After Song Mu sat quietly for a while, he saw Zhou Shaojin walking in accompanied by a maid.

He stood up with a smile.

His movements were composed, his bearing refined and scholarly.

Chun Wan couldn’t help but look at him a few more times.

Song Mu keenly sensed Chun Wan’s difference in attitude.

Could it be that Miss Zhou’s departure was related to their matchmaking? Otherwise, why would the personal maid who hadn’t even glanced at him from the corner of her eye earlier now be looking at him like this!

He just didn’t know what Miss Zhou’s intentions were.

His heart rose high with anxiety. Suddenly he didn’t quite dare look at Zhou Shaojin, and instead settled for looking toward Chun Wan.

Chun Wan respectfully curtsied to him along with Zhou Shaojin, showing a kind smile.

Song Mu secretly breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling that things seemed to be developing favorably for him. His heart settled as he smiled and looked toward Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin’s complexion was still somewhat pale, but her expression had already recovered its gracious composure.

Thinking of how there had been no one serving in the courtyard earlier, she instructed Chun Wan: “Brew a fresh pot of tea for the young master.”

Chun Wan smiled and agreed with an “Yes,” then turned and went to the tea room.

The corners of Song Mu’s mouth couldn’t help but turn up.

Zhou Shaojin watched and quietly sighed in her heart. After thinking for a moment, she walked over to the fish tank.

Song Mu gave up his seat for her.

“No need.” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “I just have a few words I’d like to say to Young Master Song.”

It wasn’t very convenient across the pathway like this.

Song Mu obviously thought the same, his expression showing slight embarrassment as he said: “Please speak, Second Miss.”

Zhou Shaojin pondered for a moment, then said carefully: “Does the young master know what the elders intend?”

Song Mu’s face immediately turned red as if blood could drip from it. He nodded.

“I didn’t know before I came.” Zhou Shaojin said slowly. “If I had known, I definitely wouldn’t have come…”

Song Mu was stunned. The flush on his face slowly faded.

Zhou Shaojin felt very apologetic, but had to say: “I know that children’s marriages should properly follow the parents’ commands and matchmaker’s words. But there’s someone in my heart… only when I’m with him do I not feel afraid… You’re a good person… modest and proper, reserved and steady. I can’t deceive you even more… Our matter cannot succeed. Only then will you be able to find someone who truly treats you well and respects you from the bottom of their heart…”

Song Mu felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

There’s someone in my heart… only when I’m with him do I not feel afraid…

These two sentences echoed repeatedly in his mind. He stood there dumbly for quite a while before coming to his senses.

“So that’s how it is!” he murmured, his heart a jumble of mixed feelings, at a complete loss for what to say or do.

Zhou Shaojin felt terrible watching him.

Anyone who came with such sincerity to view a match only to be rejected so directly by the young lady would feel utterly humiliated!

But she couldn’t let things continue developing this way.

Unless she wanted to marry Song Mu. Otherwise, if she remained vague at this point, once the two families formally discussed the marriage and she changed her mind later, the harm wouldn’t just be to Song Mu, but also to both the Zhou and Song families and to Cheng Chi who was wholeheartedly making plans for her.

But why didn’t he tell her?

Did he hope so much for her to marry away?

Thinking of this, Zhou Shaojin felt her heart break.

She shouldn’t like Cheng Chi.

But couldn’t he, considering that she was still young, let her stay at home for two more years?

This was like plunging a knife into her chest.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes reddened slightly.

She said quietly: “Young Master Song, I know this matter is my fault. You can treat me however you wish. I’ll go apologize to the Old Master. I’ll also go apologize to Madam. I hope you won’t be so angry—I didn’t intentionally mean to embarrass you. If I don’t make things clear with you now, would you rather I deceive you for a lifetime…”

You’re so certain I would find you suitable!

Song Mu was furious and sneered, about to mock Zhou Shaojin with a few cutting remarks. But when he looked up, he saw her tear-stained face—pale, delicate, yet filled with desperate pain.

He was suddenly struck silent.

In all his years, Song Mu had never seen such an expression on anyone’s face.

As if she would die hopelessly in the next breath.

He couldn’t help but stammer: “If you don’t find me suitable, then you don’t—you, you don’t need to be like this…”

Zhou Shaojin forcibly held back her tears.

Kind people are always easily hurt, and always easily forgive others!

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” Zhou Shaojin kept saying. “This matter is all my fault…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” No woman had ever apologized to him like this before. He felt somewhat embarrassed: “As long as we’ve made things clear…”

Light footsteps sounded from the covered corridor.

Chun Wan came over smiling, carrying a tea tray.

Zhou Shaojin quickly turned away to wipe her eyes.

Song Mu said nothing.

Chun Wan quietly rearranged the tea and refreshments for Song Mu. Thinking that in just the time it took to brew a pot of tea, Second Miss and Young Master Song were already standing together observing the fish, she could hardly contain her joy as she withdrew.

Song Mu suddenly realized that even Zhou Shaojin’s personal maid didn’t know she had rejected him.

Who was that person?

Did he also like Miss Zhou?

If so, why hadn’t he come to propose marriage?

Could that man be a rake who had deceived Miss Zhou?

