Could it be she had truly encountered a ghost?

Zhou Shaojin’s heart panicked, and she nearly fainted.

Who would have known that from the opposite side came that man’s clear, ringing laughter.

Zhou Shaojin froze.

That voice was somewhat familiar, and carried a warmth she found pleasing…

She couldn’t help widening her eyes.

The man had a tall, slender figure. His movements were casual yet displayed great ease, naturally revealing a certain refined nobility that was difficult to ignore.

In Zhou Shaojin’s two lifetimes, only one person had given her such an impression.

She couldn’t help taking two steps forward.

The man opposite laughed heartily.

Under the lamplight, even the upturned corners of his eyes carried warmth.

“Uncle Chi!” Zhou Shaojin jumped up.

Cheng Chi laughed loudly, beckoning to her: “You remember me now!”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, her mood completely relaxing as she lifted her legs and ran over. After running two steps, she remembered that Fan Liushi and the others were still following her. She hurriedly turned back to find Fan Liushi and the others staring at her slack-jawed, looking completely dumbfounded. She couldn’t help smiling brilliantly and said, “It’s Uncle Chi, the Fourth Master of the First Branch. It’s all right.”

Hearing it was someone from the First Branch, and seeing Zhou Shaojin acting familiar with him, Fan Liushi and the others collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Shaojin turned back intending to introduce her servants to Cheng Chi, only then discovering… things had become very strange… How should she explain their appearance to Uncle Chi? Also, in the dead of night, under the clear breeze and cold moon, why would Uncle Chi be sitting here drinking tea?

Her footsteps couldn’t help becoming hesitant, and her gaze toward Cheng Chi carried some uncertainty: “Uncle Chi, I…”

But before her words could leave her mouth, light footsteps came from behind them.

Zhou Shaojin hurriedly turned around.

She saw a tall, robust figure leading two people walking in this direction.

It was Steward Qin who had pursued them.

Zhou Shaojin was so frightened her heart pounded wildly as she looked toward Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi gazed at her with a smile.

A flash of inspiration struck Zhou Shaojin’s mind, and inexplicably she felt certain that Cheng Chi would definitely protect her completely. Would definitely be able to protect her completely.

Otherwise, why would he have actively beckoned to her?

Without thinking, she hid behind Cheng Chi.

Seeing this, Fan Liushi and the others darted into the grove of trees to one side.

Steward Qin led his two attendants and walked over with large strides.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart beat fiercely. She again quietly looked toward Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi sat steady as a rock, not moving even the corners of his eyes or brows, still appearing relaxed and content as he caressed the tea cup in his hands.

Could it be he wasn’t afraid of Steward Qin discovering her? Even if he managed the Cheng family’s household affairs and could restrain Steward Qin, the Cheng family didn’t consist of only the First Branch—the Second Branch still had Old Ancestor Cheng Xu! A sudden fire in the household was a very serious matter. If they couldn’t even find the cause of the fire or catch the arsonist, who knew if there would be a next time after this one? Who knew if they could discover it the next time even though they discovered it this time? That would be even more serious. If Cheng Xu personally inquired, concealing her whereabouts would also be very troublesome, wouldn’t it?

What was Uncle Chi thinking?

She and he had no blood relation… counting this time, they had only met three times total…

Zhou Shaojin muttered inwardly to herself, feeling very anxious and uneasy.

Steward Qin had already stopped before Cheng Chi.

Yet he acted as if he had seen nothing, respectfully bowing to Cheng Chi with clasped hands, standing with lowered hands as he respectfully addressed him as “Fourth Master.”

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

Cheng Chi nodded slightly and said lightly, “What happened?”

Steward Qin’s eyelids lowered slightly as he said respectfully, “Fifth Branch’s Master Nuo brought several cousins and schoolmates from the clan school to gamble in the water pavilion of the Fifth Branch’s small garden. Someone set a fire near the water pavilion—we don’t know who. A woman from the Fourth Branch on night patrol discovered it and rushed over beating gongs and drums to fight the fire. Who knew the Fifth Branch side had no reaction at all. Only after I went over did several servants run out disheveled, shouting to fight the fire. The fire has now been extinguished. The young masters and gentlemen have all been arranged to temporarily rest in Master Nuo’s room. We haven’t yet found the cause of the fire.”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart tightened as she hurriedly looked toward Steward Qin.

Steward Qin happened to look toward her as well.

Their gazes met in the air for a moment. Steward Qin quickly lowered his eyelids, avoiding Zhou Shaojin’s gaze.

She was the one who had done wrong—it should be her who feared him, who avoided his gaze. Why did he instead seem afraid to look at her even once?

Zhou Shaojin felt even more confused.

But she heard Cheng Chi’s still-light voice beside her ear: “The weather is dry—the young gentlemen probably accidentally ignited something outside the water pavilion. This is all a small matter. Rather, the Fifth Branch had a fire that the Fourth Branch saw, yet the Fifth Branch had no reaction—that is the major issue. Things over there must still be chaotic. Go handle it. Tomorrow morning come with me to see the Second Branch’s Old Ancestor—he will surely be unable to sleep tonight.”

Steward Qin respectfully answered “Yes” and left with his two attendants.

His two attendants hadn’t made a sound from beginning to end, like two puppets. As Steward Qin was leaving, the seemingly casual glance he cast toward Zhou Shaojin carried undisguised astonishment.

What… what was this all about?

Steward Qin just left like that?

As if he hadn’t seen her?

