Chapter 254: Chapter 254
It’s hard to deny that this kind of occasion is truly gossip-worthy. Qu Fulan and Heir Pei had just sat down for a short while before hearing several groups outside discussing them.
"I wonder which family’s girl and young master they are. Truly a talented man and beautiful woman, a match made in heaven, making everyone who sees them envious."
"Are they really that good-looking? You’ve made me want to take a look myself."
"When you go in to serve the dishes, you’ll see for yourself. The man is overly handsome, the woman overly pretty, their looks make it impossible to take your eyes off them. I’ve been working here for so long, it’s the first time I’ve seen such a good-looking pair."
"Looking at their attire, you can tell they are either wealthy or noble, definitely a good match. In these times, if you’re not well-matched, you can’t become in-laws."
Pei Ji’an seemed as if he hadn’t heard the conversations around him, sincerely explaining the history of this restaurant to her.
"You might not know, but the owner behind this restaurant is the Eldest Princess, she opened this place."
Qu Fulan was naturally surprised, but soon unsurprised, "This is indeed like the style of the Eldest Princess."
The Eldest Princess is unique in her actions, opening a restaurant exclusively for engaged couples. This is something others couldn’t do, but she did.
"I’m sure you’ve heard the Eldest Princess’s story too. She opened this restaurant to make up for the regrets in her heart."
Qu Fulan instantly understood. It’s likely that after the man died in battle years ago, and the woman followed him in death, the Eldest Princess was deeply moved, so she opened a restaurant exclusively for engaged couples, hoping that lovers in the world could eventually be together.
Those who can enter this restaurant have all been formally engaged, and most of them will eventually get married.
After all, breaking off an engagement in ancient times was rare.
But, since this is a place for engaged people, isn’t it inappropriate for them to be here?
Qu Fulan didn’t dare ask, fearing that Heir Pei would clarify it, leaving her unable to cope.
She pretended to understand, but Heir Pei straightforwardly placed some dishes for her, "Eat more, you seem to have lost some weight recently."
Qu Fulan was like a balloon filled with air, deflated in an instant, and she slumped down, "Heir Pei, don’t be too good to me."
This is an unequal affection. He likes her, but she hasn’t yet grown to like him. She’s not sure if she will in the future. Right now, his kindness makes her feel guilty.
Pei Ji’an picked up a crab, paused for a moment at her words, then looked up seriously, "Fulan, human emotions aren’t like a box that you can just close at will. I can’t make you like me immediately, and you can’t make me stop being good to you immediately. Can’t we just follow our hearts and let things take their natural course?"
Qu Fulan was left speechless, while also amazed by Heir Pei’s modern mindset.
In ancient times, marriages were mostly arranged by parents and matchmakers. Even if not, people of their status would directly approach a matchmaker for a marriage proposal, regardless of the outcome, it was always straightforward and direct, never dilly-dallying.
Now, this idea of going with the flow is something only modern people, perhaps a thousand years from now, would have.
If he weren’t pure ancient, she would have suspected he also traveled through time to have such an open mind.
From the first time they met, many of his actions were different from others.
Take Xiao Shiqing as a comparison, they were the same age, but his temperament and style were conservative, even stubborn and patriarchal.
Heir Pei is very open-minded on many matters. Although he can’t compare to modern entrepreneurs, for ancient times, he is quite unique and remarkable.
No wonder Qu Fulan was drawn to follow such a leader from the start, rather than choosing the rigid Prince Xiao, even without his background in the original work, he wasn’t in her consideration.
In a short time, Qu Fulan mulled over these thoughts without yet speaking, Heir Pei spoke again, "You’re still young, and so am I. We have a long future ahead. I’m confident in myself that unless you stop liking men, I don’t believe you could favor anyone else over me."
Qu Fulan was thoroughly convinced by this fresh and novel remark.
She indeed is young. Spring has arrived, it was just after the New Year, she’s grown another year older, and according to modern terms, she’s coming into her seventeenth year.
As for Heir Pei, he’s only twenty-one, yet has such a fresh perspective, truly rare.
Not just high emotional awareness, but his self-confidence is overwhelming.
He can even say things like "you won’t favor others over me."
But there’s logic in what he says.
Presently, in Da Jin, the two most renowned young men are Xiao Shiqing and Heir Pei.
No matter what, Qu Fulan would never fall for Xiao Shiqing.
As for Heir Pei, as he said, let things go naturally.
However, Qu Fulan didn’t realize she had fallen into the trap set by Heir Pei once again.
This so-called going with the flow is just letting her enjoy his kindness without any qualms. Once she’s used to it, everything will fall into place, right?
So, in certain matters, or rather, between a pursuer and the pursued, the one doing the pursuing inevitably has more tricks up their sleeve, leaving one defenseless.
When Qu Fulan eventually realizes this, it might already be too late.
Just like now, Heir Pei was carefully scooping out crab roe and placing it in the shell, dripping a few drops of ginger vinegar, and placing it in front of Qu Fulan. Feeling slightly uneasy for a moment, she still thanked him and started eating in small bites.
Perhaps this "going with the flow" started when Qu Fulan was still a maidservant. Heir Pei often disregarded the master-servant hierarchy, frequently pouring her tea, something she was long accustomed to.
Enjoying food, chatting, the atmosphere was quite pleasant.
After Heir Pei spoke those words.
He said, "In the past three months, Xiao Shiqing has been investigating you."
Qu Fulan had just taken a sip of tea and almost spit it out.
However, sometimes spitting it out is better than not, like now, she choked and coughed repeatedly.
Pei Ji’an frowned and got up to pat her back.
Qu Fulan coughed until tears welled up, "Why on earth would he be investigating me?"
This statement was partly an act; Qu Fulan knew what Prince Xiao was investigating. It’s merely that he’s puzzled and lacks evidence, so secretly investigating was in order.
No wonder he hadn’t shown up in three months, he was planning another move. Googlᴇ search noᴠelfire.net
Qu Fulan asked now to see if she could glean some useful information from Heir Pei, so she could be prepared.
Xiao Shiqing indeed was investigating Qu Fulan.
Previously, when searching for Qu Fulan, he sent people to search everywhere, but that was different from the current investigation.
The previous search focused on finding the person without knowing their whereabouts.
Now he knows where she is, and he investigates around her sphere of activity, bound to find some clues.
A person’s lifestyle, work style, even behavior and social interactions are all different.
Qu Fulan gritted her teeth.
How can there be such an annoying person in the world!
Impossible to shake off!