Hearing this, Third Master Ren’s expression finally improved somewhat.

Xiao Jingxi smiled slightly, then examined the ink landscape painting that Old Master Ren had just completed, saying: “Father seems to have forgotten to add his signature?”

Third Master Ren nodded and got up to fetch his seal.

Only then did Xiao Jingxi ask Ren Yaoqi, “How did you come here with Mother?”

Ren Yaoqi glanced at her father’s departing figure and said quietly: “Just now, the maid came to tell us that you and Father were arguing in the study, and that Father had thrown something in anger. Mother and I were worried, so we came to see.”

Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but laugh, looking at Ren Yaoqi and saying softly, “In your heart, am I so lacking in propriety? That I wouldn’t even show consideration for my father-in-law?”

Ren Yaoqi also lowered her head and smiled, then asked: “Then what happened just now? It couldn’t be that all the servants in the courtyard were hard of hearing, could it?”

Xiao Jingxi seemed to think of something, looking at Ren Yaoqi with an extremely gentle smile on his face: “Earlier, when I was playing chess with my father-in-law, we agreed that the stakes would be each other’s ‘most treasured possession.'”

Ren Yaoqi didn’t immediately catch Xiao Jingxi’s deeper meaning, frowning as she thought: “My father’s most treasured possessions are those three ancient paintings in the drawer under his desk.” She didn’t think her father was someone who would renege on a bet after losing.

Xiao Jingxi sighed, quietly grasping Ren Yaoqi’s hand and gently squeezing it, smiling as he said: “Actually, I knew Father definitely couldn’t beat me at chess, so I wanted to ask him for… you, rather than those three ancient paintings.”

Ren Yaoqi was stunned, her face flushing red, even forgetting to withdraw her hand from Xiao Jingxi’s grasp.

Xiao Jingxi’s gaze focused intently on Ren Yaoqi, “So when he went to find the paintings to give me, I politely declined. Father was dissatisfied with this, questioning whether I thought he couldn’t afford to lose, and then accidentally knocked over the brush washer that was placed beside the desk. It was probably because of this that the people outside misunderstood the commotion.”

Ren Yaoqi glanced in the direction Old Master Ren had left, then pretended to be calm as she tried to withdraw her hand. Xiao Jingxi gently released it.

“Seeing Father insist, I said I thought his most precious possession was one of his masterpieces. So I proposed wanting one of his paintings, and Father considered it and agreed.”

At this moment, Old Master Ren’s footsteps were already approaching. Ren Yaoqi stopped whispering with Xiao Jingxi, and both sat up properly.

When Old Master Ren entered with his seal, his eyes suspiciously swept over his daughter and son-in-law, who were sitting formally, before sitting at the low table to stamp his seal on his painting.

Just then, someone outside reported: “Master, the eldest son-in-law has arrived. His horse is almost at the main gate.”

Old Master Ren said, “After the eldest son-in-law enters, have him go to the main quarters first. Second son-in-law and I will be there shortly.”

The person outside quickly acknowledged and left.

Old Master Ren said to Xiao Jingxi, “Let’s go over first. I’ll leave this painting here to dry, and you can take it when you leave.”

Xiao Jingxi naturally had no reason to refuse.

Old Master Ren looked him over and gave a reserved evaluation: “Your chess skills are quite good. When there’s an opportunity, you can accompany me for another game.” As he spoke, Old Master Ren looked at his daughter with some dissatisfaction. “When Yaoyao was at home, she never liked to play chess with me.” His tone carried genuine complaint.

Ren Yaoqi blinked, looking at Old Master Ren, feeling quite wronged. Didn’t her father’s favorite activities involve calligraphy and painting? She had always accompanied him in those! As for chess, her father didn’t like her letting him win, but if she always lost, it would affect his mood, which was why Ren Yaoqi rarely played chess with her father.

Xiao Jingxi, understanding and tactful, quickly smiled and said: “As long as Father has time in the future, this son-in-law is willing to keep you company.”

Ren Yaoqi gave Xiao Jingxi a sideways glance, thinking: You speak as if you’re very free! When my father calls for you and you can’t come, let’s see what you say then.

Meeting Ren Yaoqi’s doubtful gaze, Xiao Jingxi said nothing, still responding with a gentle smile.

Old Master Ren walked ahead: “Let’s go to the main quarters first.”

Knowing that Lei Ting had arrived, Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi couldn’t delay and followed Old Master Ren out.

Lei Ting’s visit to the Ren family today was certainly because of Xiao Jingxi bringing Ren Yaoqi home for the traditional visit. Ren Yaohua hadn’t finished her month of confinement, so naturally she couldn’t return to her parents’ home. Originally thinking that Lei Ting would be busy and wouldn’t have time, Li Shi and Ren Shimin hadn’t specifically sent someone to notify the Lei family, but Lei Ting had come on his own.

