Chu Zhao pushed the teacup toward He Yan, but He Yan merely glanced at it without touching it.

“When we were in Jiyang and Rundu, He Yan and I were friends. Why have you become so distant since returning to Shuojing?” Chu Zhao asked with a smile.

He Yan looked at him and asked, “I heard Fourth Young Master was severely injured recently. Are you better now?”

“It’s nothing serious,” Chu Zhao smiled. “But I’m happy that you’re concerned about me.”

He Yan frowned at him. Chu Zhao’s words seemed somewhat flirtatious. Back in Jiyang and Rundu, He Yan had dismissed it as jokes, but now that they were both betrothed – even though Xu Pingting’s engagement to him couldn’t proceed as planned – their current situation was rather delicate.

She wondered if he was trying to use her against Xiao Jue. Considering that Minister Xu Jingfu’s remaining followers would likely join Chu Zhao’s forces, this meant Chu Zhao and Xiao Jue were still rivals. Was he trying to use his charm against her to get to Xiao Jue? That seemed like too great a sacrifice.

Seeing He Yan’s strange expression, Chu Zhao paused, then smiled and shook his head as if understanding her thoughts. “Where is your mind wandering, He Yan?”

“Fourth Young Master,” He Yan said seriously, “how did you obtain Miss He’s hairpin?”

“Madam Xu?” Chu Zhao replied, “I only had someone take her hairpin because I saw how much you cared for Madam Xu. It wasn’t gentlemanly behavior, but I just wanted to see you.” He added, “You seem very sincere in your care for Madam Xu.”

“The matter between the He and Xu families ultimately arose because of me. I share the same name as Miss He’s deceased elder sister – it’s fate. It’s only right that I take extra care of her,” He Yan responded smoothly.

Chu Zhao took a sip of tea and sighed, “In that case, I envy Miss He.”

“Envy what?”

“I envy that you care for her so genuinely.”

He Yan: “…”

She understood now – Chu Zhao was openly flirting with her, and much more boldly than before.

He Yan glanced at her hands, wondering if it had been too long since she’d demonstrated her martial arts in public, making people forget that her fists could crush stones to powder.

“Fourth Young Master, surely you didn’t ask me here just to discuss this?” He Yan asked. “Please speak plainly.”

Chu Zhao’s smile faded slightly, “Do you treat me like an enemy now because of Commander Xiao?”

He Yan looked at him without responding.

“The New Year approaches,” Chu Zhao gazed at her softly, with a hint of barely perceptible sadness, “Soon you’ll be marrying Commander Xiao.”

“Has Fourth Young Master come to congratulate me?”

Chu Zhao shook his head, “No, I want to ask… do you want to marry Commander Xiao?”

He Yan: “…Of course.”

“Could you not marry him?”

He Yan was bewildered: “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because,” he smiled at her, “I love you.”

He Yan: “…”

In her previous life as the Second Young Miss He, though she had dealt with many men, she had never received such a confession. Even when married to Xu Zhiheng, he had never said the word “love.” Unexpectedly, after being reborn, her romantic prospects had blossomed. Setting aside the unfortunate Fan Chengqu, whether it was Wu Yi from Jiyang, the current Xiao Jue, or now Chu Zhao, it made He Yan wonder – while the He family’s daughter was certainly pretty, she wasn’t exactly a legendary beauty, so why did she attract so much attention? At least Xiao Jue had a connection with her across two lifetimes, but what about Wu Yi and Chu Zhao? They had barely exchanged words, yet they claimed to “love” her – wasn’t that rather casual?

“Fourth Young Master, such words shouldn’t be spoken lightly,” He Yan collected herself and replied politely.

“I’m not joking,” Chu Zhao gazed at her tenderly, his expression seemingly quite serious, “I fell in love with you when I first saw you in Liangzhou.”

He Yan couldn’t help but shudder.

She realized she still wasn’t used to hearing such direct expressions of love.

