Shi Fa Ke was someone who acted on her words. That evening when her eldest brother returned home, she pulled him aside to discuss the matter.

Big Brother Shi had a good relationship with County Deputy Zhou. After considering it, he felt the matter was feasible and nodded. “I’ll find the County Deputy for drinks tomorrow and sound him out, asking what he thinks.”

Big Brother Shi took on this matter partly due to his sister’s entreaty, and partly because he had a very favorable impression of this Scholar Lu. Previously, when Scholar Lu had gone to the county office to handle his house rental contract, Big Brother Shi happened to be on duty. To thank Scholar Lu for his previous help to his sister, Big Brother Shi had invited him for drinks. Unexpectedly, although this Scholar Lu was a scholar, he had none of the pedantic air of bookish people, was very forthright, and… had quite good alcohol tolerance.

Shi Fa Ke felt this matter shouldn’t be problematic and was in excellent spirits.

The next day, the weather was fine, and Shi Fa Ke’s mood was also excellent. She brought out all the cotton quilts from home to air in the sun, busily enjoying herself when someone suddenly knocked at the door.

Shi Fa Ke chuckled, thinking could it be that Lu Chi couldn’t sit still and had come to ask about Miss Zhou’s matter?

Shi Fa Ke opened the door with a smile, then froze slightly, somewhat surprised. Standing outside the door wasn’t Lu Chi, but He Ketian.

“What, am I not welcome?” He Ketian, standing at the door, smiled slightly and said reproachfully.

“Ah, no… I was just surprised.” Shi Fa Ke’s mood was somewhat complicated, but she still stepped aside. “Come in.”

He Ketian glanced at her and walked in with a smile. “You really look like you don’t welcome me at all. I even brought your favorite snow flower crisps.” She shook the package of pastries in her hand. “You know how hard it is to buy snow flower crisps from Laifu Restaurant. My brother had someone queue up early this morning to buy these.”

Shi Fa Ke’s eyes brightened as she reached out to take them. “You sit down, let me go brew tea!”

He Ketian laughed softly and sat down in the courtyard.

Soon, Shi Fa Ke had brewed tea and arranged the snow flower crisps He Ketian had brought on a dish, placing them on the stone table in the courtyard. “Have some tea.”

After pouring a cup of tea for He Ketian, Shi Fa Ke also poured herself a cup and sat opposite He Ketian. She took a sip of tea and bit into a snow flower crisp, squinting her eyes with satisfaction.

The warm sunlight shone on her body—this was the taste of happiness…

“Why did you come to find me today?” Shi Fa Ke asked lazily, squinting her eyes.

“You haven’t come to my house to find me for several days.” He Ketian picked up her teacup and took a sip, looking at her with some resentment. “Are you really angry with me?”

Facing her resentful gaze, Shi Fa Ke couldn’t muster any anger. “Fine, fine, forced melons aren’t sweet anyway.”

“Exactly, we’re best friends. Why should you be angry with me over an outsider?” He Ketian reached out and grasped her hand, shaking it while acting coquettishly.

Shi Fa Ke was helpless against her.

Just then, someone knocked at the door again.

Shi Fa Ke casually stuffed the remaining half of the snow flower crisp into her mouth and got up to open the door.

Opening the door, she saw Lu Chi standing outside.

Lu Chi’s gaze paused on Shi Fa Ke’s bulging cheeks, and his eyes couldn’t help but show amusement.

He Ketian, sitting in the courtyard, saw the man standing outside the door. The man bathed in sunlight had smiling eyes, and she couldn’t help but be slightly dazzled. She had thought her brother was already the most handsome person in Copper Gong Town, never knowing there could be such a beautiful person in the world…

For a moment, she was entranced.

“Master Lu.” Here, seeing who was standing outside, Shi Fa Ke hurriedly chewed vigorously a few times and swallowed the snow flower crisp in her mouth with some difficulty.

Hearing Shi Fa Ke call him Master Lu, He Ketian suddenly snapped back to reality, then her lips curved in a cold smile. So… he was that poor scholar who dared to come seeking marriage? This person still hadn’t given up and had followed her here.

Well, she usually stayed home and rarely went out, so now that she had rarely come out, he had come to intercept her.

“Is this Master Lu?” He Ketian spoke with dignified composure.

Only then did Lu Chi notice there was a girl sitting in the courtyard, and he turned a confused gaze to Shi Fa Ke.

