If she just left like this, wouldn’t this trip have been for nothing?

If she didn’t have the gall to stay this time, who knew how long she’d have to wait before she had another excuse to come find him.

Moreover, she needed to tell him as soon as possible what Second Great-Grandfather and her father had said.

Zhou Shaojin clenched her fists, pretended not to know anything, and sat down in the armchair with a smile.

Cheng Chi was quite surprised.

His meaning had been very clear, but unexpectedly this little girl didn’t understand at all.

Could it be that he’d been dealing with people like Gu Jiunie for so long that his manner of conducting affairs had become too subtle?

Cheng Chi coughed lightly and sat down opposite Zhou Shaojin.

This way, surely this child would understand his meaning!

When a proper host received guests, they would invite the guest to sit at the square table together. If there were distinctions of age and status, the person of higher status, being the host, would usually sit at the head of the square table, while the person of lower status or the guest would sit at the lower seat.

Cheng Chi wasn’t treating Zhou Shaojin as a guest—this clearly carried the meaning of “say whatever you have to say, then leave quickly once you’re done.”

Zhou Shaojin was particularly sensitive—how could she not sense his attitude?

Her heart felt a bit hurt, but thinking it over, she felt relieved.

Uncle Chi had no real connection with her to begin with. If Uncle Chi hadn’t kindly saved her once, she wouldn’t even know him. Coming to find him so rashly like this—if it were her in his position, she’d also find it somewhat annoying.

Zhou Shaojin was also a bit stubborn. She felt that since she’d already sat down before Cheng Chi, she shouldn’t give up halfway. Good or bad, without trying, one would never know.

She forced herself to smile, trying to appear composed and generous. But she didn’t realize that her slightly awkward smile and the panic revealed in her clear eyes were so obvious to Cheng Chi.

The little girl didn’t not understand—she must have a favor to ask of him, right?

Cheng Chi pondered this.

It was probably her first time asking someone for help like this, so even though she clearly knew he was trying to send her away, she stubbornly pretended not to know.

Looking at Zhou Shaojin’s face, gentle yet immature, he suddenly thought of his first time traveling far from home.

In the dead of winter, they encountered heavy rain. He insisted on pressing forward in the rain. As a result, Qin Zining fell ill. He finally found a local gentry’s household and wanted to stay overnight, but when they saw how seriously ill Qin Zining was, they were afraid he might die and bring bad luck, so they refused no matter what. Only after much pleading did the gentry reluctantly agree to let them stay in the woodshed for one night… That was the first time in his life he’d asked someone for help. Besides anger, there had also been a trace of awkwardness.

What could a young girl like her possibly need from him?

Nothing more than those matters of “you like me, I like him”—romantic entanglements between men and women.

Considering that she actually had the courage to come find him for help, he might as well help her!

After all, for him it would just be a small effort.

Once all these messy matters were resolved, she probably wouldn’t come looking for him again.

Cheng Chi pondered this and said with a smile, pointing to the armchair below his seat, “Did you come to find me about Cheng Xiangqing’s matter? Didn’t he go to Yuelu Academy?”

Cheng Xiangqing, Cheng Lu?!

What did her coming to find Uncle Chi have to do with him?

Zhou Shaojin blinked, taking quite a while to react.

Her heart pounded wildly. “Did Uncle Chi intervene in this matter?”

“No,” Cheng Chi said with a smile. “It was Madam Yuan’s idea. She provided the money and contacted the academy.”

So that’s how it was!

Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled down.

But Cheng Chi said, “Since there’s nothing going on with Cheng Xiangqing, did you come here for Cheng Jiashan?”

Why would he say that?

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened. “What does Cousin Xu’s matter have to do with me?”

Hearing this, Cheng Chi frowned slightly. “You didn’t know Jiashan had returned?”

“I know!” Zhou Shaojin said. “I just found out—he went to pay his respects to the Old Madam.”

Cheng Chi was somewhat puzzled.

But Zhou Shaojin’s heart ached faintly.

Cheng Xu always pestered her, thinking that one day he could win her over…

Could Uncle Chi also believe she had entanglements with Cheng Xu?

Thinking this, she consoled herself again.

Cheng Jiashan came from a prestigious family, was young and handsome, and held the title of top scholar. His official career looked promising—he was the golden son-in-law in the eyes of many noble families. He was also willing to humble himself before her. It was only human nature for Uncle Chi to misunderstand and think she’d been moved by Cheng Xu.

Zhou Shaojin thought back to her first encounter with Cheng Chi—it had been to avoid Cheng Xu.

Could it be that Uncle Chi had all along thought she was playing hard to get between Cheng Lu and Cheng Xu?

Otherwise, why would he ask about Cheng Lu first, then ask about Cheng Xu?

Zhou Shaojin felt extremely wronged and didn’t know what to say.

She didn’t want to marry Cheng Xu, nor did she want to marry Cheng Lu… Why didn’t anyone believe her!

Cheng Chi looked at the little girl whose eyes had suddenly reddened, feeling somewhat baffled.

He hadn’t said anything—why had she suddenly started crying?

“Since it’s not about Cheng Jiashan, then what exactly did you come to find me for?” Cheng Chi said seriously.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart jumped in alarm.

If Uncle Chi really thought she had some involvement with Cheng Xu, that would be terrible!

She had witnessed Uncle Chi’s formidable capabilities.

The fire at the Fifth Branch had been such a major incident, yet when he said he’d suppress it, he did—and afterward there wasn’t the slightest trace left.

And Cheng Xu kept doing many things that caused misunderstandings. If Uncle Chi thought she and Cheng Xu were mutually in love, thought she’d come to find him to help bring them together… with Uncle Chi’s means, he might actually have a way to make her marry Cheng Xu.

