Since neither Ren Yaoqi nor Ren Shimin had returned, Ren Yaohua and Ren Yaoying had no choice but to share a carriage.

After Ren Yaohua got in the carriage, she treated Ren Yaoying as if she didn’t exist. Ren Yaoying also didn’t seek out awkwardness, sitting aside and sipping tea by herself.

Though the first month had just passed and it had been sunny for several days recently, the weather was still very cold. A charcoal brazier was lit in the carriage, though they used fine silver charcoal, being sealed in the carriage for too long still made one feel stuffy.

Ren Yaoying would occasionally lift the carriage curtain to let air in and also look at the scenery outside. Ren Yaohua also felt the carriage was somewhat stuffy, so she didn’t stop her.

When the carriage entered Zhengyang Street, the most prosperous area of Yunyang City, several carriages happened to emerge from a back alley of a restaurant, blocking the road. The driving woman stopped their carriage to let those carriages pass first.

Ren Yaoying looked outside and exclaimed, “Oh, so this is Fumanlou! Third Sister, don’t you really like Fumanlou’s pine nut lily pastries? Let’s have someone buy some to take back.”

Ren Yaohua wasn’t appreciative and was about to refuse when Ren Yaoying smiled and said: “Last time when Fumanlou’s pastries were mentioned, Grandmother also said they were quite good. I want to buy some to take back and show filial piety to Grandmother. What do you think, Third Sister?”

Ren Yaohua frowned. If she disagreed, Ren Yaoying would probably go back and complain to Old Madam Ren that she was unfilial. Ren Yaohua sneered and instructed her maid Xiangqin: “You go down and buy two boxes of pastries for Ninth Miss.”

Xiangqin pursed her lips and lifted the carriage curtain to get out.

Just then, a somewhat hesitant male voice came from outside the carriage: “Eh? Aren’t you… May I ask if the young ladies from the Ren family are sitting in the carriage?”

Ren Yaohua found this voice somewhat familiar, but couldn’t remember where she’d heard it. Ren Yaoying, however, covered her lips and softly exclaimed: “It sounds like Young Master Zhou.”

With Ren Yaoying’s reminder, Ren Yaohua also remembered – it was Zhou Wen from the Zhou family, whom they had met at the hot spring resort.

Without waiting for Ren Yaohua to speak, Ren Yaoying called softly to the outside: “Is that Young Master Zhou outside?”

Zhou Wen was very happy to hear Ren Yaoying’s voice and quickly said, “It’s me. So, Ninth Miss Ren is in the carriage? I wondered why the maid who just got out looked familiar.” Zhou Wen had an excellent memory, even remembering Xiangqin, whom he’d only met once.

Ren Yaoying conversed with him through the carriage curtain: “Third Sister and I are just heading back to the retreat house and happened to pass by here. My grandmother and Third Sister both like Fumanlou’s pastries, so we wanted to have our maid buy some to take back.”

Zhou Wen said: “I see. I was wondering why it was such a coincidence today. My mother and sister also like the pastries here, and I was passing by wanting to bring some back, too. By the way, my sister hasn’t seen you for a long time and always mentions you. She’s in the carriage ahead – would you like to see her?”

Ren Yaohua frowned: “It’s getting late, let’s go…”

But Ren Yaoying interrupted: “Though it’s getting late, we indeed haven’t seen Miss Zhou for a long time, so naturally we should meet her.” After saying this, Ren Yaoying even smiled at Ren Yaohua.

Zhou Wen, outside, had already heard Ren Yaoying’s words and instructed his attendant: “Go tell Miss to come over and see the two young ladies from the Ren family.”

With things having reached this point, Ren Yaohua couldn’t very well order the carriage to leave.

Zhou Rong was indeed nearby and came over quickly, saying delightedly from outside: “Sister Yaoying is in the carriage?”

Ren Yaoying lifted the carriage curtain and got out with her maid’s support, joyfully grasping Zhou Rong’s hand: “Sister Rong’er, it’s been so long. How have you been recently?”

From the moment Ren Yaoying stepped out of the carriage, Zhou Wen’s gaze remained fixated on her, not leaving for even a moment. When Ren Yaoying turned to glance at Zhou Wen, her face reddened slightly as she lowered her head and stepped forward to curtsy gently: “Greetings, Young Master Zhou.”

Her soft, melodious voice made Zhou Wen feel a tingling sensation in his heart, and his gaze became even more unwilling to leave her.

At this time, Ren Yaohua also got out of the carriage and politely greeted the Zhou siblings.

Zhou Rong didn’t like Ren Yaohua. After the formal greeting, she ignored her and said to herself: “Not far ahead, there’s a teahouse that only serves female customers, and they even have female storytellers! I’ve wanted to visit for a long time but haven’t had the chance. What perfect timing today – Sister Yaoying, why don’t you come with me? We haven’t seen each other for so long, we should have a heart-to-heart talk.”

Zhou Wen cleverly arranged: “I’ll have someone go to the teahouse to make preparations for you right away.”

Ren Yaohua spoke up to stop them: “That’s not necessary. We came to Yunyang City with family elders. It wouldn’t be proper to stay out without the elders’ permission.”

Zhou Rong became unhappy: “The first month has just passed, and it’s still the Lantern Festival period. According to Yanbei customs, women can go out to enjoy themselves with their family sisters during this season.”

Compared to the capital, Yanbei had slightly fewer restrictions on women. For festivals like the fifteenth of the first month, Qixi, Zhongyuan, and Chongyang, women were allowed to go out together, usually with family brothers accompanying them for protection.

Since it had only been a short time since the first month ended and some festive atmosphere remained, there were indeed some women on Zhengyang Street, which was why Zhou Rong said this.

Ren Yaohua looked at her coolly: “Miss Zhou also knows that the Lantern Festival has already passed, doesn’t she?”

Seeing his sister’s defiant expression as if she wanted to argue, Zhou Wen feared they might conflict and quickly smiled to smooth things over: “What Third Miss Ren says makes sense too. How about this – doesn’t Third Miss Ren like Fumanlou’s pastries? I’ll go pick out some fresh ones from the oven, and I heard Fumanlou has several new varieties recently. I’ll buy some of those for you to take back, too. Why don’t you wait in the carriage and use this opportunity to catch up?”

One doesn’t strike a smiling face. Zhou Wen’s polite and considerate manner made it difficult for Ren Yaohua to be too harsh in rejecting his kindness, so she softened her voice: “Thank you for Young Master Zhou’s kind intention, but I’ve already sent my maid to buy some, so please don’t trouble yourself.”

Zhou Wen laughed heartily: “No trouble at all! I’m most experienced at buying pastries.” As he spoke, he winked at the sulking Zhou Rong and the smiling Ren Yaoying, then turned and headed into Fumanlou.

Buying pastries hardly required Young Master Zhou personally – he was doing this just to give Ren Yaoying and Zhou Rong a chance to catch up and talk. Since he meant well, Ren Yaohua couldn’t very well be angry.

Ren Yaohua politely asked them: “Would you like to wait in my carriage?”

Zhou Rong took Ren Yaoying’s arm and coldly refused: “No need, I have my carriage! Sister Yaoying, come to my carriage!”

Ren Yaohua didn’t insist and nodded, about to get in her carriage.

Just then, several richly dressed young men emerged from a restaurant across the street. Ren Yaoying looked up in that direction, then seemed to see something terrifying – her face went pale as she hid behind Zhou Rong.

Zhou Rong followed Ren Yaoying’s gaze across the street and was frightened into crying out.

At this time, discussions arose around them, focused on one of the young men who had emerged from the restaurant across the street.

This young man was tall and well-built, dressed quite elegantly. Looking at his back alone, anyone would think he was a graceful young gentleman. Unfortunately, his face was too frightening. Half his face was very pale, with delicate features still faintly visible, while the other half showed severe burn scars – the outer layer of skin seemed to have melted and wrinkled, exposing the flesh underneath. Especially the eye on his injured side, which was a grayish-white dead color, like a cooked fish eye.

Seeing the scars on this young man’s face reminded Ren Yaoying of the scars on her aunt’s face, which was why her face went pale and she didn’t dare take a second look.

But it wasn’t just Ren Yaoying – anyone who saw that young man’s face didn’t dare look a second time. Even the young men of similar age traveling with him were unwilling to let their gaze linger on his face, their eyes wandering even when speaking to him.

Yet this young man seemed completely unaware of how terrifying his face was. Not only did he not attempt to cover it, but when he saw disgust and fear in others’ eyes, he would smile at them – a smile that often scared people half to death.

He seemed to have heard Zhou Rong’s cry from this side and looked over, then curved his lips at Zhou Rong, frightening her into pulling Ren Yaoying back a step. He burst into laughter as if he’d seen something amusing.

Ren Yaohua had been about to get in her carriage, but was attracted by this commotion. She couldn’t help but turn to look toward the young man, just meeting his mocking gaze as it swept toward her.

Ren Yaohua was also startled by the young man’s face, but she wasn’t the type of timid woman who liked to make a big fuss. Her gaze only paused slightly before turning away, then, without even pausing in her steps, she lifted the carriage curtain and got in, as if she had seen just an ordinary person.

The young man stared at the lowered carriage curtain in a daze, then a glint of interest flashed in his eyes.

A young man walking beside him coughed lightly and said quietly: “Brother Zeng, don’t mind them. They’re just…”

Zeng Kui placed his hand on the man’s shoulder with an intimate yet curious tone: “Just what? They were just frightened by the scars on my face?”

The young man glanced at the hand on his shoulder and seemed somewhat uncomfortable, shifting his shoulder slightly. However, his upbringing was decent, so he suppressed the urge to shake off that hand: “Ahem, if Brother Zeng minds their stares, next time you go out, I’ll find you a mask to cover it. There’s a jade shop in Yunyang City with a very skillful jade craftsman. I’ll have him custom-make a white jade mask for Brother Zeng – it would perfectly… perfectly suit Brother Zeng’s temperament.”