After negotiations, the meeting between Lu Chi and Zhu Yanyan was arranged for two days later, with the location set at Shi Fa Ke’s home.

Early that morning, Elder Brother Shi and Mother each went to the government office, Second Brother Shi and Father went to the shop, and even Third Brother Shi, who had been staying home recently studying and painting, went out. Only Shi Fa Ke and Dog Victory remained at home.

Zhu Yanyan arrived very early, a full half hour earlier than the agreed time.

“Ah Ke, did I come… too early?” Zhu Yanyan said with slight embarrassment. She had applied rouge today, and her usually pale cheeks appeared rosy and flushed with good color. She wore an apricot-colored embroidered front-opening jacket paired with a pomegranate-red lower skirt, the hem embroidered with large blooming peonies. Her entire person resembled a wealthy flower of the mortal world, clearly having been carefully dressed up.

This was quite different from her usual attire – she was obviously trying to look “blessed” in every way possible.

“Ah Ke?” Seeing that Shi Fa Ke didn’t respond and just stared at her with a distracted expression, Zhu Yanyan gently tugged at her sleeve.

“Ah, what was that?… Oh, oh, it is quite early.” Shi Fa Ke came back to her senses and instinctively responded.

The wet nurse immediately began coughing.

Shi Fa Ke hurriedly corrected herself, “Not early, not early at all. Come in and sit.”

Zhu Yanyan smiled sweetly and warmly linked arms with Shi Fa Ke as they entered the courtyard.

Since it was still early, Shi Fa Ke brought out tea and pastries to pass the time. Zhu Yanyan’s mood showed no signs of being low; instead, she enthusiastically joined Shi Fa Ke in brewing tea and preparing pastries… This manner didn’t look at all like someone who had given up on Lu Chi and had come to see him for the last time.

“Wet nurse, Yanyan’s mood today seems… very good?” Shi Fa Ke glanced at Zhu Yanyan, who had developed great interest in Dog Victory and was playing with him enthusiastically, then quietly pulled the wet nurse aside.

…Well, she wasn’t exactly playing with Dog Victory, but rather playing with Dog Victory.

The usually aloof Dog Victory had already been played with until he was somewhat dizzy and confused.

“Yes, ever since Madam agreed to let her meet Scholar Lu, the young miss has become rather strange…” The wet nurse also looked troubled, her eyes full of worry.

Sometimes she would stare off into space and then suddenly smile secretively, and sometimes she would remember something and appear shy and timid – it was truly abnormal!

Moreover, on such an occasion today, not only did she show no worry or sadness, but she was practically glowing with excitement.

Yet this kind of matter couldn’t be directly asked about. One couldn’t very well ask why, when she was supposedly here to see Scholar Lu for the last time, she wasn’t the least bit sad and was instead so cheerful… That would be stabbing someone in the heart.

When the knocking at the door sounded, Zhu Yanyan was playing chess with Shi Fa Ke.

Zhu Yanyan was giggling, “This is the first time I’ve seen someone play chess like this.”

Shi Fa Ke’s mouth twitched. Although she knew she was a terrible chess player, aside from her sharp-tongued third brother, no one had ever criticized her so directly to her face… and no one had ever been able to play chess with her so uncompromisingly while still enjoying themselves.

Upon hearing the knocking, Zhu Yanyan’s chess piece dropped onto the board with a “clack,” and a trace of nervousness finally appeared on her carefully made-up face.

“Ah Ke…” She looked toward Shi Fa Ke, her eyes bright, seeming both expectant and at a loss.

Shi Fa Ke patted the back of her hand reassuringly, “I’ll go see.”

With that, she got up to open the door.

Standing outside was indeed Lu Chi. The injuries on his face looked much better, with only some bruises remaining at the corners of his eyes and mouth. Compared to the elaborately dressed Zhu Yanyan, his clothing appeared rather casual.

Seeing the door open, Lu Chi stood there and smiled at her.

Shi Fa Ke instinctively returned his smile, “Young Master Lu, please come in.”

Seeing that he had arrived on time for the appointment, Shi Fa Ke finally felt relieved, and her smile toward him was especially sincere.

