Zhou Shaojin looked up in surprise, tears still hanging on her face.

Cheng Chi smiled gently as he used his thumb to wipe away the tears on her face, saying warmly, “You see, to make me happy, you can even endure things you dislike most. I’m the same. I also want to make you happy—by my side, laugh when you want to laugh, cry when you want to cry, speak up when you want something, refuse when you don’t want it… live freely… What does it matter if you kick me when you’re unhappy?”

Was this really true?

In both her lives, she had endured more often than not.

But thinking carefully, it really was like this.

Because she knew Cheng Chi doted on her, she could act unrestrained in front of him.

In front of him, hadn’t she always done whatever she wanted?

No matter what she was like, Uncle Chi would treat her well just the same… Just like how Uncle Chi knew about her previous life yet still fell in love with her and even said he would marry her… She should have known this long ago… It was herself who had hang-ups, always doubting, always negating… Uncle Chi coaxed her like this, like coaxing a child, with infinite patience… But everyone gets weary eventually. Moreover, Uncle Chi secretly had the Seven Star Hall and was regarded with such wariness by the second branch’s old ancestor. Over time, even an iron man would grow tired… When that time came and Uncle Chi no longer liked her, what would she do?

She also needed to grow up quickly…

How could she grow up quickly?

She didn’t know.

But she knew she should start with the things he liked… That couldn’t be wrong.

Zhou Shaojin’s tears fell like pearls breaking from their string.

She clutched tightly at Cheng Chi’s lapel and for the first time actively pressed her face against his chest.

Uncle Chi’s embrace was always warm and clean. She could also hear his steady, powerful heartbeat—”thump thump thump”—which made her feel especially secure.

Zhou Shaojin’s ears slowly turned red.

Calming her heart, some things weren’t as difficult as she had imagined.

Cheng Chi secretly breathed a long sigh of relief.

His acting like a rake hadn’t been in vain—the little girl had finally actively nestled in his arms.

Though it was the first time, didn’t having a first time mean there would be a second?

Cheng Chi encouragingly hugged her and whispered to her softly, “Just don’t kick me off the bed when the time comes, all right?”

“Uncle Chi!” Zhou Shaojin was both embarrassed and anxious. She pushed him away and stamped her foot in anger.

Really… starting to talk nonsense again… Couldn’t he have a proper conversation with her?

Cheng Chi obligingly stepped back two paces and burst into hearty laughter.

The little girl looked adorable even when angry.

All puffed up, eyes bright and shining, the shy pink flush made her face luminously beautiful—utterly captivating.

He stepped forward and bent to kiss Zhou Shaojin’s forehead.

Zhou Shaojin’s face turned even redder.

But she didn’t run away as if fleeing like before.

Did this count as progress?

Cheng Chi felt somewhat pleasantly surprised.

Outside the door came Huai Shan’s hesitant voice: “Fourth Master, Zi’an has returned.”

Cheng Chi smiled and stroked Zhou Shaojin’s head, saying softly, “Be good and sit here, all right?”

Zhou Shaojin shyly nodded.

This was the first time she heard Cheng Chi handle business matters.

Zhou Shaojin somewhat nervously tidied the tea utensils.

Cheng Chi went to the main room.

Qin Zi’an entered, dusty from travel.

He cupped his hands in salute to Cheng Chi, suddenly noticing Zhou Shaojin in the room.

Qin Zi’an glanced at Cheng Chi.

Seeing Cheng Chi’s expression remain calm as he sat down at the large writing desk.

He laughed inwardly and respectfully reported to Cheng Chi as usual: “Because Madam Yuan has conclusive evidence in hand and has taken a firm stance, even sending people to Tongxiang to invite the Yuan family’s maternal uncle over to help uphold justice, the second branch’s old ancestor, seeing that Madam Yuan had a regardless-of-consequences momentum and knowing further talk would be useless, sent someone to speak with the Old Madam. He said separation of the clan was acceptable—the first branch would separate out, the ancestral properties and sacrificial fields in Jinling City would be inherited by the second branch, and the residence in the capital would be given to the first branch…” Speaking to this point, he quickly glanced at Zhou Shaojin and said, “Then the first branch would give the second branch three million taels of silver…”

Zhou Shaojin was greatly shocked.

Three million taels… Did they want Cheng Chi to work like an ox or horse for them for the rest of his life?

She instinctively wanted to jump out and object, but with Qin Zi’an present, she decided to wait and discuss this matter with Cheng Chi later.

However, Cheng Chi’s expression remained very calm, as if he had already anticipated what conditions Cheng Xu would propose.

He only asked Qin Ziping, “What did the Old Madam and Madam Yuan say?”

“The Old Madam said nothing,” Qin Ziping obviously also felt these conditions were too excessive, his tone somewhat suppressed as he said, “She only had me convey this matter to you. Madam Yuan disagreed. She said the Cheng family has only three residences in the capital total—one in Xingling Alley, one in Shuangyu Alley, and one near Chaoyangmen. Of these three residences, the one in Xingling Alley was acquired when our first branch’s Old Ancestor Zhi was alive, the one in Shuangyu Alley was originally part of Second Old Master’s family’s Old Madam’s dowry, and the residence near Chaoyangmen was bought with the Old Madam’s private funds—not one has any connection to the Cheng family. Now that Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng have done wrong, the second and third branches actually have justification? All the money and goods left by the old ancestors would go entirely to the second branch, while the first branch would leave with nothing. There’s no such convenient arrangement in the world!

