The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 262
Translated by Pure
Chapter 262 Chi Jingxi's Moonlighting as the Male Lead (2)
The Plum Blossom Garden within the Jiang Residence was somewhat renowned in Chaoge. A notable scholar once penned verses lauding its splendor, declaring it the haven of the most resplendent winter plum blossoms in all of Chaoge.
For this occasion, Young Lady Jiang's birthday banquet was set amidst the charm of the Plum Blossom Garden.
Upon passing through two arches shaped like flowers, they entered the garden, where despite the chill of winter, the plum blossoms flourished in vivid hues of red. As they surveyed the scene, the garden seemed to embody the vibrancy of youth, akin to a maiden in her prime.
Wen Yantong positioned herself beneath a plum blossom tree, inhaling deeply as the sweet fragrance of the blossoms enveloped her senses.
A glance to her side revealed Chi Jingxi, equally engrossed in admiring the plum blossoms.
In response to his unexpected invitation, a throng of girls trailed behind them as they ventured into the Plum Blossom Garden, eager to spectate.
Though she remained silent at his inquiry, Wen Yantong responded with a smile. Chi Jingxi trailed her at a discreet distance, their eyes occasionally meeting as she glanced his way.
Despite Wen Yantong's efforts to conceal it, the peculiar bond between her and Chi Jingxi was evident to all. After all, it was uncommon for the Little Marquis to extend such an invitation to a girl.
Yet, these speculations remained hushed, akin to murmurs over two individuals coincidentally donning similar-colored attire. While the whispers persisted, the true nature of their relationship remained veiled in mystery.
Plum Blossom Garden suddenly bustled with activity, resonating with laughter and chatter.
After a leisurely stroll, Wen Yantong began to feel fatigued from admiring the blossoms and sought out a spot to rest. However, before she could settle in, Fu Tanghuan emerged unexpectedly, beckoning her with a mysterious air. "Come here! The show is about to begin,” she said.
Wen Yantong rose from her seat, curiosity piqued, and approached Fu Tanghuan. In a hushed tone, she inquired, "What's going on?"
Fu Tanghuan took Wen Yantong's hand and whispered, "Come with me."
Wen Yantong had been speculating about the anticipated spectacle Fu Tanghuan had mentioned earlier, assuming it revolved around the affairs of the Fu family, perhaps involving Fu Shi or Fu Tian.
Little did she anticipate that the spectacle in question would be centered around Chi Jingxi.
Fu Tanghuan led Wen Yantong along a winding path within the Plum Blossom Garden, gradually distancing themselves from the bustling crowd until the surroundings grew tranquil. As they walked further, several quaint huts came into view, nestled amidst the undulating terrain of the hillside, lending the scene a picturesque charm.
At the nearest hut, a maidservant stood by the door, seemingly airing out the interior.
Taking stock of the situation, Fu Tanghuan swiftly guided Wen Yantong to the opposite side, evading the maid's attention, and stealthily maneuvered to the rear of the hut. With caution, they concealed themselves beneath a nearby window.
Curiosity piqued, Wen Yantong couldn't resist whispering, "What are we here to witness?"
Fu Tanghuan gently raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. "Shh... don't be anxious," she whispered.
Just then, voices emanated from inside the room, audible through the window. It was a girl's voice, expressing her sentiments, "I've waited for you for over a decade. You know I've harbored feelings for you since childhood. Now that we're grown, why haven't you ever given me a chance?"
Wen Yantong pursed her lips, finding it surprising that it was a typical romantic drama about a woman pursuing a man. So cliché.
However, her surprise grew when she heard the man's voice, "I already told you."
It was Chi Jingxi's voice! She was taken aback. It turns out Chi Jingxi was the male lead in this love drama?
Upon reflection, Wen Yantong recalled snippets of information indicating Jiang Ying's long-standing affection for Chi Jingxi since childhood. She even harbored aspirations of marrying him. Wen Yantong distinctly remembered feeling a twinge of jealousy when she encountered Jiang Ying on the street before.
