Chapter 12: It’s Just a Transaction After All

Jiang Nian propped herself up on her arm and leaned closer to Pei Jiuru.

As she moved, strands of her hair fell across his face, causing her to quickly gather them behind her with her other hand in embarrassment.

Then, holding her breath and focusing intently, she looked steadily into Pei Jiuru’s eyes. Her gaze slowly descended, finally resting on his thin, flushed lips.

She gently leaned in again, but her hair slipped forward once more, falling over his face.

This time, she paid it no mind. Her lips pressed against his, lingering for a few moments before she lifted her head to gauge his expression.

Before she could read him, a large hand gripped her head.

In an instant, the world spun, and Jiang Nian found herself pinned beneath Pei Jiuru.

He struggled to restrain the desire she had stirred. “Jiang Nian, are you sure?”

“Enough talk! Can you or not?”

Pei Jiuru reached out and drew the bed curtain down, surrounding Jiang Nian in a sea of red.

Suddenly, warmth surged like a roaring flame.

They grew dizzy together; pain was present at first, but soon the overwhelming sensations drowned everything else.

As she drifted into unconsciousness, her last thought was bitter: all that theoretical knowledge was useless; it couldn’t compete with natural talent.

The next morning, Pei Jiuru went to the study early.

Since there were no elders in the Pei household, and after marriage, there were fewer rules, so the maid Lv La didn’t wake the young lady.

Lv La waited in the corridor until nearly noon before hearing movement from the bedroom.

“Miss has woken?” Lv La stepped inside, recalling the sounds from last night and feeling a bit awkward facing her mistress. “Oh, right, I should call you madam now.”

Jiang Nian touched the cold spot beside her, feeling weak all over, her voice hoarse. “What time is it?”

“Just one tea cup’s time until noon.”

“Where’s Pei Jiuru?”

“Master went to the study at three quarters past the hour of the dragon.”

“Ah…” Jiang Nian felt as if her whole body was falling apart, utterly powerless. She slowly dressed, filled with deep regret.

This was not what she had imagined. It felt good, but only once in a while at night was bearable—too much of it, and she wouldn’t survive.

This matter needed planning; they must calculate the right days, and preferably conceive a child at once.

“Lv La, have someone prepare a soft couch, a larger one, and bring it into the bedroom.”

“Yes!”

“Also, serve lunch. I’m hungry.”

“Shall I call Master?”

“Call him…”

She thought that since they had become intimate, meeting again should be more natural.

But when Jiang Nian saw Pei Jiuru in the dining hall, she was embarrassed beyond words.

She didn’t know how to start a conversation and felt less at ease than when they first met.

Two strangers who had never truly been together suddenly fast-forwarded to having the reality of a married couple…

The braver she was last night, the more awkward it felt now.

After a pause, Jiang Nian asked dryly, “You’ve started studying again…”

Pei Jiuru nodded with a smile. “I fell behind a lot recently; I need to catch up.”

“Yes, yes, discipline is good. Eat more.” After saying this, Jiang Nian buried her head in her meal.

Afterward, she hurried Pei Jiuru off to study.

She herself was busy counting the congratulatory gifts she had received yesterday, almost all from her contacts, so she stored them in her private storeroom.

In the end, she only kept the gift from Xiao Ru. She examined it carefully but found nothing suspicious. However, she suspected it couldn’t be sold. Given Xiao Ru’s petty nature, it was best not to stir trouble.

Meanwhile, Pei Jiuru spent the entire afternoon immersed in the study.

Whether it was the peace of mind from studying or not, he felt clear-headed all day, a feeling he hadn’t had in a long time.

Perhaps, despite their chance meeting and rocky start, as Jiang Nian had said, they could live well together.

Toward evening, Pei Jiuru returned to the bedroom with a light step, but his good mood abruptly ended.

His gaze fixed on the soft couch placed away from the bed, and realization dawned.

At lunch, he had noticed Jiang Nian’s awkward expression and assumed she was shy. After the meal, when she urged him to study, he hadn’t thought much of it.

Now he understood: she meant the soft couch, a hint of dissatisfaction—whether with his performance last night or with him as a person.

But whatever the case, he grasped her meaning.

“You’re back? No studying tonight?”

Hearing the woman’s voice behind him, Pei Jiuru’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“Yes, I’m tired.”

“Oh, then rest early! The spring imperial examination is important. Since I sleep poorly at night and might disturb you, you should sleep on the soft couch.”

“All right.”

Pei Jiuru tugged at the corner of his mouth. She had gone to the trouble of making an excuse about the exam.

He shouldn’t have lost control last night.

Jiang Nian keenly noticed a subtle change in Pei Jiuru and felt a trace of displeasure herself.

Hmph, men always change their expressions the moment you mention sleeping apart.

So sensitive!

In a flash, Pei Jiuru went left to the soft couch, while Jiang Nian suppressed her smile and turned right to the inner room.

They busied themselves separately, ignoring one another.

That night, Jiang Nian tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep. Pei Jiuru, sensitive to noise, was also kept awake until late.

The next morning, they didn’t even exchange looks.

At lunch, just as Jiang Nian was about to send food to the study, Pei Jiuru beat her to it and had the dishes sent there himself.

Lv La leaned close to Jiang Nian, whispering mysteriously, “Did you two quarrel last night?”

“You noticed?”

“Miss, your face almost hit the floor. It’s hard not to notice.” Also, there was no noise or water calls last night.

“Not a quarrel, just some annoyance. You didn’t see it, but when I told him to sleep on the soft couch, he sulked right then!”

“Why would Miss be upset? Didn’t you say this was a transaction?”

Jiang Nian was momentarily stunned, then looked at Lv La foolishly. “You’re right. Why would I be mad? Forget it, I won’t argue.”

After a pause, Jiang Nian asked Lv La to bring ginseng soup from the kitchen, and the two of them headed to the study.

Tomorrow was the day for the homecoming visit, and Jiang Nian didn’t want any awkwardness with Pei Jiuru. Otherwise, her parents would worry greatly.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Jiang Nian smiled inwardly. No matter how sweet his voice was, it couldn’t hide the fact that he was the one who only wanted to sleep.

“What is it?”

“Did I disturb you? Since you didn’t have lunch with me, I wasn’t sure if you’d eaten enough, so I brought you a bowl of ginseng soup.” Her expression was plainly conciliatory.

“No need.”

Pei Jiuru raised his hand, hiding his face behind a book.

Ginseng soup? So she thought he wasn’t working hard enough and wanted to boost his energy.

Pei Jiuru reminded himself once more that this was merely a transaction—no need to take it seriously.