Shi Fa Ke watched the He family’s carriage disappear into the distance, thinking how could she possibly forget – that horoscope was now a hot potato!

While grumbling to herself, Shi Fa Ke suddenly felt a chill down her back. She spun around abruptly and saw Third Brother Shi leaning against the main gate, watching her with an ambiguous smile. Her scalp immediately went numb.

“Third Brother… how could you eavesdrop on our conversation!” As Shi Fa Ke spoke, her originally somewhat pleading voice suddenly turned righteous and indignant: “When did you get here?!”

Although her voice was loud, the words still sounded hollow, completely showing her fierce exterior but timid interior.

…So when exactly did Third Brother arrive, and how much did he hear!

“So, this is how my lifelong happiness rests in your hands?” Third Brother Shi raised his eyebrows and said leisurely.

Shi Fa Ke was immediately speechless.

“…You heard everything.” She laughed awkwardly.

Third Brother Shi responded with a single word.

“Hah.”

During dinner that evening, Shi Fa Ke seemed a bit strange… she was being excessively attentive.

“Third Brother, eat some meat. I stewed this meat for so long, it’s tender and glutinous, really delicious.” Shi Fa Ke smiled warmly as she picked up a piece of perfectly marbled, appetizing meat and placed it in Third Brother Shi’s bowl.

Third Brother Shi glanced at her and took a big bite.

“Third Brother, have some fish. The meat from the fish belly is especially tender, and there are no bones at all.” Shi Fa Ke continued smiling as she picked up a piece of fish belly meat, carefully removing the bones, looking like she wanted to feed it to him personally.

Shi Fa Ke’s strange behavior drew frequent glances from First Brother Shi, Second Brother Shi, and Shi Changhuai.

Finally, with a “smack,” Shi Changhuai couldn’t stand it anymore and heavily placed his chopsticks on the table: “What’s all this commotion!”

Third Brother Shi was completely unaffected and took another big bite of fish meat. Only then did he lift his eyelids to glance at his jealous father, saying leisurely: “Dad, we siblings have deep affection for each other. Aren’t you happy?”

Happy… my ass!

Shi Changhuai almost cursed. This was sibling affection?! Looking at Shi Chonghai’s lordly demeanor… ah no, his eyes hurt from watching.

“A’Ke, you tell me.” Shi Changhuai gave up communicating with this unreliable son and turned to look at Shi Fa Ke with a loving expression: “Did this brat bully you again? Don’t be afraid, tell Dad, and Dad will back you up.”

Normally, under such gentle persuasion from her father, Shi Fa Ke would definitely take the opportunity to complain, but today… she felt guilty.

“No, Third Brother didn’t bully me. I saw he’s been working hard lately and has gotten thin, so I feel sorry for him.” Shi Fa Ke lied without blinking.

First Brother Shi, Second Brother Shi, and Shi Changhuai all looked at that baby face that was eating happily. Where exactly could they see that baby face had gotten thin?!

Seeing everyone’s attention suddenly focused on him, Third Brother Shi chewed slowly a few times, swallowed the food in his mouth, then sighed deeply with a melancholy expression: “Yes, I’ve been quite haggard lately.”

“Then Third Brother, you should eat more quickly.” Hearing this, Shi Fa Ke hurriedly ladled another full bowl of soup for him.

Everyone silently looked away.

No, they couldn’t watch anymore, they really wanted to hit him.

Only Madam Tao looked at the lordly third son, then at her daughter serving him like a maid, raised her eyebrows, and seemed to understand something…

After dinner, Third Brother Shi probably sensed he had drawn enough hatred and would get beaten if he didn’t leave, so with strong survival instincts, he proactively suggested going to feed Dog Sheng.

Madam Tao stopped Shi Fa Ke, who was preparing to follow: “A’Ke, I have something to ask you.”

Shi Fa Ke silently followed Madam Tao into the room.

“Sit.” Madam Tao looked at Shi Fa Ke, who was standing there uncomfortably like she was being punished.

Shi Fa Ke silently sat down.

“What’s going on? Aren’t you going to tell me?” Madam Tao raised her eyebrows.

“The matter between Third Brother and Ketian… it’s a misunderstanding.” Shi Fa Ke found it difficult to speak, but once she opened up, she explained everything in one breath.

“So you promised Ketian you’d return her horoscope tomorrow?” Madam Tao asked after hearing everything.

“Mm.” Shi Fa Ke scratched her hair, completely puzzled about how such a huge misunderstanding could have occurred. It was truly a case of losing a lifetime’s wisdom in one moment!

