Cousin Yan, I’ve always admired you.

The words still rang in her ears.

Ling Jingyan stared blankly at Ling Jingshu’s earnest expression and couldn’t help saying: “A’Shu, you’re not lying to me, are you? You’re more beautiful than me, smarter than me, and luckier than me too. Every time we go out visiting, everyone’s eyes are drawn to you. You have no idea how much I envy you!”

How could Ling Jingshu possibly envy her?

Compared to Ling Jingshu, she felt like nothing more than a green leaf beside a peony. With a dazzling, breathtaking peony that outshone all other flowers nearby, who would even notice an unremarkable green leaf?

More than once, she had thought to herself: if only she had Ling Jingshu’s beauty and wit, perhaps Prince Yan would have fallen for her instead!

Ling Jingyan’s face was like a blank sheet of paper—whatever she was thinking showed plainly on it.

Ling Jingshu smiled faintly: “Cousin Yan, there’s no need to belittle yourself. When the man who truly loves you comes along, you’ll understand. Even if there’s a more beautiful woman standing right beside you, he won’t spare her a second glance—in his eyes and in his heart, there will only be you.”

Could there really be such a person?

Ling Jingyan tugged at the corner of her mouth in self-mockery: “Even though I know you’re just saying this to comfort me, hearing it still makes me happy.”

Ling Jingshu laughed despite herself: “I’m not comforting you at all—every word is sincere. How can you have lost even this much confidence? This isn’t the Cousin Yan I know and love.”

What made Ling Jingyan most lovable was precisely her confidence, optimism, and lively, cheerful nature.

Ling Jingyan was teased into laughter by Ling Jingshu. She straightened her back and said with full confidence: “You’re right. I, Ling Jingyan, am so pretty and lovable—how could anyone not like me?”

That’s the spirit! This was the Ling Jingyan she knew.

While the two cousins were chatting and laughing, a maid came in smiling to report: “A distinguished guest has arrived at the residence. Madam asks that both young ladies come to the main hall.”

Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan exchanged a startled glance.

Ordinarily, when female relatives or close friends and family visited the residence, they would be shown to the inner hall, and it would have been only natural for the two of them to go out and greet the guests.

But since the guest was being received in the main hall, that meant it was a male visitor. Unmarried young ladies were best off avoiding such encounters.

Why would Sun Shi have them go to the main hall to meet a guest?

…

Filled with curiosity, Ling Jingshu and Ling Jingyan made their way to the main hall.

Ling Daye was still busy at his office, Ling Ji had left early that morning to meet up with friends, and Ling Wuye, who had not long ago befriended a group of companions since arriving in the capital, had also gone out to enjoy himself.

The only ones left in the main hall keeping the guest company were Sun Shi and Ling Xiao.

The moment Ling Jingshu got a clear look at the visitor’s face, she understood at once, and a faint smile crossed her lips.

Ling Jingyan’s eyes widened in astonishment, and she blurted out: “Zhang Jian! Why are you here?!”

She had assumed Zhang Jian’s earlier words were just talk—she never expected he would actually come to visit.

Zhang Jian had evidently taken care to dress himself up that day; in fresh new clothes, his handsome face looked full of spirit. He didn’t take offense at her words, and stood up smiling: “I’d previously arranged with Ling Wuye to come visit, and since I happened to have nothing else to do today, I came over. I hadn’t expected such bad timing—that Ling Wuye wouldn’t even be home. Forgive my presumption in intruding! I should have sent a calling card first and arranged a proper time.”

“Indeed, Fifth Uncle isn’t home. If you’re looking for him, perhaps you should come back another day…”

“A’Yan, how can you speak like that!” Sun Shi glared the rest of Ling Jingyan’s sentence back down her throat. “Young Master Zhang’s visit is made in good faith, and it’s an honor for our Ling family. Apologize to Young Master Zhang at once.”

Say another wrong word and see how I deal with you!

Ling Jingyan quickly grasped the “profound” meaning in Sun Shi’s glare, and immediately backed down, opening her mouth with the utmost reluctance: “I misspoke a moment ago without thinking. Young Master Zhang, please be generous and don’t take it to heart.”

Zhang Jian smiled politely: “Miss Ling has such a frank, outspoken nature, speaking her mind freely—she surely just misspoke a moment ago. In truth she welcomes my visit, so how could I hold it against her?”

Pah! Who’s welcoming you?!

Ling Jingyan glared at Zhang Jian on the sly, but the moment Sun Shi shot her a warning look, she immediately switched to an insincere smile: “Yes, yes, of course I welcome your visit.”

This girl—her eyes had been darting about the whole time she spoke, her face full of disapproval. Anyone with eyes could see it!

Watching Ling Jingyan like this, Zhang Jian found it tremendously amusing inside. He deliberately teased her: “I never expected Miss Ling to welcome my visits so warmly. In that case, I’ll be shameless enough to come calling often from now on.”

“What? You’re going to come calling often from now on?” Ling Jingyan’s mouth always moved a step faster than her mind, and the instant the words left her lips, she knew it was a mistake.

Sure enough, Sun Shi’s face tightened again: “A’Yan!”

“Er, what I meant was, if Young Master Zhang comes calling often from now on, I’ll be very pleased in my heart,” Ling Jingyan corrected herself, forcing the words out.

Ling Jingshu and Ling Xiao exchanged a glance, both their faces full of suppressed laughter.

Those caught up in the matter are blind to it, while onlookers see clearly!

Whether Ling Jingyan truly disliked Zhang Jian or not couldn’t be told for the moment. But Zhang Jian had clearly come for Ling Jingyan’s sake.

Ever since Ling Jingyan had entered the main hall, Zhang Jian’s gaze had stayed fixed on her pretty face—lovely whether smiling or pouting—almost unable to look away.

If Ling Jingshu and her brother could see it, then Sun Shi, worldly and experienced as she was, certainly understood it even more clearly.

“A’Yan, come sit down with A’Shu and talk for a while!”

Sun Shi beamed as she called them over to sit, then turned to Zhang Jian with a warm, pleasant expression: “I really must apologize to you today, Young Master Zhang. My brother-in-law is out visiting, and my husband has gone to his office. There’s only the few of us here to keep you company—I hope you won’t find it too dull.”

“For you to say such a thing, Madam, truly humbles me,” Zhang Jian hastily replied with a smile. “It is I who came uninvited.”

That word “Madam” came out of his mouth most smoothly.

The smile in Sun Shi’s eyes deepened a little further, her tone growing even warmer: “I wonder, Young Master Zhang, how old are you this year?”

Zhang Jian answered respectfully: “I’m eighteen this year by the nominal count, and I’ll be nineteen once the New Year passes.” He paused, then added with a smile: “It’s rather embarrassing to admit—most men my age have already married and started families, while I haven’t even settled on a match yet.”

His true purpose for coming had become as plain as day.

Such candor and directness, however, won him a measure of Sun Shi’s favor.

Still, Sun Shi gave nothing away, chatting with Zhang Jian without changing her expression: “There are men who establish their careers before settling down to start a family, too.”

Zhang Jian smiled: “That’s exactly how I see it as well.”

One asked with hidden intent, the other answered with deliberate candor, and the two of them found their conversation flowing rather agreeably.

Listening, Ling Jingyan found it a little strange, and leaned in to whisper in Ling Jingshu’s ear: “Mother’s in such a good mood today—she’s been talking with him for ages and doesn’t even seem bored.”

Silly girl! She still hadn’t realized what was really going on!

Ling Jingshu smiled gently, and without giving the game away, simply gave a vague hum of agreement.