When Shi Fa Ke arrived at the He family, it was already afternoon.

She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but Shi Fa Ke felt that the He family’s gatekeeper looked somewhat strange today, with an expression of wanting to speak but stopping short.

…Had something happened?

Shi Fa Ke was puzzled when she ran into He Kexian, whom she hadn’t seen for many days, right after entering the door. He looked dusty and travel-worn, as if he was about to go out.

When did Big Brother He come back?!

Shi Fa Ke instinctively felt her scalp tighten. She suddenly understood why the gatekeeper had that hesitant expression. Remembering how he had flown into a rage when she had come to propose marriage for Lu Chi, Shi Fa Ke’s heart began to race. If he knew she had made a blunder and tried to match Third Brother with Ke Tian… he would probably want to strangle her!

Out of this concern, she had deliberately avoided him and directly approached Uncle He and Aunt He about the marriage proposal… Didn’t Aunt He say he had gone out to collect debts and wouldn’t return for at least half a month? How did he come back so quickly!

Probably because Shi Fa Ke’s shocked and resistant expression was too obvious, He Kexian frowned in dissatisfaction. “Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost when you see me?”

Right… this tone was the Big Brother He she was familiar with. The Big Brother He who had mindlessly praised her alongside her father at Shengxing Restaurant that day was definitely not in his normal state!

Shi Fa Ke laughed dryly. “Big Brother He, when did you come back? I’m just a bit surprised to see you at this time. Didn’t Aunt say you went out to collect debts and wouldn’t be back for at least half a month?”

Yes, precisely because he had gone out to collect debts.

That unreliable couple had taken advantage of his absence to create a whole mess of trouble again! The reason he had rushed back was actually because he suddenly had a mysterious premonition that if he didn’t return soon, something major would happen!

As it turned out… Thinking about the series of events that occurred after he had rushed back to Tongluo Town in dust and wind, he felt a mouthful of old blood stuck in his throat.

Last time, after they had staged that embroidered ball matchmaking spectacle, they had left behind a pile of mess and both gone traveling far away. Now they had made even more progress – they had directly arranged his sister’s marriage while he was away, and to the most cunning Third Brother of the Shi family no less!

Thinking of this, He Kexian’s already unpleasant expression became even darker.

Shi Fa Ke was frightened by his expression and silently took a step back.

He Kexian seemed to realize that his expression had scared her. For some reason, he reflexively squeezed out a smile for her, but the effect seemed… even more terrifying!

Shi Fa Ke was shocked by this twisted smile and gasped in horror. She used all her strength to suppress the urge to turn and run… but she really didn’t have the courage to continue facing this moody Big Brother He. So she mustered what little courage she had left and smiled, saying, “Big Brother He, are you going out? Then I won’t disturb you. I’m here to see Aunt He. Is Aunt at home?”

Speaking of which, why would the gentle, kind, and amiable Aunt He give birth to a son with such an unpredictable temperament!

She was fine not mentioning Aunt He, but mentioning Aunt He made He Kexian’s face turn completely black as the bottom of a pot.

“It won’t be a disturbance. I was originally planning to go to your house to find you,” He Kexian said with a dark expression.

Shi Fa Ke, who had been holding onto hope, could see the signs by now. She knew this matter probably couldn’t be hidden anymore. She looked at him cautiously and asked tentatively, “That… Big Brother He, do you already know about Ke Tian’s situation?”

“If you’re referring to the marriage between Ke Tian and Shi Chonghai, then I indeed already know,” He Kexian tried hard to coordinate his facial expression, striving to make himself look less frightening.

After all, the person in front of him wasn’t just anyone – she was the girl he fancied.

He couldn’t scare her anymore.

Although… she was also one of the instigators!

But He Kexian probably didn’t know that when he used such a calm expression to state this matter… it looked even more frightening, like the calm before a storm, carrying an ominous atmosphere.

“Big Brother He… don’t be angry,” Shi Fa Ke said with her scalp tingling, quickly explaining tremblingly, “Yesterday Ke Tian already explained everything to me clearly. This whole matter is just a misunderstanding. I came today to return Ke Tian’s betrothal letter.”

“It’s too late,” He Kexian said.

“No, no, no, it’s not too late,” Shi Fa Ke said hurriedly. “I’ve already discussed the solution to this matter with Ke Tian. Our two families know each other well and can speak reasonably with each other. Since everything is just a misunderstanding, this marriage arrangement should be called off. Besides, this matter hasn’t spread yet, and no outsiders know about it. We can just pretend nothing happened, and it won’t affect Ke Tian or the He family.”

“It has already spread.”

“What?” Shi Fa Ke was stunned.

“Now, almost everyone in Tongluo Town knows about Ke Tian and your Third Brother’s upcoming marriage,” He Kexian closed his eyes and said.

“What?!” Shi Fa Ke’s eyes widened immediately. “How could this happen! Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“Come with me,” He Kexian glanced at her and said, then turned and walked away.

