After the eldest sister-in-law of a fishing family became a widow, her disabled younger brother-in-l

Although she was wearing a mask, Xie Jinglan could still see the emotions in her eyes, and simply said, "I don't think they're that different."

"Tsk."

Hearing such a comment, Jiang Yuyue felt that he was just being perfunctory.

However, the main purpose of today was to release lanterns and pray for blessings. Seeing the crowds ahead, she pulled Xie Jinglan into a small alley by the roadside.

"There are too many people releasing lanterns here. I'll take you to a quieter place."

Xie Jinglan let her lead him through the winding alleys. After walking for about fifteen minutes, they arrived at a wide open bank.

Before they could get any closer, they heard a familiar voice.

"sister!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw Jiang Huanxi standing in a pavilion, waving at Jiang Yuyue. Xie Jinglan narrowed his eyes and noticed that there was another person in the pavilion.

Pei Jingchuan was here too.

"Ah Xi?"

Seeing her younger brother there, Jiang Yuyue was somewhat surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Of course I'm here to wait for my sister."

Jiang Huanxi raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't my sister come here to release lanterns every year? I thought this year would be no exception, so I came early to wait, and sure enough, we ran into each other?"

However, when Jiang Huanxi looked at the man next to Jiang Yuyue, although he was wearing a mask, Jiang Huanxi could guess that it was Xie Jinglan. However, he was too lazy to pay attention to the Xie family and simply ignored Xie Jinglan.

Pei Jingchuan, who was standing nearby, also stepped forward at the right time and greeted Jiang Yuyue with a smile.

"Moon, what a coincidence!"

Seeing Pei Jingchuan also appear here, Jiang Yuyue's expression became somewhat subtle, and she immediately glared at Jiang Huanxi secretly.

Jiang Huanxi quickly clarified, "I just ran into General Pei on the road. He said the scenery here is beautiful and there are few people, so we chatted for a while. I didn't expect to run into you here, sister."

A chance encounter? That's hard to say.

Xie Jinglan knew perfectly well that there were many good places to visit during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In such a large area as Jiangnan, there were many places with beautiful scenery and few people. How could he have just happened to run into this one?

Moreover, Jiang Yuyue was wearing a mask, and Pei Jingchuan immediately recognized her as Jiang Yuyue. Presumably, the two of them had released lanterns here before.

"It seems like quite a coincidence."

Jiang Yuyue's expression behind the mask was somewhat complicated. She had only wanted to come out with Xie Jinglan to release some lanterns, but she didn't expect to run into Pei Jingchuan.

What a hassle...

Pei Jingchuan naturally noticed Xie Jinglan standing next to Jiang Yuyue. The fact that Yue'er appeared with a man on Mid-Autumn Festival made him somewhat concerned, and he also felt that this person... seemed somewhat familiar.

"May I ask who this gentleman is...?"

Pei Jingchuan asked, and Jiang Huanxi immediately stepped in to clarify the relationship between Jiang Yuyue and Xie Jinglan, "This is the third young master of the Xie family. He has been ill, so my sister has been taking good care of him. She just brought him out for some fresh air today."

Hearing Jiang Huanxi's eager explanation, Jiang Yuyue secretly pinched his arm again. Why is this kid so stubborn? Even now, he's still up to no good.

"exactly."

Jiang Yuyue chuckled lightly, "Axi is truly prescient. I haven't even said anything yet, and she's already guessed everything."

Jiang Huanxi gasped in pain, noticing the awkward atmosphere. She quickly coughed twice and then suggested, "But sister, it's still early. Why don't we go and stroll around the lantern festival first? These lanterns aren't going anywhere. The festival will be over soon."

Xie Jinglan could easily see through Jiang Huanxi's ulterior motives. It seemed that he was quite satisfied with Pei Jingchuan as his "brother-in-law candidate" and was trying to find a way to bring them together.

Displeased at having his fun interrupted, Xie Jinglan was a little annoyed, but he was too lazy to get involved and didn't want to be in the way. So he simply made up another excuse, "Sister-in-law, why don't you go with them? I caught a bit of a chill outside and started coughing. I'll stay here and wait for you."

Jiang Yuyue didn't want to get involved with Pei Jingchuan in the first place, so when she heard this, she quickly followed his excuse and said, "Then, Ah Xi, you go with General Pei. I was the one who brought the Third Young Master out here. He's not in good health, and if something happens to him, I won't be able to explain it when I go back. So stay here and take care of him."

Hearing this, Jiang Huanxi and Pei Jingchuan looked at each other in bewilderment. How could two grown men like them go to the lantern festival together?

Pei Jingchuan had come specifically for Jiang Yuyue and was even prepared to ask her to stay, but he swallowed the words back down.

Although he was in love with her, she was not. Pei Jingchuan knew in his heart that even though he and Yue'er were childhood sweethearts, that was several years ago. Things were different now. From the last time they met, he knew that Jiang Yuyue was deliberately keeping her distance from him. If he asked to stay now, it would be too deliberate and might backfire.

It's best to proceed gradually and take things slowly.

"Then...then Ah Xi and I will just go for a stroll and come right back."

Pei Jingchuan forced a smile, and Jiang Huanxi could only sigh silently in her heart upon hearing his words.

General Pei, I gave you a chance but you failed.

Pei Jingchuan and Jiang Huanxi walked down the street, recalling the scene just now. Pei Jingchuan felt that Jiang Yuyue was a little too concerned about this third young master of the Xie family, and finally couldn't help but ask.

"Ah Xi, who exactly is this Third Young Master Xie? Why is Yue'er so concerned about him?"

Speaking of Xie Jinglan, Jiang Huanxi said irritably, "He's just a useless person. He's the illegitimate son of the eldest son of the Xie family. He's not well-liked in the Xie family, and he has some kind of hidden illness. He couldn't even walk before. It was my sister and I who took him to the capital to seek out a famous doctor to cure his legs."

"Even so, he won't live much longer. He'll probably only have about six months left. That's probably why my sister cares about him so much."

Hearing this, Pei Jingchuan breathed a sigh of relief. However, during his time back in Jiangnan, he had also inquired about the Xie family's situation. Although the Xie family had always been good at putting on a good show, Pei Jingchuan still managed to learn some inside information.

The Xie family is on the verge of collapse; the eldest son of the Xie family has been demoted and has yet to be reinstated; and the gambling-addicted prodigal son, Xie Erlang…

Unexpectedly, there was also a sickly third young master.

"Yue'er is as kind-hearted as ever."

Pei Jingchuan's gaze drifted slightly into a daze, his words filled with undisguised heartache, "She married into the Xie family, such a filthy place, yet she still has the leisure to feel sorry for this unrelated illegitimate child. It's truly pitiful for her."