Chapter 19 : The Fool
19: The Fool
Unlike all the other panicked, fearful guests, Qin Wan appeared far too composed and serene.
Her ink-wash blue-green skirt slowly brushed past the large swathes of wisteria on the trellis. In that instant, a subtle fragrance drifted in the warm, golden lantern light, unexpectedly stirring the heartstrings of Yan Chi standing in the distance. His shimmering pupils suddenly became crystal clear. The grand red ceremonial hall, the dark night sky, all silently dissolved, leaving only Qin Wan’s figure, clearly reflected in his eyes.
Yan Chi watched from afar. He had intended to follow, but remembered the upheaval at the marquis’s estate tonight. He made a mental note and was about to continue outward when his peripheral vision caught a young man in fine robes approaching from a distance.
With just one glance, Yan Chi could tell the man was heading for Qin Wan.
His footsteps paused. Yan Chi decided to go to the estate gates a bit later.
Qin Wan walked unhurriedly toward the west. Lifting her gaze, she saw a man coming toward her from the west.
At this moment, all guests were heading west. This man was moving against the flow, very conspicuous. What made Qin Wan feel even more peculiar was that the man’s gaze was fixed on her. Qin Wan frowned, taking a closer look. Wasn’t this the young gentleman who had bumped into her earlier?
Qin Wan saw the approaching figure; Fuling saw him too. She let out a soft "ah" and instinctively grabbed Qin Wan’s sleeve.
Qin Wan looked back, puzzled. "What is it?"
Fuling wore an expression of difficulty and tension, seeming to want to say something, but seeing the man draw near, she didn’t speak.
This delay allowed the man to reach them, firmly blocking Qin Wan’s path.
Qin Wan frowned, looking at him with confusion.
Not only had this person bumped into her earlier, now he was blocking her way. Why?
The newcomer was tall and handsome, with refined features. His elegant blue robe added an air of nobility. At this moment, he was scrutinizing her with a profound gaze. Qin Wan’s heart tightened. Could this be an acquaintance from the past?
With this thought, Qin Wan felt uneasy. If she didn’t even recognize an old acquaintance, wouldn’t it seem too false?
"What? Are you pretending not to know me?"
While Qin Wan was hesitating, the man spoke. The moment he opened his mouth, Qin Wan’s brow furrowed.
The man narrowed his eyes slightly, lifted his chin, clearly exuding a sense of lofty condescension. Qin Wan’s lips thinned. This person was indeed an old acquaintance of the Ninth Young Miss, but his attitude was truly presumptuous.
Who was he? On what grounds did he think her not recognizing him was an act?
Displeasure stirred in Qin Wan’s heart, but she couldn’t yet place the man’s identity and remained silent. As she was considering how to respond, Qin Shuang’s figure appeared not far away. Qin Shuang’s eyes swept around, instantly spotting Qin Wan facing her. Her gaze then swept over the man’s back, and her eyes widened before she strode toward Qin Wan with a furious air.
"Well, well, Qin Wan! We’ve all been waiting for you, and here you are pestering Brother Huo!"
Qin Shuang was furious, her voice loud. Qin Wan was taken aback, then immediately understood.
So, the person before her was the Prefect’s son, Huo Ning, whom the Ninth Young Miss had once liked!
Huo Ning hadn’t expected Qin Shuang to return. Yet, hearing Qin Shuang’s words, not a trace of displeasure showed on his face. He didn’t even refute Qin Shuang’s misunderstanding, as if Qin Wan really was pestering him.
Qin Wan couldn’t help but smile. She rarely smiled, but whenever she did, her eyes and brows held a matchless radiance.
Qin Shuang and Huo Ning were stunned. In the distance, Yan Chi’s eyes also narrowed slightly.
"So it’s Young Master Huo. I fell into the lake half a month ago and indeed have some trouble remembering people. Those I commonly saw more often, I still recall. Those I didn’t pay much mind to, I’ve forgotten. I hope Young Master Huo won’t take offense."
Huo Ning’s expression instantly became extremely unpleasant. Those she didn’t pay much mind to, she forgot?
