Li Jingyun’s lips curved. He reached out and patted Youjie’s small head, gathering him in against his leg with a sweep of his dark jade-green sleeve. His deep eyes lifted, settling on Huayue’s face without a trace of warmth. “Much obliged for looking after him.”

Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, tightened abruptly. Huayue pressed her lips together and looked away. “It was no trouble.”

Polite, as if to a stranger passing on the street.

Shopkeeper Zhao stood stunned for a good while, his gaze falling to the jade pendant hanging at the man’s waist. He glanced at it lightly, and his brow twitched.

Years of experience in trade told him that this man before him was no ordinary figure—someone of considerable status and background. By rights, he shouldn’t have appeared in a bustling pastry shop like this. Judging by the atmosphere, whatever history he shared with Madam Yin, it didn’t seem like family, nor did it seem like enmity. There was only a full-bodied distance and coldness about him, his intentions impossible to read.

“Since we’ve run into each other by chance, let me offer a word of advice,” Li Jingyun said coldly after a moment of silence. “When running a shop, the goods come first. The embroidery on those sachets must be flawless, not a single stitch out of place—there will be inspection upon delivery. Whatever favor you owe her for looking after Youjie isn’t necessarily worth what the deal is worth.”

Huayue, still reeling from the shock of running into this man so suddenly, was baffled to hear this. “What sachets?”

Wen Guzhi stepped in to explain. “The army’s been away from home for years now and misses their homeland dearly. Since we’re far from the capital and setting up camp here, the Third Young Master ordered several hundred sachets from the cloth shop in town to comfort the soldiers. The fabric’s already been given to Shuang Jiang—all that’s left is the embroidery.”

“…” A sense of foreboding crept over her, and Huayue instinctively glanced back at Shopkeeper Zhao.

A sudden large order was normally good news, but if this order came from Li Jingyun, Huayue would rather forgo the profit than take it—especially since she’d just accepted Shopkeeper Zhao’s handkerchief order and couldn’t manage two jobs at once.

Shopkeeper Zhao, still pondering this man’s background, was caught off guard by her glance, blinking in gentle confusion. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“This, what should we do?” Huayue turned her back to Li Jingyun, giving him repeated meaningful looks.

Shopkeeper Zhao understood and played along. “You already agreed to my order first.”

“Oh, that’s right, already agreed,” Huayue said, turning back and bowing regretfully toward Li Jingyun. “My apologies.”

His gaze swept over the other man before settling on the top of Huayue’s bowed head. Li Jingyun lifted the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of mockery. “I can excuse it, but the order was written up by someone in your shop. If you break the contract, the cost of the twenty bolts of fine silk will fall on the shopkeeper to pay.”

He produced the order and held it out before her.

Shuang Jiang’s handwriting met her eyes. Huayue’s eyelid twitched—for a moment she almost wanted to ask whether this man had deliberately taken advantage of her absence to corner Shuang Jiang, an easy target.

But given their current positions, she had neither the standing nor the courage to ask.

It was the first time Shopkeeper Zhao had seen Yin Huayue this tense. Though her face showed no fear, her body was strung as tight as a bowstring, her eyes shifting between light and shadow, her fingers curled white within her sleeves.

“Don’t panic,” he said gently, having known her for two years now. “I can have the embroiderers at my embroidery hall help out. If you’re overwhelmed on your end, I can also find you a couple more hands. It’s not a big deal—don’t frighten the children.”

Huayue startled, only then remembering that Shiwang was still watching nearby, and quickly loosened her grip, offering him a grateful smile.

This man was extremely guarded by nature—even Mingshu and Chaofeng, back in the day, had needed a long time to earn any trust from her. Li Jingyun had rarely seen her act warmly toward a stranger; even with someone like Zhou Hemin showing goodwill, she’d kept her distance.

And yet now, toward this man he didn’t know at all, Yin Huayue was smiling so intimately, her eyes shining, the corners of her mouth lifted naturally and high—not the false, ingratiating smile of someone playing along for appearances. Her once unfathomably deep eyes reflected this man’s face without a trace of resistance.

Something clenched hard around his heart, and almost without thinking, Li Jingyun reached out and pulled her back to his side.

Caught off guard, Huayue stumbled from the pull, the light in her eyes vanishing instantly, her brow knitting as she looked up at him, her eyes filled with alarm.

Struck by that look, Li Jingyun’s expression darkened.

The atmosphere froze for a moment. Cold sweat broke out on Wen Guzhi’s forehead again—how was he supposed to salvage this situation? The whole reason they’d rushed here was clearly because he’d wanted to see her, but now that there was another man beside his sister-in-law, the Third Young Master had no way to back down gracefully.

If he refused to soften, sister-in-law would only grow more frightened and evasive. And if sister-in-law grew evasive, the Third Young Master would only grow angrier still. Round and round it would go, with no good end in sight.

An idea striking him, Wen Guzhi glanced down at Youjie.

Youjie didn’t understand what was happening, but he could sense that both his parents were upset. His small face scrunched up too, though he didn’t cry—he wasn’t a child prone to fussing.

Silently pressing his palms together in apology to Youjie, Wen Guzhi stepped on the back of his heel.

Youjie: “…”

At the moment when the atmosphere was most tense, a babyish wail suddenly rang out through the entire pastry shop.

