Chapter 27 The Oppressive Presence

Because they were sharing an umbrella, the two of them stood very close. Pei Xueyan could clearly feel the warmth radiating from Liu Shen beside her, like a walking furnace.

Liu Shen, with his strong, sturdy build, glanced at Pei Xueyan, who barely reached his chin, and whenever he turned his head, he could catch the fresh, clean scent in her hair.

Pei Xueyan noticed his frequent sideways glances, watched as he seemed satisfied each time, and found herself quite puzzled.

So, when he turned his head again, she seized the chance to look at him and asked, “Why do you keep looking at me without saying anything?”

Liu Shen awkwardly averted his eyes and replied, “There’s a lovely fragrance in your hair, and I can smell it when I turn my head. It’s… very pleasant.”

Hearing this, Pei Xueyan’s ears flushed faintly red. She merely cast him a playful, reproachful glance and said nothing more.

Sensing the awkwardness settling around them, Liu Shen casually changed the subject, asking, “Master Song has no heirs, and such a vast family estate is left without anyone to inherit it. Have you considered what you’ll do in the future?”

“What plans could a woman like me possibly make?” Pei Xueyan seemed to recall something sorrowful, her expression tinged with grievance as she sighed, “I was only married into the Song family as a kind of good luck charm. But the luck never came; my bedridden husband soon passed away. Fortunately, Master Song has treated me generously, regarding me as his own daughter.”

She paused, then continued, “Now that Master Song is elderly, I must see to his comfort in his twilight years. As for what lies ahead, I really haven’t thought about it.”

Liu Shen clicked his tongue. “At your age, if you wish to keep hold of the Song estate, you’ll have your hands full and your mind weary.”

“And if I am weary, so be it.” Pei Xueyan shot him a sidelong glance, her voice full of quiet complaint. “I had hoped someone might help share my burdens, but someone refuses, so what am I to do?”

Liu Shen realized she was teasing him and replied sheepishly, “You needn’t worry. Master Song is still clear-minded and, I think, physically resilient.”

“Master Song is already past sixty.” Pei Xueyan shook her head with a bitter smile. “Since losing his son, his health has steadily declined. In just this past year, he seems to have aged at least another ten years.”

She thought then of Master Song’s words to her that day, lowered her head, and murmured softly, “Still… he is quite open-minded. Only recently, he told me to find someone I like, even promising to provide a dowry.”

Liu Shen was left speechless, staring at her in disbelief. “Master Song wants his daughter-in-law to find someone she loves? And is going to prepare a dowry for you?”

“That’s why I say he treats me like his own daughter.” Pei Xueyan nodded and sighed. “Perhaps because he was all-powerful in his youth but now suffers loneliness in old age, he doesn’t want me to end up the same—isolated and forlorn.”

Liu Shen stopped in his tracks, gazing at the young mistress of the Song family, who now looked at him with a mixture of confusion and sadness. He said seriously, “You may rest assured, my lady. I can’t promise anything else, but as long as I live, you will never be left alone or in sorrow.”

Pei Xueyan stared at him blankly. For some reason, she felt a sting at the tip of her nose—wanting to cry, and yet, also to laugh.

She had been unfortunate all her life. In her own family, her father favored sons over daughters; when he learned it was ‘her fault’ that the family had fallen on hard times, he ignored her pleas and sold her to the Song family, rumored then to be cursed.

She had never enjoyed a single happy day as the young mistress of the Song family. Her ailing husband died soon after their marriage, leaving her to manage affairs for more than half a year.

As an outsider sold into the Songs, Pei Xueyan had no one she could truly rely on in this unfamiliar household. Though Master Song treated her well, he was still an elder, and aside from a few maids, there wasn’t even someone she could speak freely with.

Now, to have someone she already felt some affection for meet her gaze and promise, “As long as I am here, you’ll never be alone or miserable”—how could her heart not be moved?

She didn’t know when, but tears welled in her reddened eyes, though a smile still played on her lips.

