Hearing this, Zeng Kui smiled and glanced at the young man with a joking tone: “Brother Su isn’t disgusted by my appearance, is he?”

Su Yunchen quickly said, “Brother Zeng, how could you say such a thing? Friendship values the heart – where is there judging people by their appearance?”

Hearing this, the smile on Zeng Kui’s face deepened. He slowly brought his face close to Su Yunchen and said cheerfully, “If that’s the case, what do I need a mask for? The only people Zeng wants to befriend are those like Brother Su who don’t judge by appearance. As for others…” As he spoke, Zeng Kui smiled and glanced at those who had come out with them, but deliberately stood some distance away, smiling with unclear meaning.

Second Young Master Su Yunchen looked at Zeng Kui’s face so close at hand, his complexion somewhat pale. Especially the way Zeng Kui’s dead fish-like eye stared straight at him made him feel chills down his spine. Su Yunchen swallowed and desperately suppressed the churning feeling in his stomach, stiffly shifting sideways.

Zeng Kui saw this but didn’t take offense. Instead, he kindly moved his face away, then pointed at Ren Yaohua’s carriage and asked Su Yunchen: “I wonder which family’s young lady just got into that carriage?”

Not far from Fumanlou’s entrance were several carriages. Two young ladies, looking fearfully in their direction, had gotten into a carriage with their maids’ support. However, Zeng Kui wasn’t pointing at that carriage, but the one in front.

Su Yunchen hesitated: “I didn’t look carefully at the young lady who got into that carriage in front, and I can’t tell which family the carriage belongs to from its appearance. But the one behind seems to be the Zhou family’s carriage – I saw Zhou Wen earlier. Of the two young ladies getting into the carriage, one should be his sister. Oh, Zhou Wen is my classmate at Yunyang Academy. His scholarship is quite good – I’ll introduce you when there’s a chance.”

Just then, Zhou Wen strode out of Fumanlou and walked to Ren Yaoying and Zhou Rong’s carriage, speaking quietly for a few moments, apparently asking if anyone in the carriage wanted any particular pastries.

Zeng Kui curved his lips in a smile, grabbed Su Yunchen’s hand with his other hand, and dragged him across the street, saying as they walked: “No need to look for an opportunity – there’s no time like the present.”

Su Yunchen was dragged several steps before reacting, feeling somewhat annoyed that his sister-in-law’s cousin was truly too self-willed and liked to be hands-on, no wonder his elder brother was unwilling to accompany this brother-in-law himself. He still wasn’t used to seeing Zeng Kui’s appearance, but since his father had asked him to entertain the guest, he couldn’t refuse.

Zeng Kui quickly dragged Su Yunchen to Zhou Wen, who was talking. When Zhou Wen turned and saw Zeng Kui, he was also greatly startled, but being a man, he managed not to lose composure publicly. He avoided Zeng Kui’s gaze and looked at Su Yunchen, asking somewhat puzzledly: “Brother Su, what’s this about?”

Su Yunchen smiled awkwardly, pulled his hand back from Zeng Kui’s grasp, straightened his robes, and bowed to Zhou Wen: “Brother Zhou.” Then Su Yunchen glanced at Zeng Kui, coughed lightly, and said to Zhou Wen: “Brother Zhou, this is Zeng Kui, son of the new Ningxia General Zeng, and also my sister-in-law’s cousin. He heard me mention you earlier and wanted to come meet you. Brother Zeng, this is Zhou Wen, Brother Zhou.”

Among peers, Zhou Wen was quite tactful – otherwise, with his rather ordinary family background, he wouldn’t be able to call the sons of great families like the Yun and Su families brothers and maintain close friendships.

After Su Yunchen’s introduction, Zhou Wen immediately smiled: “Oh, so it’s Brother Zeng. How rude of me.”

Zeng Kui nodded at him, then let his gaze wander over the two carriages and asked with a smile: “Is Brother Zhou accompanying your sister-in-law and sister on an outing?”

Zhou Wen’s face reddened, and Su Yunchen quickly reminded Zeng Kui quietly: “Brother Zhou isn’t yet married.”

Zhou Wen coughed lightly: “In the carriage are my sister and two young ladies from the Ren family. My sister and I originally went out with my mother, but my mother had urgent business and left first. We happened to meet Third Miss Ren and Ninth Miss Ren at Fumanlou’s entrance. My sister and Ninth Miss Ren are good friends, so they’re having a brief chat.”

Zeng Kui’s gaze settled on the carriage that was somewhat farther away, asking with a smile: “The one sitting in that carriage is… Third Miss Ren?” He remembered Su Yunchen saying earlier that one person in the front carriage was Zhou Wen’s sister.

Zhou Wen found it somewhat strange that Zeng Kui would ask this, but he still nodded: “That’s correct.”

Zeng Kui asked again: “Which Ren family? Are they also from Yunyang City?”

Su Yunchen felt something was wrong and spoke up to interrupt: “Brother Zeng, it’s not convenient to talk here, and Brother Zhou still has things to do. Why don’t we arrange another time to meet?”

Zhou Wen also felt it improper to discuss young ladies in public, so he readily nodded and smiled: “Good. Brother Su, just have someone send me an invitation, then. I’ll certainly attend – it can serve as a welcome banquet for Brother Zeng.”

