The night brought flower fragrance, perfuming the mortal world.

With the same flower branch, Lu Xian thought about how to care for and nurture it, not wanting to disappoint his cousin-sister; Lu Yun, however, casually inserted it into Cousin-sister Luo’s thick cloud-like hair. Her black hair was like clouds, the flower branch trembling slightly, illuminating the lady’s slowly rising snow-white face. Wind rose from their feet, the apricot tree’s flowers and leaves by the corridor rustling softly, Third Young Master Lu’s sleeves fell as he smiled, changing into the black formal shoes placed at the door, brushing past the lady as he walked down the stone steps.

But Luo Lingyu’s heart could no longer be calm—Third Young Master Lu hadn’t accepted her flower, yet he was more alluring than Second Young Master Lu who had taken it.

Just as some young masters are good and safe; some young masters might not be as good, but they are attractive.

Lu Xian belatedly realized what had happened behind him. After being confused for a while, Second Young Master glared at his third brother: didn’t you promise you wouldn’t tease cousin-sister anymore?

Lu Yun let out a “heh,” ignoring his second brother as he left.

Afterward, Second Young Master Lu also took his leave, leaving Luo Lingyu to enter her chamber in a daze, and closing the door. She leaned against the door and sat with bent knees, raising her layered sleeves to touch the burning sensation on her cheeks, then crossed her hands over her chest, covering her violently beating heart. Luo Lingyu bit her lip, her eyes showing traces of annoyance—

Third Young Master Lu, Lu Yun… hmph!

She had already given up on him, had already turned her attention to others, yet he suddenly came back to entice her like this. Uncontrollably, she developed unrealistic thoughts again, feeling that perhaps giving up on Third Young Master Lu had been too hasty.

Luo Lingyu was troubled: what did he mean? Previously he spoke of her that way, and now he was enticing her.

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyelids, silently recalling her stunned reaction when he had come close earlier. At that close distance, his breath had lightly brushed across her forehead, ethereal as clouds and mist, yet burning like molten fire. His slightly upturned lips, the clear and sharp fragrance surrounding him, even his thick eyelashes as he bent down. His clear eyes, each eyelash like fine needles passing over Luo Lingyu’s heart…

Luo Lingyu was such a worldly person—if she could marry a husband who, besides having a good family background, had looked as outstanding as Third Cousin’s, that would be perfect.

She still couldn’t resign herself!

After sitting for a while, outside the maid Lingyu knocked on the door, saying the flowers in the courtyard had all been collected, asking if the young lady wanted to check. Luo Lingyu came back to her senses, putting aside her thoughts as she opened the door. Lingyu’s expression was calm, but Lingxi, hiding behind the wooden pillar, seemed somewhat anxious. Years of living under others’ roofs had made Luo Lingyu skilled at reading people’s expressions, and she immediately called out: “Lingxi, come here.”

Seeing that the matter couldn’t be hidden, Lingxi could only approach with a dejected face: “Young Lady, it’s my fault, the little miss ran out to play. I don’t know where she went.”

Luo Lingyu collected herself and asked when Luo Yunzhi had left, but the courtyard maids all hemmed and hawed, unable to explain clearly. Only then did Luo Lingyu become anxious, looking up at the dim sky, and immediately picking up a lantern to go out and search. Luo Lingyu said anxiously: “She hasn’t explored the Lu family courtyards before, and she doesn’t know all the Lu family members yet, what if something happens?”

Leaving Lingyu to hold the lamp and wait, Luo Lingyu took several maids who usually served her little sister and went out into the night. Afraid of causing gossip, they didn’t dare ask servants outside the courtyard for help, only hoping to quietly find little Miss Luo and bring her back.

While they were quietly going out to search from “Snow Tracing Courtyard,” Lu Yun had only just returned to “Clear Courtyard.” Several servants, guards, and maids had accompanied Lu Yun out, but after returning to the courtyard and his chambers, only Jin Yue and a few others remained to help the young master change clothes and wash up. The maids lowered the green gauze curtains, and incense began burning in the censers. Banners cast shadows, and silk curtains were partially drawn. After Third Young Master Lu finished washing up and returned to his chambers, Jin Yue and the others had already tidied everything. Lu Yun picked up a book he had thrown on the couch yesterday, casually sitting back against the lacquered table to flip through a few pages.

