Zhou Shaojin originally didn’t want to see Cheng Lu, but then thinking of the old beggar’s matter, she changed her mind and decided to meet with Cheng Lu.

The reception hall in the fourth branch was inlaid with painted colored glass. When the folding doors were fully open, the old locust tree outside provided shade from the sun. The hall was filled with thick green shadows, cool and refreshing.

Zhou Shaojin sat by the square table in front of the central hall, looking at Cheng Lu with a smiling face, asking “What does Cousin Lu want with me?” Her tone was as gentle and soft as before.

Speaking of which, this was the first time since her rebirth that she was formally meeting with Cheng Lu like this.

Just as in her memory, Cheng Lu always liked to wear sapphire blue clothing. This time it was a single robe of Hangzhou silk with swastika patterns, crow-blue Hangzhou satin blessing shoes. A flawless mutton-fat jade pendant hung from his waist, fastened with a green bamboo hairpin—simple and generous yet dignified and proper.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a somewhat shy smile. He glanced at Shi Xiang standing behind Zhou Shaojin and said hesitantly: “I have something I’d like to discuss with Cousin privately…”

If it were the past, Zhou Shaojin would certainly have considered whether this was proper etiquette. But now, she simply smiled faintly and said: “Shi Xiang is my personal maid. What matter can’t be said in front of her? Cousin Lu need not have any concerns. She knows all my affairs.”

Cheng Lu was slightly startled and couldn’t help but scrutinize Zhou Shaojin carefully.

Her skin was fairer than snow, her eyes curved and gentle—still appearing gentle and compliant.

He felt he was being overly suspicious.

From his understanding of Zhou Shaojin, she was not only weak in character but also sentimental. Having grown up reading the “Admonitions for Women” and “Biographies of Exemplary Women,” she followed rules and observed propriety, rarely daring to step out of line. Although he had asked Cheng Yi to send her things, strictly speaking, it was somewhat improper. She had many maids and servants around her, plus a sharp and capable Zhou Chujin. He feared that his gift-giving had fallen under Zhou Chujin’s notice and was already full of faults. That Zhou Shaojin would ignore him was quite understandable.

Thinking of this, Cheng Lu felt that asking Zhou Shaojin to dismiss her attendants upon first meeting was somewhat unwise. No wonder she would politely refuse. He smiled and said: “It was my overconcern. Since Cousin says so, Shi Xiang must be someone trustworthy.” Then, after hesitating a moment, he said, “Does Cousin know that I’ve taken back all the properties registered under the fourth branch’s name?”

This was an opening gambit.

Since she wanted to know Cheng Lu’s intentions, she naturally had to follow his lead.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and said: “I heard people mention it. Uncle Bai passed away early. Now that Cousin Lu has earned academic honors, naturally you’d want to glorify your ancestors and support the household. Taking back the properties registered under the fourth branch’s name is proper. I wonder why Cousin mentions this matter?”

Cheng Lu was quite surprised.

He hadn’t expected Zhou Shaojin to view the matter this way.

Perhaps the other branches of the Cheng family thought the same…

Previously, fearing the news would leak, he had kept things tightly sealed, afraid others would suspect him and the fourth branch’s affairs, saying that having suddenly risen to prominence, he had become arrogant, turned his back ruthlessly, and drawn a clear line with the fourth branch…

Cheng Lu suddenly felt he might have done something wrong again.

Some unease arose in his heart—he had originally thought that after meeting Zhou Shaojin, catching her off guard by bringing this up would let him lead her by the nose. But after meeting Zhou Shaojin and saying just one sentence, he discovered that matters he previously thought well in hand were full of holes.

Cheng Lu’s gaze toward Zhou Shaojin revealed some caution, and he said half-sentimentally, half-jokingly: “Cousin still understands my intentions best.”

Zhou Shaojin sneered inwardly.

In her previous life, he had said many such ambiguous things.

In this life, if he wanted to deceive her again, it wouldn’t be so easy!

To deal with Cheng Lu, one had to be more formidable than him.

Although Zhou Shaojin didn’t know what counted as being more formidable than Cheng Lu, she knew that at least she couldn’t let Cheng Lu see through her at a glance, couldn’t let him know what she was thinking.

Zhou Shaojin smiled as much as possible, the same smile as before. She said nothing, matching moves with Cheng Lu.

Cheng Lu didn’t become suspicious.

Zhou Shaojin wasn’t good with words. Most of the time she was silent and reserved… and smiled shyly.

He smiled and said: “You also know my family’s situation… Although Mother is a virtuous person and I don’t need to worry about household matters, outside affairs can only rely entirely on myself. Before I passed the scholar examination, I always thought that once I had academic honors it would be fine. At least I could make my own decisions about family matters…”

In the past, Zhou Shaojin had most loved hearing such words.

So Zhou Shaojin lowered her eyelids.

She was afraid Cheng Lu would see the disdain in her heart.

Cheng Lu didn’t think much of it and said slowly: “I bought that mansion on Official Street that your maternal great-grandmother brought as dowry from your Zhuang family uncle’s hands, planning to give it to you when the time was appropriate…”

Like a thunderbolt from the blue.

Zhou Shaojin stared at Cheng Lu in astonishment, unable to react for a long while.

She never dreamed that Cheng Lu would so directly admit he bought the mansion on Official Street, much less that he would say he bought it intending to give it to her.

