Zhou Shaojin finally saw things clearly.

Master and servants were working together to set a trap for her to fall into!

She turned and walked away.

Cheng Xu hurriedly chased after her.

Feicui saw this and silently cried out “Oh no!” She rushed to follow, but Yuru grabbed her sleeve and smiled, saying, “Sister Feicui, the eldest young master just wants to say a few words to the second young lady of the Zhou family…”

“You’re being utterly foolish!” Feicui could no longer restrain herself and loudly scolded Yuru, also using this to warn Da Su, “If the eldest young master has any intentions, he should go speak openly and honestly to the madam and grand madam. What kind of behavior is this, pestering the second young lady of the Zhou family like this? A gentleman is open and upright. Instead of advising the eldest young master to act honorably, you only know how to flatter and curry favor to please him. If any unfavorable rumors spread, what do you servants attending him plan to do? What about the eldest young master’s reputation? Not to mention the master, even if the grand madam and madam find out, they probably won’t let this slide lightly!”

They didn’t serve in the same quarters—those serving in the grand madam’s rooms had status, and those serving the future patriarch of the Cheng family had equal status. Everyone had always been courteous to each other. Being scolded so harshly by Feicui, Yuru’s face flushed red as she argued stubbornly, “Good sister, please just turn a blind eye to this matter! We servants naturally must do as our masters say!”

So the eldest young master truly had taken a fancy to the second young lady of the Zhou family!

Although she had sensed it earlier, having it stated so explicitly still left Feicui dumbstruck, unable to utter a single word.

Da Su, being a man who traveled outside, had more experience than these young girls who only circled around the inner quarters all day. Hearing this, he said, “I actually think Miss Feicui makes sense. I think we should still follow them. I can see that although the second young lady of the Zhou family appears soft and delicate, she has a stubborn temperament. If the eldest young master says something wrong and angers her, they’ll definitely part on bad terms. This courtyard is so large—if she gets lost, that would be terrible! Over at Siyi Hall, the old madams and madams are still watching opera!”

Hearing this, Yuru panicked. Pulling Feicui along, she and Da Su chased after them together. But surrounded by layers of green trees, where could they see any trace of Cheng Xu and Zhou Shaojin?

Da Su looked around in all directions, told them “Wait here,” and with a whoosh climbed up the tallest tree.

On the bluestone path screened by green foliage, Zhou Shaojin and Cheng Xu were walking one in front of the other on the road leading to Siyi Hall.

Da Su breathed a sigh of relief and urged Feicui and Yuru to head east.

Zhou Shaojin, however, was utterly humiliated and furious.

“…Why does younger sister keep avoiding me? Didn’t I already apologize for what happened before?” Cheng Xu kept chattering behind her. “If you’re still angry, younger sister, just speak up. Whether it’s climbing a mountain of knives or descending into a sea of flames, if I show even half a word of hesitation, next time you see me just walk around me and avoid me. That’s all.” He then asked in a humble tone, “That day I specifically went to find younger sister—why did you leave so early?”

So by calling her out in front of everyone to help him retrieve that seal, he was just telling her that no matter how she tried to avoid him, she could never escape him?

Zhou Shaojin was so angry she couldn’t speak for a long while.

But Cheng Xu continued on: “This seal wasn’t really an important matter. I just wanted to find an excuse to get younger sister out for a walk, to help you relax. Wasn’t that ‘Beauty Under the Moon’ beautiful? It’s one of my grandmother’s favorite reward vases. Normally it’s stored in the precious items treasury. I went to great trouble to get it out. Our family has another reward vase, from the Jun kiln. Because it’s rose purple in color, it’s called ‘Wei Purple.’ Don’t you find that interesting? That reward vase is even more beautiful than this one. My mother once wanted to ask grandmother for it as part of my elder sister’s dowry, but in the end my father found a pair of Ding kiln plum vases for my sister, so my mother gave up on the idea…”

Even a cornered rabbit will bite.

Zhou Shaojin truly couldn’t endure it any longer. She turned to Cheng Xu and said, “Why do you always pester me like a lingering ghost? What do your family’s vases have to do with me? I neither want to see them nor obtain them. Is there any point in you saying all this? You and I are long past the age when men and women can sit together. You’re supposed to be someone who reads the books of sages—how can you not understand even these basic principles of propriety? Stop talking to me from now on. I don’t want to see you at all.”

Who was Cheng Xu?

The legitimate eldest son of the Cheng family, the future patriarch of the Cheng family. From childhood he had been good at studying and was handsome… From birth until now, even if people didn’t fawn over or flatter him, no one dared offend him casually, much less humiliate him like this.

It was like a slap across his face.

His expression changed dramatically, and his heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a knife.

But from the corner of his eye, he saw Zhou Shaojin’s eyes clearly brimming with tears even as she pretended to be strong. His forward step faltered, heavy as a thousand pounds.

“I, I didn’t mean anything else…” he mumbled, not knowing how to explain. He only hated that he liked the person before him, that in her presence he had lost all backbone, that after she struck his left cheek, he offered his right cheek for her to strike as well…

She had treated him this way, yet he still clung on refusing to leave. Zhou Shaojin’s temper flared, and she stamped her foot: “Why don’t you leave quickly! I never want to see you again!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, it felt as if all the things she hadn’t been able to say to Cheng Xu in her previous life were now being said without any reservations. Her agitated emotions, like a blocked riverway being cleared, suddenly became calm.

Cheng Xu flew into a rage.

