Third Brother Shi didn’t know why her gaze made him feel somewhat uneasy. He shivered and shook off the goosebumps on his body, asking with a suspicious expression: “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Shi Fa Ke meaningfully said: “But Sweet Heart’s standards are too high. If it’s not a suitable match in social status, she wouldn’t consider it a good match.”

Although she was friends with He Ketian, the Shi family and He family were truly not a suitable match in social status. They say when marrying off a daughter, aim high, and when taking a wife, aim low. Based on the current situation, the He family might even arrange for He Ketian to marry into the capital.

Therefore, she pointed at Third Brother.

However, she didn’t say it outright. After all, once such things are spoken plainly, it always feels like it would make people lose face, especially since her Third Brother had always been proud.

Third Brother Shi blinked his eyes in confusion. Had he misunderstood something… Why did he suddenly feel a chill down his back? But Third Brother Shi had always been the type who didn’t worry about anything. He quickly threw that strange feeling to the back of his mind and just stared at Shi Fa Ke for a long while, making her feel uneasy too, before saying with a half-smile: “I have one more thing I don’t understand. I hope my sister can clarify it for me.”

“Hmm?”

“Since you say Miss He has no improper thoughts about Scholar Lu’s appearance and doesn’t regret refusing the marriage proposal that day, then… why did you go to Shengxing Restaurant yesterday?”

Shi Fa Ke was immediately stumped and felt like she had walked into a trap.

Yes! If it wasn’t for He Ketian’s marriage affairs, if it wasn’t because she regretted it and wanted to change her mind, then the reason He Ketian used to defend her wouldn’t hold water at all!

…After all, it was a marriage proposal that had already been refused, so there was no need to go to the restaurant for another discussion.

Meeting Third Brother’s interested gaze, Shi Fa Ke suddenly grinned and sweetly called out, “Third Brother.”

Third Brother Shi shivered and shook off the goosebumps on his body, his lazy expression suddenly becoming alert, “Hmm?”

“This trip for your studies… has been quite fruitful.” Shi Fa Ke said meaningfully.

“Ah?” Third Brother Shi didn’t react immediately and foolishly said “Ah.”

“Looking at how skillfully you climbed through the window instead of using the front door just now, it seems you’ve been climbing through windows quite often… Should I go discuss this matter with Mother?” Shi Fa Ke chuckled and added: “Or perhaps we should discuss why you appeared at Shengxing Restaurant as soon as you returned to Tongluo Town?”

Shi Fa Ke didn’t believe his nonsense about specifically coming to pick her up and take her home! He clearly went to the restaurant to drink and just happened to run into her…

Third Brother Shi stared in disbelief with wide eyes, “Ah Ke, you’ve changed!”

She had actually learned to threaten him!

“It’s all thanks to Third Brother’s good teaching.” Shi Fa Ke said very humbly.

…You’re ruthless.

Third Brother Shi and Shi Fa Ke looked at each other, instantly reaching a silent agreement through their gazes—one wouldn’t mention the drinking incident anymore, and the other couldn’t go tattletale to Mother.

The siblings, each harboring their own secrets, finally achieved temporary peace.

On the night he left the Shi family, Lu Chi had a rather unspeakable dream, causing him to be frequently distracted in the school the next day. After school ended that day, he didn’t rush to leave. After the students left, he casually picked up a book to read, but although his gaze fell on the book, his thoughts had long since wandered.

He thought again of that fair, delicate hand, soft as boneless, and the watery bracelet on her wrist.

Even… the feeling of that slender, soft hand’s touch lingering on his face. For a moment, he couldn’t tell whether it was dream or reality, whether it was the real sensation she left behind after he got drunk that day, or the fantasy left behind by last night’s unspeakable dream.

And then, that lily-white little hand continued its restless journey downward, gently caressing his throat…

That day at the restaurant, it had stopped right there.

But in last night’s unspeakable dream, everything had continued.

Lu Chi felt his nose getting warm and quickly stopped his somewhat uncontrollable fantasies… secretly despising himself for being so shameless! A hypocrite! A beast in gentleman’s clothing!

Just as he was harshly criticizing himself, a chubby little face suddenly leaned close.

“Teacher, what are you thinking about?” The little fatty blinked his bright black eyes, looking at him curiously.

Lu Chi immediately snapped back to reality, suppressing the restlessness in his heart, looked at that mischievous little chubby face, and frowned: “School is over and you’re still not leaving. Is the homework I assigned not enough?”

“…Teacher, that’s not very nice of you. This student is just concerned about you.” The little fatty pouted in dissatisfaction.

Lu Chi looked at him coolly.

The little fatty chuckled mischievously and pointed at the book scroll in his hand, “Teacher, do you have something on your mind?”

Lu Chi looked down and saw that the book in his hand was actually upside down. He didn’t bother to make excuses and simply put down the book.

Lu Chi actually had no expression, but the little fatty imagined he must be feeling somewhat embarrassed at this moment. The smile on his chubby face deepened, “Teacher, I noticed you were frequently distracted today. Are you troubled by matters of marriage?”

Lu Chi smiled, “I think the copying practice you did some days ago was quite effective. How about copying ‘Spring and Autumn’ and ‘Zuo Zhuan’ as well?”

The little fatty’s face immediately froze. How many characters would that be!

The teacher was truly too cruel!

The little fatty trembled and quickly said: “Teacher, I have a fourth sister at home who is well-educated, reasonable, beautiful, and gentle…”

“So?”

“Teacher, don’t you believe me? If you don’t believe me, I can take you home to have a look.” The little fatty patted his chest.

“…No, what does your sister being well-educated, reasonable, beautiful, and gentle have to do with me?” Lu Chi looked at him with complete bewilderment.

Have a look? This little rascal… would probably get his legs broken by his family.

“Teacher… this student just wants to say, there are plenty of fish in the sea!” The little fatty looked earnest and sincere, “Although you were rejected by the He family, and turned down by the Zhou family and Li family for marriage proposals, oh right, and also… also the Zhu family, don’t give up hope! Consider my fourth sister!”

“…” Lu Chi’s mouth twitched.

Did he perhaps have the four words “really want to get married” written on his face? Otherwise, why were people one after another eagerly introducing him to potential partners?

And this He family, Zhou family, Li family, Zhu family… this little rascal actually knew them all like the back of his hand. Was he itching for a beating?

“You seem to know quite a lot?” Lu Chi looked at the oblivious little fatty with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Eh?” The little fatty belatedly sensed danger.

This line sounded very familiar. In the story books, villains always said this before killing to silence witnesses…

“Fine.” Just as the little fatty was about to flee driven by his strong survival instinct, he heard his teacher say this.

“Eh eh?” The little fatty’s eyes widened.

“Didn’t you invite me to your home?” Lu Chi raised an eyebrow.

“…Yes, yes.” For some reason, the little fatty had an ominous premonition.

“I agree.” Lu Chi smiled slightly, “How about tomorrow? Are you happy?”

“Happy… I guess?” The little fatty said uncertainly.

What was this uncomfortable feeling in his heart? The little fatty looked at his teacher suspiciously.

“Anything else?” Meeting the little fatty’s suspicious gaze, Lu Chi asked.

“No… nothing…” The little fatty shivered and quickly ran away.