While tidying items on the table, Jin Yue spoke to the young master: “You were too impulsive! Didn’t you say before that you didn’t like Miss Luo’s character, why did you eagerly go over there? What if Miss Luo misunderstands?”

Lu Yun said in a deep voice: “You’re just a maid, how dare you question my affairs?”

Jin Yue froze, then immediately straightened up and turned around angrily: “Young Master!”

She wasn’t an ordinary maid, she had returned to the Lu family with Third Young Master Lu. She had served Third Young Master Lu since he was young, naturally, she wouldn’t spread idle gossip… but this wasn’t, this wasn’t about the future lady of the second branch. Madam Lu didn’t manage their second branch, and Third Young Master Lu had so many romantic entanglements, the maids also had endless unrealistic thoughts… Jin Yue was extremely anxious in her heart.

Third Young Master Lu’s sleeve brushed his face, covering it, naturally not scolding Jin Yue.

After a moment of silence, he said carelessly: “Must have been bewitched.”

He was already deeply regretful in his heart.

How had he acted that way? He shouldn’t have. But at that time, seeing Luo Lingyu staring at his second brother, Second Brother, and Luo Lingyu chatting and laughing… he couldn’t help wanting to break up that perfectly harmonious relationship. After he saw the effect of his actions in Luo Lingyu’s beautiful eyes, he was extremely regretful.

But it was too late to remedy anything.

He could only flee in embarrassment.

How could he possibly be interested in a cousin-sister as scheming as Luo Lingyu? Impossible.

To demonstrate his attitude, Lu Yun said: “Although she’s scheming, she’s stupid. In just a couple of days, she’ll show her true colors. I’m worried that Second Brother is too pure and will be deceived by her, falling for her trap.”

Jin Yue looked at Third Young Master with an ambiguous smile: when had Third Young Master become so kind-hearted? How come she didn’t know about this?

Jin Yue’s heart stirred, and she smiled: “Actually, the young lady doesn’t have any bad intentions, she just wants to improve her status. She’s an orphaned girl who has lived under others’ roofs for many years, her thoughts… Young Master, you understand at a glance, and since you understand, you won’t be deceived. Why should Young Master care what Miss Luo is thinking?”

“Moreover, the young lady is still young, without elders to guide her, she has to figure out many things by herself. It’s inevitable to take some wrong paths. But as long as the general direction isn’t wrong, who doesn’t have some flaws? Young Master, you’re not perfect either.”

Lu Yun lowered the sleeve covering his face, his black eyes staring at Jin Yue, indicating: Oh? What are you trying to say?

Jin Yue tentatively said: “I see that the young lady is so beautiful, and has feelings for Young Master, and Young Master isn’t unmoved… Why don’t you marry the young lady?”

Lu Yun’s eyebrow twitched.

He looked at Jin Yue: “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Jin Yue saw his expression was off and quickly stopped talking, looking at him in surprise.

Lu Yun: “Marriage between noble families is an alliance between two surnames. How could it be decided so casually? Luo Lingyu doesn’t understand, she thinks that as long as she wins over a man, he will marry her. But between noble families, marriage has never been about one person’s likes or dislikes. Noble families consider resources, and benefits… what would marrying a Luo family lady bring? Especially for a deeply rooted noble family like the Lu family, with foundations even thicker than the imperial family… The Lu family would never consider the Luo family, an already fallen scholarly family.”

Jin Yue’s eyes widened.

Although she had served Lu Yun since childhood, she was still a maid with limited perspective, unable to see things from Lu Yun’s height.

She said in surprise: “But, I’ve only heard that scholars don’t marry commoners, I thought it would be fine as long as they were from a scholarly family.”

Lu Yun said deeply: “Luo Lingyu thinks just like you. After all, her parents died early, and no one in the Luo family taught her properly, so she ignored my warnings.”

He lowered his eyelids.

Speaking softly: “If a noble’s son were willing to marry Luo Lingyu… how much would he have to love her to give up all benefits for her?”