“Oh my, child, why are you making such a fuss?” Madam He was startled by her loud voice and patted her chest reproachfully.

Master He beside her quickly helped calm her down. “Ketian, don’t frighten your mother. Your mother is timid.”

He Ketian was nearly driven to laughter by this unreliable couple. “I’m the one who’s been frightened! Who exactly am I supposed to marry? I don’t even know who I’m marrying, yet you’ve already set the wedding date?!”

“Oh my, why are you shouting at me? Didn’t you arrange this matchmaking yourself?” Madam He gave her a reproachful look.

She originally knew nothing about this matter. That child A’ke had been keeping it from her at first, and only mentioned it when she came to deliver the marriage compatibility document. Since the marriage was already arranged, A’ke had hinted at some details, suggesting that Ketian and the Shi family boy had long been interested in each other and had reached an understanding… even this marriage was arranged through Ketian’s own matchmaking request.

Madam He felt no displeasure about this. On the contrary, she thought it was the best possible outcome. After all, life was long—what could be happier than being united with someone you liked? Rather than having her beloved daughter enter a blind marriage with someone of unknown character, she naturally hoped Ketian could marry someone she fancied and knew well.

Moreover, the Shi family was right here in Copper Gong Town, making future visits convenient. Madam He felt this marriage was perfectly to her liking, much better than those families in the capital that her sister-in-law had previously introduced. Indeed, the horoscope compatibility results were excellent—a match made in heaven, a superior marriage fate.

Madam He deeply believed in this. When she and her husband had their horoscopes matched years ago, the result was also “a match made in heaven.” Indeed, hadn’t they lived harmoniously together for their entire lives? This was heaven’s will.

However, He Ketian was stunned upon hearing Madam He’s words. She had indeed asked A’ke to arrange a match, but… she hadn’t had time to tell A’ke who she wanted to marry. Could it be that through her subtle hints these past few days, A’ke had finally guessed that she liked Mr. Linyuan?

“Who am I supposed to marry?” He Ketian steadied herself and asked.

Her voice unconsciously carried a trace of hope, hoping that Shi Fa Ke could be somewhat reliable.

Madam He smiled and patted her daughter’s head. “The youngest son of the Shi family. Isn’t he the one you chose yourself? Why are you pretending to be clueless with Mother?”

The Shi family’s… youngest son?

Third Brother Shi?! Shi Zhonghai?! How had he become her own choice?!

He Ketian stared in disbelief, her face full of shock. “Who told you I fancied Shi Zhonghai? Shi Fa Ke?!”

Shi Fa Ke was indeed as unreliable as ever!

“Oh, don’t worry. Father and Mother aren’t angry. Our family isn’t one of those rigid, old-fashioned households. As long as you’re happy with him…” Madam He assumed she was being shy. After all, this daughter had always been contrary since childhood, quite awkward—who knew where she got this personality from.

He Ketian felt the veins on her forehead bulge. Knowing it was pointless to argue with these unreliable parents, she simply turned around and headed straight out to find Shi Fa Ke.

She had to ask Shi Fa Ke why she was sabotaging her like this!

In broad daylight, Shi Fa Ke was sitting in the courtyard taking a rest when her nose suddenly felt itchy. She abruptly raised her head and sneezed loudly at the sun.

“Oh, don’t move! I haven’t finished painting yet.” Third Brother Shi, who was standing beside her painting, said with displeasure.

“How can you hold back a sneeze?” Shi Fa Ke rubbed her nose and muttered.

“Sit properly quickly.” Third Brother Shi urged.

“How are you still not finished? I’ve been sitting here for half an hour already. Why don’t you go paint Dog Victory instead?” Shi Fa Ke obediently sat properly but continued chattering.

“Who told you to be more sensible than Dog Victory? Dog Victory can’t sit still for half an hour without moving.”

“…Are you praising me or insulting me?”

“Praising you.” Third Brother Shi replied without any sincerity.

Shi Fa Ke blinked, feeling something wasn’t quite right… As she was thinking, her nose felt itchy again.

“Achoo!” Another hearty sneeze. Shi Fa Ke rubbed her somewhat sore nose. “Oh my, who’s thinking of me?”

“How do you know someone isn’t cursing you?” Third Brother Shi, who was painting with his head down, glanced at her sideways and said with a smile.