Shi Fa Ke was also a bit bewildered—so Lu Chi had never seen Ketian? But thinking about it, that day with the embroidered ball throwing, they were so far apart with so many people, not seeing clearly was reasonable.

“She’s Miss He, here to visit me.” Shi Fa Ke spoke vaguely.

Lu Chi immediately understood. So the girl sitting in the courtyard was Miss He who had thrown the embroidered ball that day. That day he had only seen her from afar and hadn’t clearly seen Miss He’s appearance.

Lu Chi immediately withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes and cupped his hands slightly toward her, then turned to Shi Fa Ke. “Since you have a guest, I’ll take my leave first.”

Although Shi Fa Ke wanted to tease him a few words, with He Ketian sitting right there in the courtyard, it obviously wasn’t a good time to talk. She nodded and said with a smile, “When I have news, I’ll come find you.”

News? What news? Lu Chi was somewhat puzzled, then understood her meaning and felt both amused and exasperated. Could she be thinking he had come to inquire about news of the County Deputy’s daughter?

He shook his head somewhat helplessly. At this moment, it wasn’t convenient to explain, so he just said “farewell” and turned to leave.

“Master Lu, leaving just like that?” He Ketian, sitting in the courtyard, suddenly called out. Seeing Lu Chi stop, she smiled sweetly. “Won’t you come in and sit?”

Lu Chi turned to look at her, somewhat unable to understand what this Miss He was thinking…

“I didn’t know Miss Shi had a guest and have caused disturbance. Please forgive me.” Lu Chi lowered his eyes and cupped his hands. “You two chat, I shouldn’t stay long. I’ll take my leave now.”

He Ketian laughed with a “chi” sound and looked at Lu Chi with interest. “Master Lu is quite the jester. Having come with such difficulty, how can you just leave like this? I’ve already given you a way out, why are you still being so stubborn?”

“…” Lu Chi was startled and instinctively looked at Shi Fa Ke, his eyes showing confusion.

What exactly did this Miss He mean?

“Since you’ve come, speak clearly before leaving.” Seeing he didn’t respond, He Ketian continued on her own, glancing at Shi Fa Ke. “This sister of mine has always been soft-hearted and probably can’t say harsh words. I imagine she didn’t fully convey my meaning to you, which is why you still harbor delusions about the He family.”

Huh?

Lu Chi still hadn’t reacted.

But Shi Fa Ke had reacted, knowing He Ketian had probably misunderstood. She quickly said, “Ketian, I’ve already said what needed to be said. Master Lu isn’t…”

“So since you’ve come, I’ll tell you clearly myself. Listen well.” He Ketian interrupted Shi Fa Ke’s words with no room for refusal, looking at Lu Chi with a smile that appeared well-mannered but with an unkind tone. “The embroidered ball throwing was merely a business tactic for our family’s pastry shop. Master Lu need not take it seriously, and the He family will never acknowledge it. So put away your scheming thoughts and stop making futile efforts.”

Only then did Lu Chi understand… this Miss He thought he had followed her here because he knew she was at the Shi house? He quietly sighed and lowered his eyes in response. “Yes, I understand and will harbor no improper thoughts.”

Seeing him agree so easily, He Ketian was slightly startled. She looked at the elegantly beautiful man outside the door. Though clearly at a disadvantage, though it should have been an embarrassing and frustrating scene, somehow just by standing there, he bore it with ease and maintained his dignified bearing.

No anger, no shame.

“…Master Lu also mustn’t think that just because you have a pretty face, you can seduce me.” Possessed by some strange impulse, He Ketian added.

Lu Chi’s lips twitched slightly. “Yes, I absolutely won’t think I can seduce the young lady just because I have a pretty face.”

He Ketian’s face immediately flushed red.

“Then… may I take my leave?” Lu Chi asked again.

He Ketian bit her lip.

Shi Fa Ke rubbed her throbbing temples, took a deep breath, and stepped forward. “You go back first. I’ll come find you tomorrow to talk.”

As she said this, she looked at him, her bright black and white eyes carrying twelve parts apology.

Lu Chi smiled slightly, nodded, turned and left.

He Ketian huffily watched Lu Chi’s retreating figure. Hmm… even his back was so good-looking. Then she angrily bit her lip again, feeling very puzzled. She had clearly gained the upper hand, so why did she feel so frustrated?!