“Madam Yuan also said that if accounts must be settled, then they should be settled clearly.

“The second branch and first branch already divided the household long ago under the elders’ supervision, so naturally each family’s property belongs to each family. The only property involved is the sacrificial fields.

“The first branch is the legitimate line, not adopted from some corner somewhere. How could these sacrificial fields belong entirely to the second branch? Even if this lawsuit were taken before the Emperor, the first branch would be in the right. Not to mention having the first branch give three million taels of silver to the second branch.

“The second branch clearly doesn’t want to divide the clan.

“After all, without dividing the clan, the second and third branches will keep scheming to trap Young Master Xu, trying to get leverage over him so he’ll never be able to hold his head high for the rest of his life. Rather than suffering such disgrace and ruin at that time, it’s better while Young Master Xu is still young and ‘youthful ignorance’ can be used as an excuse to stage a drama of ‘the prodigal son returns,’ expose this matter now, and also let people know what kind of person Second Branch’s Master Shi is, and how Third Branch’s Master Zheng and Miss Jia framed their in-laws! Let the world see the true face of the Cheng family of Jinling City. When that time comes, the first branch can sell all the property under their name and move entirely to the capital. Whether the clan divides or not, what difference does it make?”

Speaking to this point, he glanced at Cheng Chi, unable to help grumbling inwardly.

Whether the clan divided truly made no difference to the first branch, and they could even drag the second branch into this dispute, distracting Cheng Shi from his studies and dragging Cheng Xu to death. Then the second branch would become meat on the first branch’s chopping board.

But the problem was that Fourth Master wanted the clan to divide!

Without dividing the clan, how could Fourth Master marry the Zhou family’s second young miss?

The Old Madam had probably also seen this point, which was why she said nothing and simply tossed this matter to Fourth Master—rather with the meaning of “whoever caused this trouble should figure out how to solve it.”

Unexpectedly, at the crucial moment, Madam Yuan was quite formidable after all.

Coming up with such a strategy.

He wondered if Fourth Master would be angry enough to change his expression.

Zhou Shaojin also looked toward Cheng Chi.

She had understood clearly.

The second branch wasn’t planning to compete with the first branch for the Seven Star Hall, so they wanted the first branch to give them three million taels of silver in compensation all at once.

But wasn’t it because the second branch had no one capable of taking over the Seven Star Hall?

And even if the first branch yielded the Seven Star Hall to the second branch, what use would it be in their hands?

When all was said and done, wasn’t the Seven Star Hall still being managed by Uncle Chi!

This was like throwing a chicken rib to Uncle Chi while demanding he acknowledge it as a whole chicken.

The second branch’s calculations were far too clever.

As if everyone else were fools.

Uncle Chi definitely wouldn’t agree.

Who knew that Cheng Chi actually raised his eyebrows and smiled, saying, “It seems this sister-in-law of mine is quite useful at crucial moments after all. I just wonder whether she thought up this plan herself, or whether the Yuan family’s maternal uncle thought of it?”

Qin Ziping didn’t know and replied truthfully, “The Yuan family’s maternal uncle brought a total of five retainers with him. It’s said three of them were formerly legal secretaries.”

Cheng Chi nodded with a smile and said, “I knew it. Though the Yuan family’s maternal uncle hasn’t been successful in his official career, he is after all a Grand Secretary’s son. His insight and methods shouldn’t be too poor.” He added, “What did the second branch’s old ancestor say?”

Qin Ziping then laughed and said, “The second branch’s old ancestor said, when did it become the hen’s turn to crow in the Cheng family! He said if First Master has no time, then Fourth Master should return for a visit.”

Cheng Chi burst into laughter and said to Qin Ziping, “Then you go back and tell our second branch’s old ancestor that I feel dividing the clan and such things are too unfriendly. In our first branch, my father’s generation had three brothers. In our generation, there are four brothers. In Jiashan’s generation, there are only two brothers. Not like their second branch—three generations of single heirs. In Youyi’s generation, two brothers. In Geng’er’s generation… Youyi is this year… if I haven’t remembered wrong, he should be the same age as me, and already has two sons. I’m truly extremely envious. Moreover, if we’re to divide the clan, isn’t it better for brothers to live together so warmly and closely like this?”

Qin Ziping couldn’t help but grumble inwardly upon hearing this.

Fourth Master, keep up the act!

If Madam Yuan, at the Yuan family maternal uncle’s instigation, decides not to divide the clan after all, let’s see how you keep acting!

He couldn’t help the trace of a smile that flashed through his eyes as he respectfully said, “Then I’ll convey your words exactly as spoken.”

Cheng Chi waved his hand, indicating he could leave.

Zhou Shaojin’s face bloomed with smiles.

Cheng Chi scraped her nose: “The Cheng family won’t divide the clan, and you’re this happy?”

“It’s not exactly that!” Understanding what Cheng Chi implied, Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat embarrassed and said, “I just think the second branch’s old ancestor is too detestable! Throwing a hot potato at you like it’s some treasure bowl, even calling it a painful sacrifice… You shouldn’t have accepted his challenge! You should have thrown the Seven Star Hall right back at him.”

Cheng Chi lifted her up to his eye level in one motion, gazing into her dark, bright eyes and laughing softly, “Are you deliberately trying to anger me? They can all drag this out for ten or eight years before discussing clan division, but only I cannot wait… You’re undermining me…” As he spoke, he gently and tenderly pressed his lips to hers.