From childhood to now, no one had ever dared speak to him this way. Even his father, when he was unwilling to do his studies as a child, would reason with him kindly and gently, never once scolding him…

His wounded self-esteem made his eyes red with anger. His emotions overrode his rationality as he said furiously, “How can there be someone like you? I treat you with genuine goodwill, yet not only do you not appreciate it, you speak viciously to me. You truly pick the soft persimmons to squeeze! No wonder that Cheng Lu sometimes says in front of Cheng Ju that his mother is very pleased with you, and as soon as he passes the imperial examinations he’ll propose marriage to the Zhou family. He personally made several kites for you, and you loved them so much that every spring you take them out to fly. Then at other times he says your father is now a fourth-rank official, and he doesn’t know if you’ll even look favorably upon him. But he grew up with you as childhood sweethearts, innocent playmates, and he cannot let you down. Even if the family backgrounds don’t quite match, he still has to try…”

“What did you say?” Cheng Xu’s careless words struck Zhou Shaojin like five thunderbolts from the sky. Her ears buzzed, and for a long while she couldn’t recover.

Cheng Xu watched as Zhou Shaojin’s rosy, delicate face instantly turned pale as snow, like a flower blown down by fierce wind and sudden rain. Only then did he realize his slip of the tongue. Immediately ashamed and guilty, he said, “I, I was just talking nonsense? You, you shouldn’t take it to heart…”

Nonsense!

Others might talk nonsense!

But Cheng Xu wouldn’t!

With his status and position, even if he had taken a fancy to her, he wouldn’t need to use such an excuse to slander Cheng Lu.

So this was how Cheng Lu viewed her.

Whether in her previous life or this life, she had never initiated a single conversation with him, nor had she done anything to wrong him. Why would Cheng Lu treat her this way?

And then there was Cheng Xu.

Could it be that the reason Cheng Xu had pestered her in her previous life was because of Cheng Lu?

Otherwise, why would Cheng Xu—the center of attention, with a bright future as the heir of the Cheng family—notice an obscure relative living under someone else’s roof like herself?

Zhou Shaojin was so angry that her chest ached. She randomly grabbed onto a tree by the roadside to keep from collapsing in front of Cheng Xu.

Looking at the deeply affected Zhou Shaojin, Cheng Xu felt both regret and resentment. How could he dare say anything more? Filled with both worry and heartache, he hesitated for a long time before finally stepping forward and calling softly, “Second Cousin.” He said, “You should still report this matter to the old madam. Or you could discuss it with your elder sister. In any case, you can’t let this continue unchecked. Although it’s said that the pure are naturally pure and the turbid naturally turbid, there are few people in this world who can distinguish right from wrong. If I didn’t know you, Second Cousin, I might have believed what he said…”

But didn’t he have his own selfish motives toward her?

Otherwise, how could he have done such beastly things in her previous life?

Zhou Shaojin’s chest felt as if it were blocked by a ball of cotton, making it impossible to breathe… just like when Cheng Lu had grabbed her by the throat… Her tears rolled down like dewdrops as she shouted loudly at Cheng Xu, “Get lost! Get lost now!”

Cheng Xu felt extremely awkward.

But he didn’t dare leave.

Zhou Shaojin looked too frightening in this state.

He was afraid that after he left, she might do something foolish!

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t stay there any longer.

“Fine, fine, fine.” She wiped her eyes. “You won’t leave? If you won’t leave, I will!”

With that, she lifted her skirt and ran toward Siyi Hall.

Yes, she had treated him this way—should he still stubbornly follow her?

What kind of person would that make him?

Besides, the direction she was heading was Siyi Hall.

Cheng Xu hesitated for a moment.

Zhou Shaojin’s figure had already disappeared around the corner.

Cheng Xu paced in circles where he stood.

Zhou Shaojin’s tears fell uncontrollably. She stumbled with uneven steps toward Siyi Hall.

Coming toward her were a man and a woman, pulling and tugging at each other, seeming to be arguing about something.

Zhou Shaojin was startled.

Whenever she cried, her eyes would swell red like walnuts and required applying a cold compress to recover.

Today there were guests everywhere. If someone saw her, who knew what kind of trouble it might cause?

She hid behind a large tree to the side. Looking carefully, she saw that the man and woman were actually Pan Zhuo and Pan Qing.

The two didn’t know why they had started arguing. Pan Zhuo seemed to want to go somewhere, but Pan Qing blocked him from leaving. The two were arguing in low voices.

Zhou Shaojin was hesitating about whether to come out and greet them when Pan Zhuo and Pan Qing’s voices grew louder.

She heard Pan Qing losing her temper: “…Our family isn’t some humble household of low standing. Surely we’re not going to arrange an exchange marriage with the Cheng family?”

Pan Zhuo’s expression immediately turned very ugly. His lips pressed tightly together. Although he said nothing, his stubbornness and persistence were evident.

Pan Qing began to cry and said, “Elder brother, is the second young lady of the Zhou family more beneficial to Father? Or would the future matriarch of the Cheng family be more beneficial to Father? You can’t only think of yourself. You must also think of Mother. How difficult these many years have been for Mother—even if others don’t know, surely you do…”

How could their sibling argument involve her?

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but prick up her ears to listen.

But Pan Qing’s voice gradually became quieter.

Zhou Shaojin bit her lip and tiptoed through the overgrown bushes and trees.

Just as she was about to get close to the Pan siblings, the two parted on bad terms. Pan Zhuo headed west, brushing past Zhou Shaojin. Pan Qing headed east, toward Siyi Hall.