After a long while, Third Brother Shi finally spoke first, “Miss He, you…”

This “Miss He” obviously stimulated He Ketian again. She slammed the wooden box she had been holding in her arms onto the desk with a “bang,” full of momentum.

The force was so great that even Third Brother Shi was startled. He lowered his gaze to the glossy black wooden box, his eyes flickering, “What is this?”

He Ketian silently opened the wooden box, took out the rolled lady’s portrait from inside, and unfolded it.

“Oh?” Third Brother Shi showed a surprised expression.

He Ketian raised her head, staring at him intently, her gaze burning as she asked, “This painting—who painted it?”

Third Brother Shi raised his hand to touch his nose, showing a somewhat embarrassed expression, “In my younger years, not knowing my own limitations, I took two paintings to sell at the shop. One sold for a hundred taels of silver, but the other went missing during inventory—I thought it was lost…” As he spoke, he looked at He Ketian with some curiosity, “How did this painting end up in your hands?”

Just as she thought!

He Ketian suddenly burst into tears.

Seeing her cry, Third Brother Shi, who was always in control, finally panicked, “Oh my… you, don’t cry, what’s wrong?” He hurriedly used his sleeve to wipe her tears, looking completely at a loss.

“I bought this painting!” He Ketian cried.

“Eh?” Third Brother Shi paused, showing a surprised expression.

“It cost me a thousand taels! The shop assistant said this was Master Linyuan’s work and sold it to me for a thousand taels!” He Ketian cried out, feeling extremely wronged.

Third Brother Shi’s eye twitched.

This… wasn’t going according to plan. Shouldn’t she be throwing herself into his arms wanting to renew their engagement after learning the truth…

“You’re swindlers! It’s fraud!” He Ketian continued crying vigorously.

Third Brother Shi’s eye twitched even more severely…

“Don’t worry… I’ll definitely discuss this with my father and second brother, and we’ll compensate for your loss,” Third Brother Shi said, his mouth twitching as he softened his voice to coax her.

“How will you compensate?!” He Ketian’s eyes were red from crying, looking very wronged, “I loved that painting so much…”

As well as the person who painted it.

But she had gotten it all wrong and caused so much trouble.

The more He Ketian thought about it, the sadder she became, crying until she was breathless.

Third Brother Shi rubbed his head, feeling dizzy from her crying, “Alright, alright, whatever you say goes…”

He Ketian sniffled, raised her rabbit-red eyes to look at him, and even hiccupped, “Really… really?”

She looked pitiful.

“Really!” Third Brother Shi was afraid she’d cry again and nodded repeatedly, already regretting that he shouldn’t have provoked her… couldn’t he have used another method instead of making her cry?

“Then marry me.” He Ketian looked at him and suddenly blurted out four words.

“What?” This time Third Brother Shi was genuinely stunned.

He Ketian tilted her head up, staring at him with wide eyes, looking as if she’d cry for him to see if he didn’t agree. She appeared quite arrogant, but actually her heart was beating wildly with nervousness.

After all, when she had refused Master Linyuan’s marriage proposal, he had been cold to her ever since, never giving her another chance. Now, after the wedding date had been set and she had made such a fuss about breaking the engagement… even making such a scene that he had to soil his own reputation to preserve hers, and now she was suddenly changing her mind wanting to marry him—even she felt it was excessive.

Would he look down on her for this?

Perhaps he would mock her for being shameless and humiliating herself.

The more He Ketian thought about it, the more she wanted to cry.

Third Brother Shi’s eyes flickered, “You… didn’t you refuse to marry me?”

“Now I’m willing,” He Ketian said stubbornly, perfectly demonstrating what it meant to be fierce on the outside but timid within.

Third Brother Shi suddenly laughed.

Seeing him laugh, the tears that had been gathering in He Ketian’s eyes suddenly slid down. She knew it… she knew it would be like this. After everything that had happened, Third Brother Shi would never marry her. She was just humiliating herself now.

Just as she was crying, she heard him say with a laugh, “Alright.”

“Eh?” He Ketian froze, a teardrop hanging precariously on her eyelash.

“Since that’s the case, as you wish.” Third Brother Shi smiled and reached out to brush away her tears, “In fact, I would be delighted.”

He Ketian stared blankly at Third Brother Shi, then belatedly blushed…

At this moment, she suddenly remembered what her mother had said.

Mother had said that her marriage compatibility with Third Brother Shi had resulted in the rare highest fortune—a match made in heaven.

They were meant to be together.

The setting sun melted like gold, evening clouds merged with the horizon.

It was nearly evening, but the study gradually fell silent.