“I appreciate Fourth Young Master’s affection, but,” she said, “I already have someone I love.”

“Commander Xiao?”

“Yes.” He Yan answered promptly.

“You’re always so direct,” Chu Zhao maintained his smile, though his eyes dimmed. He asked, “Why… do you love Commander Xiao?”

Why?

He Yan was startled – she had never thought love needed reasons. Love was simply love, why was there? If she had to say, it was probably because Xiao Jue was simply too good. He would secretly slip loquats into her bag when he saw she wanted them, have the brothel madam replace strong wine with sweet rose dew, deliberately choose away the sword instructor at the academy knowing she lacked the strength to lift the sword, give her seasickness medicine while pretending it was poison… Such things and more. Strangely, though he seemed to have never received gentle treatment himself, he somehow understood how to care for others with gentleness.

After some thought, she smiled and said, “I used to not get along well with people, and few were kind to me. So I remember clearly everyone good to me. Later I realized that all those kinds of acts came from one person – how could I not love him?”

“I can be good to you too,” Chu Zhao said softly.

He Yan looked up at him: “Fourth Young Master, we’re not the same kind of people.”

The tea room fell silent.

Chu Zhao’s eyes were light in color, which always gave him an extra measure of gentleness that others lacked. Now those eyes looked like fragmenting fluorite, so fragile it hurt to look at them.

“He Yan, it pains me to hear you say that.”

“I’m sorry,” He Yan replied.

Though she had never been particularly adept at handling intimate relationships between people, regarding Chu Zhao, He Yan felt no great internal struggle in saying these words. That she and Chu Zhao were not the same kind of people was an indisputable fact. Because of her previous life, she preferred straightforward people, not those who held back seven parts while speaking three, always keeping others guessing.

Being an adult and not wanting to leave the atmosphere awkward, He Yan smiled: “Besides, I’m about to be married, and Fourth Young Master begged His Majesty to spare Miss Xu’s life, surely because you have true feelings for her. Fourth Young Master doesn’t know,” she said lightly, “I’m a jealous person. Whoever marries me can have no other women in their household besides me. Xiao Jue being able to marry me comes at this price.”

“That’s not difficult,” Chu Zhao looked at her earnestly, “If He Yan would marry me, you would also be the only woman in my household.”

“Bang—”

Before He Yan could respond, there was a sudden loud noise as the door behind them was kicked open.

“Such shameless boasting.” Someone sneered coldly.

He Yan turned to see Xiao Jue enter with an ashen face. Compared to Chu Zhao, his entire being carried the chill of the snow and wind from outside, and his expression was colder still. He Yan thought that if the city guard wasn’t stationed nearby, he might have killed someone.

“Commander Xiao arrived quickly,” Chu Zhao sighed, standing up with a smile. “I almost succeeded.”

He Yan’s expression changed drastically. Almost succeeded? What almost succeeded? This wasn’t the time to say such misleading things!

“No, no!” He Yan hurried to explain, “Nothing succeeded, it failed from the start!”

Xiao Jue didn’t even glance at her, only staring at Chu Zhao with daggers in his eyes and a mocking expression.

“Commander Xiao, it’s best not to be too fierce in front of a lady,” Chu Zhao gave a light laugh, then looked back at He Yan, “Everything I said to He Yan today was from my heart. If He Yan changes her mind, I will certainly find a way to help… I truly want to make He Yan my wife.”

The final words were honeyed, as if steeped in long-aged sweetness, enough to make one’s heart flutter.

However, before that flutter could reach one’s lips, it was severed by a sword.

The long table was split to pieces by Yinqiu, and teapots and cups shattered across the floor, the sound particularly clear in the night.

Xiao Jue stood tall and straight, his fingers white around Yinqiu’s hilt, his tone calm yet brewing with intense anger as he spoke flatly: “A despicable wretch like you? You’re not worthy.”

Chu Zhao smiled at him, the atmosphere becoming explosive.

