With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

lobby.

Shen Run sat in the main seat, legs crossed, holding a cup of tea, looking impatient.

Pei Ran sat in the guest seat, dressed in a moon-white robe, with a handsome face and gentle eyes.

He held the teacup with elegant posture, a perfectly measured smile playing on his lips.

"Brother Shen, it's been a long time."

Shen Run hummed in agreement, but didn't even ask for more tea.

Pei Ran wasn't annoyed, and still smiled, "I wonder how my little sister is doing lately?"

Shen Run raised an eyelid: "Why are you asking this?"

"I'm engaged to my little sister Nannan," Pei Ran smiled gently, "It's only right that I show some concern."

Shen Run snorted coldly, about to speak—

"Young Master Pei has arrived?"

A soft, delicate voice came from the doorway.

Pei Ran looked up.

Sunlight streamed in through the doorway, illuminating the graceful figure.

Shen Nannan wore a light purple spring dress with a slender waist, and the hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps.

A beautiful face, framed by a delicate hairpin swaying gently, made it all the more captivating.

A look of amazement flashed in Pei Ran's eyes, and her smile grew even gentler.

"Little sister, it's been a long time."

Shen Nannan stopped in front of him and looked up at him.

In her past life, she knew from a young age that he was her fiancé and thought he was the best man in the world.

Gentle, kind, and considerate towards her.

Little sister Nannan.

He called her that in her past life too. He called her that for over a decade, until the day her family was destroyed.

Now I hear him calling her,

It just sounded jarring.

"Young Master Pei," she said, her voice very polite, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Pei Ran's smile faltered slightly.

My little sister used to always call him "Brother Pei" this and "Brother Pei" that, but why is she like this today...?

But he quickly covered it up, laughing and saying...

"It was my abruptness to disturb you so early in the morning."

"I recently acquired a fine piece of jade and had it carved into a hairpin. I thought it would look beautiful on my little girl, so I brought it with me."

As she spoke, a hint of affection in her eyes appeared on her face.

Shen Nannan glanced at it,

It is a white jade hairpin, with a warm and lustrous texture and exquisite carving.

It really looks good.

Every item Pei Ran gave her was quite valuable; he valued prestige, so she figured she might as well accept it.

"Thank you, Young Master Pei."

She spoke in a calm tone, and then naturally sat down next to Shen Run—not next to Pei Ran.

Pei Ran was stunned again.

But he still smiled and sat back down.

"What have you been up to lately, little sister?" he asked with concern. "I heard you bought a stable boy the other day?"

Shen Nannan picked up the teacup and gently blew on it.

"Regarding my courtyard," Shen Nannan said slowly, "Young Master Pei seems to be quite well-informed?"

Pei Ran coughed lightly: "It was when my sister Shen Yin visited my residence a few days ago and casually mentioned it."

"But I heard that the stable boy is badly injured. Sister, you must be careful not to let those uncouth people cause trouble."

Shen Nannan raised her eyes and looked at him.

A vulgar person?

She remembered that Pei Ran had said the same thing in her past life: "Nannan, stay away from that stable boy, don't dirty your eyes."

and after?

Later, that "vulgar man" became the regent, and Pei Ran knelt before him, not daring to raise his head.

She lowered her eyes and chuckled.

"Young Master Pei is overthinking it," she said slowly. "I'll handle my own people."

Pei Ran's smile froze for a moment.

This sounds a bit off, doesn't it?

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back.

It felt like something was watching them.

He instinctively turned around—

A young man dressed in black stood at the entrance.

Dressed in servants' clothes, the way he stood there exuded an aura that made him seem nothing like a slave.

The boy had his eyes downcast, so his face wasn't clearly visible.

"Who is that?" he asked.

Shen Nannan followed his gaze.

Ah Chao stood outside the threshold, the sunlight shining on him, making his face appear even more handsome.

Much prettier than Pei Ran...

"My person," she said, "is called Ah Chao."

Pei Ran frowned: "He's that stable boy?"

"Yes." Shen Nannan picked up her teacup. "What's wrong?"