Outside the study at this time, Shi Fa Ke was extremely worried, but there was nothing she could do except guard outside the study door… Speaking of which, she had heard He Ketian’s crying and shouting earlier, which made Shi Fa Ke pace anxiously. Third Brother must not make any mistakes!

At this hour, the other members of the Shi family had also returned home one after another.

“Ake, what are you doing lurking outside your Third Brother’s study?” Lady Tao walked over, looking at her strangely.

“Mother!” Shi Fa Ke looked as if she had seen a savior, quickly grabbing her mother’s hand and pointing to the study. Frowning, she lowered her voice, “Third Brother and Ketian are inside. It’s been a long time, and they won’t let me in. I’m a bit worried.”

Lady Tao’s expression also changed.

“Mother… Third Brother won’t do anything foolish, will he…” Shi Fa Ke said with great concern.

Lady Tao glanced at her reproachfully, “What kind of person do you think your Third Brother is?”

Mother, Third Brother is not a good person!

Shi Fa Ke puffed out her cheeks, and just as she was about to complain about Third Brother eating her sweetest piece of chilled melon, the study door suddenly opened, and Third Brother and Ketian both walked out.

“Mother, you’re back.” Third Brother appeared composed.

“Aunt Tao.” He Ketian’s eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying, but her mood seemed excellent, her eyes bright and her cheeks rosy.

…What exactly had happened in the study just now!

Shi Fa Ke was both worried and curious.

“What are you all gathered here for?” At this time, Second Brother Shi’s voice came from outside.

Then the three Shi men also walked in from outside.

Great, the entire Shi family was here.

He Ketian remembered what had been decided in the study just now and lowered her head with a shy expression.

Shi Fa Ke stared wide-eyed—He Ketian was being shy?! How terrifying… what exactly had Third Brother done to her!

“Father, Big Brother, Second Brother, your timing is perfect.” Third Brother Shi said, then glanced at Lady Tao and Shi Fa Ke, smiled, and said, “And Mother and Ake, I have something I want to tell you all.”

“What’s so important that it requires such a gathering?” Shi Changhuai was completely confused.

Lady Tao looked at her youngest son’s smiling expression, then at the increasingly shy He Ketian, seemingly guessing what he was about to say, and couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows high.

“I want to marry Ketian.” Third Brother Shi announced with a smile.

Indeed… Lady Tao remained very calm.

But the others weren’t so composed. For a moment, the area outside the study fell silent, with the Shi men looking at each other. Finally, the family patriarch Shi Changhuai spoke with a frown, “Didn’t you just break off the engagement? What kind of nonsense is this now?”

He Ketian’s shy red face instantly went pale.

“Ketian had some misunderstandings about me before, but now that the misunderstandings are cleared up, we’re bringing up marriage again. I hope Father and Mother can understand,” Third Brother Shi said calmly, then reassuringly squeezed He Ketian’s hand and smiled, “Besides, isn’t everyone being happy the best possible outcome?”

Hey… in front of everyone, if you’re going to talk, then talk, but let go of your hands first! Shi Fa Ke screamed silently.

Shi Changhuai frowned and said nothing.

Lady Tao looked at the somewhat bewildered He Ketian and asked gently, “Ketian, what do you say?”

“Mother…” Third Brother Shi called Lady Tao’s name with some disapproval.

Marriage was supposed to be arranged by parents and matchmakers. He Ketian’s previous behavior had already been shocking, but fortunately their Shi family wasn’t that kind of rigid household. However, now Mother asking Ketian’s opinion so directly in front of everyone… was indeed somewhat embarrassing.

Under everyone’s gaze, He Ketian’s pale cheeks quickly burned red again, but she didn’t retreat. She just glanced sideways at Third Brother Shi, then gathered her courage and nodded, “Yes, I want to marry Third Brother Shi.”

Third Brother Shi had already agreed to marry her—she had passed the most difficult hurdle. Now that they both understood each other’s hearts, what was there to fear?

Hearing this, Third Brother Shi’s eyes flashed with emotion. He knew how difficult it was for a young lady to speak such words aloud. An ordinary girl might have retreated at this point, but his Ketian had never been ordinary. She had always dared to face her own heart directly—she was a brave girl. Thinking this, Third Brother Shi looked at He Ketian with deep affection.

He Ketian also looked at him with perfect understanding.

The two gazed at each other with such sweet intimacy, as if no one else existed, making the still-unmarried Big Brother Shi and Second Brother Shi’s teeth ache.

Just then, Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help but jump out. She grabbed He Ketian and said very seriously, “Ketian, don’t be afraid. Did Third Brother threaten you? Tell me, I’ll protect you.”

Third Brother Shi’s eye twitched as he tried to tell himself this was his real sister, he couldn’t kill her, he had to endure… especially since their notoriously biased and protective father was watching menacingly nearby!