Seeing that Ji Yunxi ignored her, Ji Yuyan pretended to be aggrieved.
"Maybe I'm not in Sister's good graces..."
After saying that, she looked up at Feng Xingzhi.
"If you know you're not liked, it's better to stay away."
Ji Yunyi was originally angry, but Feng Xingzhi's words instantly dispelled his anger.
Having been ridiculed, Ji Yuyan behaved herself for the rest of the journey.
Not until they entered the Seven - Star Pass did Ji Yuyan stop bothering Ji Yunxi.
Ji Yunxi was glad for the peace. Once they entered the city, she slightly lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out. Coincidentally, she caught someone's eye.
"General Su?"
Ji Yunxi smiled bitterly to herself. What kind of luck was this? She managed to bump into Su Ningyuan thousands of miles away.
The carriage stopped. Feng Xingzhi was just about to ask what was going on when he saw Su Ningyuan standing beside the carriage, talking to Ji Yunxi.
His heart suddenly tightened, and a sour feeling welled up inside him.
Ji Yunxi greeted him awkwardly, "General Su, what a coincidence!"
Su Ningyuan looked at the woman he loved and slightly lowered his eyes. "Miss Ji, it is indeed a coincidence. I volunteered to guard the Seven - Star Pass. I didn't expect to meet you here."
Ji Yunxi was stunned. The Seven - Star Pass was close to the desert, where sandstorms were frequent. Su Ningyuan had chosen a tough place.
"Is it because of the marriage?" Ji Yunxi lowered her voice, full of apology.
Su Ningyuan smiled frankly. "Yes. As a man, I've nothing to hide. Moreover, if I said it wasn't, I'm sure you wouldn't believe me."
Ji Yunxi opened her mouth but didn't know what to say. She had broken off the engagement at the last minute. After all, she owed Su Ningyuan.
Their conversation made Feng Xingzhi uncomfortable. He secretly coughed a few times to draw Ji Yunxi's attention.
Su Ningyuan noticed that Feng Xingzhi looked pale. Knowing he was in poor health, he suggested, "Why don't you stay at the Tianlai Inn? I can play the host's part."
Ji Yunxi was embarrassed and privately didn't want to go. "It would be too much trouble for General Su. We'll just..."
Before she could finish, Ji Yuyan interrupted her. "We'd better accept your kind offer!"
Ji Yunxi was displeased and embarrassed. But it wasn't a good idea to reject Su Ningyuan twice. So she could only stand aside sulking.
Su Ningyuan saw Ji Yunxi's unease and felt a pang in his heart.
Ji Yunyi looked at Ji Yunxi, leaned over, and whispered, "General Su is an open - minded man. He's quite free - spirited. Why do you still brood over it, little sister?"
Ji Yunxi paused. Seeing the slightly hurt look in Su Ningyuan's eyes, she lowered her eyes. "Brother is right."
Su Ningyuan arranged a good meal to entertain everyone. Ji Yuyan naturally sat beside Su Ningyuan, as if she wasn't the one who had been so attentive to Feng Xingzhi before.
Su Ningyuan was a bit curious. Ji Yunxi was about to get married. Why was she here at the Seven - Star Pass with Feng Xingzhi?
"Miss Ji, why did you come here?"
Hearing this, Ji Yunxi concealed a bit. "I have some business in Xirong."
Su Ningyuan wasn't stupid. He could tell that Ji Yunxi didn't want to say more, so he didn't press further.
However, in Ji Yuyan's eyes, his silence meant he was secretly sad because Ji Yunxi didn't want to say more.
Ji Yuyan interrupted and asked on Su Ningyuan's behalf. "If that's the case, I don't know what you're going to do either, Sister. We're all following you. Why do you have to hide it?"
Ji Yunxi looked up, her eyes cold. "What business is it of yours? If you don't want to go, you can go home now."
Ji Yuyan was taken aback. She wanted to throw a tantrum but remembered Su Ningyuan beside her. Immediately, she put on a wronged look. "I just wanted to ask. Why are you so harsh on me, Sister? Are you going to do something bad that you can't let us know?"