The city guard was not far away, and He Yan estimated that if things got any louder, people would surely come. Earlier when dueling with swords at Tianxing Tower, when Xiao Jue had wagered Yinqiu, some had already accused him of being blinded by love. If today’s events came to light, wouldn’t it confirm her reputation as a femme fatale? Heaven knew she hadn’t done anything – why did things have to turn out this way?

He Yan made a quick decision, grabbing Xiao Jue’s sleeve and pulling him outside, while turning back to say to Chu Zhao: “It’s getting late, let’s not say more. Fourth Young Master, farewell.”

Chu Zhao smiled, “Very well.”

He Yan dragged Xiao Jue out of the tea room. The two plain-clothed young attendants at the door had disappeared at some point. Just a few steps out of the small garden, Xiao Jue suddenly yanked his hand free from He Yan’s grasp. She froze, watching as he walked off in another direction.

Without a doubt, he was angry again.

This time, He Yan completely understood. With their wedding approaching, having someone openly trying to steal her away – if she were in his position, she’d be upset too. But He Yan also felt wrong. She had come following He Xinying, and when she saw Chu Zhao, she initially thought he had something important to discuss. She had even considered playing along to get information from him. Who knew he would start with such an overwhelmingly sentimental confession, leaving her stunned – she hadn’t expected this outcome at all!

Well… never mind. Second Young Master Xiao was angry again, and she needed to calm him down first.

“Xiao Jue, slow down, I can’t keep up—” He Yan called after him.

But this time, unlike before, Xiao Jue didn’t slow his pace.

He must be really angry. He Yan caught up from behind, ran in front of him, and wrapped her arms around his waist: “Stop, don’t go!”

Xiao Jue was held tight and couldn’t move, but he wouldn’t look at her, turning his head aside with a cold expression.

“Let me explain,” He Yan rushed to speak, “Today was absolutely unexpected. He had Xinying’s hairpin and came to find me. I thought something had happened to Xinying, that’s why I went to see him. I had no idea he was just tricking me to talk. I absolutely did not meet him secretly at night, there’s absolutely nothing between us!”

She shouldn’t have added that last part – the surrounding air grew even colder.

“Don’t be angry anymore, it’s bad for your health.” He Yan reached up to massage his chest, “Being so pent up at such a young age, you’ll make yourself sick.”

Xiao Jue blocked her wandering hands, frowning: “Don’t touch me.”

“No,” He Yan clung to him shamelessly, “Not unless you stop being angry.”

Xiao Jue took a deep breath, looking down at her coldly: “Even if he tricked you, why didn’t you leave immediately after realizing it?”

“I couldn’t figure out what he was trying to do, I thought he had something important to discuss.” He Yan explained: “It was already late at night, and since I was already there…”

“Since you were already there?” He looked at her incredulously.

“Since I was already there, of course, I had to get to the bottom of it!” He Yan said righteously, “How was I supposed to know he was going to… ahem… say such nonsense.” Then she muttered quietly, “Scared me to death.”

Xiao Jue gave a cold laugh, “I told you long ago to stay away from him.”

“I know, I know,” He Yan swore to heaven and earth, “I’ll stay far away from him in the future!” Naturally – who could have guessed Chu Zhao had such intentions toward her? Just thinking about it gave her the chills.

Xiao Jue’s expression softened slightly.

He Yan studied him, seeing he wasn’t as angry as before, then asked: “But how did you know I was here?” She exclaimed, “Did you have someone follow me again?”

Xiao Jue replied irritably: “Not following you, following Chu Zilan.”

He Yan made an “oh” sound, then remarked: “You pay even more attention to Chu Zilan than to me. Look how magnanimous I am, I’m not even jealous.”

Xiao Jue stared at her wordlessly.

“I’m joking,” He Yan said with a smile, then suddenly realized something, “When did you arrive?” She froze, “You were here from the start.”