Pei Ran looked at her, then at the boy at the door.

The boy still had his eyes downcast, but Pei Ran felt that the corner of his mouth seemed to have twitched.

It looks like he's laughing.

"Little sister," he lowered his voice, "how can a stable boy be allowed to stay in your courtyard? That's against the rules."

Shen Nannan put down her teacup, looked up at him,

"Young Master Pei," she said slowly and deliberately.

"My parents aren't here, and my brother was worried about the safety of the manor, so he sent a few guards over. What, does Young Master Pei have a problem with that?"

Pei Ran choked.

He chuckled dryly: "Of course not."

But he couldn't help but take another look.

The boy stood there, motionless.

But Pei Ran always felt that the way he looked at her—

He shivered and looked away.

Shen Run almost burst out laughing.

What's wrong with his sister today? She's so eloquent, she's left this guy surnamed Pei speechless.

He already thought Pei Ran was a hypocrite, and seeing him get his comeuppance made him feel incredibly satisfied.

How could someone like Shen Run be someone he could even dream of being with?

Pei Ran was a little embarrassed, but she quickly recovered and said with a smile, "I was just being nosy. Please don't take offense, little sister."

Shen Nannan smiled but didn't say anything.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Pei Ran spoke again: "Little sister Nannan, I came today for two reasons, firstly to see you, and secondly..."

He paused and glanced at Shen Run.

Shen Run rolled his eyes: "Why are you looking at me? Just say what you want to say."

Pei Ran smiled: "Secondly, I wanted to discuss the spring outing with my sister."

Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow: "A spring outing?"

"Yes," Pei Ran said.

"In half a month, the young masters of noble families will all go to Peach Blossom Valley outside the city. I was thinking of coming to pick up my sister then and going together."

Shen Nannan's heart stirred.

Spring outing in half a month,

What happened again?

She suddenly remembered.

Tong Jian, the nephew of the Tong family.

That scoundrel barged into the tent while she was changing clothes, spouting incoherent nonsense.

Although she was beaten half to death by her brother, her reputation was ruined.

The noble ladies of the capital laughed at her openly and secretly for a long time, saying that the eldest daughter of the Shen family was shameless and attracted attention even in such a setting.

Madam Tong was in the mansion, holding her half-crippled nephew and wailing uncontrollably.

That woman wanted to ruin her reputation so that her daughter, Shen Yin, could take her place in the marriage arranged with the Pei family.

And because of Shen Run's outburst of anger,

As a result, the management of the household affairs fell entirely into her hands.

Shen Nannan gripped the jade hairpin tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"Little sister?" Pei Ran noticed her expression was off. "What's wrong?"

Shen Nannan snapped out of her reverie and smiled, "It's nothing. Is the spring outing Brother Pei mentioned the one in two weeks?"

"That's right." Pei Ran was overjoyed to hear her call him Brother Pei again. "I'll take my sister with me then."

Shen Run chimed in from the side, "You don't need to pick me up, I'll go with Nannan."

Pei Ran smiled but didn't reply.

He looked at Shen Nannan with tender eyes: "Little sister, prepare well. When the time comes, you'll definitely show those people who is the most beautiful woman in the capital."

Shen Nannan rolled her eyes inwardly.

"Young Master Pei," she put down her teacup, "you came just to tell me this?"

"Of course not." Pei Ran looked at her, his gaze softening. "I just missed my sister. I've been busy with my studies these days and haven't been able to come see you. I've been thinking about her constantly."

These words were spoken so gently that if it were Shen Nannan from her past life, she would have been happy for days after hearing them.

But now—

Looking into his gentle eyes, she had only one thought in her mind:

He is lying.

She didn't understand in her past life, but she does now. He can give that tender look to anyone, as long as that person is useful to him.

"Young Master Pei, you're too kind." She smiled slightly.

Pei Ran looked at her, his gaze becoming increasingly tender.

He remembered his father's words—"You have to hold onto that girl from the Shen family." He leaned forward, reaching out to take her hand—