Thirty-seven

Meng Qingyue’s expression remained unchanged, her face calm, though the slight trembling of her shoulders betrayed the turmoil within.

Seeing this, Meng Xingzhou sighed almost imperceptibly and gently lowered his arm.

Only then did Meng Qingyue feel a sense of relief. She raised her eyes to look at him. "Is there something you need, young master?"

She no longer called him brother, nor did she call him by his name, Meng Xingzhou.

That cold, distant address of "young master" was the attitude she used to clearly define her stance toward him and his affections.

A faint bitterness welled up in Meng Xingzhou’s heart. He extended his hand, the rose-gold hairpin resting prominently in his palm. "Qingyue, I..."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, young master, but I do not need it."

Meng Qingyue interrupted him rapidly, without a hint of hesitation, shutting him out just as decisively.

Having said that, she asked again, "So, is there anything else?"

The implication was clear: if there was nothing else, she would not be keeping him company.

Such a clear-cut attitude from Meng Qingyue finally stung Meng Xingzhou.

Did she loathe him so much?

Was she so unwilling to speak even a single word more to him, terrified of having the slightest connection to him?

He loved her so, so much; how could she treat him like this?

Perhaps the affection in Meng Xingzhou’s slightly reddened eyes was so overwhelming that Meng Qingyue could not pretend not to see it, even though she desperately wanted to ignore it.

Just as Meng Qingyue felt utterly uncomfortable, a frivolous and languid male voice rescued her. "Brother Meng, Sister Qingyue, what are you two doing here?"

Meng Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing someone to intervene, her tone turned polite. "Cousin Qiao, have you finished touring the lantern festival?"

Qiao Yu smiled meaningfully, pretending not to notice Meng Xingzhou’s reddened eyes.

He had seen the two of them tugging at each other from a distance. While others might not know what was happening, he certainly did.

Recalling that he was currently the only one who knew that both the Meng and Qiao siblings were at odds, a sense of responsibility stirred within him. Thus, he had rushed over to save the situation.

As the lantern festival commenced, the crowd gathered below the hall, and the young men and women of the Meng and Qiao families were naturally pushed together.

The rules for this year’s lantern festival required men and women to pair up, don masks, and mingle in the crowd; the first pair to find each other would be the winners.

However, an unexpected issue arose during the pairing.

Meng Qingyue adamantly refused to be in a group with Meng Xingzhou.

Facing Lady Meng’s puzzled inquiry, she said without batting an eye, "Sister and Brother have always been the closest. Since it is a pairing of men and women, they should naturally be grouped together."

Lady Meng furrowed her brows, her suspicious gaze sweeping back and forth between them, yet she could find no clue.

She then wondered if Qingyue’s move was intended to get herself paired with the Heir.

Yet, seeing Chang Le’s composed expression nearby, she seemed entirely indifferent to the fact that Qingyue was to be paired with Qiao Xian.

This was even stranger.

Given Chang Le’s usual jealous nature, how could she turn a blind eye to seeing Qingyue paired with Qiao Xian?

Unless, perhaps, Qingyue truly had no ulterior motives, and that was why Chang Le was not displeased.

Thinking this, Lady Meng decided to suppress her doubts for the moment; it was just a game, and she did not wish to overthink it.

As for Qiao Xian, he was naturally indifferent.

He did not know if he was overthinking it, but he felt that Meng Chang Le had been quite cold toward him lately.

Compared to her past gentleness and consideration, she was like a different person.

He did not care, however, and even thought that if Meng Chang Le were to call off the engagement herself, he would be quite willing.

Thus, with everyone harboring their own hidden thoughts, this bizarre grouping actually came to pass.

Although Meng Xingzhou appeared somewhat unhappy, no one seemed to care whether he was pleased or not.

The group went to select their masks and change into the festival’s special attire.

Qiao Xian and Meng Qingyue headed toward the venue together. They were not well-acquainted and did not say much to each other.

It was Meng Qingyue who spoke first. "Heir, I hear your sister is returning to the manor soon. Has the date been set?"

Qiao Xian, not expecting her to bring up this topic, was stunned for a moment before replying truthfully, "It should be in about half a month."

Half a month.

Meng Qingyue nodded thoughtfully. After a moment, she asked again, "I heard your sister is betrothed to Prince Zhaowang, and that once she returns, she will marry the Prince as his consort?"

...

Qiao Xian gave her a strange look.

He saw genuine confusion in the woman’s eyes, as if she were desperately trying to verify something, asking with stubborn persistence.

He smiled mockingly. "Whom my sister marries, what does that have to do with you?"

"Rest assured, my sister would never agree to Prince Zhaowang taking concubines. If you are hoping to become the Prince's secondary consort, I advise you to give up that dream as soon as possible!"

...

Meng Qingyue felt a bit helpless, but there was a confusion lingering in her heart that had to be resolved today.

Therefore, even though Qiao Xian’s expression was becoming visibly impatient, she bit her lip and asked bluntly, "Then, Heir, how have things been between you and my sister lately?"

...

Qiao Xian finally lost his patience.

He stopped in his tracks, crossed his arms, and said coldly, "Miss Meng the Second, I suggest you remember your place. Who are you to me? Why are you prying into the private affairs of the Qiao family?"

"What happens between me and Chang Le is none of your business. What, are you seeing that your marriage to Prince Zhaowang is failing, so you’re scrambling to marry me instead?"

"I advise you to give that up too! Meng Qingyue, I have a legitimate fiancée who is a hundred times more beautiful and a hundred times more gentle than you. It is absolutely impossible for me to ever like you!"

Watching Qiao Xian’s lips move, with mocking words pouring out like a barrage, anyone would have considered it a great humiliation.

Yet, Meng Qingyue stood frozen in place. As Qiao Xian’s voice echoed in her ears, only one thought filled her mind: Qiao Xian had absolutely no idea that Meng Chang Le was his sister.

What on earth was going on?

Could it be that the Marquis and Marchioness of Huainan had been mistaken three years ago, and Meng Chang Le was not their biological daughter at all?

Her mind was in chaos; Jiang Qingyue felt that everything was becoming increasingly enigmatic.

The only thing she could be certain of was...

She looked at the arrogant, insufferable Heir before her, and for once, a glimmer of pity stirred in her heart.

Judging by his appearance, he surely did not know that Meng Chang Le had long since set her heart on someone else...

The fiancée he spoke of, who was a hundred times more beautiful and gentle than herself, had already climbed up to a better family.

And she didn't want him anymore.

Perhaps the schadenfreude in Meng Qingyue’s eyes was too obvious, for Qiao Xian frowned, finding this woman truly incomprehensible.

He decided to ignore her entirely, turned his head, and strode away.