Sanbao’s face was full of conflict. He dawdled and called out “Second Miss,” but didn’t move for quite a while.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened—though still gentle as water, completely without any lethal force, and even causing Sanbao a small moment of amazement, she had after all lost her temper. Sanbao didn’t dare openly disobey. He hastily responded “Yes” and ran off like the wind.

Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.

The group stood by the willow tree waiting.

But two quarters of an hour passed without any sign of Cheng Yi’s shadow. The mosquitoes, however, grew more numerous, and Shi Xiang’s cattail leaf fan swished loudly.

Zhou Shaojin was so angry she pressed her lips together, wringing her handkerchief forcefully.

Shi Xiang smiled and consoled her: “Second Miss, coming from the Fifth Branch, even taking the shortcut takes two quarters of an hour. Going there and back, it would take at least half an hour. Why don’t we have Chun Wan stay here while I accompany you for a walk around the area?”

Zhou Shaojin thought what she said made good sense. She left Chun Wan by the willow tree to wait while she and Shi Xiang went to stroll in the garden.

In her previous life, Cheng Xu had entered from the Fifth Branch’s small garden. In this life, she absolutely had to block this loophole. Otherwise, without Cheng Xu, who knew if a Cheng Ju might appear instead?

The two walked silently in the garden for about two quarters of an hour. Cheng Yi still hadn’t come.

He probably wouldn’t come!

Zhou Shaojin felt an indescribable disappointment. She instructed Shi Xiang: “Let’s go back!”

Shi Xiang consoled her: “Never mind the young masters who go out—even when young ladies gather together, they must consider face. Second Young Master couldn’t very well leave the table just because Sanbao called him, could he? Most likely they kept him there tightly, and whether they’re his schoolmates or cousins, Second Young Master must consider everyone’s face. It’s getting late now. We should go back and rest first, then talk about it tomorrow. If Second Young Master slipped in from here and happened to run into the night patrol women, it might cause trouble. That wouldn’t be good either.”

Zhou Shaojin said nothing. She called Chun Wan and returned to Wanxiang Residence with Shi Xiang.

But after returning, she immediately summoned the night watch women and repeatedly instructed them: “You must watch the gates carefully. If anyone is found violating the rules, don’t blame me for not giving her face—everyone will be handed over to Grand Steward Qin for punishment.”

Those serving Zhou Shaojin and Zhou Chujin closely at Wanxiang Residence were Zhou family servants, while the rough work women and maids were from the Cheng family. These days Zhou Shaojin had been copying scriptures at Bihan Mountain Villa, and she had opened her mouth to bypass the Fourth Branch and directly mention Jiuru Lane’s Grand Steward Qin Shouli. Thinking that Zhou Shaojin had gained Old Madam Guo’s favor and could now speak before Qin Shouli, each one was frightened pale. They competed to pledge their loyalty, even swearing poisonous oaths like “may heaven strike me with five thunderbolts.” Only then did Zhou Shaojin feel somewhat at ease, and she went to bed with Shi Xiang’s assistance.

Very early the next morning, before Zhou Shaojin had gotten up, Cheng Yi came.

Zhou Shaojin’s mind was still on the Fifth Branch’s small garden. She hadn’t slept well at all the previous night. Hearing he had come, she had Shi Xiang invite him to the study for tea, saying: “While you’re at it, ask if Second Young Master has had breakfast yet. If not, have the kitchen prepare breakfast for Second Young Master first. I’ll come over after I’ve finished washing up.”

Shi Xiang went to the study.

Zhou Shaojin was angry at him for making her wait in vain yesterday. She slowly groomed and dressed herself before going to the west wing.

Cheng Yi had already eaten breakfast, but Zhou Shaojin still hadn’t come. He was very bored. He casually flipped through a few books, but they were all about growing flowers and raising trees, which didn’t interest him much. Seeing a young maid come in to feed the fish, he simply took the blue and white porcelain dish and began feeding the fish himself.

As a result, when Zhou Shaojin walked in, she saw him looking completely at ease.

She couldn’t help feeling exasperated and said: “How much did you lose yesterday?”

“Heh heh heh.” Cheng Yi turned around, casually pinching fish food between his fingers, and said, “It was just the price of a meal. What are you worried about?”

Zhou Shaojin snatched the fish food from his hands and said: “These fish are quite stupid—they’ll eat however much you feed them. Be careful not to bloat my fish to death.” As she spoke, she placed the small dish of fish food on a nearby desk, then said, “I had Sanbao go find you yesterday. Why didn’t you come?”

Cheng Yi spoke evasively: “Well, I’m here now, aren’t I? What do you need? This morning the teacher is checking yesterday’s lesson on the ‘Great Learning.’ I need to go early.”

“So you still know you need to study!” Zhou Shaojin said bluntly. “If you hadn’t gone to play with them last night, would you need to cram at the last minute today? I was looking for you because I wanted you to spend less time with them in the future. Why don’t we see Cousin Shi or Cousin Zheng playing with you all? Grandmother is counting on you to study hard and earn her a phoenix crown and ceremonial robe!”

“I know, I know.” Cheng Yi smiled as he admitted his mistake, though his tone carried some indifference. “I promise I’ll never mix with them again. Are you satisfied now?”

After all, Cheng Yi was Zhou Shaojin’s cousin. If she spoke too harshly, it would hurt his self-esteem; if she spoke too lightly, he wouldn’t listen.

She didn’t know what to do. She could only say softly: “It’s not that I won’t let you gather with them. It’s just that Uncle Wen and Aunt Wen are in the middle of their troubles, so it’s not good for you to play in the Fifth Branch’s small garden. And playing until the middle of the night delays your studies—it’s better to meet less often.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry.” Cheng Yi grinned. “When everyone saw Sanbao come to call me, they all knew you found out. We’ve decided not to play in the Fifth Branch’s small garden anymore.”

