Wei Caiwei sighed softly, “Pity that deep love doesn’t ensure longevity.”
Halfway through their meal, a figure sidled over and plopped down in the seat of Wei Caiwei’s late husband, slapping Chen Jingji’s shoulder.
“You’re waiting here to ambush my old man and file a complaint against me, right? Give up that hope. Tonight, wherever you go, I’ll follow. I won’t let you meet my old man.”
It was none other than Wang Yanei, Wang Daxia.
Chen Jingji, his thoughts exposed, stammered, “Second Young Master Wang misunderstands—I was just hungry and looking for a place to eat.”
“You have quite an appetite, ordering two bowls of wontons.” Wang Daxia sniffed. “Mm, no cilantro—just to my taste. I won’t be polite then—you’re treating.”
Wang Daxia picked up the bowl and began eating.
Chen Jingji was stunned. “You… how outrageous! This is dinner Doctor Wei provided for her late husband!”
Seeing Wang Daxia, Wei Caiwei’s gaze froze, her lips slightly parted, and the spoon in her hand lost control, clattering into the bowl with a splash of soup. “It’s you! I am… I—”
Seeing Wei Caiwei’s flustered, incoherent appearance, Chen Jingji thought she was afraid of Wang Yanei and quickly stood between them. “Wang Yanei! What kind of skill is bullying a young widow!”
In his anger, Chen Jingji no longer called him Second Young Master, directly using the nickname Wang Yanei.
Wang Daxia sidestepped around Chen Jingji, tilting his head to examine Wei Caiwei. The white mourning knot in her hair was particularly conspicuous in the night.
To be beautiful, wear all white mourning. What a lovely young widow!
Wang Daxia’s eyes immediately brightened like stars, his eyebrows arching flirtatiously.
Seeing a beauty, Wang Daxia’s attitude softened considerably. He set down his bowl and said:
“Little widow, I have no grudge against you. You’ve been deceived by this unscrupulous broker. He knew full well that house was disputed, yet for five taels in commission fees, he coaxed you into signing the lease. The house and all its furnishings are my late mother’s dowry. I want to keep them as mementos and don’t want outsiders living there. Now the rent is in my stepmother’s hands. You should have Chen Jingji get the rent back and find somewhere else to live.”
By this time, Wei Caiwei had recovered her composure, her emotions stabilizing. “Second Young Master Wang misunderstands. Chen Jingji and I were waiting at your gate for you to return home, not to complain to Wang Qianhu. Regarding the house matter, I’d like to discuss it with you face to face. My surname is Wei, and I practice medicine for a living. You may call me Doctor Wei.”
Oh, this little widow is interesting! Speaking so pleasantly even to me, this notorious wastrel.
She really treats me like a person, but…
Wang Daxia frowned, stroking his chin, appearing very troubled. “There’s nothing to discuss. My mother’s dowry—I won’t allow anyone to touch it. Doctor Wei should still move away.”
So there was nothing to negotiate.
Just as Chen Jingji was about to speak again in persuasion, Wei Caiwei pointed to the bowl in front of Wang Daxia. “My late husband has already eaten. Second Young Master Wang must be hungry, right? If you don’t mind, please have this bowl of wontons. Even if business doesn’t work out, we’ve still made each other’s acquaintance.”
The so-called providing meals was symbolic—once the intention was shown, it could be given to living people to eat. Common people wouldn’t waste food.
With a beautiful young widow generously inviting him to eat wontons, if he refused, wouldn’t that be coy? Even less than a young widow.
“Thank you, Doctor Wei.” Wang Daxia picked up his spoon to eat the wontons. Being from a noble family after all, though a wastrel, his eating manners were still proper, making no sound whatsoever.
It looked like Doctor Wei was going to move out, and the five taels in commission fees would have to be returned. Chen Jingji grew anxious, finding even the mustard green wontons in his bowl tasteless. What could be done?
At this moment, hoofbeats sounded on the road—the Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office was beginning night patrol. Chen Jingji sprang up, craning his neck in hope: Wang Qianhu was coming home! He still needed to speak with the young master’s father!
Wang Daxia saw through Chen Jingji’s little scheme, grabbing his hand and forcibly pulling him back down. “It’s not my father. A murder case just occurred in the Northern District. The Northern District Military Commissioner’s Office is currently searching everywhere for the killer. My father is busy with the case and will probably stay at the office for the next few days without coming home. Give up your idea of filing a complaint.”
“Ah?” Chen Jingji was quite shocked. “A murder case! Who was killed?”
“Don’t know. I heard the scene was quite terrible.” Wang Daxia gestured across his throat with his spoon. “One slash across the throat—neck blood sprayed all the way up to the willow fluff in the treetops, dyeing the white fluff red.”
Chen Jingji shuddered in fright, instinctively covering his neck with both hands. “Aiya, what kind of hatred, what kind of grudge—such a terrible death.”
Wei Caiwei looked down at the floating scallions in her bowl, thinking: What hatred, what grudge? Of course, the enmity of family annihilation, the hatred of killing relatives!
I did it.
Living again in this world, repaying kindness with kindness and vengeance with vengeance—only then would I not waste Heaven’s gift of a second chance.