Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play

Chapter 823 - 801: Acting Coy

Fang Chuning teased, "Lin Xiao, why are you twisting his arm, look, his face is all scrunched up from the pain."

Hearing this, Lin Xiao felt even more guilty. Despite repeatedly warning Zhang Boxin, he just wouldn’t listen. Why bring up Fang Chuning’s engagement?

"Does Mr. Fang have some unspeakable secret about his engagement? Rest assured, I’m tight-lipped and won’t spill a word," Zhang Boxin suddenly realized. "Is it because of that reputation of bringing bad luck to wives? That was from years ago, does it still affect marriage proposals now?"

"Ha!" Lin Xiao just let out a sigh. You claim to be tight-lipped, but whatever you know, all your friends know too.

Fang Chuning said, "Not really, there’s nothing inconvenient to say. It’s just that I like someone, but he... doesn’t like me."

Perhaps saying it like this, they might find it easier to accept.

Zhang Boxin almost dropped his wine jug. "Who could be so blind not to like you, Mr. Fang? You are the man every girl in the Capital City wants to marry. Even with nothing else, just your tall stature and handsome looks, even if you were begging on the street, there are girls ready to take you home and keep you!"

Lin Xiao, "..."

He really couldn’t stop Zhang Boxin, but what he said was true. Fang Chuning was indeed the man every girl in the Capital City wanted to marry. The last one with such an honor was the eldest son of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, Xie Zhang. Unfortunately, he got engaged early, breaking many hearts, and since then, it’s been Fang Chuning. Countless women are infatuated with him; Xie Xun isn’t nearly as popular.

But because of a reputation for bringing misfortune to wives, the girls want to marry him, yet dare not.

Yes, dare not. It doesn’t mean Fang Chuning himself isn’t popular; back in those days at the Imperial College, everyone adored him!

Lin Xiao simply gave up and let Zhang Boxin ramble.

Fang Chuning laughed, "Indeed, with this face of mine, I could easily command a thousand gold if I were to put up a sign at the Mudan Building!"

"Exactly!" Zhang Boxin wholeheartedly agreed, before realizing the blasphemy in his words and quickly tapping his mouth, "Peh, peh, peh, that was a bad analogy, my mistake."

Fang Chuning laughed heartily, starting to understand why Xie Xun enjoyed spending time with them.

"What about you? Why haven’t you proposed marriage?"

"No one governs me!" Zhang Boxin said. "After my parents separated, I couldn’t leave home, but my father and I have grown distant. He remarried and doesn’t meddle in my marriage matters. I relish my freedom, and my mother, naturally, can’t interfere anymore. So I’ll leave it to fate; I’ll eventually encounter a girl I wish to marry."

Fang Chuning envied him. How wonderful it must be with no one controlling your life!

Zhang Boxin secretly inquired, "Mr. Fang, why hasn’t the Prince proposed a marriage, and the Emperor isn’t urgent about it either?"

Lin Xiao, "..."

Zhang Boxin really exasperated him, but fortunately, Fang Chuning was magnanimous, unperturbed, returning the inquiry with a smile, "Why don’t you ask him?"

"I wouldn’t dare! The Prince isn’t someone who’d discuss such matters with me." Zhang Boxin had enough self-awareness, "He wouldn’t even give me the time of day."

Fang Chuning chuckled silently. Yes, Xie Jue was aloof and wouldn’t engage in intimate conversations with others; asking such a question would only offend him.

"Mr. Fang, since you grew up together, do you know the reason?"

Throughout the Capital City, the marriages of Xie Jue and Fang Chuning are the most anticipated topics.

"Perhaps... he sought but did not obtain," Fang Chuning replied lightly.

"That’s even more unlikely; he’s Prince Yan. How could he seek but not obtain, unless..." Unless he harbors affection for the Empress, which startled Zhang Boxin just to consider.

Indeed, he noticed Xie Jue didn’t have much interaction with women and was cold to the female generals from Ningzhou, yet he was gentle, even warm, towards Fengyu.

"Zhang Boxin, stop jumping to conclusions!" Lin Xiao sternly rebuked. Having grown up together, he could guess Zhang Boxin’s thoughts, almost gritting his teeth, "Don’t harm yourself or others!"

"I was wrong; I shouldn’t have entertained such misguided thoughts."

"What misguided thoughts?" Fang Chuning, unaware of Zhang Boxin’s musings, asked curiously.

Zhang Boxin dared not tell the truth, "Surely the Prince cherishes the wife he married in Beiman, but due to the animosity between the families, he can only bury his affection and even distance himself from her; this too is unrequited love."

Fang Chuning, "..."

Almost right, but not entirely!

The three were merrily chatting on the rooftop when Ying Er suddenly appeared in the courtyard, "Generals, the Prince said you are too noisy, go back to your rooms to sleep, otherwise, go continue drinking on a rooftop a mile away, don’t disturb the people here."

Everyone, "..."

Zhang Boxin instantly fell silent, recalling that Xie Jue had a fixed schedule, and at this hour, he should be resting. Here they were, drinking and being loud on the rooftop, which indeed was a disturbance.

Fang Chuning clicked his tongue, "Such a temper!"

On returning to the room, Xie Jue was dressed in a simple white robe, organizing documents. The lamp light made him appear as if in a dream, like a dynamic painting. Fang Chuning thought, truly pleasing to the eyes; even if the person before me isn’t my heart’s desire, this dynamic painting is still mesmerizing and radiant. It suddenly dawned on him why he was so fond of Xie Jue.

A love for beauty is shared by all.

He was but a common man, inevitably tinged with vulgarity, simply enamored with beauty.

Grown fussy from childhood, he could no longer tolerate anyone else around.

"Zhang Boxin is thoughtless and loud, and Han Ziqi has been frequently in contact with him and Lin Xiao lately. Don’t indulge in idle chatter with them," Xie Jue glanced up, not appearing angry, even with a hint of a smile.

"Busy with documents, yet you still overheard us gossiping about you?" Fang Chuning’s eyes glimmered with amusement, unknowingly laced with a hint of fondness.

"You deliberately tried to get me drunk, yet you play the victim!"

"I’m wronged, my dear Prince, I am fond of drinking, as you well know. If you don’t drink with me, I have to find someone else to accompany me," Fang Chuning’s smile was captivating. Xie Jue glanced at him, unable to suppress a smile, yet did not expose him.

Fang Chuning’s eyes lingered on the waist defined by the jade belt, swallowing lightly, "Going to the palace for negotiations tomorrow?"

"Hmm!" Xie Jue, engrossed in his documents, noticed Fang Chuning’s silence, glanced back, only to find his gaze fixed at his waist. Xie Jue’s face warmed, blurting out, "Don’t even think about it!"

"Think about what?" Fang Chuning asked amusedly.

Xie Jue said calmly, "Sleep in your own room tonight!"

With negotiations tomorrow, he wanted no fiascos, especially none that would embarrass him in Sannan!

"Ting Feng..." Hearing this, Fang Chuning sensed an opportunity, softening his tone as if being coquettish. Xie Jue was immune to others’ coquettishness, but Fang Chuning’s vulnerability was his sole weakness.

"Get out!"