Then she would… even jumping into Mochou Lake couldn’t wash her clean!

“Uncle Chi,” Zhou Shaojin said urgently, her face flushing red. “I’m staying with the Cheng family to keep my sister company. Once my sister marries, I’ll follow my father to his post. I will never forget the Cheng family’s great kindness. In my heart, they will forever be my maternal family. If I have the opportunity in the future, I’ll come back every festival to visit Grandmother and my uncles.”

Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised.

The little girl was telling him she had no intention of marrying Cheng Xu!

But why would she think this way?

However, Cheng Chi understood in the next moment.

He smiled and asked Zhou Shaojin, “Did you know Cheng Jiashan has returned?”

Zhou Shaojin froze.

This was already the second time Cheng Chi had asked her this.

Not understanding his meaning, she nodded dumbly.

Cheng Chi smiled. “Then do you know he came back to celebrate his mentor’s birthday?”

“I know!” Zhou Shaojin answered honestly.

“Your father previously said he would return for the Mid-Autumn Festival. His mentor’s birthday is on the seventh of the eighth month. He probably calculated that after celebrating his mentor’s birthday, he could rush back just in time to see your father.” Cheng Chi said indifferently. “But unexpectedly, your father was leaving on the seventh of the eighth month. When he heard the news, he didn’t even attend his mentor’s birthday banquet and rushed back day and night. But he was still a day late. Your father had already left…”

Zhou Shaojin’s face paled as she listened. She cried out involuntarily, “Why, why did he want to see my father?”

“Didn’t you say you knew?” Cheng Chi saw her fingers twisting together again and guessed that she probably twisted her fingers when she got nervous. He said with a smile, “He probably wanted to marry you. If he couldn’t find a way to propose to your father, making a good impression before your father wouldn’t be bad either…”

Zhou Shaojin was horrified and shrieked, “I, I don’t want to marry Cheng Xu!” Afraid Cheng Chi wouldn’t believe her, she added, “I would rather die than marry Cheng Xu.”

Calling Cheng Jiashan by his full name showed just how much she disliked him.

Cheng Chi looked at Zhou Shaojin’s gaze, as panicked and uneasy as if she’d fallen into a hunter’s trap. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He stood up, poured her a cup of hot water, and said gently, “Come, sit down and have some tea!”

Zhou Shaojin trembled uncontrollably. Only when the warm teacup heated her hands did she come back to her senses and look up at Cheng Chi.

“Are you all right now?” Cheng Chi looked at her with a smile, his bright eyes as warm as winter sunshine.

Zhou Shaojin felt momentarily dazed.

Uncle Chi’s smile really did warm one’s heart.

Then she remembered what Cheng Chi had just said, and she shivered involuntarily, her expression changing dramatically.

Because he knew she had no relationship with Cheng Lu, that’s why Uncle Chi would say “Didn’t Cheng Lu go to Yuelu Academy?”

Because he knew she truly didn’t want to marry Cheng Xu, that’s why Uncle Chi would ask “Did you know Cheng Jiashan has returned?”

Uncle Chi had never suspected her!

He had always believed her.

Instead, it was she who had misunderstood him!

She’d thought he was like those other people—hearing Cheng Lu say those things and assuming she and Cheng Lu were ambiguous; seeing Cheng Xu favor her and thinking she should be overjoyed to marry Cheng Xu. Even her sister, when she first learned of this matter, had only worried that she and Cheng Xu were of different social standing and feared she’d suffer grievances after marrying him. She’d never considered whether Zhou Shaojin was willing to marry Cheng Xu.

Suddenly realizing this, Zhou Shaojin’s tears fell uncontrollably.

“Uncle Chi…” She lowered her head, pressed her lips together, and sobbed quietly, unable to control herself.

Cheng Chi felt a headache coming on.

It wasn’t as if women had never cried in front of him before.

But none had been like this little girl before him, crying so… freely, so… earnestly.

As if crying were the only thing left in heaven and earth.

What were young girls these days thinking?

You said east, but she pointed west.

Leaving one utterly confused.

Cheng Chi coughed lightly.

Huai Shan silently emerged from behind the hanging partition on the right.

Cheng Chi instructed her softly, “Go call Nan Ping over. This kind of thing should be left to her.”

Huai Shan suppressed her laughter and respectfully replied, “Yes,” then withdrew.

Zhou Shaojin vaguely sensed someone had come in and then left.

She couldn’t help but raise her head and look around with tear-filled eyes.

There was only her and Cheng Chi in the room.

Perhaps she’d been mistaken!

Zhou Shaojin thought to herself and immediately dismissed the matter.

Cheng Chi breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing her eyes and nose red like a little child’s, he thought for a moment, pulled out a handkerchief, and handed it to Zhou Shaojin. “Wipe your tears.”

Zhou Shaojin accepted the handkerchief with embarrassment.

She hadn’t intended to cry in front of Uncle Chi.

She had originally planned to have a proper conversation with Uncle Chi, to let him know that though she was young, she had some insight… Now it was all ruined.

Zhou Shaojin felt extremely chagrined.

She secretly observed Cheng Chi’s expression.

Cheng Chi sat casually in the armchair, his expression still very gentle, as if he wasn’t at all impatient with her crying.

She felt greatly relieved.

Seeing Cheng Chi lean to the side to pick up his teacup, Zhou Shaojin quickly jumped up. “Uncle Chi, has the tea gone cold? Let me get you a fresh cup.” Then she grabbed the teacup from the table and ran off in a flash.