Then find another place instead?

Zhou Shaojin wasn’t the type to corner people completely. She swallowed the words that had reached her lips and joked: “That’s good then. It saves me from having to complain to Grandmother.” Thinking of Cheng Yi’s downfall in her previous life, her heart ached for him after all. She said, “How much money did you actually lose yesterday? I still have some silver here. If you’re short, borrow from me first—it’s better than borrowing silver from Cheng Nuo, Cheng Ju, or your schoolmates.”

The Fourth Branch managed their descendants very strictly. Though Cheng Yi was the Second Young Master with exceptional food, clothing, and expenses, the pocket money he could freely dispose of was less than Zhou Shaojin’s.

As the saying goes, eating others’ food makes one soft-spoken, taking others’ things makes one short-handed. Much less borrowing others’ silver for a long time without being able to repay it?

Cheng Yi knew this cousin of his was pure, kind, gentle, and sincere with people. Seeing her bring it up proactively, he wasn’t polite and said: “Do you have twenty taels of silver?”

Zhou Shaojin was greatly shocked. She hadn’t expected him to have lost so much.

She didn’t want Cheng Yi to be unable to hold his head up in front of Cheng Ju.

“I do!” she said without hesitation, calling for Shi Xiang to fetch the silver, and advised him again: “You really should play with them less in the future.”

Cheng Yi nodded and said bashfully: “It’s all a matter of face. I can’t just refuse them outright.”

That was also true.

Zhou Shaojin said nothing more.

Cheng Yi took the silver and took his leave.

Zhou Shaojin personally saw him to the door before turning back to the hall.

Before long, Zhou Chujin came. She asked Zhou Shaojin: “What did Cousin Yi come to see you about so early?”

Zhou Shaojin said distressfully: “Don’t even mention it. Last night Cousin Yi was gambling with Cheng Nuo, Cheng Ju, and the others…”

She told her sister about what had happened.

Though Zhou Chujin was somewhat surprised, she wasn’t as tense as Zhou Shaojin. Instead, she smiled and said: “In the future, nag less in front of Cousin Yi. No one likes someone who’s always finding fault with them… as a younger sister.”

“I don’t want to either,” Zhou Shaojin muttered. “It’s just that sometimes I can’t control myself.”

She didn’t notice her sister’s brief pause when mentioning finding fault.

Zhou Shaojin worried that Cheng Yi was just placating her.

She summoned Fan Qi and had him keep an eye on Cheng Yi: “Especially if he doesn’t return to his own courtyard after school each day—find out what he’s doing.”

Fan Qi smiled and withdrew.

The next day, he secretly told Zhou Shaojin: “Second Young Master is gambling with Fifth Branch’s Master Nuo, Master Ju, and several schoolmates in the waterside pavilion of the Fifth Branch’s small garden.”

Zhou Shaojin’s blood rushed upward.

Cheng Yi hadn’t taken her words to heart at all.

Then she became curious.

What money was Cheng Yi using to gamble?

She thought and thought, then summoned Sanbao and asked him: “How much silver did Second Young Master actually lose the night before last?”

Sanbao knew about Zhou Shaojin lending silver to Cheng Yi. He thought that since Second Cousin Miss could lend silver to Second Young Master, they must be very close. Everyone knew how much silver Second Young Master had lost. Even if he didn’t tell her now, Second Miss could just ask around outside and find out. Besides, it wasn’t much. So he didn’t hide it from Zhou Shaojin and smiled, saying: “He lost six taels of silver.”

Zhou Shaojin nearly jumped up.

No wonder Cheng Yi could continue gambling with that group—it turned out she had lent him twenty taels of silver.

Seeing her expression show displeasure, Sanbao hastily said: “Second Miss, Second Young Master won two taels and three-tenths yesterday. He’ll soon win it all back.”

It took Zhou Shaojin a long time to recover and said: “So Second Young Master intends to keep gambling with them?”

“No, no.” Only then did Sanbao realize he had misspoken. He said repeatedly: “I spoke wrongly. Second Young Master said he can’t just let them laugh at him like this. Once he wins back the silver, he’ll treat them to a meal at Jiuxiang Restaurant, and then he’ll never play with them again.”

As he spoke, he carefully observed Zhou Shaojin’s expression.

Zhou Shaojin didn’t even want to speak anymore. She had Shi Xiang see Sanbao out.

That evening during the greeting, she deliberately walked slowly and encountered Cheng Gao and Cheng Yi.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and greeted Cheng Gao, then pulled Cheng Yi aside to talk: “If you can’t win all the silver back this time, are you going to keep gambling with them?”

“How could that be!” Cheng Yi glanced at Cheng Gao and said quietly: “I lost several rounds in a row. As soon as you lent me the silver, my luck turned around. This shows your fortune is good. I’ll definitely win back all the lost silver this time.”

Zhou Shaojin saw Cheng Gao staring at them with an unpleasant expression. Not wanting to say more to Cheng Yi, she smiled and parted with him.

That night, she had Fan Qi continue watching Cheng Yi.

Cheng Yi played with Cheng Ju and the others until the third watch before dispersing. Several of their schoolmates even spent the night at the Fifth Branch.

Zhou Shaojin knew that her attempts to persuade Cheng Yi were useless.

But besides persuading, what else could she do?

Zhou Shaojin wandered in the bamboo grove of Jing’an Study, staring blankly at the waterside pavilion of the Fifth Branch across from her. She was completely unaware of when Pan Qing arrived. If Pan Qing hadn’t smiled and asked “What is Sister Shaojin doing here?”, she probably wouldn’t have discovered that Pan Qing was standing right beside her.