Shi Fa Ke fell silent for a moment, truly unable to speak words against his conscience. After all… Third Brother was sitting right there in the courtyard. He would rather soil his own reputation to preserve He Ketian’s good name. Who would believe that he had no feelings for Ketian? Knowing that his feelings would never be reciprocated, yet forcing him to see Ketian again at this moment was simply too cruel.
“What’s this? Just because we can’t get married, we’re now going to become enemies?” Seeing Shi Fa Ke’s apparent unwelcoming attitude, He Ketian’s voice immediately turned sharp.
These past few days hadn’t been easy for her either. Her mother refused to acknowledge her, and her father, united with her mother, didn’t dare acknowledge her either. She knew how harsh the rumors and gossip about Third Brother Shi had been during these days. Sadness and guilt intertwined in her heart, and she had even started losing her hair!
This morning, seeing the strands of hair on her pillow, she knew this situation couldn’t continue like this. She decided to come and apologize to Third Brother Shi… even if it was just to ease her own conscience.
“No, it’s just that my Third Brother is at home,” Shi Fa Ke said quietly.
She hoped Ketian would be sensible and leave quickly.
Who knew that not only did He Ketian not tactfully turn around and leave, but she directly pushed past her and brazenly barged into the courtyard, saying, “I’m here to see Third Brother Shi.”
Shi Fa Ke was dumbfounded and hurriedly tried to pull her back.
But He Ketian walked very quickly, and then… she suddenly stopped in her tracks, because she saw Third Brother Shi sitting in the courtyard.
He looked somewhat dejected and haggard, having grown a beard, his entire person appearing extremely dispirited… but for some reason, He Ketian felt her heartbeat suddenly accelerate beyond her control.
The courage she had just moments ago when pushing past Shi Fa Ke and running quickly all the way here suddenly vanished. She stood in place and called out to him hesitantly: “Third Brother.”
Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Fine, you’ve seen him. What exactly do you want with my Third Brother?”
Her tone was quite unfriendly.
Third Brother Shi shook his head, looking disapproving as he said to Shi Fa Ke, “Ake, a guest is a guest, don’t be so discourteous.” Then he looked at He Ketian, smiled slightly, and said, “Miss He, is there something you need?”
So polite and courteous that it didn’t seem like Third Brother Shi at all…
Looking at him, He Ketian’s eyes suddenly reddened.
He called her Miss He! Before, he had always affectionately called her Little Sister He! Now he was calling her Miss He… He must be resentful toward her!
Seeing He Ketian suddenly redden her eyes as if she was about to cry, Third Brother Shi abruptly stood up, looking somewhat at a loss. “What’s wrong?”
He Ketian bit her lip and shook her head. All along the way, she had thought about many things, considered how she should speak to ease her conscience a little… but now, facing Third Brother Shi, she couldn’t say a single word.
Third Brother Shi scratched his head and looked at Shi Fa Ke helplessly.
“…He Ketian, why are you crying?” Shi Fa Ke irritably ran her fingers through her hair. “What exactly are you here for?”
“I… I came to buy a painting!” He Ketian suddenly said, as if struck by inspiration.
She remembered occasionally hearing the little maids in the courtyard gossiping, saying that Third Brother Shi had loved painting since childhood and was now selling his paintings at their family’s pawn shop. They had laughingly mentioned how he had once sold a painting for a hundred taels and was very proud of it. Then, by coincidence, their pawn shop had picked up a bargain—a practice work by Master Linyuan—which they had resold for a thousand taels. This had made Third Brother Shi extremely angry, and he hadn’t sold any paintings for many years after that.
Remembering this… He Ketian felt somewhat guilty and ashamed, because that practice work by Master Linyuan was the lady’s portrait she had bought back for a thousand taels. Thinking that her thoughtless action back then had left such a heavy psychological shadow on Third Brother Shi, He Ketian felt even more sorry.
Third Brother Shi’s eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.
“If you like them, just go to my study and choose one. There’s no need to talk about buying and selling,” Third Brother Shi said with a smile, then paused, seeming to realize his words were somewhat improper, and explained, “You and Ake are good friends, after all.”
He Ketian’s face warmed slightly, and she felt her nose tingle with emotion.
Third Brother Shi was truly such a thoughtful and kind person. She had originally wanted to use this as an excuse to buy a painting at a high price to ease her conscience, but the noble and pure Third Brother Shi made her feel so base… she was truly ashamed of herself!
He Ketian composed her emotions and pulled Ake toward the study.
Third Brother Shi, needing to avoid impropriety, remained in the courtyard and didn’t accompany them.