Ji Yunyi put down his chopsticks, angry. "What nonsense!"
Ji Yuyan was startled. She bit her lower lip and reached out to pull Su Ningyuan's clothes. "General Su..."
Su Ningyuan immediately pulled back. "Please respect yourself, Second Miss."
These words made Ji Yuyan blush with shame. First, she was rejected in the marriage, and now she was reminded to respect herself. Even Ji Yuyan, who was thick - skinned, had red eyes.
Pretending to be timid and fiddling with her sleeves, Ji Yuyan had tears in her eyes. "I just wanted to find out clearly so that I could help Sister."
Ji Yunxi curled her lips and sneered. "Help me? How can you help me? Not to mention that brother and the prince are here and don't need your help at all. I'm excellent in both spiritual power and cultivation. What do I need your help for? To help me shed tears?"
Ji Yuyan stammered, trying to refute but couldn't think of anything to say.
Feng Xingzhi noticed that Ji Yunxi was unhappy. He reached out under the table and touched her hand.
Ji Yunxi's anger paused. She secretly glanced sideways and saw Feng Xingzhi's outstretched hand. A blush slowly crept up her fair earlobes.
Feng Xingzhi seemed to understand what she meant, indicating that he wasn't angry.
He smiled and withdrew his hand. Feng Xingzhi felt his heart beating out of control, as if it was about to jump out.
Different from the ambiguity in their little actions, the atmosphere at the dinner table was rather awkward.
Su Ningyuan wanted to ease the atmosphere. He had heard before that Ji Yunxi and Ji Yuyan had a good relationship. He thought it was because Ji Yuyan was too delicate that she had annoyed Ji Yunxi.
So he taught Ji Yuyan a lesson. "Second Miss, Miss Ji does things methodically. You'd better listen to your sister."
Fine! One was called Second Miss, and the other was called Miss Ji!
Hearing Su Ningyuan's words, the jealousy in Ji Yuyan's heart almost burned her to ashes.
Unable to sit still any longer, Ji Yuyan finally flung her sleeves and left the table, leaving Su Ningyuan there, completely confused.
The desert moon shone with a yellowish light, filtering through the dead branches and into the guest room.
Ji Yuyan paced back and forth.
Meeting Su Ningyuan today was an unexpected pleasure, but she also realized that Su Ningyuan really didn't like her.
Thinking that Ji Yunxi was about to become a princess, even though Feng Xingzhi was a sickly person, Ji Yunxi's status was still noble. Ji Yuyan couldn't help feeling jealous.
Looking at the cloud cakes on the table, Ji Yuyan took out a paper packet from her bosom. The white powder quickly blended with the cloud cakes.
This was originally prepared for Feng Xingzhi. Now that she happened to meet Su Ningyuan, Ji Yuyan thought that if she could force the matter, there would be no way for him to refuse!
Su Ningyuan was momentarily stunned when he saw Ji Yuyan outside the door. "Second Miss, what brings you here so late at night?"
"Brother Su, I've come to bring you some pastries."
Since one shouldn't turn away a smiling guest, Su Ningyuan had to open the door and let Ji Yuyan in.
"Brother Su, these are the cloud cakes from Wangyue Tower in the capital. I specially brought them for you to try."
Su Ningyuan stood aside, looking a bit embarrassed. "T - thank you, Second Miss. But it's already late at night. It's inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone. Second Miss, you'd better go back early."
Ji Yuyan's smiling face froze. She had come to him on her own initiative, but he still didn't even want to look at her.
Thinking of what was in the cloud cakes, Ji Yuyan wasn't in a hurry. She smiled, put down the things, and left.
Su Ningyuan watched her enter her room before he let out a sigh of relief.
He had never been interested in such pastries since childhood, but Ji Yunxi liked them.
Thinking of the way Ji Yunxi had avoided him today, although it wasn't good to present the flower borrowed from someone else, Su Ningyuan still decided to make a visit.