Chapter 497: with translation of chapter title

Zhang Xiuer was the first girl Chen Wuji met after his transmigration.

But if we really talk about it, their interaction actually isn't deep, and they haven't met many times.

But Zhang Xiuer doesn't have such deep boundaries; although their contact was brief, they became acquainted quickly.

Those past events could be summed up in just a few words.

But Zhang Xiuer chattered on and on, and before she knew it she was talking about her childhood, then she casually brought up the man who once made her lovesick, whom she now thinks was ridiculous.

Chen Wuji acted as a proper listener, not interrupting nor voicing his own rather complicated feelings at the moment.

He simply leaned on the bed, slowly sipping the hot tea Zhang Xiuer brewed, nodding occasionally and echoing her words.

This mortal world is already bitter; why keep dwelling on unhappy things, dredging them up after a long time to wound an already troubled heart?

Just recall the past happiness, remember these things and keep them.

"Brother Wuji, if you're tired, go ahead and sleep a bit; listening to me ramble on must be tiring." Zhang Xiuer shifted closer to Chen Wuji, tucked her legs, and sat with graceful poise.

Chen Wuji waved his hand, "Not tired, I like listening. I'm just not good with words, I can't keep up with your chatter, so I'll just listen."

Zhang Xiuer lightly covered her red lips with her bare hand and gave a soft giggle, "Brother Wuji, you're being modest; your tongue is sharp when you scold someone—I've seen it."

"When did you see that? I can't even remember." Chen Wuji really couldn't recall, "Oh, you couldn't mean just now, could you? To be honest, this mouth of mine seems only useful for scolding."

Suddenly, Chen Li's voice came from outside the door, "Family Head, the Sheep Commandant sent a fast horse with news—everything is settled! Also, the Xiao Family Head is waiting outside."

"Everything's settled, we can rest easy." Chen Wuji was about to remark that Lao Yang always does things steadily, when he suddenly sat up, "Oh no, my father-in-law probably wants to kill me now; I need to figure out how to explain this to him—my head hurts."

Chatting so comfortably with Zhang Xiuer, he completely forgot about Xiao Zong next door in the adjacent courtyard.

Xiao Zong's identity and temperament are both special; a direct explanation probably wouldn't work—he might need to be coaxed—but Xiao Zong has no clue how to explain it.

Zhang Xiuer covered her mouth and let out a soft chuckle, "Trying to steal a woman from your father-in-law, Brother Wuji—this won't be easy to explain."

"You don't mind a big problem, right? I'm telling you, this is quite troublesome." Chen Wuji rubbed his neck, headachy, "I haven't said anything; we've been a single man and woman alone together for so long—wouldn't that be hard to believe?"

Zhang Xiuer pursed her smile and gave a weak nod.

"Actually saying it outright won't work either—I have to consider both my father-in-law and you. Forget it, let's just say we're old acquaintances; that should barely explain things." Chen Wuji said.

Xiao Daye's eyesight isn't great either; she's clearly in her early teens, yet he somehow sees her as thirty-something—he just believes whatever others say.

Looking like a sixteen-year-old at thirty, this youthful appearance is certainly enough to move any man.

Zhang Xiuer smiled lightly and said, "Brother Wuji, saying it like that probably won't work either. Why don't you help me get rid of this trouble altogether by saying… we once had a past romance."

"Would that work?" Chen Wuji asked.

Actually, he had gone around in his thoughts and arrived at that idea as well.

But it wouldn't be appropriate for him to say that.

Zhang Xiuer's cheeks flushed slightly as she bashfully said, "It's just an excuse; how could it not work? Anyway… I have no objections."

"Fine, I'll go out for a bit." Chen Wuji nodded, got off the bed, slipped on his shoes, and left the room.

By the pond outside the door, Xiao Zong stood there holding a lantern, his face flushed with anger, "Commandant, are you openly abducting her?"

"What abduction? Why aren't you sleeping at this late hour, old man?" Chen Wuji feigned ignorance and asked in surprise.

Xiao Zong angrily raised his hand, pointing at the room Chen Wuji had just exited, "The master of this place is Gu Nianqing!"

"You… you… you really piss me off! I've clung to you shamelessly for days, and all they did was invite me to listen to a song and have a cup of tea, but you—you just barged in and left us a man and woman alone together."

"Where did you learn this trick? Did you originally intend to set me up, then fall for me at first sight and take over? Tell me, did you coerce her?"

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Lao Xiao, this really can't be blamed on me."

"Then should I be blamed?"

"Wait a moment, let me explain." Chen Wuji pressed down on the agitated Xiao Zong and said seriously, "Actually, I'm an old acquaintance of Shopkeeper Gu; we once had a bit of that kind of relationship, but later her family underwent some changes and we lost contact."

"Moreover, she isn't really thirty; she's in her prime, just pretending to be older to run the Taohua Yuan conveniently."

Xiao Zong glared, tugging at his messy beard, "You mean you two have a past romance?"

"Yes."

"I don't believe it!"

"Having her explain this to you wouldn't be appropriate; otherwise I'd have Shopkeeper Gu explain it to you—but the fact is indeed so. Before today, I didn't even know she was here."

Xiao Zong instantly seized on the loophole in Chen Wuji's words, "You two once had a past romance, and she's in Hezhou yet never thought to come see you? Your name as Deputy Commander Chen is known throughout Hezhou—I don't believe she hasn't heard of it."

"She bears some resentment toward me." Chen Wuji said immediately.

Xiao Zong tugged at his beard, turning Chen Wuji's face this way and that for a while, then asked incredulously, "You really aren't lying to me?"

"What would I gain by lying to you? Even if my morals were terrible, I couldn't possibly steal a woman from my future father-in-law." Chen Wuji said seriously, "Lao Xiao, this is the only way; otherwise our reputations would be ruined if it got out."

Xiao Zong's expression froze, then he nodded thoughtfully.

"I'll tentatively believe you for now. But is she really just in her prime, not actually around thirty?" he asked again, unwilling to let go.

Chen Wuji nodded, "Look at Shopkeeper Gu's appearance—does she look like a thirty-year-old woman? Although her attire is somewhat more mature and composed, her complexion can't lie; where would you find a thirty-year-old woman with such youthful skin?"

Xiao Zong let out a heavy sigh, "To remain unmoved for a thousand years, then make one small slip and instantly incur heavenly punishment—truly infuriating. I'm going to drink flower wine, put it on your tab, and you must keep this secret for me; otherwise I'll tell my daughter that you're hiding a beauty in the Taohua Yuan and have an old flame."

Chen Wuji: ……