Song Dynasty Dreams: Marrying Zhao Pan'er at the beginning - Chapter 35

Chapter 35 So Afraid to Be Seen?

After a long and exhausting day at the birthday celebration, Gao You, Zhao Pan’er, and Song Yinzhang finally returned home. Gao You was completely worn out.

“Wife, shall we rest?”

He gazed at Zhao Pan’er expectantly. Zhao Pan’er met his eyes—but after a brief moment, she was the first to look away.

“You’re sleeping alone tonight!”

With a mischievous smile, she pushed him into the room.

“I’m staying with Yinzhang!”

What?

A man with a wife… yet left to sleep alone?

Gao You’s grievance-filled gaze bore into her.

Zhao Pan’er quickly explained, “Yinzhang is injured—she needs her sister’s company.”

Then she softened her tone.

“I’ll help you fetch water for washing up first. Then you go to bed like a good boy.”

Gao You stared at her pitifully.

Zhao Pan’er sighed in exasperation.

“Fine. How about you name a condition?”

A little pouting—and he already got a bargaining chip!

Gao You grinned.

“Dance for me!”

“Alright!”

Zhao Pan’er agreed too easily.

For a moment, Gao You wondered—had he asked for too little?

Should he have raised his demands?

But then again—getting to watch his wife’s graceful dance was already rewarding enough. There was plenty of time for future negotiations.

_______

After helping Gao You wash up, Zhao Pan’er closed the door and left.

The moment she was gone, Gao You remembered—“System, daily check-in!”

After a full day of hustling, he hadn’t even checked in yet.

[Ding! Congratulations, you have received a ‘Couples Flying Chess’ set!]

…Couples Flying Chess?

What kind of system is this?

Every day, the rewards were utterly random.

And this time…

The game’s content was downright shameless!

This calls for criticism!

Before his mind could wander further—Gao You drifted into sleep.

______

When Gao You stepped out of his room the next morning, the first thing he saw was Ouyang Xu entering through the door.

Wearing a bamboo hat, trying to hide his face.

“You scumbag.”

Gao You didn’t bother holding back his disgust.

Ouyang Xu’s rage surged like a volcano erupting.

Because of Gao You, he—the newly crowned Top Scholar—had become a national laughingstock.

The fool had beaten him into the ground. Now, he couldn’t show his face anywhere. Every time he went out, he had to hide under a hat.

“Gao You!”

Ouyang Xu clenched his fists, on the verge of exploding.

If he threw a punch, he’d feel so much better. But Gao You was hoping for exactly that. Yesterday, he had beaten Zhou She to a pulp—proving his fighting skills were more than adequate.

If Ouyang Xu dared to start a fight—he wouldn’t let him off lightly. He’d turn that arrogant face into a blooming peach blossom.

______

“What are you doing here again?”

Little Lingdang rushed over—brandishing a stick. She looked ready to throw hands at any moment.

Ouyang Xu ignored her and asked, “Where’s Pan’er?”

At that moment, Zhao Pan’er and Song Yinzhang walked out of the guest room.

“Pan’er!”

Ouyang Xu dodged around Gao You and hurried towards her. Zhao Pan’er’s expression immediately turned cold.

“I don’t want to see you.”

“Pan’er… I came to say goodbye.”

Ouyang Xu’s voice was full of defeat. He couldn’t stay in Qiantang anymore.

What was supposed to be a glorious homecoming had turned into a humiliating disaster. If word of his couplet failures reached the capital, even his official prospects would be at risk.

“I see.”

Zhao Pan’er nodded indifferently, then pointed at the courtyard gate.

“You can leave now.”

“So cold-hearted?”

Ouyang Xu’s eyes turned red.

Zhao Pan’er looked at him, but—she wasn’t even angry anymore. She just didn’t care.

Instead of worrying about Ouyang Xu, she was more concerned about—What should she cook for Gao You’s breakfast?

____

“The only cold-hearted one here is you.”

Song Yinzhang glared at Ouyang Xu.

“My sister never wronged you.”

“You know exactly what you did.”

Ouyang Xu waved a hand dismissively.

“I don’t want to argue.”

“I’m leaving at noon for the capital.”

Zhao Pan’er didn’t even spare him another glance. Instead, she turned to Gao You, her eyes bright and cheerful.

“High Lang!”

“What do you want for breakfast?”

_____

Gao You thought for a moment.

Last time, he had made Plum Blossom Soup Cakes—they were beautiful and delicious. A dish made by mixing white plum blossoms and sandalwood-scented water into dough, shaping them into plum blossom petals, then boiling them in chicken broth.

He smiled.

“Plum Blossom Soup Cakes.”

“Alright!”

Zhao Pan’er nodded and happily went to the kitchen.

_____

Meanwhile, Ouyang Xu sat down at the table—uninvited. Even though nobody welcomed him, he refused to leave. Instead, he even served himself a bowl of soup.

Shameless.

“Wife!”

Gao You picked up a plum blossom-shaped piece of food and held it to Zhao Pan’er’s lips.

Zhao Pan’er’s cheeks flushed.

She bit her lip but didn’t open her mouth.

Gao You was puzzled.

What was this?

Ouyang Xu was right here—wasn’t this the perfect time to act?

Shouldn’t they put on a show and drive him crazy with jealousy?

“I can eat by myself.”

But when she finished speaking—she noticed Gao You still holding it up, staring at her intently.

That burning gaze—she couldn’t handle it.

In the end, she relented and shyly took a bite. Seeing her bashful expression, Ouyang Xu felt like his heart was being stabbed by a thousand arrows. The chicken soup was warm. But all he tasted was bitterness.

______

Gao You noticed—Why was his wife suddenly so shy?

Before, she had never been this flustered.

Was something changing?

With that in mind—

He offered her another bite.

______

“Master Gao!”

A voice called from outside.

The housekeeper, Fu Bo, hurried to check.

“It’s Judge Yang!”

At the mention of Yang Yunpan, Ouyang Xu jumped up instantly.

Ready to flee.

What—so afraid of being seen?

Gao You smirked.

He immediately ordered Fu Bo,

“Hurry—invite him in!”

But before the words even finished—Ouyang Xu had already bolted. He raced to the courtyard wall, scrambled onto a water jar, and frantically climbed over. The moment he vanished—The entire house erupted into laughter.