In the gentle drizzle, Liu Shen held the umbrella with one hand and reached out with the other to gently brush away her tears. Teasingly, he said, “I can’t stand to see a woman cry. Please don’t blame me for overstepping, my lady.”

“Stop babbling.” Pei Xueyan was coaxed into a smile by his words. She gave him a playful punch on the arm, urging him to continue toward the Song residence.

“My lady, we’re good friends, aren’t we?”

“What do you think?”

“I have an idea…”

“What idea?”

“Master Song treats you as a daughter, and even wants you to find a suitor. You know what they say: ‘The one nearest the water gets the moon first.’ Since we’re good friends already—and I don’t mind your age if you don’t mind my poverty—maybe I should graciously take the trouble to play the part of your beloved?”

“Nonsense… Wait, am I really that old?”

“Not at all. They say a woman three years older is worth her weight in gold. If it’s you, I wouldn’t mind carrying two bars of gold.”

“Enough with your sweet talk. I haven’t even complained that you’re only seventeen and still a boy untouched by the world, and yet you call me old! Little brat! Cheeky brother!”

“You know, men over twenty-five start to go downhill, but at seventeen, a man’s in his prime. That’s why I’m willing to take the loss for your sake.”

“You…”

Shrouded in the fine, endless rain, the two exchanged playful jibes, feigning annoyance and amusement, though what truly lay in their hearts, only they knew.

Outside the gates of the Song residence, Liu Shen gazed at the stately entrance. “If you miss this chance, there won’t be another. Just say the word, my lady, and I’ll seize the moment to ask Master Song for your hand.”

“You—stop talking nonsense!” Pei Xueyan, a lady of good upbringing, was already flushed from his teasing all the way here.

Now, at the Song family gates, seeing Liu Shen remain so cheeky, she raised her small pink fist and gave him a fierce punch in the side, warning, “If anyone overhears and tells Master Song, beware—he might have you skinned!”

Liu Shen played along, pretending to be terrified, covering his mouth and glancing around.

Seeing this, Pei Xueyan couldn’t help but laugh, giving him a reproachful look before saying, “Alright, enough. Come with me to see Master Song.”

The two entered the Song residence.

Steward Song Tongshan noticed the young mistress bringing a strange man to see Master Song and couldn’t help but look suspiciously at Liu Shen. “My lady, this is…?”

“Someone Master Song wants to see.”

“I’ll announce you.”

Song Tongshan went to announce them and soon returned to admit Pei Xueyan and Liu Shen.

He frowned as he watched Liu Shen’s back. The young man looked familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he’d seen him before.

After entering the inner quarters, Liu Shen finally met Master Song.

He had imagined that the head of a great household in Qinghe County would be a spirited old man with bright, piercing eyes.

Instead, before him sat an elderly man with white hair and beard, clouded eyes, age spots on his face, and a cane in his hand—a figure shrouded in the dusk of life.

But then, it was understandable. To have a son late in life, only to lose him in old age—not only lonely and unsupported, but with a grand estate left to be coveted by others—such a series of blows would sap anyone’s spirit.

Pei Xueyan curtseyed and introduced him. “Father, this is Liu Shen.”

Liu Shen collected himself and bowed. “Junior Liu Shen, greetings to Master Song.”

“No need for such formality…” Master Song’s drooping eyelids lifted. He glanced at Liu Shen, then waved Pei Xueyan away. “Xueyan, you may go. I have something to discuss with your friend.”

Pei Xueyan instinctively glanced at Liu Shen. Seeing him appear untroubled, she pressed her lips together and, a bit worried, withdrew.

Once his daughter-in-law had left, Master Song slowly turned his gaze to Liu Shen.

When their eyes met, Liu Shen’s pupils contracted sharply. For an instant, he felt as if he were being stared down by a fierce beast, every hair on his body standing on end.

Under that oppressive gaze, his heart pounded and his breath stilled, and only by steadying his inner energy did he feel some relief.

“Well, so you’ve reached the threshold…”