Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Ye Shuang spotted Xiao Lin and, pulling Song Yun along, approached him. "When did you arrive?"

She wondered if he had overheard their earlier conversation, and how much of it.

Xiao Lin grunted in acknowledgment, offering nothing further.

Ye Shuang felt a pang of awkwardness.

They had been in a cold war since leaving the estate that morning. After the recent commotion, Ye Shuang had hoped to put their differences aside and had taken the initiative to approach him, only to be met with Xiao Lin’s dismissive attitude.

Song Yun found it unbearable but couldn't make a scene in front of Xiao Lin. Seeing Ye Shuang feigning indifference only fueled her anger. She declared she was leaving and asked if Ye Shuang would join her.

Ye Shuang remained silent, her eyes darting away, clearly reluctant to depart.

Song Yun, unable to stand her demeanor, angrily shook her hand free and left. Ye Shuang tried to hold her back but failed.

She had no choice but to turn to Xiao Lin. "I want to return to the estate. Will you come with me?"

Xiao Lin merely glanced at her, offering no reply.

Ye Shuang decided to leave first. As she lowered her head and walked past him, Xiao Lin suddenly grabbed her arm. "The banquet hasn't even begun. If you leave now, where would that leave this Marquis's dignity?"

Ye Shuang looked up in surprise, realizing Xiao Lin wasn't looking at her, but rather at something behind her.

Turning around, Ye Shuang saw Liu Yiyi smiling at Xiao Lin, then smugly shifting her gaze to Ye Shuang. Ye Shuang felt as if her throat had been gripped, leaving her breathless.

Ye Shuang tried to pull her arm away, but Xiao Lin’s grip was too strong.

"Let go," Ye Shuang demanded, her voice uncharacteristically sharp.

Xiao Lin let out a soft laugh, released her, and stepped back. In a voice only audible to the two of them, he said, "Don't forget what you promised me."

To play her part well in this charade, to be a proper Marquis's wife.

She hadn't forgotten.

She couldn't even question why he was looking at another woman. She held the title of Marquis's wife but had no right to meddle in his affairs.

It seemed she was the only one truly invested in this play, the only one who took the script to heart, only to blame the characters for their coldness.

But it was because she yearned for more, forgetting that he had always been this heartless.

She had painstakingly maneuvered for this marriage, filled with joy on her wedding night, only to receive a contract-like promise from him: "Three years at most, one year at least, and this Marquis will grant you a divorce and set you free."

Now, with the one-year mark approaching, she feared his promise would materialize, afraid of losing everything she had, which must be why she was becoming so flustered.

Perhaps he had detected these hidden anxieties, which explained his earlier disdain for her.

Ye Shuang hesitated. Turning around, she saw Liu Yiyi and her entourage approaching and, as if by some strange impulse, decided not to leave.

They exchanged greetings. Liu Yiyi smiled. "Brother Lin, how did you find us here?"

Xiao Lin raised a hand. "Just wandering around."

Liu Yiyi cast a meaningful glance at Ye Shuang, a smug smile playing on her lips. "I thought you came looking for Sister Ye Shuang! Were you afraid I'd bully her?"

The two of them spoke such flirtatious remarks right in front of her, while she, the legitimate Marquis's wife, was left standing on the sidelines.

Xiao Lin remained silent, seemingly oblivious to Ye Shuang’s embarrassment.

Ye Cheng and Pei Shu stood a little farther away. Seeing Ye Shuang humiliated, Ye Cheng even allowed himself a rare smile.

Ye Shuang felt a lump in her throat, unable to swallow or speak.

Just then, a man’s voice came from not far behind her: "No wonder I couldn’t find anyone—you’re all hiding here!"

Ye Shuang turned and saw a man in a vibrant blue robe appear at the end of the path.

Pei Shu called out to him from afar, "Brother!"

It was Pei Yu, the eldest son of Vice Minister Pei.

Pei Yu stepped forward and greeted everyone one by one. To Pei Shu, he said, "Father has been looking for you everywhere. Hurry along; the ceremony is about to begin."

Pei Shu playfully stuck out her tongue, completely shedding her earlier petulant demeanor. She bid a temporary farewell to Ye Cheng, then left with perfectly proper manners.

The others seemed accustomed to such performances. Upon reflection, it was clear they were all like this—always putting on the act of dignified young women from good families in public. Who could truly be consistent inside and out? Even she and Xiao Lin played the loving couple in front of others. Perhaps there was even a story of childhood sweethearts woven into it!

Ye Shuang mused with inward bitterness. The more perfect something appeared on the surface, the less trustworthy it was. The world was full of things polished by people's perceptions.

Pei Yu moved aside and made an inviting gesture. "Please, everyone, follow me to the banquet."

To Xiao Lin, he said, "I’ve heard Brother Xiao has quite the tolerance for drink. You must drink a few more cups later."

Xiao Lin responded casually and walked ahead.

Liu Yiyi glanced sideways at Ye Shuang with a triumphant smile and followed.

Ye Shuang brought up the rear with Ye Cheng, but neither showed any intention to speak.

When they reached the front courtyard, the banquet was about to begin. Xiao Lin, given his esteemed position, was seated in the main hall with Ye Shuang, while the remaining seats were in the courtyard, so Ye Shuang and Ye Cheng were separated.

The women were seated separately, but Ye Shuang was placed with Xiao Lin. She wasn’t sure who had arranged it.

Noticing her perplexity, Pei Yu, seated beside her, explained, "My father specifically instructed this. Brother Xiao is different from the other guests, and the Marquis's lady need not sit with the other women."

Though perplexed, Ye Shuang thanked him.

Pei Yu seemed slightly taken aback. After a moment, he smiled and said, "There’s no need for such courtesy, my lady."

He likely meant that Ye Shuang was demeaning herself. After all, a vice minister’s rank wasn’t high, and he probably hadn’t seen any noblewoman act so humbly.

Xiao Lin remained silent, either looking down or scanning the room.

Ye Shuang noticed he seemed distracted, showing no concern about her conversation with another man, which made her feel even more dejected.

Catching sight of Song Yun seated in the outer courtyard, their eyes met. Ye Shuang instinctively wanted to go to her, but Vice Minister Pei announced the start of the ceremony. Everyone was already seated, and she was in such a prominent position that it would be inappropriate to leave now. She had no choice but to stay, planning to find Song Yun later, and remained seated.

When she looked up again after a while, Song Yun had turned her back to her. Ye Shuang knew she had likely angered her this time. Distracted, she hardly noticed when the hair-pinning ceremony ended.

With the ceremony over, the banquet officially began. Ye Shuang had barely eaten two mouthfuls before people came to toast both Xiao Lin and her. Some sought to ingratiate themselves with Xiao Lin, while others tried to get him drunk. Unfortunately, Ye Shuang was also dragged into the drinking. Xiao Lin only cared for himself, making no effort to shield her. At one point, he even added cilantro to her food, clearly unaware of her preferences.

Pei Yu, seated nearby, observed it all, his gaze lingering on Ye Shuang’s face, his expression growing inscrutable. When he looked up again, he met a piercingly sharp gaze.

Xiao Lin, who had seemed slurring with drunkenness moments before, now appeared completely sobered, all traces of intoxication gone.