It seemed evident that the girl inside the hut was indeed Jiang Ying.
As Wen Yantong listened, Jiang Ying's voice held a note of desperation. "Brother Xi, have you forgotten the promise you made to me when we were children? You said you would grant me a wish."
"It was so long ago," Chi Jingxi replied somewhat coldly. "Childhood promises are fleeting. There's no need to dwell on them."
"But I still do!" Jiang Ying pleaded tearfully. "Tomorrow I turn seventeen, and I've been waiting all these years."
Chi Jingxi fell silent.
Wen Yantong, feeling a surge of frustration, clenched her fists tightly. ‘Why isn’t he responding? Just call her out already!’
Jiang Ying seemed to have also grasped this point. Her voice quivered with desperation as she continued to plead, "I don't ask for anything else. I am even willing to be a concubine. Brother Xi, just agree to marry me!"
After a moment of silence, Chi Jingxi's voice rang out, "Jiang Ying, since you and I have been playmates since childhood, I've always believed that we shouldn't speak to each other so harshly, but I have told you many times that matters of the heart cannot be forced. Besides, I have already met the girl who I liked, so you should find another person to love."
Wen Yantong's heart skipped a beat when she heard his words. She covered her mouth and smiled secretly, feeling a sweet sensation in her heart. These words completely rejected Jiang Ying, leaving no room for her.
However, Jiang Ying was accustomed to such rejections, so she persisted, "How could it be!"
Chi Jingxi remained resolute, stating, "I've said enough, get out of the way."
Jiang Ying started to cry, "You are so heartless! Then I’ll cry out loud and attract people to come over. If others see it’s just you and me in this room, you will have to marry me. You wouldn’t be able to clear yourself of this!"
Chi Jingxi just chuckled lightly in response. He sarcastically remarked, "If you had the ability to call others over, I wouldn't have entered this hut."
"I've been waiting for you for more than ten years, and in the end all I receive in response is ‘find another person to love’?" Jiang Ying said, unwilling to accept Chi Jingxi's words.
Chi Jingxi opened the door, and before departing, he turned his head and delivered his final message, "Don't let your stubbornness hinder me. I told you a long time ago that I will not marry you, but you always refused to listen.”
Wen Yantong felt extremely happy and she hastily stood up.
Fu Tanghuan remained squatting on the spot, smiling as she watched Wen Yantong hurry out.
"Chi Jingxi!" Wen Yantong chased after him for a while, caught sight of his back, and called out to him.
Chi Jingxi stopped immediately, turned around, and snorted, "Impolite."
Seeing no one else around, Wen Yantong ran over and opened her arms to hug him.
Chi Jingxi stood still. Seeing her approach, he stretched out his hand to greet her. They embraced each other tightly; Chi Jingxi wrapped her in his cloak, holding her close.
Wen Yantong took a deep breath, filled with attachment and concern, and couldn't help but rub her face. "Little Marquis, I missed you so much."
Chi Jingxi rested his chin on the top of her head, and his deep voice seemed to resonate from her chest. "Mmm, me too."
As the saying goes, a day's absence was akin to three autumns. It had been several days since Wen Yantong last saw Chi Jingxi, but upon catching sight of him, her heart fluttered as if experiencing their first encounter all over again.
She nestled into Chi Jingxi's arms for a moment, but mindful of prying eyes, she withdrew and asked softly, "Little Marquis, you've been so busy lately.How did you still make time to attend this banquet?"
Chi Jingxi tenderly ran his fingers through her tousled hair, his voice low as he replied, "Jiang Wu is an influential figure in the court, so I cannot refuse his invitation."
Wen Yantong pressed further, "Then when might you be free? New Year's Eve is just two days away."
Chi Jingxi assured her, "I anticipate wrapping up my duties within that time frame, and I will seek you out then."