Rebirth of a Village Girl

Chapter 1296: 317: It’s Ni Yang!_3

“Also, tell Yingying to stop playing those petty little tricks that are beneath her. Spare herself the embarrassment!”

Xiu Jiao’s face instantly turned pale. “Yingying is your niece too!”

“Precisely because she’s my niece, I have to say this! If she continues being so shameless, don’t blame me for cutting ties with her completely!”

That same evening, Mo Rongping went to Mo Qishen personally to apologize to both him and Ni Yang.

This matter was indeed Xiu Jiao’s mistake. As her husband, it was proper for him to come forth and offer an apology.

Xiu Jiao felt deeply aggrieved and went to visit her close friend the next day to finalize arrangements for representing the Ice-Clear Jade Lotion product.

She was determined to make every single person who had ever looked down on Xiu Yingying regret it!

…

Meanwhile, in Shanghai.

Du Jiaojiao was absent, and the Du residence was utterly quiet.

Once, Zhou Zixian used to stir up trouble, but ever since the incident last time, she had grown much quieter. She no longer stepped outside, staying in her room every day, reciting sutras and chanting scripture, as if she had turned into a completely different person.

Chu Xiangyi pulled aside the door curtain and came out from inside. “Yuehong, fetch some hangover herbs for me; I need to visit the kitchen.”

Chu Yuehong froze for a moment. “Sister Xiangyi, what use do you have for hangover herbs all of a sudden?”

Chu Xiangyi coughed lightly into her handkerchief a few times. “I have my reasons. Hurry up and go.”

“Alright.” Chu Yuehong nodded and didn’t ask further.

Chu Yuehong quickly returned with the hangover herbs, and Chu Xiangyi made her way to the kitchen, forbidding Chu Yuehong from following her.

Chu Yuehong thought Chu Xiangyi seemed a little odd.

About half an hour later, Chu Xiangyi emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of Hangover Soup and headed toward the courtyard where Master Du resided.

The courtyard gate was tightly shut, and from the outside, one would hardly guess there was anyone inside.

Holding the tray in one hand, Chu Xiangyi pushed the door open with the other.

The door wasn’t locked, so it swung open softly with just a gentle push.

The moment the door opened, the overpowering smell of alcohol poured out, sharp and stifling.

Everyone knew Master Du had lived as a devotee for years, avoiding meat, fish, and alcohol…

Yet Chu Xiangyi wasn’t the least bit surprised. She had even prepared Hangover Soup ahead of time.

Ever since she saw Ni Yang with her own eyes,

Chu Xiangyi knew that going forward, no matter how uncharacteristic Master Du’s actions might be, they wouldn’t surprise her.

She was a wondrous woman, the kind who even left Chu Xiangyi—a woman herself—utterly amazed.

“Master.”

Chu Xiangyi called gently, but no reply came from inside. She continued past the bead curtain and stepped farther in.

There, she saw Master Du holding a wine cup in one hand and a wine jug in the other, leaning by the window.

A blooming red begonia branch stretched inward from outside the window, bathed in the warm sunlight, softening the chill of the room. It perfectly complemented the blood-red prayer beads wrapped around his hand.

The scene resembled a watercolor painting.

Whether it was the man before her or the man within the painting, he was the one who held her heart.

But sadly, the one he held dear in his heart was not her.

For the first time, Chu Xiangyi felt such envy toward Ni Yang. Ni Yang hadn’t done a thing, yet she had disturbed his years, even making him adorn himself with blood-red beads for her sake.

She had spent years by his side and hadn’t earned even a glance from him.

Still, she didn’t regret it.

Because from the beginning, she had known this was a road with no return.

“Master.”

Chu Xiangyi walked over and placed the tray on the low table.

“What is it?” Master Du half-squinted his eyes.

“Drinking harms your health,” Chu Xiangyi said plainly.

Master Du didn’t heed her advice. Instead, he poured himself another glass and drank it down.

They say drowning in drink can relieve sorrow.

But the more he drank, the sharper his clarity became.

He wasn’t fit to love, and now, not even fit to drown in intoxication…

Master Du stared at the clear wine in his cup, a faint self-mocking smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Master, this is Hangover Soup.” Chu Xiangyi pushed the bowl toward him.

“Take it away. I don’t need it,” Master Du waved her off.

“Why do this to yourself?” Chu Xiangyi asked.

Master Du looked up at her. “And why do *you* do this to yourself? Spending your best years guarding an empty house—is it truly worth it?”

“It is.” Chu Xiangyi smiled and nodded.

Suddenly, she realized that her answer was his answer.

In truth, they were the same kind of person.

Chu Xiangyi’s smile grew faintly bitter. “Why not tell her?”

If it was love so deep, why hide it?

Chu Xiangyi’s love was bold, uninhibited, and reckless… Even when Master Du had only offered her the status of a concubine, she had resolutely married him.