Chased You, You're Cold; Married, Why Cry?

Chapter 2: She Likes This New Target

The General's Mansion of Dingguo—

In the lingering glow of the sunset, Xie Yuean was practicing martial arts in the backyard. With a sword in one hand, he moved like a dragon, his momentum as powerful as a rainbow, performing a sword technique fluidly, drenched in sweat.

As Xie Yuean untied his upper garment to continue practicing, suddenly, a figure popped up over the wall.

He immediately became alert, sword in hand flying towards the noise, only to see a young girl in goose-yellow clothing lying atop the wall, her small head and large eyes glowing like the reddest dawn.

Qiao Yin's gaze couldn't help but linger on the faint outline of Xie Yuean's abs.

With his garment half undone, revealing half his chest and lean waist, the faintly visible strong muscles still covered in a thin layer of sweat.

All along the way here, she had worried that this Xie Yuean might be an ugly, greasy brute. If that were the case, she'd rather just lie down and wait for death.

She hadn't expected that the system would be so generous to her, sending such a male deity her way.

Look at that physique, even more eye-catching than any of the male models she'd scrolled past on her phone before her life ended, not to mention that face—

Sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, and a jaw as if carved by a knife, truly unparalleled in handsomeness and valiance, a masterpiece of the goddess Nüwa herself, simply perfect.

"Who's there?" Xie Yuean sheathed his sword, calling out.

He looked good, and even his voice was pleasant to hear.

Xie Yuean frowned, "Get down."

"Wait, wait."

Finally snapping out of her daze, Qiao Yin waved towards Xie Yuean, "General Xie, I've long admired your name. I've come to visit specially. General, are you free tonight?"

Xie Yuean looked puzzledly at the woman on the wall: "Isn't Miss Qiao supposed to be celebrating Lord Lu's birthday tonight? Why are you loitering here?"

"You know me?"

Qiao Yin was startled but then thought it wasn't strange since she had made countless jokes following Lu Jinzhi around all year; Xie Yuean knowing her was not surprising.

"Ah, rumors, all rumors! General Xie, please don't believe what people say outside. Tonight's banquet isn't for Lu Jinzhi; I prepared it especially for you," Qiao Yin claimed unflinchingly.

"For me?" disbelief written all over Xie Yuean's face.

"Yes, for you. General, your heroic deeds of defeating hundreds of enemies single-handedly are legendary. I've admired you and specially organized tonight's banquet to celebrate your achievements."

Xie Yuean looked at her as if she were a fool, "My achievements from years ago, hard for Miss Qiao to remember."

Qiao Yin was taken aback but not embarrassed, quickly thinking on her feet.

"Is today your birthday, then?"

"No."

"Is it a family member's birthday today?"

"No."

"Did something special happen to you today?"

After thinking, Xie Yuean said, "I found a dog on the road today."

Qiao Yin smiled, "Fine, then this banquet is for General Xie's dog, to celebrate its... its new lease on life, no longer a stray."

Xie Yuean couldn't help but chuckle, raising his eyes to her, "Is Miss Qiao no longer pursuing Lord Lu?"

Qiao Yin was dazzled by his smile, "Hmm, I'm not pursuing him anymore. I'm pursuing you."

Xie Yuean was taken aback, his smile freezing.

"Do you dare let me pursue you?"

Qiao Yin looked at him intently from atop the wall.

Xie Yuean felt the sunset was exceptionally blinding, making it hard to see the face on the wall, only hearing the words 'do you dare' echoing.

Walking over, he reached the wall's corner and stretched out his hand towards her.

"Need a hand getting down?"

Qiao Yin looked at the hand Xie Yuean extended towards her, more like an embrace than a challenge, and without a second thought, she jumped down.

She was a bit apprehensive, but when Xie Yuean caught her securely in his arms, what she saw was not just Xie Yuean's unfairly handsome face but also endless possibilities.

She likes this new target!

...

At the gate of the Guogong Mansion, the carriage stopped, and Lu Jinzhi, the son of the Guogong, alighted. Suddenly, he heard his friend Chu Wenjing's voice.

"Jinzhi, did you just come from the palace?"

Lu Jinzhi nodded, "Today is my birthday. My aunt called me into the palace and gave me some gifts."

Lu Jinzhi's aunt was a favored concubine in the palace.

"Are you done with everything? Then come with me."

Chu Wenjing pulled him towards his carriage. Lu Jinzhi asked, "Where to?"

"Playing dumb!" Chu Wenjing laughed with a hint of teasing, "Where else but Ji Fang Garden? With all the fuss Qiao Yin is making this time, I don't believe you don't know."

Lu Jinzhi's face showed disdain, "What benefit did that woman give you this time?"

Chu Wenjing smiled, "Qiao Yin gave me a fine inkstone, asking me to make sure you come to Ji Fang Garden tonight. Come on, you'd be bored at home anyway; might as well see what new antics she has up her sleeve today."

Chu Wenjing pulled Lu Jinzhi onto the carriage, which had become routine for him.

Over the years, to gain his favor, Qiao Yin had been excessively attentive to those around him. Not just Chu Wenjing, even the gatekeepers of their mansion had received heavy gifts from Qiao Yin.

Truly shameless.

The carriage moved leisurely forward, and Chu Wenjing couldn't help saying, "Jinzhi, after celebrating your birthday, you should consider marriage. Qiao Yin might act inappropriately, but her feelings for you are genuine. She's been chasing you relentlessly for years, and you've never shown her any affection, yet she hasn't given up. Maybe after your wedding, you could take her as a concubine."

"Being your concubine, serving you, Qiao Yin would surely be grateful and even more devoted to you."

Lu Jinzhi scoffed, "I don't keep common things by my side."

Chu Wenjing laughed, "That's too harsh! Qiao Yin, raised in the countryside, is naturally unrefined. Besides, as a concubine, being pleasing to the eye is enough; what need is there for poetry and elegance? Ask yourself, haven't you let Qiao Yin chase you all these years because you find her face attractive?"

A stunning beauty running after you day after day, what man could resist such vanity?

Men understand men best; Chu Wenjing saw through but did not say.

Lu Jinzhi did not refute.

The carriage stopped at the entrance to Ji Fang Garden, where the streets were bustling, all thanks to Qiao Yin's invitations for Lu Jinzhi's birthday celebration.

Chu Wenjing couldn't help but compliment, "Still, Jinzhi, you're quite the figure."

Lu Jinzhi internally enjoyed the praise but deliberately maintained a cold demeanor.

Chu Wenjing alighted from the carriage, and turning back, saw Lu Jinzhi still seated calmly, "Jinzhi?"

Lu Jinzhi's expression darkened further.

Usually, as soon as he appeared, Qiao Yin would eagerly greet him, but today, she was nowhere to be seen.

Walking into the grand entrance of Ji Fang Garden, Lu Jinzhi was suddenly stopped by a servant at the door.

"Sir, please show your invitation."

Lu Jinzhi's expression froze, and Chu Wenjing stepped forward to scold, "Do you know who he is? He's the honored guest of today's banquet."

The servant looked at them unflinchingly, stating matter-of-factly, "Miss Qiao said, entry is by invitation only; those without an invitation are not allowed in."