The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Encountering Zhang Zhishu Again

Since they had temporarily formed an alliance, they had to accept it.
Fortunately, Pei Lingyi’s mentality was still good. After all, if she couldn’t overcome such a small setback, how could she talk about the future?
As for Xiao Yan, she could just consider him dispensable.

They had stayed on the Zhaixing Pavilion for long enough. Adding the time it would take for them to go downstairs, the jade plaques in the retreat would probably be almost all collected. Maybe they had already started looking for people with matching patterns.

The Zhaixing Pavilion was located in a remote area, but the pavilion on the top was often mistakenly thought to be in the center of the retreat.
There was no other reason, it was just that the building was so grand and magnificent that it was hard to forget. So, people unconsciously thought it was built in the center of the retreat.

The two of them went down the stairs one after the other. Luckily, it was secluded, and no one saw them. However, just as she thought it was deserted, a young master from a noble family walked towards them.

Zhang Zhishu hadn’t expected to see Pei Lingyi here. From the start of the gathering, he had wanted to go find her.
But there were too many people in the hall, and although he knew her location early on, everyone was busy searching for jade plaques, which hindered his progress.

By the time he finally came out, Pei Lingyi’s trace was gone. He had to search everywhere, hoping to run into her on the way.
Just now, someone in the courtyard had come to announce that the jade plaques in the courtyard had been taken, and he thought the gathering would end like this. But unexpectedly, the servant said that there was a new rule this year.

People with the same pattern on their jade plaques would have to form a team, regardless of gender.
This was a bit unexpected.

However, after hearing this rule, he immediately thought of her. He wondered what pattern was on her jade plaque. If it matched his, he would have a chance to form a team with her.
He didn’t mean to cling to her. That day at the princess’s mansion, Pei Lingyi had made it clear. He wasn’t someone who would shamelessly pursue someone. He had studied the classics since childhood, but now he realized that the word “longing” was the hardest to understand.

“Miss Pei, I wonder what pattern is on your jade plaque. Mine is bamboo. I don’t know if it matches yours?” Zhang Zhishu didn’t approach her, keeping a distance and asking politely.
However, he completely ignored Xiao Yan standing next to her.

Xiao Yan saw someone coming and stood aside, watching coldly. He saw that although the man looked proper and refined, his eyes were fixed on the girl, clearly someone who couldn’t get what he wanted.

Pei Lingyi felt a hint of displeasure in her heart. She was always impatient with people who had no use to her.
However, her face still showed a gentle and elegant expression. “Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Zhang. But…”
“It’s just that our jade plaques are already the same.”

“Second Young Master Zhang, you might as well choose someone else.” The man’s voice was not loud, but it suddenly stirred up a commotion.
Looking at the handsome man beside her, Zhang Zhishu’s eyes flashed with surprise, but he still maintained his composure and met the man’s gaze:

“So, it’s the Prince An’s Heir. I saw you walking ahead of us at the beginning, but I didn’t expect you to be with Miss Pei. Forgive my rudeness.”

Xiao Yan sneered, his tone icy and piercing, “I was right here in front of you, but Second Young Master Zhang didn’t even notice. I’m afraid your eyesight is getting worse. You should ask your family to get you a good doctor, or I can even ask the imperial physician to treat you.”

Hearing the hostility in Xiao Yan’s tone, Zhang Zhishu’s expression remained calm, and his voice was still gentle, “Thank you for your concern, Heir. But I’m sure I’m fine. I’ll just thank you for your kindness.”

Xiao Yan ignored him and turned to look at the figure in light blue, reminding her, “Are you not leaving? Don’t you want to miss the Gathering?”
With that, he strode away, leaving Zhang Zhishu standing alone.
Pei Lingyi followed suit, hurrying away from the spot.

Zhang Zhishu wanted to say something more, but Pei Lingyi’s steps were small, yet she walked quickly. As she passed by him, she didn’t even pause for a moment, leaving him no chance to detain her.

When did she become so close to Xiao Changyu?

Pei Lingyi followed behind Xiao Yan, looking at his back, her thoughts wandering to who-knows-where.
The Moon Worship Lantern Festival was held every year, but she didn’t attend every year.
Last year’s festival, Changle had invited her to watch the lanterns, but she didn’t show up at the agreed meeting spot.

The festival was crowded and noisy, so she had asked Layan and Luoxu to find a quieter place.
If Changle hadn’t arrived yet, she would have just gone back home. But as she was being pushed through the crowd, she was squeezed under the White Jade Bridge. By the time she realized what was happening, she saw Zhang Zhishu standing there, looking blank.

She realized that her face veil must have fallen off during the commotion. Luckily, it didn’t last long, and Layan and Luoxu soon arrived.
Uncle Li also arrived with the carriage, and the lively Lantern Festival was no match for the peace and quiet of the Lanyue Pavilion. She hadn’t paid much attention to the man under the bridge.

But after some time, a volume of “Beauty Poem” suddenly appeared, causing a big stir. She only then knew that the man that day was actually the second son of the Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion.
The admiration of a noble son was not worth her attention.
After all, if her heart belonged to someone else, couldn’t others just admire her from afar?

But Zhang Zhishu was like a sticky plaster, clinging to her. Since he couldn’t give her wealth or nobility, would she have to lower herself to respond to him just because of his cheap sincerity?
She had already rejected him, but he couldn’t control his own heart and kept interfering with her life.

Pei Lingyi was preoccupied with thoughts of Zhang Zhishu, but she didn’t notice that the man in front of her had suddenly stopped.

She didn’t realize it until her forehead lightly bumped into his back, feeling the warmth and hardness of his body. Her nose caught the scent of sandalwood mixed with his unique refreshing aroma, making her heart skip a beat.

She quickly straightened up, about to say something, but was surprised to see a servant who had been ringing a gong approaching them.
“Your Highness the Heir, Miss Pei, we’ve finally found you. You’re the only two who haven’t registered yet. Have you found the jade plaques?”
The servant was sweating bullets, knowing that Heir Xiao wasn’t someone to be trifled with. He just wanted to finish the inquiry as quickly as possible.

When Pei Lingyi bumped into him, Xiao Yan had unconsciously paused for a moment. The servant, thinking he looked unwell, bowed his head even lower.

Then he heard the man’s low, steady voice, “Here’s the jade plaque. I suppose the Gathering is over now?”
The servant trembled as he took the jade plaque, surprised to see that the orchid pattern on it was edged with gold.