Sensing them leave, Fan Zhu Xia let out a quiet sigh of relief and let her body relax."Thanks Big Brother..."
In response to her murmur, Fan Li Jie just shook his head while he gently took hold of his cousin"s shoulders and slowly push her off of him and wryly asked, "Are you done with your sulking yet?"
"I am NOT sulking!"
"Are you sure?" Fan Li Jie drawled with his eyes filled with enjoyment at seeing his cousin filled with indignation as her eyes flashed at his words.
"Big Brother Li, what under heaven"s name made you think that I, Fan Zhu Xia would sulk?! I do not sulk, I have never sulked, I only express my dissatisfaction!" Fan Zhu Xia stated arrogantly as she pushed herself off and allow her cousin to place her beside him.
Humming in reply, Fan Li Jie only looked at her pointedly and asked, "Hmm, is that so?"
Ignoring him, Fan Zhu Xia thought about what happened earlier and her mood instantly darkened and this was shown directly on her face which she didn"t bother masking.
Pouting, Zhu Xia let herself be detangled from Li Jie and straightened up with a disgruntled face which made her look like spoiled child that failed to get what she wanted.
Her thin, elegant brows that were softly curved like delicate crescent moons were drawn into a frown while she mumbled a string of incomprehensible words under her breath. Her soft, snow white cheek that still hadn"t lost that alluring intoxicated blush from the wine she drank was adorably puffed out as her narrowed icy blue eyes that were framed with thick lashes that curved slightly like a b.u.t.terfly"s wing shot him a dark, unhappy look.
To say that she was unhappy with him was a complete understatement.
Yet this made Fan Li Jie feel nothing but amus.e.m.e.nt!
The sight of someone actually pouting and throwing a fit like this but didn"t make him feel the slightest bit of annoyance but was instead a complete novelty for him!
The other young ladies he encountered were always so quiet and acts like virtuous little flowers i public but when they scheme, they are like sly little snakes with poisonous little tongues.
It was absolutely abhorrent!
This is why when Fan Li Jie encountered this cousin of his, even though she challenged the limit of his patience and was possibly as annoying as his secong brother, Fan Yong Rui, she was still an incredibly refres.h.i.+ng sight.
Compared to the other young ladies from other high n.o.ble families with the exception of a few, Fan Zhu Xia who may act willful, coquettish and a highly possible drunk is way better than those who act like they are as pure as white lotus that has beautiful smiles while they scheme and stab each other in the back.
Fan Li Jie would much rather have a sulking Fan Zhu Xia who is honestly showing her feelings than some other maiden who would gently smile and mask their true nature just to present a high n.o.ble image.
Standing up from the couch, Fan Li Jie fixed his slightly disheveled robes and extended a hand towards Fan Zhu Xia.
"Come on..."
Staring at his hand, Fan Zhu Xia slowly lifted her small, jade-like hand and place it in Fan Li Jie"s.
Her long, slender fingers were smooth and the skin of her palm were as soft as tofu and seemed so fragile and delicate that Fan Li Jie held it very carefully as he gently pulled her up to her feet before leading her away from the pergola.
While walking, Fan Li Jie didn"t let go of her hand which to Fan Zhu Xia, wasn"t really a big deal since she thought that her cousin must have been used to this and usually held other young ladies" hands before when they took a stroll.
What she didn"t know was this was actually the first time that Fab Li Jie ever took the initiative to hold a girl"s hand before!
Instead, Fan Zhu Xia was silently scolding herself in her mind on why she had even decided to follow and go with her cousin when she could have stayed at the pergola and just continued on drinking wine!
Ahh, wine...
The strong aroma of wine with it"s mouthwateringly lingering taste that played on the tastebuds and the slow trailing burn in the throat that spread warmth starting from the stomach until it travels to the rest of the body that builds up as one continues to drink. This was something she could have enjoyed if she had chosen to stay at the pergola!
Feeling sour, Fan Zhu Xia grumbled, "Big Brother, where are we going? Why did we have to leave the pergola?"
"We"re looking for Old Man Guo..."
"Old Man Guo? Who"s that?"
"He"s grandfather"s old friend who became the head steward of the family." Fan Li Jie explained patiently without sparing a glance at Fan Zhu Xia as he continued walking.
"Oh..."
For a moment, Zhu Xia remained silent before she a slight curiousity lit up her eyes and she asked, "Why are you looking for him?"
"We are looking for him for you." Fan Li Jie replied with a meaningful look when he said "we".
"We"re looking for him? Why?"
Giving her another look, Li Jie matter-of-factly replied, "To ask him if a courtyard has been prepared for you and if none has been prepared yet then we could choose first and inform him to have it arranged."
Looking at him weirdly, Zhu Xia sarcastically told him, "I"m not even sure if I"m staying here."
"Of course you"ll be staying! I just got you as a cousin, I haven"t even enjoyed having Xia"er around as a little sister yet."
"Huh? But-"
"No buts! All three of us brothers had always wanted a little sister and now that you"re here we have that."
Then Li Jie stopped walking and turned to look at her with a measuring glance before he continued walking and pulling her without speaking a word.
Seeing the measuring gaze he shot at her, Fan Zhu Xia frowned slightly and asked, "Why did you look at me like that?"
"Oh it"s nothing to worry about, I was just thinking that even though you are not the usual soft and gently sister and that you"re a bit bratty and unruly, it"s still better than having no sister at all."
Hearing his words, Fan Zhu Xia"s eyes widened in indignation and her free hand slapped Fan Li Jie"s shoulder as she exclaimed, "Hey!"
Ignoring her with an amused smirk playing on his lips, Fan Zhu Xia glared daggers at him before deliberately dragging her feet to annoy him.
In response, Fan Li Jie just shortened his steps to match his cousin"s and this instead made it look like they were just leisurely strolling around with their hands holding each others, the servants who managed to catch a glimpse of them felt as if they were seeing a painting of an immortal couple come to life.
The two of them were simply breathtaking!
The way they walked was so fluid and elegant that the whole air they exuded seemed tranquil and peaceful.
This was a total contrast to what the two were actually feeling.
While Fan Zhu Xia was still grumbling about the grievances she had in her heart, Fan Li Jie was musing and laughing slightly to himself inside when he thought of how his mother and second brother would react if they saw him holding hands with a girl.