What did Cheng Lu mean?

In her previous life, he had never mentioned the mansion on Official Street.

Did he know she already knew about the old grievances between the Cheng and Zhuang families?

If so, why only mention the mansion on Official Street and not the old beggar’s matter?

Perhaps he was just testing her?

Seeing what her reaction would be!

Zhou Shaojin’s mind was in turmoil. She couldn’t guess Cheng Lu’s intentions and couldn’t help but look toward him.

Cheng Lu had large eyes with distinct black and white. At this moment they contained a smile as he looked at her, his gaze tender.

Zhou Shaojin shivered, her mind instantly becoming much clearer, her thoughts racing rapidly.

Cheng Lu didn’t know she had been reborn, so he didn’t know she had already seen through his true face. He was still guessing at her based on her former temperament. As long as she acted like before, he would continue speaking…

She put on a bewildered appearance and murmured: “Cousin Lu, this is, this is…”

Cheng Lu smiled slightly and said: “I never thought you also wanted to buy that mansion. Yesterday afternoon I heard from Da Hai that someone from a broker wanted to buy the mansion, and only then learned of this… Since you know I bought that mansion, why didn’t you tell me directly? It makes us seem so distant as cousins… Are you perhaps upset with me… Before I was just a child scholar with nothing—how could I tell you anything… But now it’s different. If you want to buy that mansion back as private property, just have Ma Fushan tell Zhao Da Hai. Regardless of money, I’ll have the authorities transfer it directly to your name… That mansion was originally meant to be given to you anyway. Whether given a day earlier or later, it’s all the same…”

I’m afraid it’s quite different!

If he had told her when she didn’t know about this matter, she would believe he had only incidentally bought the Zhuang family’s mansion on Official Street.

Telling her now, she believed he had done it deliberately all along.

Zhou Shaojin took several deep breaths before calming her emotions.

Cheng Lu, what skillful methods!

He knew she had investigated the mansion on Official Street, so he struck first, claiming the mansion was bought with the intention of giving it to her.

Did he know about the old beggar’s matter or not?

Zhou Shaojin said: “Cousin Lu, thank you! I originally only thought that mansion was once my mother’s family home, so I wanted to buy it back as a keepsake. Later, knowing that mansion was bought by you, thinking it wasn’t in another’s hands, I dismissed the idea. If Cousin Lu wants to give that mansion to me, I think it’s unnecessary—it’s too small, I may not necessarily use it in the future. But it’s right next to Cousin Lu’s ancestral home. Now that Cousin Lu has passed the scholar examination, you’ll certainly have many social engagements in the future. Expanding the mansion would make things more presentable. I think Cousin Lu should keep that mansion for yourself. I appreciate Cousin Lu’s kind intentions.”

“But after all, that’s your Zhuang family’s property…” Cheng Lu said hesitantly.

“All things in the world belong to those with virtue,” Zhou Shaojin smiled. “If Cousin Lu says this, what about those gold, stone, and antique curiosities the Cheng family treasures?”

Cheng Lu laughed heartily and said: “Second Cousin makes a good point. I was being vulgar.”

Zhou Shaojin also laughed along.

Cheng Lu then asked her: “I never thought our two families once lived next door. If it weren’t for Cousin wanting to buy that mansion this time, I probably would never have known in this lifetime.”

Zhou Shaojin played tai chi with him, smiling: “I also discovered it by chance when I returned to the ancestral home during the Dragon Boat Festival. I heard from Ma Fushan that when my mother was alive, her relationship with Uncle Zhuang wasn’t very good. That’s why Father had me live at the Cheng family with Sister. I thought that Father, serving as an official outside, is well-traveled and knowledgeable. Since he’s unwilling to associate with my Uncle Zhuang, there must be some grievances he doesn’t want me to know about. I’d rather not know.”

But Cheng Lu’s eyes flickered as he said: “But after all, it’s your maternal family’s matter. Don’t you want to go see the mansion on Official Street?”

“The kindness of birth doesn’t match the kindness of raising,” Zhou Shaojin said tactfully. “When Mother passed away, I was still in swaddling clothes and don’t remember what Mother looked like at all. Everything about Mother was told to me by Sister. Now I have Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, and Sister. I don’t often think about Mother’s affairs.”

Cheng Lu sighed and said: “Still, she was the one who gave birth to you. Half her blood flows in you…”

Zhou Shaojin was silent for quite a while before saying in a low voice: “How can a young lady from the inner chambers move about freely? Even if I wanted to see it, I’d have to wait until after marriage when I can make my own decisions, then go take a look. Anyway, Mother has been gone for so many years. Whatever she left behind that could be lost is long gone. A little more time won’t make a difference.”

This was Zhou Shaojin.

Entrusting everything to the future, not knowing that some things were fleeting.

Cheng Lu nodded with a smile and said: “In that case, I’ll help you keep the mansion on Official Street for now. Perhaps… you can dispose of it however you wish in the future… As you said, a little more time won’t make a difference… Before your coming-of-age ceremony, there’s still two or three years…” By the end, his voice gradually lowered, full of longing, as if talking to himself, yet also as if encouraging himself.

Zhou Shaojin barely restrained herself from throwing the teacup beside her straight at his head.

She had seen despicable and shameless petty people, but she had never seen anyone as despicable and shameless as Cheng Lu!