“Where did you see my fifth sister, Master Lei?”

Lei Ting stopped and looked around, then said, “Near the Amitayus Buddha Hall. I think cutting through this way should be shorter.” Lei Ting pointed to the path on the right.

Ren Yaohua was not visiting White Dragon Temple for the first time either. With Lei Ting’s explanation, she roughly knew the direction. She glanced at Lei Ting and said, “I know the way around here. Master Lei, you must have your own business to attend to at White Dragon Temple today. I shouldn’t delay you. I can go to the Amitayus Buddha Hall by myself.”

Lei Ting said nothing upon hearing this.

Ren Yaohua curtsied to Lei Ting again, then led her maids toward the right fork in the path.

After walking only about ten steps, Ren Yaohua felt something was amiss. She couldn’t help but look back, only to discover that Lei Ting was walking behind them at a distance of about five or six steps.

Seeing Ren Yaohua turn back to look, Lei Ting nodded and said in a light tone, “Didn’t I say earlier that I was going the same way? You walk in front. This place is rather secluded, and in case that person follows, I can provide backup from here.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her heart, so she stopped to wait for Lei Ting to catch up.

Lei Ting raised an eyebrow.

Ren Yaohua smiled slightly, “Since we’re going the same way, let’s walk together. How could I let you follow behind me?”

Ren Yaohua was naturally beautiful, and when she smiled like this, it gave people a bright, eye-catching feeling.

Lei Ting said, “Miss Ren San should smile more often.”

Lei Ting had handsome features and a deep, pleasant voice. When Ren Yaohua heard this remark, she thought he was complimenting her smile, so while blushing, she also felt slightly annoyed, thinking that she had originally considered this head of the Lei family to be a gentleman, but unexpectedly he also liked to tease young ladies in private.

Unexpectedly, Lei Ting continued in a light tone, “I told you before that people with too stubborn temperaments easily suffer losses. So when you encounter situations where you don’t want to yield but have no choice but to yield, you might as well smile. Often, a smile can achieve unexpected results.”

After hearing this, Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but feel somewhat stunned. Was Lei Ting teaching her how to conduct herself in society?

“So Master Lei, do you often smile at people when you’re out?”

Lei Ting was silent for a moment, then said, “No, my method is to keep a straight face and stare at the other party without saying a word. When others can’t figure out my intentions, they’ll take the initiative to yield.”

Ren Yaohua looked at Lei Ting’s serious expression while saying this, and suddenly couldn’t help but laugh out loud with a “puchi.”

“Just like how you look now?”

Seeing Ren Yaohua’s somewhat uncontrollable amusement, Lei Ting couldn’t help but curve the corners of his mouth, “How could that be? I think my face looks much more amiable now.”

Even the maids beside Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Ren Yaohua had originally felt that Lei Ting was somewhat profound and hard to fathom, but after two encounters, Ren Yaohua no longer thought so.

Lei Ting said, “However, this method works for me, but if you used it, it would inevitably make people think you’re aloof and difficult to approach. So it’s better to smile.”

Ren Yaohua lowered her head and smiled with pursed lips.

While talking like this, they were almost at the Amitayus Buddha Hall. Ren Yaohua turned and saw Ren Yaoqi leading her maids and servants coming out from another path.

Ren Yaoqi also saw Ren Yaohua, and naturally also saw Lei Ting standing not far from Ren Yaohua. After being slightly stunned, she led her people over.

Seeing that Ren Yaoqi had brought quite a few people, Lei Ting nodded to Ren Yaohua and said, “I’ll go first.”

Ren Yaohua thanked Lei Ting once more.

After Ren Yaoqi came over, Lei Ting nodded slightly to greet her, then turned and left.

Only after seeing he had gone far did Ren Yaoqi turn around and ask Ren Yaohua with some confusion, “Third Sister, how did you encounter the head of the Lei family?”

Ren Yaohua recalled the earlier encounter with Zeng Kui, and her expression turned ugly again, “Don’t mention it!”

Ren Yaoqi was somewhat puzzled. Had Lei Ting offended Ren Yaohua? But just now, from a distance, the atmosphere between them didn’t seem tense.

At this moment, the maid Xiangqin jumped out and vividly recounted to Ren Yaoqi how Zeng Kui had blocked Ren Yaohua on the road, describing his disgusting actions and revolting words in detail.

After hearing this, Ren Yaoqi’s expression also turned cold.

Ren Yaohua was now not as angry as before, perhaps because her conversation with Lei Ting had considerably improved her mood, “When you told me about Zeng Kui before, I was still half-believing and half-doubting, but unexpectedly he really has such a despicable and base character!”

Xiangqin nodded repeatedly, “Fortunately, we encountered the head of the Lei family today. Otherwise, who knows what that disgusting, ugly man might have done?”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but frown, “Zeng Kui’s temperament is exactly like his father’s – he must have his revenge. I just hope he won’t bear a grudge against Lei Ting because of this.”