Or perhaps there was a rift between his family and the Zhou family, and the Zhou family wouldn’t agree to marry their daughter to him?

But regardless, this was Miss Zhou’s affair and had nothing to do with him!

Since Miss Zhou had done such a thing, she should bear the corresponding consequences.

Speaking of which, Uncle Chi had been the one to initiate this marriage arrangement. Their Song family had suffered this humiliation for no reason. Given his father’s temperament, forget about helping Uncle Chi secure an official position—he would definitely distance himself from Uncle Chi in the future.

Song Mu’s heart gradually grew cold.

He stood up and said: “Second Miss, I’ll go see if Grandfather and Uncle Chi have finished talking.”

How could Zhou Shaojin dare say anything more? She obediently rose and curtsied.

Song Mu strode into the hall.

But he couldn’t help looking back.

The spring sunlight fell on that girl as slender as a willow, backlighting her so he couldn’t clearly see her expression, yet her posture was perfectly straight. She reminded him of the birch trees on the snowy plains he’d seen when traveling with his father in winter—silent, yet resilient.

How would she explain this to the Cheng family?

After all, she was just an unrelated granddaughter from the Cheng family’s fourth branch.

How would the Cheng family punish her?

He’d heard that those clans in Jiangnan typically drowned girls like her in pig cages…

Did she even know what kind of situation she would face?

Song Mu’s legs felt like they were filled with lead, difficult to lift.

He turned and walked back toward Zhou Shaojin.

He told himself: He wasn’t trying to help her—he just wanted to know who that man was, who could make her so recklessly devoted, like a moth to flame… Such devotion usually didn’t end well… He simply didn’t want to see a young girl even younger than his sister being deceived!

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened in surprise as she watched Song Mu drawing closer to her.

Her eyes were clear black and white, transparent as if they could reflect his image.

Song Mu looked away and said in a deep voice: “How do you plan to explain this to your family elders?”

“Eh?!” Zhou Shaojin’s eyes grew even wider.

Song Mu felt somewhat irritated. “Are you planning to tell your family elders that you have someone in your heart, so you didn’t find me suitable? Or will you say I have this or that fault, so you don’t want to marry me?”

“No! No!” Zhou Shaojin understood and said, “I won’t implicate you. I’ll say it’s my fault. It has nothing to do with you!”

That wasn’t what he was asking about.

Song Mu’s face looked rather unpleasant: “Then how exactly do you plan to explain it?”

Zhou Shaojin felt somewhat awkward.

She was planning to act shamelessly with Cheng Chi.

Song Mu’s face darkened as he said: “You haven’t thought at all about how to explain this to your elders, have you?”

Zhou Shaojin looked embarrassed.

Song Mu felt he’d been presumptuous in thinking she was silent yet resilient.

His anger showed openly.

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to think quickly: “I haven’t had time to think about this matter yet. But it’s not like there’s no solution at all—I’m from Jiangnan and am not accustomed to the northern climate, so not wanting to marry far away is one reason. My father is only a fourth-rank prefect, while your father is a Cabinet Minister—the disparity in status makes us unsuitable, so not wanting to marry above my station is another reason. I’m gentle by nature while you’re the eldest son and grandson, so being unable to shoulder the responsibilities of clan matriarch is yet another reason…”

So she had thought it all through after all!

He really was like a dog catching mice—meddling in other people’s business!

Song Mu felt rather foolish.

He said with a stern face: “Then I’m leaving!”

But Zhou Shaojin could sense his good intentions. She sincerely thanked him and said warmly: “Your sense of justice, I will never forget for the rest of my life. If there’s ever anything you need my help with in the future, just say the word and I’ll do my utmost to assist you.”

Song Mu could no longer hold back: “Who is that person?”

“What?” Zhou Shaojin didn’t understand at first.

Song Mu had to explain: “The person in your heart—who is he? Since you can refuse me, why don’t you find a way to be with him? You’ll have to marry eventually. Such excuses can work once or twice, but surely not three or four times?”

“Be together!” Zhou Shaojin murmured wistfully, her heart aching beyond measure. “It’s impossible for us to be together… it’s nothing but my foolish, hopeless longing…”

Song Mu was surprised.

Thinking it over carefully, this actually made more sense.

Miss Zhou shouldn’t have fallen for a rake, nor should she have been deceived.

It must be a family feud.

Song Mu didn’t feel comfortable continuing to probe, afraid of asking something he shouldn’t.

He was silent for a moment, then said quietly: “Then what do you plan to do in the future?”

“Become a nun, perhaps?” Zhou Shaojin had originally just wanted to remain at home as a lay Buddhist, but after this incident, she had a vague direction for her future. “Ordinary monasteries are definitely out of the question, and I wouldn’t want to go there anyway… It would be best to donate funds to build a family temple with clan protection…” Just like in her previous life.

Except in her previous life it had been on the Lin family’s estate. Her heart had been dead as ashes, living with Buddhist lamps and sutras, guarding hopelessly to give her sister peace of mind.

In this life, she had someone in her heart. As long as she could think of that person, as long as she thought of him being well, thought of him having a virtuous wife and filial children, she would feel happy, would feel this life had aspirations and hopes.

She had endured through her previous life—how much more so in this one!

Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.