Shi Fa Ke didn’t know what he had up his sleeve. She followed him somewhat anxiously. As soon as she stepped into the main courtyard, she saw gift boxes covering the ground, and her heart jumped. She instinctively looked at He Kexian.

“Today when I just returned, the manager from the wedding cake shop sent gifts, saying it was to congratulate Master He on his great joy.”

“That might just be because Aunt told the family shop about preparing wedding cakes. Now that the marriage is canceled, just explain it clearly to the manager… It shouldn’t have spread throughout all of Tongluo Town,” Shi Fa Ke said hurriedly.

“Then, various shops sent people to deliver congratulatory gifts one after another.” He Kexian pointed expressionlessly at the gift boxes covering the ground, pointing them out pile by pile. “This is from Jinman Tower, this is from Shengxing Restaurant, this is from the clothing shop on West Street… this is from Laifu Records.”

After he had rushed back to Tongluo Town in dust and wind, everything had seemed normal at first, except that his parents, who had finally returned from their travels, had somewhat strange attitudes when they saw him… In any case, that was definitely not the normal expression parents should have when seeing their son after a long absence!

However, he hadn’t thought much about it at the time, assuming they were still feeling uncomfortable about the series of problems caused by the previous embroidered ball matchmaking incident. But so much time had passed, and even if he had been angry then, his anger had mostly dissipated by now. After all, time was good medicine…

Moreover, wasn’t it said that there are no parents in the world who aren’t right? So he had comforted them kindly.

“Kexian, aren’t you angry with Mother?” Madam He looked at him pitifully.

…

What could he say?

He could only smile and say, “Mm, no.”

“Really?” Madam He’s eyes immediately lit up. “Then you agree?”

“Mm… mm?” He nodded unconsciously, then felt something was wrong… What was he agreeing to?

Over there, Madam He had already excitedly pulled Master He along, saying with a moved expression, “I knew Kexian wouldn’t be angry with me. I’m doing this for the children’s good.”

No, what exactly had he agreed to? He Kexian looked at his inexplicably excited mother and suddenly felt… his premonitions might come true.

Facts proved his premonition was correct.

Before he could ask what exactly he had agreed to, the manager came to report that several wedding cake shops under their family name had sent people with gifts, saying they were congratulating the master on his joy.

“What joy?” He was stunned and asked.

Master He and Madam He, who had been inexplicably excited just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.

The most frightening thing was when the air suddenly became quiet…

The manager probably also sensed that the atmosphere wasn’t right. He looked cautiously at Master He and Madam He, who had suddenly become as silent as gold.

“I’m asking you a question. What joy?” He Kexian’s temples throbbed, and his voice suddenly rose a degree.

The manager was immediately startled and dared not delay any longer. He quickly replied, “The young miss is going to marry the young master of the Shi family, and the wedding date is set for the seventh day of the eighth month!”

He Kexian’s face immediately turned black as the bottom of a pot. He glared fiercely at the unreliable couple.

Madam He shrank back under her son’s glare, hiding closer to Master He. “You… didn’t you agree?”

“When did I agree?”

“Just now…”

If the atmosphere weren’t so tense, He Kexian would have been amused by his anger.

“Fine, fine, fine. You knew I wouldn’t agree to this marriage, so you took advantage of my absence to make the decision on your own, right!” He Kexian’s voice suddenly rose eight degrees.

“Wuwuwu, Master, our son is being mean to me…” Madam He sobbed and covered her face, looking small, pitiful, and helpless.

Master He immediately flew into a rage. “You unfilial son, how can you be mean to your mother!”

This trick again…

When you try to reason with them, they talk to you about filial piety. He Kexian felt that if this continued, he would lose years off his life.

“Stop acting. I will not agree to this marriage.”

“You rebellious son! Marriage is a matter of parental command and matchmaker’s word. What business is it of yours as an elder brother?” Master He said loudly with his neck stretched.

He Kexian said coolly, “The eldest brother is like a father.”

“I’m not dead yet!” Master He was so angry that his beard stood up.

Seeing things going wrong, Madam He quickly wiped away her tears and stepped forward to separate the father and son who were about to fight. “Kexian, I know this is too sudden, but we really didn’t deliberately choose to arrange this marriage while you were away. It’s just that the youngest son of the Shi family seems like a good person, and this marriage was chosen by Ke Tian herself. The compatibility reading even came out as the highest grade – it’s a match made in heaven.”

“Who said I chose this marriage myself?” He Ketian suddenly ran out, her face looking unwell.

She hadn’t gone anywhere today, just stayed home waiting for Shi Fa Ke to come return the betrothal letter. But now it was already high noon, and that stinky girl still hadn’t come! Could she be planning to go back on her word?! Just as she was getting anxious, she heard that her brother had returned. He Ketian immediately felt like she had found her backbone and hurried over, only to hear her mother talking nonsense.

“It was…” Madam He was stunned.

“It was that stinky girl Ah Ke who said it, right? She even said she would come today to return my betrothal letter, but she hasn’t come until now!”