Although in this lifetime Zeng Pu’s power was far less than in the previous life, and the Lei family didn’t need to act according to the Zeng family’s wishes, Zeng Pu was, after all, the Ningxia General sent by the court. Moreover, open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. Someone like Zeng Kui, accustomed to acting as he pleased, would probably be capable of anything.

Hearing Ren Yaoqi say this, Ren Yaohua also became somewhat worried, “The Lei family… even if he wanted to make a move against them, he couldn’t, right?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment, “Lei Ting is not the type to let others slaughter him at will. With the Zeng family’s current power, it would naturally be impossible for them to move against the Lei family on Prince Yan’s territory. However, it’s easy to guard against gentlemen but hard to guard against petty people. If he’s determined to cause trouble for someone, would he lack opportunities? I think it would be better to remind Lei Ting to be more careful recently.”

In her previous life, Ren Yaoqi had suffered at the hands of the Zeng family and knew what kind of people Zeng Pu and his son Zeng Kui were.

Ren Yaohua felt Ren Yaoqi’s words made perfect sense. Lei Ting had kindly helped her, and if he got into trouble because of offending Zeng Kui over this matter, she would feel uneasy.

“I’ll go tell him right away,” Ren Yaohua said with a frown.

Seeing Ren Yaohua about to look for Lei Ting, Ren Yaoqi quickly said, “Third Sister, we’ve been out too long. Mother and the others have probably finished listening to the master’s sermon by now. We should go back first. We can just send a maid to relay the message to Lei Ting.”

Ren Yaohua also felt she had been too hasty just now. She looked at Wujing and said, “Go catch up with Master Lei and tell him what Fifth Young Miss just said, asking him to be careful. Also, have someone keep a close watch on Pan’er, and don’t let her go out unless necessary.”

Wujing acknowledged and left.

Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoqi then went back to find Li Shi.

While walking, Ren Yaohua asked Ren Yaoqi, “What kind of person is the head of the Lei family?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and told Ren Yaohua what her maternal grandmother Rong Shi had said to her before, then said, “I haven’t had contact with the Lei family people. I haven’t seen Lei Ting many times either, but I haven’t heard of any bad deeds on his part.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaohua couldn’t help but look thoughtful.

When Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua went to find Li Shi, Li Shi and Madam Xu and the others had indeed finished listening to the master’s sermon and were sitting together discussing Buddhism. The young ladies who had come with their mothers were still drinking tea and playing chess nearby, no different from when Ren Yaoqi and Ren Yaohua had left.

After the two entered, they didn’t disturb others but just sat aside listening to the madams discuss Buddhist teachings.

It was almost noon by then, and soon after, a temple monk came to say that the meal was ready and invited all the madams and young ladies to move to the dining area.

After the meal, they sat in the temple for a while to digest their food, then Madam Xu was ready to lead everyone back home.

Li Shi had been somewhat reserved when she first arrived today, but after half a day of interaction, she was already conversing happily with most people. Her upbringing was naturally good, and she got along well with all the madams Madam Xu had brought today, especially Madam Liu and Madam Chen. Because they were similar in age and their respective husbands also got along well, by the time they left White Dragon Temple, they were already addressing Li Shi as sister.

Li Shi expressed her intention to host a banquet for all the madams. Madam Liu and Madam Chen immediately said Li Shi must send them invitations. Madam Chen even suggested that when the weather warmed up, they could hold a flower-viewing party.

Upon hearing this, Li Shi’s eyes couldn’t help but light up. If nothing else, because Third Master Ren loved elegance, their family had planted quite a variety of flowers and plants, many of which were rare varieties.

Ren Yaoqi, listening from the side, also smiled in agreement, “That’s a great idea! At that time, we can also have all the madams and young ladies bring one or two potted plants, and we can judge which is the champion among flowers.”

Madam Xu also smiled and joined in, “Now that you mention it, I remember I have two pots of peonies in my greenhouse. I’ll have to bring them to your residence to compete in beauty. Those two pots of flowers are my husband’s treasures.”

With Madam Xu saying this, the other madams began talking about what flowers and plants they had at home. On the way out of White Dragon Temple, the group was lively and cheerful, with an excellent atmosphere.

Li Shi became even more enthusiastic about the flower-viewing party she was going to host.

However, when boarding the carriage, Ren Yaoqi felt Ren Yaohua’s body suddenly stiffen. Following Ren Yaohua’s gaze, she saw a young man with half his face covered in horrific scars standing not far from their carriage, grinning at Ren Yaohua and even raising his hand to wave.

Liu Menghan and Chen Zhiyi, who were walking behind them, also noticed and were startled, then began whispering to each other.

“Who is that?”

Ren Yaohua directly boarded the carriage, blocking Zeng Kui’s gaze with the carriage curtain.

Ren Yaoqi stared steadily at Zeng Kui for a moment. Only when Zeng Kui noticed her gaze and looked over curiously did Ren Yaoqi turn and board the carriage as well, without making eye contact with him.

In the carriage, Ren Yaohua asked Wujing, “Did you find Master Lei at the temple earlier?” She hadn’t had a chance to ask about this matter before because they had been in front of Li Shi and the others the whole time.