Flowers in full bloom

Hualei, Zhenzhu and a few other girls sat on the sidelines, watching the commotion on the field and talking.

The sun was quietly setting in the west. Hualei looked at the sky and waved to Xiaoyuan who was riding on a horse.

The young man stopped in front of Hualei with Xiaoyuan, who was still unsatisfied. Hualei walked forward and wanted to pick Xiaoyuan off the horse.

But he found out awkwardly that he was not much taller than the horse, and he could not lift Xiao Yuan. His raised hands were so unnecessary that the corners of someone's mouth curled up. Hua Lei retreated with a wry smile.

The young man dismounted, easily carried Xiao Yuan down, gently placed him next to Hua Lei's hand, and glanced at her. Hua Lei could clearly smell the young man's body fragrance mixed with sweat.

He stepped back slightly, took out a handkerchief, and wiped Xiaoyuan's sweat. He said softly, "Xiaoyuan, we should go back."

"Oh." Xiao Yuan responded softly. He looked at Pei Rongjin beside him and pursed his lips.

Hualei took Xiaoyuan to the old lady's Songhe Hall to say goodbye. Old Madam Pei tried to persuade her to stay, then looked at Hualei who insisted on going back, sighed helplessly, gave a few words of advice, and then agreed.

Instructing Zhenzhu and the other girls to see Hualei off, Zhenzhu and the other girls accompanied Hualei to the second gate. Pei Rongjin followed slowly behind, holding Xiaoyuan's hand, and casually told him the interesting story of learning to ride a horse when he was a child.

The carriage had already stopped there. Hua Lei stopped, turned around to say goodbye to everyone, and with the help of the maid, she got into the carriage and sat down.

Just as he was about to reach out to pick up Xiaoyuan from behind, Pei Rongjin stepped forward, picked up Xiaoyuan and carried him into the carriage.

The place where Hualei sat was where she was looking. Hualei was caught off guard by a pair of deep eyes, shining like stars falling into the deep sea.

He gently helped Xiaoyuan sit down, "Thank you, Mr. Pei, you have worked hard today. Xiaoyuan..." He gestured to Xiaoyuan to express his gratitude.

"Thank you, Mr. Pei... Brother." Xiao Yuan was tongue-tied. Pei Rongjin smiled slightly, "We agreed today that you should call me brother, don't forget."

He touched Xiaoyuan's head, took out a small bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Xiaoyuan, but whispered to Hualei, "This is ointment. Today is Xiaoyuan's first time riding a horse. After taking a bath in the evening, you can... let the servants apply it on him."

Xiao Yuan took the small bottle and said with a blushing face, "I can do it myself. Thank you, Pei...Brother."

Hua Lei looked at Xiao Yuan, then looked at Pei Rongjin who had been leaning against the car, and said softly, "Okay, I'll remember that. Thank you, Mr. Pei."

The corners of her mouth are slightly upturned, and two dimples are faintly visible, like pear blossoms blooming in the wind in the morning light, quiet and beautiful.

The young man opposite was suddenly distracted. He straightened his body reluctantly and took a step back.

The servant took away the horse stool and the carriage started moving. It slowly drove out of the gate of Dingbei Marquis's Mansion and headed towards Qingyun Lane.

The brother and sister returned to Qingyun Lane in silence and thanked the servant who sent them back.

Aunt Fu had come over early. Hua Lei knew what Aunt Fu was thinking, so she didn't keep her in suspense and just said a few simple words.

First, ask someone to boil some hot water for Xiaoyuan to wash, and give the ointment to Brother Xiaoqun, asking him to check and apply some ointment on Xiaoyuan after he washes.

She went back to her room, changed into loose clothes, took off her hair, tied it loosely behind her head, and leaned on the small couch by the window to rest for a while.

Hearing a noise coming from Xiaoyuan's room opposite, he got up and went out.

Seeing Xiaoqun come out and ask about Xiaoyuan's condition, Hualei felt relieved when she saw that Xiaoyuan was fine, except that his thigh was slightly red. She applied ointment and took Xiaoyuan downstairs for dinner.