The young man raised his eyebrows slightly.

He Yan: “…”

“What exactly did you hear?” she probed.

“What should I have heard?”

He Yan fell silent. What should he have heard? If Xiao Jue had arrived early enough, wouldn’t he have heard everything between her and Chu Zhao? Including her steadfast declaration of love. He Yan released her hold on him and turned away, wishing she could slap herself.

Though she didn’t usually care about saving face, thinking about it now – how many times had she confessed? Directly and indirectly, to his face and behind his back. She wasn’t some confession machine, how did she keep getting caught? It was embarrassing, but his heart was also too dark, just listening from outside. If she had shown any closeness to Chu Zhao, would she have been branded an adulteress?

There was no way to explain.

Lost in her thoughts, she heard him ask: “Why are you standing there dazed?”

Seeing He Yan looking at him, Xiao Jue paused, then said: “Let’s go back.”

He Yan made a sound of agreement, walked a few steps, then stopped and looked at him suspiciously: “Xiao Jue.”

Xiao Jue stopped and turned to look at her: “What?”

“Thinking carefully, it seems a bit unfair,” He Yan said.

“What’s unfair?”

He Yan blinked: “You’ve heard me confess so many times, but I’ve never heard you confess.”

Xiao Jue: “What?”

He Yan spoke righteously. Don’t blame her for being petty, but thinking about it now, whether Xiao Jue was being reserved or what, he always spoke in roundabout ways, and all those flowery words left her confused.

“Anyway,” she stepped forward, saying, “You’ve never said you like me.”

“Like?” He looked at her steadily and asked.

He Yan nodded: “Yes!”

“Miss He,” he called her name, making her shiver, “What are you trying to confirm?”

He Yan was momentarily speechless.

To be honest, she just wanted to gain a verbal advantage over Xiao Jue, to hear him say some nice words. But Xiao Jue’s serious manner left her at a loss for words. Just as she was about to make up an excuse, she saw him take a step forward.

The young man’s face was now very close, his features clean and beautiful. As their eyes met, there seemed to be some inexplicable emotion in those deep dark pupils that made her heart race.

“You…” He Yan had only said one word before he interrupted her.

He stepped forward, “The first loquat I picked was for you, the first person I taught swordsmanship was you,” another step forward, “The first person I helped apply medicine was you, the first person I gave candy to was also you.” He continued advancing, step by step, “The first girl I comforted was you, the first person I covered up for was also you.”

“Thinking about it, the first person I fell in love with should also be you.”

He Yan was backed up against a stone wall with nowhere to retreat. Looking up, she met his faintly smiling gaze, “Miss He, are you sure now?”

He Yan could hear her heartbeat, momentarily forgetting why they had started this conversation.

Her gaze moved from Xiao Jue’s eyes to his lips, and she suddenly wanted to kiss them.

She did it, just rising slightly on her toes, leaning toward him.

Xiao Jue was startled at first, then the smile in his eyes grew stronger, and he bent down slightly, just about to touch—

“Wow! Shuojing City is declining! How dare men who love men be so blatant?”

“Can’t bear to look! Hey, hurry up, what are you still watching?”

“I want to see who these two are, maybe I know them.”

Two drunk men pointed at them while stumbling away.

He Yan was startled, having forgotten that she was wearing men’s clothes for convenience when going out at night. To onlookers, it naturally appeared as two men being intimate. But why were there still people wandering around so late at night? Weren’t they afraid of stumbling and falling?

She was annoyed, though she wasn’t sure if it was because she had just nearly kissed Xiao Jue and missed the chance, or because they were accused of being men who loved men. In her frustration, she buried her face in Xiao Jue’s chest, refusing to look up, and said irritably: “I’m convinced! Completely convinced, alright, let’s go back now.”

Xiao Jue looked down at her, trying to pry her away, but she held on especially tight. After a moment, he could only give up helplessly and laugh softly.

Angry pout: Don’t try to pull me away.