“Fine, it’s better to resolve it early.” Madam Tao nodded without saying more.

“Mother… did I do wrong?” Shi Fa Ke glanced at Madam Tao and asked somewhat anxiously.

“Since you’ve already realized it yourself, learn to gain wisdom from this experience.” Madam Tao reached out to pat her head: “Get some rest early.”

Shi Fa Ke dejected walked out of the room, but instead of going to rest, she went to the courtyard to find Third Brother. From a distance, she saw Third Brother Shi squatting in front of Dog Sheng’s cage, fiddling with something.

Getting closer… she saw Third Brother Shi listlessly poking Dog Sheng with a grass stem, once, twice, three times… making Dog Sheng so angry that the fur on his neck stood up.

…

Then she saw him cover his hand and cry “Ouch!” – finally, the enraged Dog Sheng had bitten him.

Normally, Shi Fa Ke would probably laugh and say he deserved it, but today… she walked over with a concerned expression, preparing to offer some comfort, when she suddenly paused – she smelled alcohol.

“Third Brother, you’ve been drinking?”

“Mm.” Third Brother Shi covered his hand and readily admitted it.

Shi Fa Ke unconsciously swallowed – she was craving alcohol too. Where did Third Brother get the wine? They hadn’t seen him bring any out during dinner, so he must have secretly stashed some wine! Cough, this wasn’t the point. Shi Fa Ke quickly reined in her wandering thoughts… and wondered with some worry whether Third Brother was drowning his sorrows in alcohol.

“Is your hand okay?” Shi Fa Ke still expressed her concern first.

Third Brother Shi raised his hand to show her – there was only a shallow red mark on the back of his hand.

“Dog Sheng still knows restraint.” Shi Fa Ke casually praised Dog Sheng, then met Third Brother Shi’s resentful gaze. She cleared her throat and quickly said: “Good that it’s nothing, good that it’s nothing…”

Third Brother Shi snorted softly and turned his head away.

“Well, Third Brother…”

“If you have something to say, say it.” Third Brother Shi said indifferently.

Shi Fa Ke looked at him and steeled herself: “I plan to return Ketian’s horoscope tomorrow.”

Third Brother Shi suddenly fell silent.

Shi Fa Ke lowered her head and said softly, very guiltily: “I’m sorry…”

Third Brother Shi glanced at her sideways and suddenly chuckled: “Since you know you’re sorry, then don’t return the horoscope. Just go along with the mistake.”

Shi Fa Ke was dumbfounded, then quickly reacted and shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum.

“Third Brother, matchmaking requires a conscience. I can’t do that.” Shi Fa Ke said righteously.

Third Brother Shi didn’t speak. He looked down at Dog Sheng in the cage, who was now contentedly pecking at grain without his harassment, half his face buried in shadow and unclear.

“Third Brother… there are plenty of fish in the sea. There are many good girls in Tongluo Town, and I’ll definitely keep your marriage in mind.” Seeing his mood wasn’t right again, Shi Fa Ke quickly tried to console him.

Third Brother Shi still didn’t speak, but his shoulders shook slightly.

Shi Fa Ke looked – hey, was he crying?!

“Third Brother, forced melons aren’t sweet…” Shi Fa Ke earnestly persuaded.

Third Brother Shi’s shoulders shook even more violently. Shi Fa Ke’s heart ached seeing this, and she racked her brains trying to comfort him. Just as she had organized her words, she suddenly felt something was off about the frequency of his shoulder movements… She leaned forward to look and – well! This guy was grinning so wide his teeth were showing!

Shi Fa Ke gritted her teeth and suddenly looked up and shouted: “Dad! Third Brother is bullying me!”

Third Brother Shi froze instantly, looking at Shi Fa Ke with disbelief – she changed faces faster than flipping pages – then saw his father approaching menacingly with a big stick.

Help!

Soon, heart-wrenching screams echoed through the Shi family courtyard, lasting for quite a while.

Until Madam Tao came out to control the situation… this chaos finally subsided.

“What’s all this commotion, don’t you see what time it is?” Madam Tao pointed at the troublemaking Shi Fa Ke with her finger, then looked at Shi Changhuai: “Get some rest early.”

Mm, her voice was eight degrees softer than usual – it seemed the afterglow of that jewelry set hadn’t faded yet.

With Madam Tao’s words, Shi Changhuai cheerfully dropped the big stick and obediently followed Madam Tao inside.

Shi Fa Ke touched her nose, and turning around, met Third Brother Shi’s dark eyes… She felt inexplicably guilty and, fearing Third Brother might take advantage of Dad’s absence to retaliate, quickly turned and ran away.