After the meal, knowing that everyone was worried about them, Hua Lei did not hide anything and told everyone in detail what happened in the Marquis' Mansion that day.

Grandmother Pei’s sincere invitation, the looks of several ladies at the table, and the interactions with Pei Rongjin and Pei Zhenzhu, etc.

After hearing Xiao Yuan's description of Pei Rongjin, everyone was immediately delighted. This was good news. It was great that their young lady would have someone to rely on in the future.

After hearing Hua Lei talk about the expressions of the ladies in the Marquis' Mansion, everyone felt that this marriage was a little uncertain and was in a state of uncertainty.

When Hua Lei asked them whether they wanted to live in the Marquis' Mansion, some supported it while others were hesitant.

Hua Lei was also a little confused. Seeing that it was getting late, she asked everyone to go back and rest, and she took Xiao Yuan to the study.

In the study, the brother and sister each held a book in their hands, but it was obvious that neither of them was paying attention to the book.

"Xiaoyuan, do you want to live in the Marquis' Mansion?" Hua Lei asked first.

Xiao Yuan pursed his lips and looked at Hua Lei, "I think Brother Pei is good, sister, do you want to catch him?"

Hualei was stunned. "What do you think is good about him? Is he good-looking? Or did he teach you how to ride a horse?"

"All of them, the key is that I think Brother Pei likes you."

Hualei was embarrassed, "You little brat, what do you know about love?"

"Well, even if I don't like him, I feel that Brother Pei should be very interested in you. I saw the way Brother Pei looked at you. He was always looking at you." Xiaoyuan insisted.

"Hehe," Hualei smiled, "Being interested is not the same as liking something. Just like when we see a very novel object, we will take a second look at it, but isn't that liking something?"

“But when Brother Pei took me riding a horse, he was just protecting me in a pretentious way. But every time he passed in front of you, he would unconsciously tighten his grip on me, and then he seemed to be unable to breathe and just held his breath.

When I run past you, I always let out a long sigh of relief. And every time my hair is blown over my eyes, really, it’s like this every time.”

Hualei touched Xiaoyuan's hair and laughed dryly, "Don't be so sensitive, little kid. Maybe he's just being cool."

"No, when Sister Zhenzhu was riding, Brother Pei was standing behind you and watching you without blinking." Xiao Yuan was anxious, "You were the only one looking at Sister Zhenzhu, so you didn't see it."

Hua Lei sighed softly. She didn’t see it, but she felt it. How could she not feel it?

Such a clear and curious gaze, focused on her so intently, made her feel as if every part of her body was pierced through.

However, this is not liking, it is more of curiosity, just like seeing a small animal that you have never seen before, it is a very fresh feeling.

"Xiaoyuan, I told you before we left that we shouldn't expect too much."

Hua Lei felt a little sad, thinking of the indifference hidden in the eyes of the gorgeous woman at the banquet. Xiao Yuan might not have seen it, but she did.

"Sister..." Xiaoyuan hesitated to speak.

"Xiaoyuan, my sister is still young, let's not talk about this now, okay? If, I mean, if I let you live in the Marquis' Mansion alone, would you be willing?"

"I don't want to." Xiaoyuan said simply.

"Why? I can see that you had a lot of fun today. You also like riding horses, and Brother Pei is very good to you. And I think if you go to live in the Marquis' Mansion, you can learn a lot, which will be very beneficial to your future."

"Yeah, I know, but if my sister doesn't go, then I won't go either. I want to be with my sister."

"Xiaoyuan, this opportunity is hard to come by. I think it's a good opportunity for you to go to Pei's family school. If you give up easily, you may regret it in the future."

"Then if Sister goes to Pei's Girls' School, it will be an opportunity for Sister. Sister is smart and makes rapid progress in learning anything. If Sister learns these things, it will be beneficial to her future life."

"But..." "If my sister goes to the Marquis' Mansion, then I will go too. If my sister doesn't go to the Marquis' Mansion, then I won't go either." Xiaoyuan repeated.

"Okay, I understand. Let's think about it, okay?" Xiaoyuan nodded.