Qin Wan didn’t pay much mind to him?!
Huo Ning pressed his lips together tightly, his tone arrogant. "Why did you fall into the lake?"
He knew very well, she had jumped into the lake for him!
Looking at the Huo Ning before her, Qin Wan felt genuinely disappointed.
This youth, with his good looks and family background, certainly didn’t lack admirers. To him, Qin Wan was merely one of many admirers. If he truly disliked Qin Wan, that would be one thing. But while looking down on her, he simultaneously enjoyed her affection.
Once Qin Wan neglected him, a sense of awkwardness and unwillingness arose in his heart. He even took it for granted that Qin Wan would not stop liking him, which was why he thought she was pretending not to know him.
Qin Wan smiled inwardly again. The Ninth Young Miss’s taste was truly poor.
"Naturally, I slipped and fell into the lake. It was raining heavily that night."
Huo Ning frowned slightly. "You didn’t. You clearly did it for…"
Qin Wan looked at him, waiting for him to utter the following "me." Yet the faintly mocking smile on her lips made Huo Ning’s face flush slightly, and he found he couldn’t say that word.
"What does Young Master Huo think I jumped into the lake for?" Seeing Huo Ning hesitate to speak, Qin Wan sighed and shook her head. "I fear death. Truly, there is nothing in this world that would make me willingly go to my death."
Huo Ning’s lips pressed into a thin line. He stared fixedly at Qin Wan. Qin Wan was different now. Her bearing had changed, her gaze had changed, even her tone of speech had changed. He gradually felt the Qin Wan before him was no longer the one who used to look up to him. His own lofty attitude in front of her now seemed rather laughably self-important.
But how could one person’s affection for another change so easily?
"Is Young Master Huo finished? Then please step aside. I must return to the manor."
Qin Wan held no fondness for Huo Ning, her tone turning cool. Huo Ning looked at the Qin Wan before him, his lips pressing together several times. Suddenly, as if bestowing a favor, he said, "It’s unsettled tonight. I… I will escort you back to the manor."
If it were the Qin Wan of old, hearing such words would have made her eyes redden, tongue-tied, and tearfully grateful.
But now, Qin Wan simply walked around Huo Ning. "No need to trouble the young master. Qin Wan will take her leave."
Huo Ning’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Then, frowning, he took two steps back, blocking Qin Wan’s path once more.
He studied Qin Wan carefully, seeing only clear, cool eyes in her gaze, not a trace of admiration or infatuation for him. A surge of annoyance rose in Huo Ning’s heart. "Are you planning to use this method to attract my attention?"
Qin Wan was momentarily stunned, finding it both laughable and exasperating. The Prefect’s son might truly be outstanding among the younger generation in Jinzhou. But the Great Zhou was vast, the world immense. Jinzhou was merely a tiny corner. The person before her was truly ignorant and arrogant!
Seeing the slightly mocking smile in Qin Wan’s eyes, Huo Ning straightened his back, still holding his chin high. "Using this method is useless. I only heard you jumped into the lake for me, so I feel somewhat guilty, that’s all."
Qin Wan suddenly felt a pang of heartache for the former Ninth Young Miss.
The reason Huo Ning was so certain she was putting on an act must be because the former Ninth Young Miss had genuinely liked Huo Ning. Unfortunately, Huo Ning had always looked down on her from above, showing no respect or affection.
Yet even the former Ninth Young Miss would never have taken her own life for someone like Huo Ning.
Qin Wan narrowed her eyes, meeting Huo Ning’s self-important arrogance with a slight curl of her lips.
Her tone was filled with helplessness. "On what grounds does Young Master Huo think I jumped into the lake for you? Based on your ignorance? Or your foolishness? Or perhaps this fine appearance of yours and your status as the Prefect’s son?"
As her words fell, Qin Wan watched with satisfaction as Huo Ning’s expression changed drastically.
Unless necessary, Qin Wan would never lightly offend another’s dignity. But if others showed her disrespect first, she would absolutely not endure a shallow, arrogant fool strutting before her.