Once Youjie started crying, Shiwang somehow followed suit, and with both boys wailing together, Huayue immediately grew flustered, crouching down to gather them both into her arms, asking softly, “What’s wrong, why are you crying?”

Youjie shook his head; Shiwang shook his head too, following his brother’s lead. Pearl-like tears fell in a steady stream, and no amount of soothing from Huayue could stop the crying.

The other patrons nearby, disturbed by the noise, began complaining.

Li Jingyun turned to glance at them, his expression fairly gentle, carrying a hint of admonishment.

Of course, this was only how he perceived it himself—the moment he glanced their way, the patrons all fell silent, turning back to their own food, heads bowed low.

Huayue scooped up both children and hurried out the door, apologizing profusely, then stepped outside and said gently, “Don’t cry anymore. What do you want? Mother will buy it for you.”

Youjie hiccupped through his sobs. “I want Father.”

Huayue immediately dragged Li Jingyun out.

The sudden touch of her fingers felt like something from another lifetime. Li Jingyun stared at the hand on his sleeve, and the stern expression he’d been holding suddenly softened.

He was actually easy to appease, remarkably easy—so long as she’d still take his hand, touch him, speak to him, whatever grievance he’d been holding onto would vanish like the last wisp of smoke from an incense burner.

And yet, she only pulled him out and handed him off to Youjie, soothing the child gently. “Here’s your father. Don’t cry now.”

Youjie held tightly to his father’s hand, but his crying didn’t stop. “Al—also want you.”

Shiwang, who adored this generous older brother, wasn’t about to be outdone either, and while still crying, reached out and offered his own mother’s hand to Youjie.

But Mother seemed to resist, quickly withdrawing her hand, only patting Shiwang’s head instead and saying, “I’m here too.”

The handsome older brother beside them glanced silently at his mother’s retreating hand, then turned his head away, looking gloomy.

Shiwang had no idea what was going on—he just figured he should keep crying along with his brother.

Huayue, her head aching from the noise, apologized profusely to Shopkeeper Zhao. “I’ll visit your household again tomorrow. Thank you for today.”

“Not at all,” Shopkeeper Zhao shook his head. “Now that I know you have someone to see you and the little ones home, I can rest easy. I’ll take my leave now.”

“I won’t see you off,” Huayue said with a nod, watching him walk off down the street.

Wen Guzhi let out a breath and cupped his hands toward Huayue. “The two young masters have cried so hard, their stomachs might start aching soon. I’ll go ahead to the pharmacy up front and get them some sugar pills. Everyone, please come by and collect them shortly.”

Huayue wanted to say there was no need to trouble himself, but Wen Guzhi’s legs seemed to have springs on them—he’d already dashed off into the distance before she could even call out to stop him.

Youjie suddenly stopped crying, tears still on his face, his expression already back to normal. He lifted his sleeve and wiped Shiwang’s face, saying quietly, “Stop crying now, I can see your throat.”

Shiwang looked at him, still pouting.

The two little ones, identical in every way, stood there wiping each other’s faces—unbearably adorable. Huayue’s mood lifted a little, and just as she was about to smile, she heard Li Jingyun ask, “Is there a tea shop in this city?”

Remembering that only the two adults remained now, Huayue’s smile faded, and she pointed toward the neighboring street. “Over there.”

“Take me. I don’t know the way.”

Why did he sound so entitled about it? Huayue looked up at him, finding it almost laughable. “Sir, I’m no longer part of your household.”

“Mm,” Li Jingyun nodded, still entitled in tone. “Take me there.”

Unfamiliar with the area, and given his temperament, he likely wouldn’t lower himself to ask for directions along the street. Still, she said warily, “It doesn’t seem proper for the two of us to walk together, given our current relationship.”

Li Jingyun looked down at her, his eyes tinged with mockery. “You’re merely Youjie’s mother, nothing more to me than that. No one here knows either of us—using those constraints as a shield, are you the one feeling guilty, or something else?”

What was there to feel guilty about? Huayue let out a “hah” and retorted, “You flatter yourself. Two years have passed—everything should have been washed clean by now. Guilt certainly isn’t mine to bear. Besides, I’m not exactly idle either, no reason I should be obligated to do you this favor.”

Li Jingyun lowered his eyes, twisting his fingers together. “If I had anyone else to rely on right now, I wouldn’t need you. How about this—for the order, I’ll add two extra points of profit per sachet if you show me the way, so I don’t end up stuck here after dark, unable to get back to camp.”

What did he take her for? Did he think two points of profit would make her bow to him? Furious, Huayue pointed down the road ahead and snapped, “This way, please. Follow me!”

Youjie: “…”

Shiwang: “…”

The adult world was truly complicated.

A deal like this might come once in a lifetime—someone like Li Jingyun, who had no idea what money even meant, was hard to come across. Two points extra profit, several hundred sachets—it could cover Shiwang’s tuition for three more years. She had to say yes; not caring about pride didn’t mean not caring about money.

Still, walking side by side with him left her uneasy. She kept glancing at him from the corner of her eye, dreading that he might suddenly bring up the events of the past.

But Li Jingyun said not a word about it, showing keen interest only in the town itself, holding Youjie in one arm while picking up a hairpin from a roadside stall with the other, asking the vendor, “Does this style come in gold?”