Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaojin’s expression stiffened slightly. She turned around and looked at Cheng Xu warily.

What did he want to do?

However, since he had come looking for her, there must be more to follow. She didn’t know his intentions—saying too much would only expose her weaknesses for him to exploit. Better to wait for him to state his purpose first before deciding how to respond.

Zhou Shaojin hid half her body behind Shi Xiang.

Shi Xiang’s heart began to pound with anxiety.

Earlier, when Second Young Miss had called her over looking completely disheveled, she had only mentioned getting lost in the bamboo grove without saying anything else. Now she seemed very nervous… Could it really be as Eldest Young Master Xu said—had Second Young Miss done something she shouldn’t have?

Her heart pounded uneasily. But then she remembered what Eldest Young Miss often told them: you can lose the battle but not your dignity. Even if Second Young Miss had done something inappropriate, without witnesses or evidence, how could they simply admit to it based on a few words from Eldest Young Master Xu?

Shi Xiang immediately felt her courage multiply. She stepped forward to shield Zhou Shaojin behind her and said with feigned composure, “What is Eldest Young Master Xu talking about? We don’t understand.”

Cheng Xu couldn’t help but regard Shi Xiang more highly.

Daring to speak up before her young miss—it seemed this maid must hold considerable status at Wanxiang Residence.

He looked at Zhou Shaojin with a half-smile and said, “What I said, you may not understand, but your young miss certainly does. Am I right, Cousin Zhou…”

Wasn’t he supposed to be intelligent and modest, praised by everyone in the Cheng family, regarded by Yuan Shi as her lifelong support, the eldest grandson of the First Branch and future head of the Cheng family? Why did he act so frivolous and exaggerated?

Could everything she had heard about him in her past life have been false?

Zhou Shaojin pressed her lips together without speaking, but the wariness in her eyes grew even more intense.

Shi Xiang panicked.

Cheng Xu was the eldest young master of the First Branch—how could he be compared to those reckless young servants and stewards? Since he dared to come looking for them, he must be confident of success.

She glanced at Zhou Shaojin hiding behind her, her heart growing increasingly anxious. With false bravado masking inner weakness, she said, “What do you want?”

Cheng Xu said nothing. Smiling as he gazed at Zhou Shaojin, he pulled out a silk flower shaped like a hydrangea bloom from his sleeve.

The woman who had opened the door for Zhou Shaojin had been wearing just such a hydrangea silk flower.

Shi Xiang’s expression changed drastically. Looking again at Zhou Shaojin, her face was frighteningly pale, as if she might faint at any moment.

How could she continue to hold out? She cried out, “What does Eldest Young Master Xu intend?”

Cheng Xu was quite surprised.

He had only wanted to tease this Cousin Zhou a bit, then take advantage of a good atmosphere to clear up their earlier misunderstanding. He hadn’t expected the opposite result—frightening Cousin Zhou into this state again.

This wasn’t his intention at all!

Cheng Xu felt very regretful.

Suddenly he thought back to their first meeting in the bamboo grove.

Could she have heard something she shouldn’t have?

He recalled how he had apologized to Zhou Shaojin with complete sincerity, yet she had run off like she’d seen a ghost… The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Zhou Shaojin had obviously overheard something in the bamboo grove.

His expression grew more restrained, and the playful mischief disappeared from between his brows. Instead, they revealed a hint of depth rare for someone his age. He glanced at Da Su.

Da Su silently withdrew into the trees without a word.

Only then did Cheng Xu say gently to Zhou Shaojin, “Cousin Zhou, I’d like to speak with you privately for a few moments. Would that be all right?”

But Zhou Shaojin didn’t want to be alone with him at all, let alone talk with him.

“No!” She flatly refused Cheng Xu’s proposal and said stiffly, “I have nothing I cannot say before others, and nothing to discuss with you!”

Cheng Xu couldn’t help growing anxious. “Cousin Zhou, I truly mean no harm—if I wanted to tell Grandmother, I wouldn’t have run out to chase after you and say all this to you.” He added, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about what happened in the bamboo grove. But I also have a few words I want to caution you about. Please, you must hear me out. That bamboo grove is a small bagua maze—ordinary people who enter simply can’t find their way out. If I could obtain this hydrangea flower, so could someone else. If I gave you any wrong impression earlier, I apologize here and now. Please, you must listen to what I have to say. This is for your own good. If you don’t believe me, I can swear an oath to heaven!”

His expression was sincere—anyone who saw him would never doubt he was lying.

But he was dealing with Zhou Shaojin—even if she believed everything he said was true, she wouldn’t spend even a quarter hour alone with him. Moreover, Zhou Shaojin instinctively disliked this person. Her preconceptions made it impossible for her to believe what he said.

“No need!” Her expression turned cold. “If you have no other business, we’ll be going back now. I have to attend classes at Jing’an Studio early tomorrow morning! Unlike Eldest Young Master Xu, who already has academic honors and doesn’t need to worry about studying.” Though she had chosen to let go of the past, the resentment from her previous life couldn’t simply dissipate. By the end of her words, she couldn’t help but jab at Cheng Xu.

Cheng Xu frowned.

This Cousin Zhou—she looked delicate and lovely as a flower, inspiring pity, but why was her temperament so stubborn?

He showed a trace of displeasure and looked deeply at Shi Xiang.

Shi Xiang felt as frightened as if Eldest Young Miss had looked at her. She turned to leave.

But Zhou Shaojin clutched Shi Xiang’s arm tightly.