Shi Fa Ke, being forcibly dragged away by He Ketian, kept looking back at Third Brother Shi standing in place… Today’s Third Brother seemed a bit strange, so unusually good-tempered that it didn’t seem like him at all. She felt something was odd about it.
Hmm, perhaps it was because of love?
Wasn’t it said that love makes people humble?
But still, she felt something was strange about it. Shi Fa Ke was a bit troubled.
Third Brother Shi, standing in place, naturally understood his sister’s confusion and puzzlement. He just smiled without speaking, only smiling as he watched He Ketian drag his sister to his study.
Then he curved his lips upward, looking quite pleased, with none of his previous dejection.
Hmm, he was very much looking forward to Little Sister He’s reaction when she saw that painting.
Shi Fa Ke, who had already reached the study door, suddenly shivered. She looked up at the sky—the sun was blazing overhead, so bright it was hard to keep her eyes open. On this scorching summer day… why did she suddenly feel a chill?
Just as Shi Fa Ke paused momentarily, He Ketian had already stepped into the study.
Shi Fa Ke, having an inexplicable premonition that something was about to happen, quickly followed her in, only to see He Ketian curiously looking around at the study’s furnishings, completely unlike someone who had come to choose a painting. She couldn’t help but frown and said directly, “He Ketian, what exactly are you here for today?”
“To buy a painting,” He Ketian replied absentmindedly while still looking around.
“You can only fool my Third Brother with that excuse. I really don’t know how such a smart person like my Third Brother becomes like a fool when it comes to you.” Shi Fa Ke rolled her eyes and added, “Besides, don’t you always love Master Linyuan’s paintings? When did you change your taste and start liking my Third Brother’s paintings?”
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener took it to heart. Hearing this, He Ketian’s heart was like an overturned bottle of mixed seasonings, with all kinds of flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy.
“Just because I like Master Linyuan’s paintings doesn’t mean I can’t like Third Brother Shi’s paintings too, does it?” He Ketian glared at her and retorted defiantly.
“Fine, fine. Since you’re here to buy a painting, hurry up and choose one and leave. Don’t keep stabbing knives into my Third Brother’s heart, and don’t come looking for me recently either.” Shi Fa Ke said rather ruthlessly.
He Ketian didn’t respond to this, acting as if she hadn’t heard.
Shi Fa Ke was at her wit’s end and could only patiently coax, “This is for your own good too. The two families just called off the engagement, so you need to avoid impropriety. Otherwise, who knows what kind of gossip will spread.”
“I have a clear conscience and fear no rumors,” He Ketian snorted.
Now she was saying this… but what about when she acted as if she couldn’t avoid them fast enough? Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. But knowing that He Ketian was the type who responded to gentleness rather than force, she could only patiently coax, “But malicious gossip is frightening. If Second Brother Lu comes back and hears those rumors, it wouldn’t be good.”
In the past, whenever Shi Fa Ke mentioned Master Linyuan Lu Chi, it was always effective.
But this time, for some reason, when He Ketian heard her mention Lu Chi, her heart couldn’t help but feel irritated.
“What does this have to do with him?” She frowned and replied neither lightly nor heavily.
Shi Fa Ke was stunned. “How is it not related to him? Didn’t you say you fancied him? I’ve already promised to propose marriage to him for you when Second Brother Lu returns.”
He Ketian froze, feeling inexplicably irritated again.
Seeing her fall silent, Shi Fa Ke thought she had finally come to her senses and continued to patiently persuade, “What if rumors about you and my Third Brother spread just when I go to propose marriage for you? So please avoid impropriety and don’t come looking for me recently.” Thinking this sounded somewhat heartless, she added, “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come to your house to play, okay?”
But He Ketian completely failed to appreciate Shi Fa Ke’s good intentions and only found her chattering annoying.
“Ketian? What do you think?” Seeing her not responding, Shi Fa Ke pressed, looking as if she wouldn’t give up until she agreed.
But He Ketian could no longer hear what she was saying. All her attention had been drawn to the painting spread open on the desk. It was a half-finished painting of ladies playing chess. Though not yet complete, one of the women had already been painted. The woman held a chess piece in one hand, with delicate features and a beautiful figure, her expression serene yet tinged with a hint of cunning, as if the game before her was already decided, radiating an air of confident victory.
Lifelike.
This was clearly a scene of her playing chess with Shi Fa Ke, and the woman in the painting was none other than He Ketian herself. Moreover, the artist was very skilled at capturing her best features… what could only be considered a pleasant appearance was painted with stunning beauty.
He Ketian stared blankly, her heart suddenly surging like towering waves.