And Uncle Chi even said it was those people gambling in the water pavilion who had accidentally started the fire…

Zhou Shaojin’s mind wasn’t quite functioning.

Was Uncle Chi making excuses for her?

But tonight so many people had been alarmed. Everyone saw them run across the nine-curve railed bridge and dart into the Fourth Branch. The household never lacked people eager to curry favor and flatter—could Uncle Chi easily suppress this?

She couldn’t implicate him!

Zhou Shaojin took a deep breath and gathered her courage to step out from behind Cheng Chi.

“Uncle Chi, it was me in the Fifth Branch…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Cheng Chi had already begun laughing softly.

Zhou Shaojin stared at him blankly, not understanding.

“For a young lady, even if watching the excitement, you shouldn’t just run out like this.” Cheng Chi smiled, his clear eyes gentle and kind. “Fortunately you encountered me. If you had met someone else, wouldn’t you have been seized as a thief? It’s getting late—hurry back and rest. Don’t you still have to go to school tomorrow? Be careful you can’t get up and the female teacher paddles your hands.”

Because Cheng Jia had been frightened, she had been accompanying Cheng Jia these past few days and didn’t need to go to school, all right?

However, Uncle Chi definitely didn’t know about her situation!

If not for a cold wind blowing past, Zhou Shaojin would have almost blurted this out.

Her face immediately burned hotly.

Why was she so unreliable in front of Uncle Chi?

First she was chased by Cheng Xu as if she were some flirtatious woman attracting bees and butterflies. Then she did something wrong and was pursued by Steward Qin… The only normal time was at the Buddhist hall in Hanbi Mountain House… but even then she had been startled as if harassed by some lecher…

Zhou Shaojin felt it necessary to explain to Cheng Chi that she wasn’t that kind of unruly woman. It was just that the circumstances were special… But before she could speak, Cheng Chi had already called out “Ji Ying” in a voice slightly louder than when speaking to her.

A woman dressed in dark-colored clothing emerged from the darkness.

She had a tall, slightly full figure with graceful curves, a snow-white oval face, strikingly beautiful features, and eyes especially bright as fire. Just walking over unhurriedly like this, she made one think of roses blooming under the sun—willful, flamboyant, captivating to the soul.

Zhou Shaojin’s mouth fell open, too shocked to say a word.

She had never seen such a beautiful woman.

No, it wasn’t that she hadn’t seen women more beautiful than her—she had never seen a woman with such distinctive character as her.

She looked at Cheng Chi, then at this woman called “Ji Ying,” feeling somewhat at a loss.

But Cheng Chi acted as if he hadn’t noticed, softly instructing Ji Ying: “You escort this young lady back safely.”

He neither told Ji Ying who she was nor where she lived. Ji Ying didn’t ask either, placing her hands together at her abdomen, lowering her head slightly, responding with an acknowledgment, and making a “please” gesture toward Zhou Shaojin.

More graceful and proper than a palace lady official’s gestures.

Zhou Shaojin’s mind was already in a daze. She followed Ji Ying forward woodenly… but couldn’t help turning back to look at Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi sat under the dim yellow lamplight, silently caressing the tea cup in his hands, quietly watching her depart. Behind him stood two wooden-like attendants, and beside him was endless darkness… appearing desolate and lonely!

Zhou Shaojin shivered and hurriedly shook her head.

How could she feel Uncle Chi was desolate and lonely?

He was a successful imperial examination candidate, managed the Cheng family’s household affairs, and had friends of such distinguished status. How could he possibly be desolate and lonely?

But why did the more she thought about it, the more she felt he was very desolate and lonely?

Zhou Shaojin wanted to turn back to look again.

Ji Ying had already said, “Second Young Miss, watch your feet. Please follow me!”

Her voice was somewhat cold, making Zhou Shaojin feel very embarrassed. She hurriedly paid attention to the path under her feet, then remembered Fan Liushi and the others… they were still hiding in the grove!

“Sister Ji Ying, wait a moment! I still have several companions.” She called softly toward the grove for Fan Qi.

Fan Qi and the others rushed out, each face showing the excitement of having survived a disaster.

Fan Liushi even clasped her hands together and said, “The Fourth Master is truly a good person! Second Young Miss, you must properly thank him.”

Zhou Shaojin felt the same way. She looked toward Cheng Chi again.

But the grove was completely dark—nothing could be seen.

Zhou Shaojin’s eyes widened.

Fan Liushi and the others looked at each other even more bewildered.

Ji Ying laughed lightly and said, “Second Young Miss, let’s hurry along! The Fifth Branch had a fire, and each branch needs to carefully investigate. The inspection people should be coming soon…”

“Oh, oh, oh!” Upon hearing this, Fan Liushi hurriedly responded, pulling Zhou Shaojin toward Wanxiang Residence. “Many thanks to this young lady. We’ll be careful. Please, young lady, lead the way!”

Ji Ying walked ahead with her head held high, moving without any hesitation, clearly very familiar with the surrounding terrain.

When did the Cheng family have such a refined and distinguished maidservant?

Zhou Shaojin’s mind was in chaos.

She turned back again to look at where Cheng Chi had been.

Silent and pitch-black.

Uncle Chi truly wasn’t there anymore!

She suddenly felt bewildered, following Ji Ying back to Wanxiang Residence with stumbling steps.

Fan Qi and the others all cheered in low voices.

Only Zhou Shaojin, watching Ji Ying’s figure disappear into the night, felt increasingly bewildered and at a loss.