Lu Chi nodded, lifted his robe hem, and stepped into the courtyard.

“Miss Zhu has already arrived,” Shi Fa Ke said softly.

Before her words finished, she turned and saw Zhu Yanyan, who had already risen and walked over… as well as the wet nurse, who looked like she hated iron for not becoming steel, probably due to Zhu Yanyan’s lack of propriety.

“Young Master Lu, good morning.” Zhu Yanyan curved her eyes and gave him a sweet smile.

Lu Chi cupped his hands, his expression completely calm, “Miss Zhu, good morning.”

Seeing his cold attitude, the wet nurse’s face immediately grew long, but Zhu Yanyan seemed oblivious and continued smiling sweetly.

“Let’s all go inside and sit,” Shi Fa Ke quickly intervened, leading them into the main hall.

Although Madam Zhu had agreed to let Zhu Yanyan meet Lu Chi once, she had also made many demands. The most important was that Lu Chi and Zhu Yanyan must not meet alone – the wet nurse and Shi Fa Ke had to be present. Therefore, after entering the hall, both Shi Fa Ke and the wet nurse took seats.

Lu Chi and Zhu Yanyan sat facing each other, while Shi Fa Ke and the wet nurse sat on either side.

Despite having hundreds of thoughts and thousands of schemes, Zhu Yanyan had been raised in the inner quarters since childhood and had never seen men outside her family. Moreover… the person before her was the man she intended to entrust her life to. Therefore, she appeared somewhat nervous, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, her soft hands unconsciously clasped tightly together.

Lu Chi simply sat quietly. Since Zhu Yanyan was the one who had requested the meeting, he had no intention of speaking first, which angered the wet nurse sitting beside Zhu Yanyan, who kept shooting him daggers with her eyes.

If eye-daggers could kill, Lu Chi would probably have been cut to pieces by now.

Zhu Yanyan seemed oblivious to this slightly eerie atmosphere. After encouraging herself mentally, she smiled sweetly and broke the silence.

“Has Young Master Lu had breakfast?” She looked at Lu Chi with this sweet smile and asked.

“I have already eaten,” Lu Chi replied in a standard manner.

Zhu Yanyan blinked, looking at Scholar Lu’s obviously cold demeanor. The nervousness in her heart was suddenly and miraculously suppressed. She suddenly smiled and said crisply, “I had two bowls of porridge today.”

Beside her, the wet nurse seemed to choke and coughed hard.

“…Miss Zhu has a good appetite,” Lu Chi’s mouth twitched.

“I’ve been eating well recently. The wet nurse even says I’ve become much plumper…” Zhu Yanyan completely ignored the wet nurse who was desperately trying to signal her and continued her efforts.

Lu Chi felt the direction of this conversation was becoming strange and decided to steer it back on track for a quick resolution, “Miss Zhu, why did you want to see me today?”

Zhu Yanyan bit her lip, her soft hands clasped even tighter, so tight that her knuckles turned slightly white.

“Actually… actually, my Zhu family also has some modest wealth. Since I was born, my parents have been preparing my dowry, and now it’s quite substantial.” Zhu Yanyan bit her lip, answering a question that wasn’t asked.

Just as Lu Chi was getting impatient, he suddenly noticed Zhu Yanyan’s constantly trembling eyelashes, like butterfly wings… She wasn’t as composed as she appeared, seeming nervous and more so embarrassed, but what was she trying to express with this incoherent speech?

“Although… although it’s not as wealthy as the He family, it’s still…” Zhu Yanyan, no matter how strong psychologically, couldn’t bear it anymore. As she spoke, her nose began to tingle with tears.

She mustn’t cry, she absolutely mustn’t cry at this moment.

Lu Chi was stunned for a moment, then felt somewhat between laughter and tears. He couldn’t help but glance sideways at Shi Fa Ke, who was sitting nearby looking worriedly at Zhu Yanyan. He sighed, feeling a bit sour inside. The girl he fancied was clueless, while that blockhead somehow had a girl who was so devoted to him, abandoning all propriety and wishing she could present her entire heart for him to see.

That blockhead probably never imagined that this girl had firmly remembered his words from ten years ago.