“Hmph, I’m currently the most sought-after matchmaker. How could anyone curse me?” Shi Fa Ke said with great pride, then gave Third Brother Shi a mischievous look. “Third Brother, you better be nice to me. After all, your lifelong happiness is in my hands.”

“Oh?” Third Brother Shi looked up at her and said with a smile, “How so?”

Shi Fa Ke chuckled but refused to say more.

She had been mysteriously secretive these past few days, always showing this spine-tingling smile when looking at him, as if she had done something significant behind his back. Third Brother Shi snorted lightly and was about to speak when he heard a loud “bang”…

The main gate was suddenly pushed open forcefully, and He Ketian stormed in aggressively… without even knocking.

“Ketian?” Shi Fa Ke was startled by the noise. Upon seeing it was He Ketian, she sighed in relief, then glared at Third Brother Shi. “Third Brother, didn’t you close the door again!”

It was fortunate that Ketian had entered. What if it had been some criminal?

“What are you afraid of in broad daylight? Besides, I’m home too.” Third Brother Shi said nonchalantly.

“That’s right, if you’ve done nothing wrong, you don’t fear ghosts knocking at midnight.” He Ketian said with a cold laugh, her tone quite unfriendly.

“Well said.” Third Brother Shi nodded seriously.

He Ketian and Third Brother Shi looked at each other… inexplicably, they were quite in sync.

Shi Fa Ke looked at He Ketian, then at Third Brother Shi, revealing an extremely subtle expression… Surely this was a case of “birds of a feather flock together”? Even their thoughts were so synchronized.

He Ketian was at a sensitive moment and immediately understood Shi Fa Ke’s ambiguous look. She became furious, first glaring angrily at Shi Fa Ke, then at Third Brother Shi, venting her anger: “You shut up!”

“Hey hey, little sister from the He family, I haven’t offended you, have I?” Third Brother Shi blinked innocently.

“…” He Ketian was momentarily speechless, uncertain whether the marriage proposal matter was related to Third Brother Shi or not. After all, he had previously helped her out of a difficult situation at Prosperity Restaurant.

But regardless, she shouldn’t have any further entanglements with him. So she decisively stopped arguing with him and directly glared at Shi Fa Ke, saying through gritted teeth: “Shi Fa Ke, come out with me. I have something to ask you.”

Shi Fa Ke looked at her Third Brother with confusion. Third Brother Shi shrugged, indicating he couldn’t help.

“Shi Fa Ke!” He Ketian took a few steps, noticed that Shi Fa Ke hadn’t followed and was still staring at Third Brother Shi, and became angry.

Shi Fa Ke saw that she was like a firecracker ready to explode at any moment, so she had to follow her out in bewilderment.

“Ketian, what exactly do you want to tell me?” Shi Fa Ke followed her out of the main gate and couldn’t help asking curiously.

He Ketian ignored her and just kept walking forward until they reached a secluded spot, where she suddenly stopped without warning. Shi Fa Ke couldn’t stop in time and bumped right into her.

“Ouch.” Shi Fa Ke quickly steadied herself. “Why did you suddenly stop without giving any warning…” She was complaining when she looked up and met He Ketian’s eyes that seemed about to breathe fire.

“Did you go to my house to propose marriage?” He Ketian looked at her and asked directly.

“Yes.” Shi Fa Ke was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

“You told my parents I wanted to marry your Third Brother?”

“Yes, what’s wrong?” Shi Fa Ke blinked and asked strangely.

“What’s wrong?! You’re asking me what’s wrong?!” He Ketian was so angry she was jumping up and down. “How could you do this!”

“Eh? Didn’t you ask me to arrange a match?” Shi Fa Ke was full of question marks.

“I did ask you to arrange a match, but did I ever say the person I wanted to marry was your Third Brother?!”

“Isn’t it?” Shi Fa Ke was stunned.

“Of course not!” He Ketian said angrily.

“Are you joking with me…? Haven’t you always fancied my Third Brother?”

“When did I ever say I fancied your Third Brother?” He Ketian was so angry she was about to smoke.

“Then why did you come to my house daily to find me to play chess back then? And shyly tell me you already had someone you liked?” Shi Fa Ke blinked, looking completely baffled.

“I did say I had someone I liked, but when did I say my beloved was your Third Brother?!”

He Ketian was about to spit blood. So all those days she had endured the torment of playing chess with this terrible chess player, only to have this terrible chess player misunderstand that she fancied her Third Brother? What kind of situation was this? Trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead?