[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let":3,"chapter-a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-175":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":12,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1326551,1761,"Chapter 175: Liking Mei Wanying’s Scent","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-175",175,"\u003Cp>Mei Wanying asked Pei Yan, \"Do you know what I’m wiping off?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan couldn’t be bothered with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he knew was that Mei Wanying was wiping his face with her own hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her own hands!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An overwhelming wave of happiness crashed over him. The man’s head swam, and he felt as if he were about to drown in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This all felt like a dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan actively nuzzled against the handkerchief in Mei Wanying’s hand. It was saturated with her scent, mingled with a hint of milk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Ah Yin still needed to nurse their child, so this was her scent, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan found it intoxicating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he weren’t afraid of startling Mei Wanying, he would have done as Ling did and moved closer to the source of the fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cold, frosty man actually had a childish side to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan kept nuzzling her palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like Ling had done not long ago when, not wanting to smell the medicine, she had burrowed into her arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s stubble scraped against her palm, sending a tingling sensation through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying’s fingers curled. \"On your face... that’s Ling’s drool.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s expression froze, and he stopped nuzzling Mei Wanying’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying was satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a subtle breath, trying to dispel the strange feeling spreading from her palm, but it didn’t work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying decided to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Pei Yan was awake and seemed to be out of mortal danger. All he needed was quiet rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, she didn’t know what kind of attitude to adopt toward the Pei Yan before her now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike in her last life, this time Pei Yan had risked his life to save her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t this Pei Yan who had left her to fend for herself in the rear courtyards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Our entanglement runs too deep,’ Mei Wanying thought. ’Pei Yan hurt me, but he also protected me. It’s impossible to clearly say who was right and who was wrong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I don’t want to dwell on it anymore.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Since Pei Yan saved me this time, we can consider all past grievances settled.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He’s not that utterly vile man anymore.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest and recover well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying’s tone was gentle, not as cold as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan was still holding her soft wrist, unwilling to let go. \"Ah Yin, I feel like I’m dreaming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah Yin was being so good to him. This was what he had prayed for, but now that it was happening, he felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept feeling like it was all an illusion—a flower in the mirror or the moon in the water—that would shatter with a single gust of wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying complained, \"If you don’t let go, I won’t be able to hold Ling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Pei Yan notice his babbling, drooling daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The little one’s eyes were sparkling as she waved her little hands, looking as if she were about to leap out of Mei Wanying’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan had long since experienced just how active and lively Ling could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instinctively tried to take his daughter so Mei Wanying wouldn’t be burdened, but the moment he moved, Mei Wanying pushed him back down onto the daybed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you trying to get yourself killed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying glared at the man, her almond-shaped eyes filled with displeasure. \"If you’re looking to die, then leave the Mei family first. That way your mother won’t come blaming us. We can’t take that responsibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words may have been harsh, but to Pei Yan’s ears, they sounded incredibly sweet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Ah Yin is worried about me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Her words are sharp, but her heart is soft!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying was angered by his bravado. ’He was unconscious, and he still says he’s fine?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said, \"The Mei family is a humble one. If Your Highness won’t follow instructions, then you’d best leave as soon as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only just managed to move into the old residence; how could Pei Yan possibly leave?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t an idiot!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Ling was being quite a handful, he found that every time he wanted to speak to Mei Wanying, the little one would interject with her babbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was also waving her little hands and kicking about nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan had no choice but to release Mei Wanying’s hand so she could hold their daughter with both arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know where such a tiny person got all her energy. As long as she was around, the adults couldn’t hope to have a proper conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan doted on Ling. She was Mei Wanying’s gold lump, the most adorable child in the whole world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, he just wanted to be with Mei Wanying and didn’t want his daughter ruining their private time together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan wanted to order Ding Xiang to take Ling to Mrs. Mei, but he was afraid that if his daughter left, Mei Wanying would leave with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was just greedy, wanting Ah Yin to stay by his side forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, he had to take a step back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept to the inner side of the daybed, where there was still a large empty space. \"Lingling is sleepy. Let her sleep here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’As long as Ling is here, Ah Yin won’t leave,’ Pei Yan thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying glanced at her daughter. Perhaps because she hadn’t slept well recently, the little one who had just been so lively was now slumped over her shoulder, looking drowsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had been separated for too long this time. Ling felt insecure, afraid that she would wake up from a nap to find her mother gone again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyelids were clearly drooping with sleep, but she fought to keep them open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when she saw Mei Wanying did she relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this happened a few times, she finally couldn’t hold on any longer and drifted off into a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his daughter like this, not only did Mei Wanying’s heart ache terribly, but even Pei Yan felt he was less than human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a moment ago, he had actually wanted to send Ling away so he could be alone with Ah Yin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan felt a pang of guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah Yin, let’s stay with Lingling together, alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s eyes were filled with anticipation, mingled with a hint of pleading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan felt uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was afraid Mei Wanying would reject him without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the woman before him nodded. She said, \"Let’s let Ling sleep soundly. Otherwise, if we move her outside, she might wake up startled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way here, Ding Xiang had told her about Ling’s recent state, saying she refused the wet nurse’s milk and would only drink a little cow’s milk each day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She also said that Ling would often wake up startled in the middle of the night and cry inconsolably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t lively during the day either, just staring blankly toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would even gesture with her little hands, wanting to go out and find her mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that her daughter had lost weight, Mei Wanying knew that Ding Xiang had been telling the truth, without any exaggeration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a mother, she couldn’t help but feel her heart ache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying told herself that from now on, she would take Ling with her no matter where she went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They, mother and daughter, would never be separated again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling felt insecure, and her sleep was fitful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would whimper from time to time, her voice tinged with tears, her little mouth pouting. It was the very picture of misery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying thought that if both she and Pei Yan stayed by her side, perhaps Ling would recover more quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan didn’t know what Mei Wanying was thinking. As long as his wife and daughter were by his side, he was happy!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed his body up, trying to scoot over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was met with another low curse from Mei Wanying. \"Can’t you just behave? Ling is less trouble than you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’ve suffered such a serious injury, even damaging the bone. Are you moving around because you want a permanent ailment so you can freeload at our house forever?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Is that an option?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his gaze to look at his bandaged arm, only to hear Mei Wanying say in a chilly tone, \"If you dare cause me any trouble, you can get lost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Yan dismissed the thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said guiltily, \"I wasn’t moving recklessly. I just wanted to make some room for you two. I’m being very careful not to aggravate the wound.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling is so little; she was truly frightened this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the child’s father and mother, Pei Yan felt they should sleep beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To help her resolve her \"emotional knot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stared down by Mei Wanying’s icy gaze, Pei Yan’s voice grew even quieter. \"If you hold Lingling while you both sleep, she’ll feel more secure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mei Wanying shot the man a glare. \"You wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’As if I’m crazy enough to sleep in the same bed as Pei Yan.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Not even with Ling between us! No way!’\u003C\u002Fp>",1527,"2026-06-05T19:26:55.507Z",1,"novelbin.me","d6451a3b324726c3c0e3036a71ea09fe990e7da087c5e960c0586ec2efe48399","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-1","a-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-chapter-174","https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-marriage-in-name-only-my-stepbrother-won-t-let-cover.jpg"]