her knee. "Lord Pei? What a coincidence!"
Pei Zhaolin smiled faintly and said in a soft voice, "It's not a coincidence. I've been waiting for you."
Cui Jintang tightened her fingers.
She didn't ask "why" but just politely declined with a smile. "I'm on this trip to play with Young Master Yan and look for good materials. Our purposes are different, Lord Pei."
"There have been many robbers recently. I'm not at ease with Miss Cui traveling alone."
Pei Zhaolin slowly raised his eyes, stared into Cui Jintang's eyes, and imitated her tone just now, saying slowly, "Whether they're the same or not should be up to me to decide."
"With Young Master Yan accompanying me, Lord Pei's concern is unnecessary." Cui Jintang said the most straightforward words with a smile.
Pei Zhaolin lowered his head and smiled faintly. "But I haven't seen Young Master Yan."
"He..."
When her hand touched the curtain, Cui Jintang suddenly remembered that Yan Liangwen should still be sound asleep at the moment.
Cui Jintang spat out a breath of turbid air angrily.
No one knew better than her how stubborn Pei Zhaolin was.
She silently leaned back, found a new position, and closed her eyes. "Then Lord Pei may do as you please."
Pei Zhaolin lowered his eyes, and a mysterious smile flashed across them.
When they set off again, the atmosphere obviously changed.
Zhu Er was just about to speak when a whistle suddenly sounded from the dense forest ahead!