Shi Xiang had no choice but to say quietly, “Second Young Miss, I’ll just stand by that willow tree up ahead. If you call me, I’ll come right over.”

Even with this arrangement, Zhou Shaojin still felt afraid.

“No need.” She held Shi Xiang’s arm even tighter. “I have nothing to say to him. He can tell whoever he wants to tell. Let’s go back to Wanxiang Residence!”

But Shi Xiang didn’t have such confidence.

She was neither a hereditary servant of the Zhou family nor of the Cheng family. She was originally from Jinling. When she was five years old, her family had no rice to cook and nearly starved to death, which was why she had been sold to the Zhou family. The Zhou family had always treated people generously. Her father and brothers occasionally came to visit her, and each time they not only told her about family matters but also felt grateful she had encountered good people, telling her to cherish her good fortune and serve well at Wanxiang Residence. For people like them, born and raised in Jinling, the Cheng family was like a lofty mountain—an enormous entity beyond their imagination that instinctively inspired fear.

“Second Young Miss.” After hesitating a moment, she quietly urged Zhou Shaojin, “You should listen to what Eldest Young Master Xu has to say. I think Eldest Young Master Xu truly has something he needs to tell you…”

Zhou Shaojin stubbornly shook her head.

Cheng Xu really wanted to just turn and leave, but looking at Zhou Shaojin’s snow-white face and gentle features, it was as if a pool of water rippled in his heart, softening his very core—he simply couldn’t bear to walk away like this!

“Ah!” He could only sigh and call for Da Su. “Keep watch. I have something to say to Second Young Miss.” Then he said to Shi Xiang, “You can listen from the side.” With that, his expression darkened. “However, if a third person learns of what Second Young Miss and I discuss, you can expect to have your tongue cut out, your eyes gouged, and be sold off to some mountain ravine!”

Shi Xiang was frightened into shivering by his words. She wanted to follow his instructions and withdraw to the side like Da Su, but Zhou Shaojin held her arm so tightly she couldn’t move. She could only say reluctantly, “I’ll do whatever Second Young Miss says.” But her gaze at Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help showing a hint of pleading.

Zhou Shaojin remained unmoved.

She hadn’t done anything wrong at all. This scoundrel Cheng Xu was actually saying such things to frighten them just to threaten her.

She couldn’t help but laugh coldly. “I’m afraid my maid is not for the Eldest Young Master of the First Branch to command!”

Cheng Xu was so angry he… simply didn’t know what to do. “Do you think I want to meddle in your affairs? If I didn’t see you as my cousin…”

But he had more than one cousin. In terms of blood relations, Zhou Shaojin couldn’t even really be considered his cousin.

Cheng Xu was so angry he couldn’t continue speaking. He simply steeled his resolve and said, “Did you overhear Grandmother talking with Head Steward Qin? My Second Grand-Uncle loves reading and teaching but doesn’t like being an official. However, at that time my grandfather had passed away, and my father and Second Uncle both had to return home to observe mourning. Having connections at court makes being an official easier. Second Grand-Uncle had no choice but to shoulder the burden of the First Branch. Once my father and Second Uncle returned to office, Second Grand-Uncle went back to the Hanlin Academy to continue as an Academician-in-Waiting.

“This time, because of the Crown Prince affair, His Majesty dismissed many capital officials, including the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. My father felt that Second Grand-Uncle’s qualifications, learning, character, and prestige were all sufficient for this position, so he made plans for Second Grand-Uncle in the capital.

“Who knew Second Grand-Uncle didn’t want to suffer the burdens of administrative work again and was unwilling to compete for the position of Chancellor of the Imperial Academy? He spoke with Father several times, but both Father and Second Uncle wanted the old gentleman to come out of retirement. Having no other option, he came to petition my grandmother.

“No matter what you heard, as long as you don’t tell anyone, nothing will happen—I was also in the bamboo grove at the time. If anyone becomes suspicious, you just say you don’t know anything. I’ll help testify for you as well. But you really cannot tell anyone about this matter, not even the Fourth Branch’s grand-aunt. Otherwise, you’ll bring disaster upon yourself.”

Finally, he cautioned her solemnly.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand a single word. Her expression was blank.

Seeing her like this, Cheng Xu was reminded of his pet Pekingese—when it couldn’t see him, it would look around confusedly in all directions… His heart softened as if it could drip water, and he couldn’t help but ask gently, “Did you remember what I said?”

What does this have to do with me?

Zhou Shaojin stared at him with wide eyes.

Though Shi Xiang didn’t understand what Cheng Xu was talking about either, it didn’t prevent her from grasping the seriousness of the matter.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin with that dazed, clueless expression, afraid that Cheng Xu might change his mind, she quickly said ingratiatingly, “Our Second Young Miss understands. Eldest Young Master Xu, we’re grateful for your consideration. Our young miss, and also myself, will not speak carelessly about this. If you hear any gossip or rumors, you can come hold us accountable.”

Hold them accountable?

Their young miss hasn’t said a word—what authority does a mere maid have to make such promises?

Cheng Xu wanted to secure a commitment, but looking at the young girl with lowered eyelids, silent and still, even the hair falling against her face seeming to radiate gentleness, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Forget it, it wasn’t really that serious anyway.

He’d just cover for her!

“I’m leaving!” Cheng Xu waved at Da Su and turned to stride away from the path.

Shi Xiang let out a long breath. Clasping her hands together toward the west, she recited, “Amitabha,” and sighed, “Eldest Young Master Xu is truly a good person!”

A good person?

Cheng Xu?

In others’ eyes, Cheng Xu was a good person?

Zhou Shaojin lowered her head.