The servants waiting outside the study had been somewhat anxious, but seeing Old Master Ren emerge without any trace of anger on his face, and the second son-in-law following behind still smiling so pleasantly, with Old Master Ren occasionally turning his head to exchange a few words with the second son-in-law in a very harmonious atmosphere.

After exchanging glances, everyone was quite puzzled.

Ren Yaoqi noticed everyone’s looks and glanced at Xiao Jingxi, finding it somewhat amusing. She had been worried and confused earlier—otherwise, how could she have believed that Xiao Jingxi would anger her father? If he could quarrel with her father, he wouldn’t be Second Master Xiao.

However, Ren Yaoqi’s somewhat pleasant mood was slightly dampened after leaving the courtyard when she saw Ren Yaoying, who happened to be coming out of the main quarters. Some people you couldn’t say you particularly hated or detested, but when they appeared before you, it wasn’t a pleasant thing.

Sure enough, Ren Yaoying just looked up in their direction, then quickened her pace to walk over. The several maids and matrons following behind her silently groaned when they saw Old Master Ren and the others, and when they saw Ren Yaoying indeed running toward them, their faces turned green. But with the second son-in-law present, they really couldn’t openly chase after her and forcibly drag Ren Yaoying back. That would make the Ren family lose face.

So after exchanging glances, the matrons followed closely behind Ren Yaoying while quietly persuading: “Ninth Miss, Madam told you to return to your room now. You must come back with us.”

Ren Yaoying said: “I’ll just greet Father and then go back, and also Second Brother-in-law—it would be very rude to ignore them when we meet.”

Thus, Ren Yaoying successfully ran to Old Master Ren, Xiao Jingxi, and Ren Yaoqi.

Ren Yaoqi stood in place without moving, her expression calm, with her usual smile still on her lips.

Ren Yaoying stepped forward to gracefully bow to Old Master Ren, her kneeling posture and the angle of her lowered head appearing as if practiced a thousand times, all perfectly executed with a gentle, delicate beauty.

Old Master Ren frowned: “Didn’t your mother tell you to rest in your room? Why did you come out?”

Ren Yaoying lowered her head and said softly, “Daughter knew that Fifth Sister was returning home today, so I came out to greet Fifth Sister and Fifth Brother-in-law.”

Old Master Ren couldn’t find fault with these words, so he said nothing.

Ren Yaoying’s gaze lingered on Xiao Jingxi’s face, and she couldn’t help but stare, especially when she saw the smile on Xiao Jingxi’s face. She blushed and lowered her head, somewhat nervously bowing: “You must be Fifth Brother-in-law? This younger sister pays her respects.”

Old Master Ren said, “You’ve paid your respects, now go back to your room.”

Unexpectedly, Ren Yaoying looked at Ren Yaoqi with hesitation and timidity, saying: “Fifth Sister, about that matter I mentioned earlier, are you willing to help me?” Her tears came as if on command—in an instant, her eyes reddened, making even Ren Yaoqi marvel.

“If you won’t help me, my younger sister has no choice but death. I don’t want to marry Old Master He. If the family insists on forcing me to marry him, I can only end this wretched life with three feet of white silk.” When she said this, Ren Yaoying’s face showed a look of determination, appearing quite resolute. Combined with her originally delicate and beautiful face, she easily evoked sympathy.

However, none of the people present spoke.

Ren Yaoying’s gaze secretly swept across the three faces.

Old Master Ren’s expression was also somewhat unpleasant. He naturally didn’t want his daughter to marry a decrepit old man and bring him shame, but this marriage had already been arranged by the Ren family elders, and originally it was Ren Yaoying herself who had willingly stayed at the Ren family’s ancestral home.

Ren Yaoqi wore a half-smiling expression, just like every time Ren Yaoying had used her self-righteous tactics in front of her before, as if no sordid thoughts could escape her eyes. Although Ren Yaoqi didn’t have Ren Yaohua’s constantly haughty arrogance, when she looked at people with this gaze, it was even more unsettling and shame-inducing than Ren Yaohua’s knife-like eyes.

When Ren Yaoying appeared, Xiao Jingxi had only glanced at her once with an air of casual indifference, as if he were merely looking at a wisp of cloud that had suddenly drifted into his field of vision. His attention wasn’t on Ren Yaoying at all.

Ren Yaoying assumed a sorrowful expression and smiled bitterly: “Younger sister only wants to escape this marriage arrangement. If Sister could help me, I… I would be willing to never marry for life, and from now on keep company with plain robes and wooden fish beside the Buddha.”