Dinner was set out in the retiring room. Perhaps because Old Madam Guo and Cheng Chi had different dietary habits, the table was laden with dishes containing both fish and meat, all served in small famille rose porcelain dishes, filling the entire table.

Old Madam Guo smiled and beckoned to Zhou Shaojin. “Come, sit beside me!”

This way, she ended up sitting directly across from Cheng Chi.

Zhou Shaojin’s heart pounded. She clenched her fists to encourage herself before finally mustering the courage to take her seat.

Maids set out the chopsticks and served rice.

No talking while eating, no speaking while sleeping. Everyone ate in silence.

The room was utterly quiet, with only the crisp sounds of bowls and spoons clinking, which made the room seem even more silent and peaceful.

Zhou Shaojin was very nervous, not daring to let her eyes wander randomly, much less observe Cheng Chi’s expression.

She knew this wouldn’t do.

To eliminate her nervousness, she could only focus all her attention on the food.

The old duck soup was rich, the small yellow croaker was delicious, the diced chicken was tender and smooth, the cherry pork was tangy and refreshing, the vegetables were light and fresh… Zhou Shaojin gradually savored the flavors, temporarily forgetting about Old Madam Guo sitting beside her and Cheng Chi sitting across from her, concentrating wholeheartedly on eating.

Sitting across from her, Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised.

The girl across from him was eating elegantly yet heartily, her expression delighted, as if what she was eating wasn’t ordinary food but some rare delicacy.

Was it really that good?

He wondered to himself and couldn’t help but pick up a piece of cherry pork with his chopsticks.

Sweet and sour, perfectly balanced, nothing particularly special.

He picked up some diced chicken.

The meat was tender and smooth, but that was all it was—just tender and smooth.

He took a sip of old duck soup… then he had to admit that the little girl across from him, who looked frail and delicate, had quite a good appetite.

However, what was even more rare was her good temperament. She didn’t put on airs or act like a delicate maiden clutching her heart—when she could eat, she ate… She was probably also the type who could sleep when she could sleep!

Cheng Chi smiled and put down his chopsticks.

Old Madam Guo asked worriedly, “Are the dishes not to your taste?”

“No.” Cheng Chi said. “Last time I took your advice to heart and felt I should eat less at dinner.”

“Fooling me again!” Old Madam Guo chided. “I’d be thanking Buddha if you just stopped going out drinking at night…”

“How could that be!” Cheng Chi smiled. “Since you scolded me last time, I haven’t gone out drinking at night anymore. You know this. I’ve always listened to you most attentively.”

Such an ordinary remark unexpectedly made Old Madam Guo’s expression darken slightly, and she suddenly fell silent.

Cheng Chi also said nothing.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Shaojin unconsciously lightened her movements.

She really shouldn’t have stayed at Hanbi Mountain Lodge for dinner… This meal was so uncomfortable… You couldn’t even talk while eating. She could have waited until Uncle Chi finished dinner and caught him outside—that would have been the same… But that would have seemed too deliberate… She should have stayed for dinner after all…

Zhou Shaojin’s thoughts wandered as she felt Cheng Chi across from her seem to glance at her.

She quickly stole a glance at Cheng Chi from the corner of her eye.

She found Cheng Chi was smiling as he instructed a young maid to brew him a pot of tea, not looking at her at all.

Had she been mistaken?

Zhou Shaojin pondered this as she quickly finished the rice in her bowl in just a few bites, not daring to ask for more.

Just then, Old Madam Guo also put down her chopsticks. The maids cleared the table and brought in tea.

However, Cheng Chi stood up and said to Old Madam Guo, “It’s getting late. I’ll head back now. If you need anything, just have the maids send me word.”

Huh!

Zhou Shaojin was stunned.

He was leaving already!

Not staying to drink tea? To chat with Old Madam Guo?

Zhou Shaojin had no choice but to stand up as well.

“You child.” Old Madam Guo sighed. “I haven’t seen you in quite some days. I asked you to come over not entirely because I had matters to discuss, but also because I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

Cheng Chi smiled. “There’s a whole crowd of maids, elderly servants, and attendants at Little Mountain of Clustered Osmanthus. How could I not be doing well?”

Seeing she couldn’t keep him, Old Madam Guo instructed Nanny Shi to see Cheng Chi out.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly remembered—wasn’t she supposed to find a way to strike up a conversation with Uncle Chi?

If the two of them were heading the same way, wouldn’t it be natural to exchange a few words?

“Old Madam.” She immediately said, “I’ll take my leave as well… You can retire early!”

It wasn’t winter—why retire so early?

Old Madam Guo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but after spending time together, she knew Zhou Shaojin wasn’t the smooth, tactful type, and she liked her gentle, courteous manner, so she didn’t take offense. She smiled and nodded, saying, “I’ll have Feicui escort you back. Be careful on the road!”

Hanbi Mountain Lodge was at least half an incense stick’s walk from Jiashu Hall, and it was getting dark. She had to give a reminder or two.

Zhou Shaojin smiled and agreed, then left with Feicui.

Outside, the evening breeze rustled through the tree branches—where was any sign of Cheng Chi!

Had she come out too late and lost track of him?

But it had only been this short a time…

Zhou Shaojin’s shoulders drooped. She smiled somewhat listlessly at Feicui. “Sister Feicui needn’t escort me. It’s not far from here to the fourth branch. I can go back on my own.”

Feicui still insisted on escorting her out of Hanbi Mountain Lodge before turning back.

