Third Brother Shi looked at his sister, who showed a peculiar expression, with great interest, then glanced at He Ketian, asking curiously, “Oh? So it’s about Miss He’s affairs? What happened?”

Shi Chonghai had just returned home and didn’t know about the He family’s embroidered ball matchmaking event, nor the series of events that followed.

Upon hearing this, He Ketian’s fair cheeks flushed with a light pink color.

“Alright.” Eldest Brother Shi was an honest man. Seeing He Ketian’s embarrassed expression, he quickly interrupted his brother’s persistent questioning, “A’Ke, take Miss He to your room to sit.”

Third Brother Shi wasn’t angry about being interrupted. He just smiled and said, “Yes, A’Ke, Miss He kindly came to see you. In reason and sentiment, she should stay for dinner before going back.”

Shi Fa Ke was still pondering what exactly He Ketian was up to… and didn’t react immediately.

“No need.” He Ketian waved her hand and smiled sweetly, “My brother is still waiting for me at home. He’s also worried about A’Ke. Now that A’Ke is fine, I need to go back to put his mind at ease.”

Shi Fa Ke felt she was acting strangely. Seeing her insistence on leaving, before the brothers could try to persuade her to stay, she quickly took her hand and said, “I’ll see you out.”

Under the watchful eyes of the three Shi brothers, Shi Fa Ke and He Ketian, appearing like close sisters, walked arm in arm out of the Shi family’s main gate.

Once outside, Shi Fa Ke immediately let go of He Ketian’s hand, looking alert, “He Ketian, what are you plotting now?”

Seeing her change face so quickly and speak so rudely, He Ketian was so angry that veins bulged at her temples. Yet she miraculously restrained herself, though still showing some dissatisfaction, “I just helped you, and this is how you repay me?”

Shi Fa Ke choked, looking at her suspiciously.

“Come on, aren’t we good sisters who grew up together? There’s no overnight grudge.” He Ketian lowered herself, actively linking arms with her again, coaxing softly, “For the sake of me helping you just now, let’s make up, okay?”

Shi Fa Ke felt somewhat horrified… Lowering herself so quickly to seek reconciliation was simply not He Ketian’s style at all!

“What’s with that look?” He Ketian finally couldn’t hold back and gave her a white-eyed glance.

“…Did you take the wrong medicine?”

“You’re the one who took the wrong medicine!” He Ketian playfully pushed her lightly, then said, “I won’t tease you anymore. I need to go home now. My brother is waiting for me.”

Shi Fa Ke was even more horrified. She didn’t even get angry at this? And she was being playful!

The He family’s carriage was parked right at the door. He Ketian waved her handkerchief at the dumbstruck Shi Fa Ke and turned to board the carriage.

“Oh, right.” Sitting in the carriage, He Ketian suddenly pulled open the curtain and smiled at Shi Fa Ke, “My brother just got a set of water jade chess pieces. They’re quite beautiful. Come find me to play chess when you have time.”

Shi Fa Ke shamefully felt tempted.

Hmm… Should she go to the He family tomorrow to play chess with her?

“Hey, could it be that Miss He has some leverage over you?” Suddenly, Third Brother Shi’s voice eerily sounded from behind.

Shi Fa Ke jumped in fright, bristling, “Third Brother, do you walk without making any sound!”

“Obviously you were distracted and didn’t hear my footsteps.” Third Brother Shi looked quite aggrieved, though his aggrieved expression was fleeting, immediately replaced by a smiling face, “I’ve only been away studying for so long, yet it seems I’ve missed many interesting things. Come tell Third Brother about it.”

“Tell… tell what…” Shi Fa Ke took a small step back. Although she hadn’t done anything wrong, facing Third Brother’s ill-intentioned expression somehow made her feel guilty.

“Tell what? Don’t you know in your heart that you’re a terrible chess player? Whenever you mention playing chess, even Father, who usually gives you stars instead of the moon, can’t stand it. Yet Miss He actually invited you to play chess?” Third Brother Shi smiled mischievously, “When someone shows excessive courtesy, they must have ulterior motives. If she doesn’t have some leverage over you, then she must want something from you.”

“Third Brother, you’re annoying!” Shi Fa Ke huffed and gave him a white-eyed glance. Though she said he was annoying, she couldn’t help but turn to look at the carriage that had already gone far away.

But… He Ketian was indeed acting strange.

At this moment, sitting in the carriage, He Ketian covered her chest, her cheeks flushed, feeling her heart swelling and pounding. This feeling was both bittersweet and sweet, as if she were harboring a huge treasure while fearing others might discover it. She had countless times imagined his appearance while looking at Master Linyuan’s paintings, never expecting she would have such a wonderful connection with Master Linyuan.

She closed her eyes, her mind full of Lu Chi’s image. Previously, she had only thought of him as a penniless poor scholar, yet she couldn’t help being captivated by his appearance. Now knowing he was actually Master Linyuan, whom she had always admired, she felt everything about him was perfect. Her heart swayed restlessly, completely beyond her control.

“Has Miss returned?”

At the He residence, He Kexian asked his servant.

“Replying to Young Master… Miss hasn’t returned yet.” The servant answered with eyes downcast and nose straight, secretly sighing in his heart.

All morning, since Miss left, this master had been sitting in the main hall eagerly waiting for Miss to return. This exchange had been repeated countless times in just half an hour… Usually, though Young Master doted on Miss, he had never been so strange.

“What time is it?” He Kexian asked again.

“Third quarter of the si hour…”

At the third quarter of the si hour, He Kexian finally couldn’t sit still. He got up and walked out, saying as he walked, “Prepare the carriage.”

Ketian still hadn’t returned at this hour, so she probably stayed at the Shi family for dinner. He could go find her while also checking on that silly girl – perfectly natural and without any flaws. He Kexian planned it all out, quite satisfied with himself. But just as he reached the main gate, he saw He Ketian’s carriage parked right there…

So when He Ketian got off the carriage, she saw her brother looking hurried as if he was about to go out, and couldn’t help but pause, “Brother? Where are you going?”

He Kexian straightened his face, trying to maintain his brotherly dignity, “Why are you just returning at this hour? Seeing you hadn’t returned for so long, I was just about to go pick you up.”

He Ketian and Shi Fa Ke had grown up together, and it wasn’t unusual for her to stay at the Shi family for meals. Not to mention today’s visit to the He family was actually He Kexian’s idea, so even if she stayed at the Shi family for dinner, it wouldn’t be improper. Her brother’s current behavior was indeed somewhat inexplicable… He Ketian had always been clever and would normally notice something fishy.

But… today was different.

At this moment, her mind was completely filled with Lu Chi’s image. She couldn’t spare any attention to notice her brother’s abnormality, only vaguely saying, “A’Ke just woke up from her hangover. I stayed to chat with her for a while.”

…So she did get drunk!

He Kexian thought through gritted teeth. Her alcohol tolerance had made no progress over the years, yet she dared to drink with strange men in a tavern. Simply reckless!

Of course, in He Kexian’s eyes, except for Shi Fa Ke’s father, three brothers, and himself, all other men belonged to the category of strange men.