Zeng Kui looked at Su Yunchen and Zhou Wen, chuckled softly, and stopped asking questions, but his gaze remained fixed on Ren Yaohua’s carriage.

Zhou Wen and Su Yunchen exchanged glances. They were peers, both fifteen or sixteen-year-old young men, and could well understand what Zeng Kui’s gaze represented. Zeng Kui probably had some intentions toward that Third Miss Ren.

Zhou Wen thought of Ren Yaohua’s beautiful appearance, then looked at the ghastly scars on Zeng Kui’s face, secretly shaking his head and thinking: How could a fresh flower be placed in cow dung? This Young Master Zeng truly lacked self-awareness.

At this time, Wujing got out of Ren Yaohua’s carriage, walked over, and curtsied, then called to Ren Yaoying and Zhou Rong’s carriage: “Ninth Miss, Third Miss says Miss Lei is still waiting at the retreat house. It’s not convenient for us to stay out long. Are you returning with us?”

Ren Yaoying paused before saying somewhat hesitantly: “I… I’ll go back too.”

But she didn’t get out of the carriage.

Zhou Wen glanced at Zeng Kui standing nearby, knowing Ren Yaoying might be too frightened to get out, so he very considerately said: “My sister and I will escort you back. Ninth Miss Ren can continue sharing a seat with Rong’er – you can talk on the way.”

Ren Yaoying softly said Thanks.

Zhou Wen cupped his hands toward Zeng Kui and Su Yunchen: “We’ll take our leave first.”

Su Yunchen nodded and returned the courtesy. Zeng Kui withdrew his gaze from Ren Yaohua’s carriage and smiled at Zhou Wen.

At this time, a Fumanlou server brought out two boxes of pastries. Zhou Wen had his servant take them, then mounted his horse himself, following alongside Ren Yaoying and Zhou Rong’s carriage.

Zeng Kui’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched their group disappear down Zhengyang Street, then smiled and turned to leave at Su Yunchen’s urging.

In the carriage, both Zhou Rong and Ren Yaoying were still somewhat shaken.

Zhou Rong patted her chest: “That scared me to death! That person is so ugly – just one look would keep me awake at night.”

Zhou Rong’s words reminded Ren Yaoying of her aunt. When she first saw Concubine Fang’s face after she removed her veil, she was so frightened she nearly fainted. Since then, Concubine Fang never showed her true face in front of her again. But the scars on Concubine Fang’s face had left a shadow in Ren Yaoying’s heart.

Seeing Ren Yaoying not speaking, Zhou Rong thought for a moment, then leaned close to Ren Yaoying’s ear and whispered: “Hey, what do you think that ugly monster kept asking about your Third Sister for? Could it be that he…”

It turned out that where Zeng Kui, Su Yunchen, and Zhou Wen had been standing was extremely close to their carriage, so they had heard the three men’s conversation clearly from inside the carriage.

Ren Yaoying had been frightened by Zeng Kui’s ghastly appearance earlier and hadn’t thought carefully, but hearing Zhou Rong say this and carefully recalling the conversation they’d just heard, she also felt something was amiss and couldn’t help but look thoughtful.

Zhou Rong thought for a moment, nudged Ren Yaoying with her elbow, and said with her hand covering her mouth in laughter: “Hey, your Third Sister is ruthless and vicious, and that Young Master Zeng is ugly as a ghost. They’re quite well-matched.”

Zhou Rong had originally meant it as just a joke, but hearing this, Ren Yaoying’s heart stirred. However, she chided: “Sister Zhou, don’t talk nonsense. My Third Sister is so beautiful – how could she match with someone like that?”

Zhou Rong sighed: “Yaoying, you have such a good nature. She bullies you so much, yet you still speak up for her.”

Ren Yaoying lowered her eyes and smiled faintly: “She’s my sister. Naturally, I hope for her well-being.”

Zhou Rong became somewhat interested in Zeng Kui because of this. She gently lifted the carriage curtain and called out “Brother.”

Zhou Wen was racking his brains trying to figure out how to strike up a conversation with Ren Yaoying. Seeing Zhou Rong call him, his eyes immediately lit up. He urged his horse closer to the carriage, looking into it while saying: “Rong’er, what is it?”

Zhou Rong glanced at her brother’s expression, then at Ren Yaoying, who seemed somewhat shy, covered her mouth and giggled secretly, but asked: “That Young Master Zeng is the son of the Ningxia General? How old is he? Is he married?”

Hearing this, Zhou Wen helplessly chided gently: “Rong’er, these aren’t questions you should be asking.”

Zhou Rong glared at Zhou Wen: “There are no outsiders here. Just answer when I ask!”

Zhou Wen said: “This was also my first meeting with Young Master Zeng – how would I know so much? But he probably isn’t married.”

Zhou Rong covered her mouth and giggled, then whispered: “Hey, brother, do you think that Young Master Zeng just now was…” Zhou Rong winked and pointed toward the carriage in front.

Zhou Wen coughed lightly and said seriously: “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Zhou Rong pursed her lips and dropped the carriage curtain with a flourish: “Fine, if you won’t say, you won’t say!”

Zhou Wen looked at the lowered curtain and couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.

Ren Yaoying sat there without speaking the whole time, not knowing what she was thinking about.