“Why? What right do you have to disagree?!” He Ketian, probably emboldened by having her parents’ support, forgot to be afraid and jumped up to confront her foolish brother directly.

“Haven’t you always been proud and arrogant? Marriage requires matching social status, and it’s better to marry up than down. You and Third Shi—you’re not suitable.” He Kexian said very harshly.

“Whether we’re suitable or not isn’t for you to say—I have my parents to decide!” He Ketian put her hands on her hips, looking extremely arrogant.

He Kexian was so angry he nearly fell backward, “Fine, fine, fine… I was originally planning to give you Shengxing Restaurant as part of your dowry, but since you don’t need me to manage things, forget it!”

When she needed him before, she said he was the best brother in the world, but now that she didn’t need him, everything was for her parents to decide?

He Ketian was also angry, “I don’t care! You stingy, nitpicky, bad-tempered, unreasonable, unsympathetic villain!”

…So these were her true feelings!

He Kexian was nearly dying of anger. At this moment, he suddenly felt that marrying off his foolish sister might be good—let her go harm someone else’s family!

The sibling bond was thus broken!

Regardless of what He Kexian thought, this marriage was finally settled, since both parents stood on He Ketian’s side. Previously when He Ketian disagreed, he could justifiably intervene, but now his foolish sister had not only relented but was acting like she’d marry no one but him—what grounds did he have to oppose this marriage?

Moreover, these past days He Ketian’s silly smile hadn’t left her face. He Kexian hadn’t seen his sister this happy in a long time. No matter how base he was, he wouldn’t break up his sister’s marriage for his own sake.

The wedding date was finally set for the end of June. The timing was really rushed, but this was the best auspicious date before the seventh day of the eighth month. He Kexian had originally disagreed with moving up the wedding date, but He Ketian looked so eager to marry that she was uncontrollable. The He couple also felt guilty about the previous broken engagement, and to quickly dispel the rumors about Shi Chonghai’s impotence… they set the wedding date for the end of June.

Fortunately, the He couple had already organized most of He Ketian’s dowry before, so though rushed, they could still manage.

He Kexian was probably expressing his anger by being out early and returning late recently, looking very busy and not caring about He Ketian’s wedding preparations at all.

That evening, Lady He pulled Master He to organize their daughter’s dowry together.

“Master, what do you think is wrong with that child Kexian?” Lady He complained while flipping through the long dowry list, looking completely puzzled. “That child has never been harsh, so how could he bring up something like mismatched social status? And hasn’t he always gotten along well with the Shi children? Why is he so opposed to this marriage?”

Master He really wanted to chuckle. He Kexian wasn’t harsh? Madam, you must have some misunderstanding about your son—when that fellow was being harsh, he wasn’t even human!

But Master He didn’t dare say this. Lady He was quite protective of their children, and if he dared speak ill of their son, he’d definitely have to sleep in the study tonight. He preferred the soft, comfortable big bed.

“Perhaps he has some other thoughts,” Master He finally said meaningfully.

Master He had always been shrewd—how could he not see through his foolish son’s little schemes?

“What thoughts?” Lady He, having been pampered by Master He all her life, had long since stopped thinking too hard. Hearing this, she looked at her husband curiously.

“Have you seen the way that boy looks at the Shi family’s little girl?” Master He didn’t answer directly but said mysteriously.

“What?”

“Those eyes are exactly like mine when I looked at you back then.” Master He stroked his beard and smiled.

Lady He’s eyes widened immediately, “You mean Kexian likes Ake?!”

Master He just smiled without speaking.

Lady He still didn’t understand, “But what does this have to do with his opposition to Ketian’s marriage to the Shi family’s youngest?”

“Once Ketian marries into the Shi family, if he wants to marry their little girl, wouldn’t it be like sister exchange?” Master He said casually. “He probably thinks that once Ketian marries into the Shi family, it’ll be impossible for him to marry their little girl.”

Sister exchange was something only poor families did—it would be criticized by others.

Lady He finally understood and laughed, “This silly child, these things can all be discussed. Besides, what’s wrong with strengthening family ties? Living comfortably is most important, and with our family’s wealth, who would gossip about this?”

Yes, such a simple matter.

But their foolish son had gotten stuck in his own thoughts and couldn’t get out.

“Oh, Master, look…” Lady He’s hand suddenly paused while flipping through the dowry list.

Master He looked and saw a transfer contract for Shengxing Restaurant had mysteriously appeared in the dowry list. The couple looked at each other, then Lady He smiled.

“This child… always so stubborn on the surface but soft-hearted inside.”

V. Lu Chi Returns

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of June, and He Ketian and Shi Chonghai’s wedding was imminent.

As the matchmaker, Shi Fa Ke was also busy beyond measure.

Today was the day before the wedding. Everything that needed to be prepared had been prepared, and Shi Fa Ke finally breathed a sigh of relief. She rarely allowed herself to be lazy, pulling a chilled melon from the well. She had just taken a bite when someone knocked on the door.

Shi Fa Ke was now afraid whenever she heard knocking, worried that something might go wrong with tomorrow’s wedding. She opened the door nervously and finally relaxed.

“Chu Yizhi, what are you doing here?” She blinked in confusion.

Standing outside was Chu Yizhi, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. He wore a brand-new azure robe with trim, seeming to have gotten thinner, his whole person exuding a frail appearance.

Chu Yizhi, who had been somewhat nervous, heard this question and his initial joy at seeing Shi Fa Ke was completely crushed. His face paled as he said, “I… I came to say goodbye.”

As he said this, he was extremely nervous, truly afraid she would respond by asking why he needed to say goodbye to her.

Fortunately, she didn’t.

“Where are you going?” Shi Fa Ke asked.

Chu Yizhi’s expression improved somewhat, and he even showed a slight smile, “I plan to go to the provincial capital early to prepare for the autumn examinations.”

“So early?” Shi Fa Ke was somewhat surprised.

She thought of Lu Chi—wasn’t he also going to take the autumn examinations? But he hadn’t returned yet. Would he have enough time? Or was he planning to go directly to the provincial capital and not return to Tongluo Town before the autumn examinations?

“Yes, going early to prepare avoids last-minute panic, and I can also rent a better place early.” Chu Yizhi patiently explained to her.

He liked talking with Shi Fa Ke—no, he yearned to talk with Shi Fa Ke.

It had been so long… since he had spoken with her.

“Well, then I wish you success in everything on this trip and early success in the examinations.” Shi Fa Ke smiled and said.

“…Thank you for your kind words.”

Chu Yizhi wanted to say more, but her eyes already showed confusion, as if puzzled why he hadn’t left yet after finishing what he had to say.

Was there something else?

Her eyes seemed to ask.

“Then… I’ll take my leave.”

“Mm, safe travels.” Shi Fa Ke said politely.

Chu Yizhi really couldn’t say anything more and turned to leave somewhat awkwardly. After walking a distance, he stopped and looked back—the Shi family’s front gate was already tightly closed.

Really… such a heartless girl.

How could there be such a heartless girl? To cut things off so decisively, without any dragging. Could their childhood friendship, growing up together, really be discarded so easily?

Why couldn’t he do the same?

Chu Yizhi’s eyes were filled with pain.