Zhou Shaojin walked dispirited toward Jiashu Hall, thinking that Cheng Chi rarely came to Hanbi Mountain Lodge, yet she couldn’t find an opportunity to say even one word to him. Even if she stayed at Hanbi Mountain Lodge copying scriptures in the future, she probably wouldn’t get many chances to see him… It was good she hadn’t mentioned wanting to copy a volume of the Amitabha Sutra to offer to Buddha. Otherwise, even if she stayed at Hanbi Mountain Lodge copying scriptures, she still wouldn’t see Cheng Chi.

She needed to think of a way to find out more about Uncle Chi.

Otherwise, with her knowing nothing and just wandering around relying on chance and luck, she might even mess things up!

She thought of Ah Zhu saying she’d invite her to the temple fair on the fifteenth of the seventh month.

Although she had politely declined at the time, if Ah Zhu still insisted on sending her an invitation, she should go after all… At the very least, she could find out something about Uncle Chi.

Thinking that the fifteenth of the seventh month was only two or three days away, Zhou Shaojin’s mood brightened like the sky clearing after rain.

She chatted with Shi Xiang. “… Is there still time to buy river lanterns now?”

When going to temple fairs, people usually release river lanterns.

Shi Xiang smiled. “Shall we ask Steward Ma to think of a way?”

Steward Ma was a capable man!

Zhou Shaojin nodded, then stopped abruptly without warning, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Shi Xiang’s heart skipped a beat as she followed her gaze.

The Fourth Master who had walked away and disappeared from sight was now standing under a large tree not far from them. A young Taoist boy dressed in fine green kudzu cloth stood beside him, eyes on nose, nose on heart, like a clay Bodhisattva statue.

What… was going on?

Shi Xiang quickly looked at Zhou Shaojin.

Zhou Shaojin’s expression was bewildered.

Hadn’t Uncle Chi gone back to Little Mountain of Clustered Osmanthus?

Why was he standing here?

Was he waiting for someone or did he have some business?

As these thoughts flashed through her mind, faced with such a good opportunity, Zhou Shaojin instead felt somewhat hesitant.

Uncle Chi was a bit… elusive, appearing and disappearing unpredictably.

If he was really waiting for someone here or had some matter to attend to, and she barged in like this, would Uncle Chi be angry?

She desperately wanted to strike up a conversation with Uncle Chi, but her purpose was to hope he would believe what she said and warn Cheng Jing through him.

If this caused Uncle Chi’s resentment instead, wouldn’t that be counterproductive?

But if she just passed by Uncle Chi like this, when would she ever get a chance to speak with him?

Zhou Shaojin hesitated, caught in a dilemma.

However, Cheng Chi suddenly laughed and said, “You rushed out so eagerly—wasn’t it because you had something to say to me? What’s this? Now that you see me, you don’t say a word. Did I misunderstand?”

Zhou Shaojin froze, then was overjoyed.

So Uncle Chi had been waiting here for her!

She quickly walked forward.

But when she stopped in front of Cheng Chi, she discovered that she only came up to his shoulder, and she had to tilt her head back to see his expression clearly.

This made her very uncomfortable, as if… she had become very small, very fragile before him…

She felt at a loss.

She secretly regretted standing too close to Cheng Chi.

She hoped he would treat her like an adult… not like a child before him… Who would take a child’s words seriously?

Zhou Shaojin quickly stepped back several paces and straightened her back.

Watching this, Cheng Chi couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

The little girl was truly amusing.

Happy one moment, worried the next. In terms of emotions and desires, she was clearly still a child, yet she insisted on pretending to be an adult.

Thinking of how she ate… he couldn’t help but laugh again. “What did you want to see me about?”

Zhou Shaojin had already thought about what to say.

But this was somewhat different from the scenario she had envisioned for their meeting… In her imagination, they should have been drinking tea in Old Madam Guo’s retiring room, with Uncle Chi chatting with Old Madam Guo while she served at the side. When Old Madam Guo asked about household affairs, she would take the opportunity to mention Wan Tong’s matter—smooth as flowing water, silent as passing geese… But now… She couldn’t just say nothing because the scenario was different, could she?

She involuntarily cleared her throat and said, “When I was at the Gu family’s, I met Ah Zhu. That’s the eldest miss of Duke Liangguo’s household. She said that Uncle Chi would accompany her father and brother to the capital, and she mentioned Wan Tong… Ah Zhu said that Liu Yong is very formidable now… Uncle Chi, you must be careful!”

Cheng Chi was startled and looked into Zhou Shaojin’s eyes.

Clear, large eyes, bright yet moist, like water-soaked gemstones, without a trace of impurity.

Cheng Chi smiled wryly.

He had… grown accustomed to overthinking things… She was just a young girl who, having heard bits and pieces, wanted to warn him…

“I understand!” His tone involuntarily became gentler, and his smile brightened. “Duke Liangguo mentioned this matter to me before, but I felt the waters were too deep and politely declined.”

Zhou Shaojin’s heart settled as she let out a long breath of relief.

That was good, that was good!

Cheng Chi smiled.

That smile, like dawn breaking through dark clouds, was dazzling and brilliant. It left Zhou Shaojin momentarily dazed, and she couldn’t help but smile along with him, so much so that her eyes carried that smile all the way back.

Zhou Chujin asked curiously, “What happened? Why are you so happy!”

Zhou Shaojin giggled and threw her arm around her sister’s shoulder. “What else do you want? I’ll help you with everything!”

“Oh my, our Second Miss wants to play the God of Wealth!” Zhou Chujin teased her. “You’ll grant whatever I want?”

“What’s wrong with playing the God of Wealth once?” Zhou Shaojin joked with her sister. “I have two hundred taels of silver in my private savings.”

Zhou Chujin laughed uncontrollably.

Wanxiang Residence was filled with cheerful laughter.