Chapter 106: One Step, A Lifetime

"Peony Chant" mainly tells the life story of Huang Wanrou, with romance playing an indispensable role throughout.

Besides the male lead, Tan Xuankai is a pivotal figure in Huang Wanrou's fate.

Tan Xuankai, the young commander of the Lake Army, once rescued the injured Huang Wanrou by chance and brought her back to his residence to recover.

The spirited young commander could never have imagined that the woman he saved would become the love of his life.

Bringing a woman home and spending every day together inevitably sparked gossip around the estate.

Though the commander ordered everyone to keep quiet, Huang Wanrou, clear-minded as she was, could glean some truths just by observing the expressions of the maids.

Seeing Huang Wanrou standing in the corridor, feeling the breeze, Tan Xuankai entered and brought her a cloak.

“The corridor is drafty; don’t catch a cold,” he said.

Huang Wanrou glanced at the cloak draped over her shoulders, then politely nodded and addressed him, “Commander.”

Tan Xuankai reached out to steady her, “No need for formalities; just call me by my name.”

Yet Huang Wanrou insisted, “Commander.”

Embarrassed, Tan Xuankai withdrew his hand, and the two fell silent for a moment.

Huang Wanrou looked into the distance and spoke, “I am deeply grateful for your rescue, Commander. Your great kindness shall never be forgotten.”

Tan Xuankai gazed at her and asked, “Are you leaving?”

Huang Wanrou nodded. Suddenly, an unexpected reluctance stirred within Tan Xuankai.

Saving her had been incidental; he had encountered many kinds of women—graceful and generous, or spirited and candid—but never one so perfectly suited to his heart.

Not wanting her to leave, Tan Xuankai clearly understood his feelings and blurted out, “Stay. You shall be the lady of the Tan residence. As long as I live, I will never let you suffer a single grievance.”

A decisive military commander stood nervously before a woman, awaiting her answer.

Huang Wanrou bowed gracefully, “I am honored by your affection, Commander, but I dare not accept. I only wish that you find a worthy companion soon.”

Had she not long known how this would end?

“Is it because of He Jinbai?” he asked, unable to explain why the question escaped his lips—perhaps a selfish desire to measure himself against the man who held her heart.

“How do you know that name?” surprise and suspicion filled Huang Wanrou’s eyes, as if unaware of how he had learned it.

“How could I not know?” Tan Xuankai smiled with a hint of sadness. “When you had a high fever, that name kept escaping your lips.”

Huang Wanrou lowered her gaze, silent.

“If he truly cared for you, why hasn’t he come?” Tan Xuankai felt certain that He Jinbai had betrayed her; otherwise, why would no one come to look for her?

Since her recovery, she had sat here day after day, her demeanor shadowed by sorrow.

“No matter who holds your heart, will you come with me?” For Tan Xuankai, these words were unprecedented.

Proud as he was, he usually demanded that his beloved devote herself entirely to him. Yet with Huang Wanrou, he thought only: as long as she is by my side, what does it matter who else she loves?

“Huang Wanrou’s heart has been pledged to another. For the rest of her days, in joy or sorrow, there will be no one else.”

Was he really so fortunate? For the first time in his life, Tan Xuankai envied a man he had never met—the man who possessed such love from a woman like her.

Watching Huang Wanrou’s retreating figure, a voice clamored within him: seize her, and she will be yours forever.

But he suppressed the thought: let it be. This letting go might well be forever. He cared not for force or theft, but he did not want her to hate him.

Had he truly come too late? Some encounters last a lifetime; some mistakes last a lifetime. He and Huang Wanrou were such people.

“Xia Yan? Xia Yan?” Xia Yan was snapped back to reality by Bai Chenxi waving her hand before his eyes.

He watched Bai Chenxi’s lips move, but could not hear a word she said.

Panicked, Xia Yan avoided Bai Chenxi without a word and left, his retreating figure somewhat disheveled.

“Xia Yu, has Xia Yan been in some trouble lately?” Upon hearing Bai Chenxi’s question about Xia Yan, Xia Yu looked up curiously. “I don’t think so. Haven’t heard anything. Why?”

“Nothing much. Just felt something strange about Xia Yan’s visit this time. Thought maybe something had happened to him.”

Xia Yu understood immediately—something indeed had happened. Perhaps the Red Luan Star had stirred, and its target was someone slow to realize it.

After pondering, Xia Yu asked, “What do you think of Xia Yan?”

Without hesitation, Bai Chenxi replied, “He’s good. Sometimes a bit awkward, but that’s just childish temper. Actually, a very good person.”

Xia Yu thought: Has Xia Yan been given the “nice guy” card?

Feeling a twinge of sympathy for Xia Yan, Xia Yu pressed, “What about Xia Yan as a boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend?” Bai Chenxi nearly choked on her drink.

Her eyes darted mischievously. “You and Xia Yan, you wouldn’t…”

Seeing her misunderstanding, Xia Yu hurriedly clarified, “What are you thinking? I just know you’re a fan of looks. I’m curious if someone like Xia Yan would ever stir your heart or make you think otherwise.”

Judging from Bai Chenxi’s reaction, Xia Yu knew Xia Yan had no chance. She just wanted to say something to quickly change the subject.

Better not to let it get awkward for both of them.

Unexpectedly, Bai Chenxi earnestly explained, “What nonsense! I simply appreciate good looks. You’re overthinking it.”

Xia Yu thought: Am I overthinking, or are you underthinking?

Meanwhile, Xia Yan sat there, lost in thought.

How could it be? He had just felt a flutter in his heart when looking at Bai Chenxi. Surely, he had been too immersed in his role.

Lu Tao watched Xia Yan’s absent-mindedness with puzzlement.

What was wrong with him lately? His strange behavior included daydreaming and, surprisingly, accepting a cameo role.

Everyone knew Xia Yan disliked acting; the crew had asked him several times, and he always refused. Suddenly, he agreed to a cameo.

Now, sitting there in a daze, muttering to himself, Lu Tao found Xia Yan increasingly inscrutable.

Xia Yan himself was puzzled by his feelings. He did not understand why, upon seeing news about Bai Chenxi and Jiang Jize, he felt inexplicably unsettled.

He even wanted to ask Bai Chenxi about their relationship. After they clarified, he felt relieved.

So when the crew invited him again, he accepted — the one with her in it.

He felt some questions needed to be answered personally.

But before he could understand his own heart, an accident occurred.

“Bai Chenxi!” Xia Yan shouted her name and dashed forward recklessly.

After a brief shock, the crew panicked, shouting, “Ambulance! Call an ambulance!”

Bai Chenxi had fainted. In his panic, Xia Yan lifted her up and ran outside.

At the door, he was surrounded by lurking reporters.

Xia Yan had no time for them; his face darkened as he shouted, “Get out of the way!”

The reporters, amazed at his public outburst and seeing him cradling Bai Chenxi, stepped aside but snapped photos with renewed fervor.

Xia Yan vanished like smoke.