Chapter 23: The Daily Routine of Putting the Scum in His Place

Nurse Tang dared not ask further and nodded in agreement, "Yes!"

Gu Xingwan and her maid, Tingzheng, headed toward the back gate. As a modern woman, Gu Xingwan felt awkward in ancient attire; the long skirt tripped her up, and she stumbled in the backyard.

"Ouch!"

"Miss, are you alright?" Tingzheng asked in a low voice, holding up the lantern.

"Ah! It hurts so much!"

She had bruised her knee, and tears welled up in Gu Xingwan's eyes. Tingzheng hurriedly massaged it for a while until the pain subsided.

The two reached the back gate and, after checking that no one was around, quietly opened it. Outside, a servant held a lantern bearing the Mei family crest.

Mei Xianghan stood under the lantern light, dressed in a deep cyan silk robe embroidered with gold thread. At his waist hung a costly jade pendant carved with dragon-like patterns and frosted flowers. He was a man of striking, handsome features and extraordinary presence.

When Gu Xingwan met his gaze, she saw eyes filled with deep resentment—a look far more venomous than the deadliest poison in the world.

Mei Xianghan noticed the redness in Gu Xingwan's eyes and realized she had been crying.

"Hmph, having regrets already?"

Mei Xianghan pressed forward, pinning Gu Xingwan against the door. He loomed over her, his neck muscles taut, his throat moving as he stared down at her.

"When you urged your parents to come to my house to break off our engagement, trampling the Mei family's honor underfoot, did you ever think you would regret it? Hmm?"

Mei Xianghan had returned from Cangqi Academy today only to hear the news that the Gu family had come to annul the engagement, leaving him with countless questions.

In terms of lineage, his father was the Minister of Works, a high-ranking official of the second rank—a position of immense power. In terms of talent, he was the top scholar of the provincial examinations, and the great masters of Cangqi Academy had once remarked that if the scholars of the capital possessed ten parts of talent, Mei Xianghan held eight. In terms of appearance, he was a leader among the younger generation, attracting admiring gazes whenever he walked the streets.

In contrast, what did Gu Xingwan have to be proud of? She was the daughter of a concubine from a fifth-rank official’s household. While she was talented and beautiful, she was far from perfect. Her personality was like a closed book—timid, cowardly, insecure, and overly sentimental. She lived entirely in her own little world, hardly fit for refined society.

Spending too much time with such a woman was inevitably dull and suffocating. Jian Aozhu, on the other hand, was bright, cheerful, spirited, and possessed a chivalrous heart, always eager to help others and make friends. Their temperaments were perfectly complementary.

Mei Xianghan’s original plan had been to marry both. After all, what was wrong with a man of status wanting both? Yet, before his dream could come true, the Gu family had come to annul the engagement. How dared she?

Gu Xingwan bit her lip, her eyes filled with tears. *Damn it, this posture... my knee hurts so much.*

Seeing this scene, Tingzheng blushed. Young Master Mei was truly masculine; her mistress must have been moved after all.

Seeing Gu Xingwan’s pitiable expression, the corner of Mei Xianghan’s mouth curled slightly.

"I’ll give you one last chance. Tomorrow, have your parents bring a pig’s head to my house to apologize. I can let bygones be bygones, and our two families can restore our ties. Do you hear me?"

Mei Xianghan’s tone was overbearing and brooked no argument.

Gu Xingwan: "??"

It seemed Jian Aozhu hadn't told him yet. That was quite surprising. In the original novel, Mei Xianghan was a manipulative, black-hearted man who had the original owner of this body completely under his thumb. It was the original owner’s fault for being so weak that she let him lead her by the nose.

Gu Xingwan shoved him two meters away, rolled her eyes, and turned around with a flourish. "Tingzheng, close the door!"

"Miss!" *Should we chat a bit more?*

"I told you to close the door—and slam it!"

"Oh!"

*Bang!*

Mei Xianghan was so angry he laughed, nodding vigorously. "Fine, very well. Playing hard to get, are we? I came to find you tonight; that counts as deep affection. And you treat me with this attitude? Gu Xingwan, don't make me say it twice—open the door!"

The door remained firmly shut. Only the distant caw of a crow broke the silence.

It was awkward. For the first time, Mei Xianghan felt a sense of panic. In the past, Gu Xingwan would never have treated him this way. If he showed the slightest bit of coldness, she would call out to him in a sweet, crisp voice, "Brother Xianghan," and write all sorts of cloying poetry to express her devotion.

He could not accept this sudden shift. He wanted to pound on the door, but the quiet of the night and the fear of others discovering that he, the esteemed Young Master Mei, was groveling for reconciliation stopped him. His fists hovered near the door, but he didn't dare strike.

"Gu Xingwan, if you don't open this door, you and I shall never meet again in this lifetime!"

Mei Xianghan tossed out this ultimatum, feeling a bit more secure. Surely she couldn't keep up this act after such a decisive threat.

But after waiting for a long time, the door remained closed.

A faint smile played on Gu Xingwan’s lips. It was truly impossible to escape narcissistic men, no matter where one went.

"Young Master Mei, the Heir Apparent Lu and I are already a perfect match, awaiting our wedding day soon. It would be best if we don't meet again in the future; I wouldn't want the Heir Apparent to misunderstand."

*A perfect match??*

Was it the meaning he thought it was? He had exchanged poetry and thoughts with Gu Xingwan for two whole years—two whole years—and he hadn't even touched her hand.

"Gu Xingwan!"

Mei Xianghan completely fell apart.