“Ahh — bees! So many bees!” The cry from Yan Qin shattered the rhythm of her graceful dance steps.

She looked utterly flustered. Completely forgetting that Shi Ting and Master Yan were still present, she flailed about in a panic and screamed at her maidservants: “What are you standing there for? Chase these horrible bees away!”

One maidservant set down the accordion while the other rushed forward to help. But under their flapping and shooing, the bees didn’t decrease — they multiplied, swarming densely over Yan Qin’s dress in a way that made one’s skin crawl just to look at.

“Help! Get these bees away from me!” Yan Qin was in complete disarray — she didn’t dare swat them but couldn’t drive them off either. In an instant, her lovely face lost all color, and she was a picture of mortification.

This was the second time Yan Qin had embarrassed herself in front of Shi Ting. The first time she had plunged headfirst into the lake, causing Master Yan to lose face entirely.

This time, though she had danced a decent turn, she ended the performance under siege by bees, her bearing and decorum as a daughter of good family utterly demolished.

The iron cast of Master Yan’s expression spoke clearly of his intense displeasure. But with a guest present, he could hardly say anything aloud, so he forced a smile and said: “Just children being mischievous. Don’t mind it, Director Shi.”

The corner of Shi Ting’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. “Are you sure she’s all right?”

“She’s fine, she’s fine — let’s go.” Master Yan turned his head, smiling broadly as he led the way.

Shi Ting didn’t spare Yan Qin another glance — as if from the very beginning he had been indifferent to the whole affair, and his brief inquiry had been nothing more than a formality.

Yet as he passed along the walkway, his gaze slid sideways — toward the three figures talking and laughing behind the hibiscus tree.

Yan Qing was toying with a blooming forsythia sprig, her brow touched with a faint smile like a point of light reflecting off snow, but her eyes were deep and opaque as the floor of a lake.

He thought back to that day at the Chen family murder scene — her startling words, her composed stillness — none of it matched the serene young woman before him now.

He had asked Zheng Yun to look into her, and the information that came back was almost entirely consistent with what he already knew.

Sixth Miss of the Yan household was nothing more than a fragile young woman studying at a nursing school, so sickly she frequently had to take leave of absence.

Yan Qing seemed to sense something. Without warning, her gaze met Shi Ting’s.

Having seen each other once before, she was weighing whether to acknowledge him or pretend not to notice — but before she could decide, Shi Ting had already given her a brief, slight nod and, without waiting for her response, turned and left with Master Yan.

The exchange was brief, but sharp-eyed Jing Zhi caught it. She exclaimed softly: “Miss, was Director Shi just greeting you? Does he know you?”

“We’re not acquainted.” Yan Qing denied it outright. “Let’s go back.”

Jing Zhi sensibly asked no further questions and turned her attention to the spectacle of Yan Qin’s bee ordeal. “Whatever kind of dance Fifth Miss was performing — that scene was absolutely hilarious. Other people attract butterflies; she attracted bees. Ha!”

In front of her own mistress, Jing Zhi made no effort to hide her delight.

It was Murong who was more perceptive. As she pushed Yan Qing forward, she ventured quietly: “Miss — was it the dress?”

She remembered that their miss had asked her to fetch something from the storeroom, and afterward had spent time fiddling with the dress. When Fifth Miss snatched it, there had been no sign of protest from their miss — almost as though she had been waiting for her to come and take it.

*PS: Update complete.*

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