Unlike Pei Yu's chatty personality, Bai Baocheng, who stood behind him, appeared much more silent and quiet.
He first greeted Marshal Xie and Xie Chengxiao before looking at his own younger sister, Bai Baozhu.
"Baozhu, Grandfather sent me to pick you up."
Bai Baozhu's face turned grim. She hadn't expected her grandfather to act so quickly, already sending her brother to the Northwest to take her back.
She could only force a perfunctory, awkward smile.
Xie Zhenning quickly greeted them, "Have you two had breakfast yet?"
Pei Yu, acting very familiar, patted his stomach. "Uncle, we've been rushing all morning and indeed haven't eaten anything yet. My stomach is completely flat."
Xie Zhenning turned and instructed the servants to add two more chairs.
Naturally, Bai Baocheng sat next to his sister, Bai Baozhu.
As for Pei Yu, who knew what he was thinking, he carelessly pulled out a chair and casually sat right next to Bai Liuyue.
Not only that, he even greeted her as if they were old friends.
"We meet again."
Bai Liuyue paused slightly while eating her porridge. A hint of confusion flashed in her eyes as she asked, "Do we... know each other?"
It should be known that back in Jinzhong, she was a sheltered young lady who never stepped out of the inner courtyard.
She simply had no opportunity to meet strange men.
Much less Pei Yu.
Pei Yu's lips curled into a smile as he said, "Well, we know each other now. Hello, I'm Pei Yu."
He extended his hand.
He looked at her with a face full of expectation.
Diagonally across the dining table, Xie Chengxiao paused in the middle of drinking water, then slammed his cup heavily onto the table.
As if unintentionally, he spoke up:
"Second Miss Bai is a traditional lady from a respectable family. Don't use your modern handshaking nonsense on her."
"Is that so?" Pei Yu curled his lips, his gaze quickly sweeping over the woman beside him as he drawled, "But the qipao she's wearing today is so modern and pretty."
Xie Chengxiao pursed his lips, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"I bought it."
Hearing this, Pei Yu couldn't help but narrow his usually spirited peach-blossom eyes.
Like a deflated balloon pricked by a needle, he buried his head and focused on eating.
On the other side, Xie Zhenning, acting as the elder, gently asked Bai Baocheng a few questions.
Such as whether their journey had been smooth.
And how his good friend in Jinzhong, Bai Wenshan, was doing health-wise.
Bai Baocheng answered them one by one.
The atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.
That was until Xie Zhenning brought up the matter of publishing an announcement in the newspaper regarding Xie Chengxiao and Bai Baozhu's divorce.
The smile on Bai Baocheng's face faltered slightly.
Suddenly, he said,
"When I left Jinzhong, my mother was bedridden with an illness and in poor spirits. Could we delay the newspaper announcement for a few days?"
"It won't be too late to publish it once she's feeling better."
Upon hearing this, Bai Baozhu immediately grew anxious.
"What? Mother is sick? It's all my fault. If she hadn't been worrying about me, she wouldn't be like this."
"It's all my fault. I'm such an unfilial daughter." As she spoke, her voice took on a tearful tone, and she picked up a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.
Xie Manyu instinctively spoke up, "Dad, Sister-in-law's mother must be depressed because of her situation. Why don't we delay the announcement?"
After saying that, she suddenly raised a hand to cover her mouth.
She turned her head to check her brother Xie Chengxiao's reaction.
She saw that his expression remained indifferent, though his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was displeased by this twist and change of plans.
Her brother was unhappy.
Had she said the wrong thing again?
When Xie Manyu looked up, her gaze accidentally met Bai Liuyue's, only to see that the other woman still showed no reaction.
Wasn't she agitated?
If the divorce wasn't publicly announced in the papers, outsiders would naturally assume that Bai Baozhu was still Young Marshal Xie's wife.
And Bai Liuyue's status would be put in an awkward position.
Xie Zhenning fell silent, presumably contemplating the matter.
Bai Baozhu held her breath. If the newspaper announcement could be delayed, then she still had hope.
"Alright, we'll publish it on the day you leave with Bai Baozhu," Xie Zhenning slowly said. "Since you're here, stay and enjoy the Northwest for a few days. Let our Xie family fulfill our duties as hosts."
"In that case, thank you, Marshal Xie," Bai Baocheng said with a gentle smile.
Bai Baozhu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm full."
Xie Chengxiao suddenly stood up.
Everyone's eyes naturally followed him.
Xie Chengxiao nodded. "Take your time eating. I still have military affairs to attend to."
Ever since she was little, Xie Manyu knew her brother was a man of few words. Even though he didn't say anything, he was definitely angry.
...
After breakfast, Marshal Xie had the servants arrange accommodations for the two guests.
There were two empty guest rooms on the right side of the third floor.
Just as Bai Baocheng finished unpacking his luggage, he heard a familiar knock at the door.
"Knock, knock-knock-knock, knock."
This was the secret knocking code he had agreed upon with his sister.
After opening the door, sure enough, Bai Baozhu stood there wearing a light white Western-style dress. She glanced left and right before quickly slipping into the room.
She swiftly closed the door.
"Brother, you're not really going to take me away from the Northwest, are you?" Bai Baozhu's tone was certain.
Bai Baocheng smiled, gesturing for her to come in and sit on the sofa first.
"No rush, take your time."
After taking a seat, Bai Baozhu accepted the warm water Bai Baocheng handed her and hurriedly said:
"I know I was foolish before. Xie Chengxiao is such a good husband candidate, yet I lost my mind and wanted to leave."
"For all the things I did before... I was wrong! I deeply regret it now. I don't want to leave the Marshal's mansion, and I don't want to leave Xie Chengxiao."
"I want to keep my position as Young Marshal Xie's wife!"
The smile on Bai Baocheng's lips deepened, and he said unhurriedly:
"Now that's my sister."
"It's true that Grandfather has his own plans and wants me to take you away."
"But, I have my own plans too."
"Bai Liuyue is Second Uncle's daughter. You should know that there's bad blood between Father and Second Uncle. If Bai Liuyue really becomes Xie Chengxiao's wife, I'm afraid the second branch of the family will forever lord it over us."
Their grandfather, Bai Wenshan, was the Director of the Jinzhong Finance Department.
His political career had reached its peak. When he eventually stepped down, the person to take over his position would either be the eldest son, Bai Yi, or the second son, Bai Zhao.
To Bai Wenshan, no matter which granddaughter married him, his grandson-in-law would still be Young Marshal Xie.
But for the two branches of the Bai family, the implications were entirely different.
Bai Baozhu looked thoughtful as she said,
"No wonder! I was just thinking that Bai Liuyue used to seem so clumsy and timid."
"Yet recently, she's been taking the initiative to get close to Xie Chengxiao. So it was Second Uncle's idea all along..."
Bai Baocheng nodded heavily.
He shot his sister a reassuring look.
"So rest assured, I didn't come to the Northwest this time to take you away, but to help you."
"As long as you can completely win back Xie Chengxiao's heart and secure your position in the Marshal's mansion, the person I take back to Jinzhong won't be you, but Bai Liuyue."
