In front of the hanging flower gate of the western section was an east-west corridor paved with square bluestone bricks. To the east was an auspicious gate leading to the western side entrance of the residence. Heading east led to the study in the outer courtyard of the central section.

The through hall of Cheng Chi’s study faced directly toward the hanging flower gate of the western section.

Two unfamiliar-looking boys were on duty in the through hall.

They both wore the dark-bordered blue robes of young servants, appeared to be seven or eight years old, and had clear, handsome features.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin accompanied by Biyu, they quickly came forward to greet her, curiously stealing glances at Zhou Shaojin. In childish voices they called Biyu “Sister-in-law” and asked her, “Do you have any instructions?”

Biyu explained to Zhou Shaojin: “These were newly selected and brought over from Jinling by Head Steward Qin. The one with single eyelids is called Qin Fang, the one with double eyelids is Song Ming. Both are from hereditary servant families and now serve in Fourth Master’s study. Fourth Master said that if the inner residence has people living in it, they can also run errands.”

Both boys were quite sharp. They quickly came forward to bow, respectfully addressing Zhou Shaojin as “Second Cousin Miss.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded kindly, reminded of Qingfeng and Langyue.

If Qingfeng and Langyue by Cheng Chi’s side were like mythical beings, then Qin Fang and Song Ming were servants of the mortal world. The former were like those dwelling in ethereal realms, while the latter existed in the dusty world… Uncle Chi too, like one touched by the red dust, had emerged from mystery!

She smiled with pursed lips.

Biyu said to the two boys, “Go inform Fourth Master that Second Cousin Miss has arrived.”

Qin Fang’s eyes rolled around as he said, “Steward Huai Shan said that if Second Cousin Miss comes, she can enter directly without being announced.”

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat surprised.

But Biyu scolded, “Who told you to call Uncle Huai Shan ‘Master’? In this household, only the main family can be called ‘Master.’ Do you understand?”

Qin Fang stuck out his tongue and loudly replied “I understand, I won’t dare do it again,” looking very mischievous. It was unclear whether he had truly taken it to heart or was just humoring Biyu.

Biyu shook her head. While accompanying Zhou Shaojin inside, she said, “Qin Fang is Head Steward Qin’s great-great-nephew. He’s very clever, just not very particular about formalities. Second Cousin Miss, please don’t take it to heart.”

Perhaps because she herself was rather reserved, Zhou Shaojin quite liked children with cheerful, lively personalities. She didn’t feel offended at all. Thus she smiled and said, “He’s still a child, and has just entered the household. Being a bit mischievous is only natural—we can teach him slowly.”

She thought of the relationship between the Qin family and the Cheng family, feeling that having the Qin family’s children continue serving as servants in the Cheng household was truly wronging them. There was also the matter of Ji Ying and Qin Ziping’s betrothal—she wondered how that was going.

Given Ji Ying’s temperament and the Ji family’s standing, Ji Ying was a young miss pampered by her parents. Even when serving by Cheng Chi’s side, she had never bowed her head. Would they agree to marry Ji Ying to Qin Ziping?

Zhou Shaojin asked Biyu, “I heard the head steward here is surnamed Qin. Is it Qin Ziping or Qin Zi’an?”

“Neither!” Biyu smiled and said, “It’s Qin Ziji—Head Steward Qin’s great-nephew!”

Zhou Shaojin was astonished.

Biyu smiled and said, “I don’t know exactly what happened either. According to my husband, Qin Ziji was previously the second shopkeeper of the Jinan branch, when Fourth Master suddenly transferred him here to become the head steward…”

Zhou Shaojin vaguely felt that the appearance of this Qin Ziji and that Qin Fang didn’t seem coincidental.

The two entered the courtyard.

The courtyard was very quiet, with various types of bamboo planted on both sides of the corridor. When the wind blew through, they swayed gracefully with a rustling sound, immediately giving one a feeling of cool tranquility.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, “This bamboo grows so well. Was it also left by the original Liu family?”

Biyu nodded with a smile and said, “The Liu family originally called it Bamboo Garden!”

Zhou Shaojin raised her eyebrows.

Biyu smiled and said, “Going out from the recessed chamber, there’s also a bamboo grove with even more varieties of bamboo than here.”

“That truly lives up to the name then.”

The two chatted and laughed as they walked. Turning past the bamboo grove, they saw a three-bay building with two side rooms. In front of the building was a wisteria arbor, with clusters of purple flowers hanging like drooping willows, swaying in the wind—absolutely beautiful.

Langyue was guarding the door.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin, he quickly came forward to bow, then turned and called into the room, “Second Cousin Miss has arrived.”

The lady bamboo curtain lifted and Huai Shan emerged from inside. He cupped his hands toward Zhou Shaojin, respectfully addressing her as “Second Cousin Miss,” and personally held the curtain for her.

Huai Shan was a capable person by Cheng Chi’s side. Being treated with such courtesy by him made Zhou Shaojin feel rather uneasy. She thanked Huai Shan and entered the room.

The entire room was filled with books.

The three-bay room had been opened into one large space, with books placed all around.

On the left was a large writing desk, on the right a large painting desk. In the middle was a blue and white porcelain jar for holding scrolls, thick enough to require two people’s arms to encircle it. Under the western window was also placed a guqin. The bow that Cheng Chi had been carrying that day was hung rather casually like a decoration beside the floor screen on the western side.

Zhou Shaojin felt her palms beginning to sweat.

Only then did she notice that Cheng Chi was sitting cross-legged on the large kang by the eastern window, preparing tea.

He wore a cyan plain Daoist robe. The morning sunlight streamed through the glass lattice window by the kang, illuminating him and making his features appear even more gentle and handsome.

How could anyone look this good!

Zhou Shaojin found she couldn’t look away.

Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh with a soft sound. While skillfully rinsing the tea cups, he teased her with a smile, “Finally seeing me!”

Zhou Shaojin came to her senses and shyly lowered her eyelids.

“Come sit quickly!” Cheng Chi said with a smile, pointing to the large kang opposite.

Zhou Shaojin walked over somewhat embarrassedly and saw there were two large welcoming pillows on the kang.

She knew it—Uncle Chi’s place was still the best!

She happily removed her shoes and climbed onto the kang.

Cheng Chi lovingly stroked her hair.

The naked adoration in the little girl’s eyes was both heartwarming and touching, as well as endearing and fortunate.

Good thing this little girl had fallen into his hands… If she had followed someone else, she would probably have been devoured until not even her bones remained.

He grew somewhat curious about Lin Shisheng.

What kind of man could remain unmoved in the face of this little girl’s beauty?

He must be a remarkable person indeed.

If there’s an opportunity, he should meet this person.

He handed a cup of tea to Zhou Shaojin, saying, “Try this—jasmine tea that Academician Zeng gave me.”

Zhou Shaojin sniffed it and indeed the jasmine fragrance filled her nose.

She immediately became interested and said, “Uncle Chi, you should also plant a few osmanthus trees in the courtyard. You can make osmanthus flower dew, osmanthus wine, and also use osmanthus to scent tea.”

“Whatever you think is good.” Cheng Chi smiled, his eyes filled with unmistakable indulgence. “I called you here precisely because I wanted you to see what should be planted in the residence. In a bit the craftsmen will bring over the plans. You can look to see if anything should be added or removed. Once it’s decided, we’ll have them start planting flowers and trees.”

But it’s not her residence!

Zhou Shaojin was somewhat dazed.

Cheng Chi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He patted the welcoming pillow beside him and said, “Come here!”

Did he want her to sit over there?

Zhou Shaojin hesitated.

Cheng Chi said again, “Sit over here!”

Zhou Shaojin was accustomed to being obedient and didn’t think much of it, so she sat over.

Cheng Chi extended his long arm and pulled her into his embrace, seating her on his lap.

Zhou Shaojin’s face flushed completely red as she struggled to get down.

Cheng Chi’s arm was strong yet gentle, neither allowing her to struggle free nor making her feel uncomfortably constrained.

He buried his face in her neck and called softly, “Shaojin.”

The man’s distinctive warmth made even Zhou Shaojin’s neck turn red.

Cheng Chi took her earlobe in his mouth, sucking and gently biting for quite a while.

Zhou Shaojin melted into a puddle, secretly hating her own uselessness. Tears were about to spill from her eyes.

But Cheng Chi reluctantly released her and said in a low voice, “Silly girl! Do you really plan to just muddle along with me like this forever?” As he spoke, he bit her earlobe hard again and said, “I told you to wait two years for me, and within two years I’ll definitely bring you in through the front door in a phoenix coronet and red veil. How could you treat my words like wind passing by your ears… If not to marry you, why would I go to such great effort to acquire a residence near Chaoyangmen?”

This—this was prepared for her?

Didn’t Uncle Chi already give her the Yuqian Alley residence?

He had even buried many things there.

Zhou Shaojin blinked. Being bitten by Cheng Chi made her tremble, her mind muddled, unable to react at all.

Cheng Chi laughed softly.

Shaojin was like a little rabbit.

Tender feelings flooded over him like a tide.

He kissed Zhou Shaojin.

Between her lips and teeth was entirely his pleasant scent, like wine, making her drowsy and her mind even more muddled.

It wasn’t until he released her and helped arrange the hairpins in her hair with a smile that she finally came to her senses, her face bright red as she turned away.

Yet Cheng Chi roguishly said, “I know you’re unwilling to stay in Jinling and don’t like Xinghua Alley, which is why I went to such lengths to buy this residence. You have no idea how much effort I put in, yet you act as if it has nothing to do with you… If you dare to be so indifferent to our affairs in the future, I’ll punish you like this again!”

Zhou Shaojin, both shy and angry, glared fiercely at Cheng Chi.

A beauty’s anger held its own special charm.

Cheng Chi laughed softly.

How did this person become like this!

Zhou Shaojin stood up huffily and said, “I’m going home!”

Cheng Chi couldn’t stop laughing.

Zhou Shaojin was furious beyond measure. She did something she never imagined she would do—she extended her foot and lightly kicked Cheng Chi twice.

After kicking him, not only was she dumbfounded, but Cheng Chi’s face was full of shock as well.

Zhou Shaojin looked at him as aggrieved tears began swirling in her eyes.

It was all his fault… otherwise how would she have acted like a shrew…

How could she face Uncle Chi in the future?

Zhou Shaojin felt she had completely lost face.

She jumped down from the kang as if fleeing and ran outside.

But she had only run two steps when Cheng Chi caught her from behind.

“Shaojin, I was wrong! I was wrong!” Cheng Chi coaxed her in a humble tone. “Don’t be angry anymore, don’t cry… Listen… if you kick me again in the future, I’ll definitely act as if nothing happened, all right?”

Zhou Shaojin was extremely angry, tears falling even more urgently, choking out, “I, I, I’m not that kind of bad-tempered person…”

“I know, I know.” Cheng Chi quickly said, “It’s because I provoked you… that you got angry…” As he spoke, he turned her around, lowered his chin to rest on her head and said softly, “But think about it—if you didn’t feel I was your closest person, would you treat me this way? You don’t know how heartbroken I am every time I see you being so careful. I just want to pamper you like this, indulge you, dote on you… Don’t I know what kind of temperament you have? Stop crying, hmm?!”

Cheng Chi’s voice gradually deepened.

Different from the earlier playfulness, different from the earlier lightheartedness, it seemed somewhat heavy.