Shi Fa Ke was a bit dazed, rubbing her ear that ached from the shouting, then turned to see Lu Chi standing at the entrance. She quickly patted her skirt and stood up.

She looked at the chubby boy who had already run far away, then at Lu Chi standing at the entrance. “…You punished him again, didn’t you?”

Her expression showed she knew exactly what had happened.

Lu Chi felt somewhat deflated.

“Why are you here without going in?” Lu Chi didn’t answer that question, asking instead.

“I was afraid of disturbing your teaching.” Shi Fa Ke smiled.

Though it was a smile, it lacked the excitement she’d shown when the Zhu family had asked her to be their matchmaker. Lu Chi immediately understood that the suspicious marriage proposal from the Zhu family had probably fallen through.

“Did you need me for something?” Lu Chi curved his lips slightly, asking.

“Let me treat you to a meal.” Shi Fa Ke tossed the object in her hand up and caught it, then showed it to him. “Let’s eat something good – I have money.”

Only then did Lu Chi see clearly that she was holding a small silver ingot, still stained with some mud – she had probably been writing and drawing on the ground with it just now…

“This is…?”

“Reward money from the Zhu family.” Shi Fa Ke pouted.

Seeing her unhappy expression, Lu Chi smiled slightly. “I heard the Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish at Shengxing Restaurant is unrivaled in Tongluozhen. I’ve wanted to try it for a while. Since Miss Shi is treating, I won’t be polite.”

Hmm, Shengxing Restaurant – its prices were also unrivaled. That Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish alone would eat up half the reward money from the Zhu family.

“Good, let’s go to Shengxing Restaurant.” Shi Fa Ke said very generously.

In the end, Shi Fa Ke not only took Lu Chi to Shengxing Restaurant but also splurged on an excellent private room. Besides the famous Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish, she ordered many other dishes and even asked for a pot of wine, spending every last bit of the Zhu family’s reward money before feeling somewhat satisfied.

The Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish was served by the chef personally, with the sauce poured over it at the table. The steaming sauce sizzled when poured over the golden-fried mandarin fish, making sounds like a squirrel’s calls, hence the name “Squirrel Mandarin Fish.”

“This dish is also called Squirrel Osmanthus Fish, symbolizing ‘plucking osmanthus from the moon palace’ – meaning success in imperial examinations. Please enjoy, both of you.” Seeing a scholar-dressed man at the table, the chef smiled as he introduced the dish, offering good wishes.

“What an auspicious sign, thank you.” Shi Fa Ke smiled at the chef, casually picking up a piece with her chopsticks and placing it on Lu Chi’s plate, saying with a grin, “Young Master Lu should eat more of this.”

Her mood seemed much better.

Lu Chi’s expression softened, and he obediently took a bite. “Hmm, crispy outside and tender inside, very delicious.” He also picked up a piece for her. “You eat too.”

The chef silently withdrew. At the doorway, he looked back at Shi Fa Ke once more. This was his first time seeing that scholar, but he’d seen this young lady from the Shi family several times before. Though Shengxing Restaurant wasn’t cheap, that little girl was pampered at home – whether it was her famously doting father or her three brothers who spoiled her to the skies, they’d all brought her here before.

But… who was this scholar?

Seeing how familiar the two seemed, as one man to another, the chef could tell the scholar’s intentions weren’t purely about the meal. He smiled to himself and closed the door as he left.

Shi Fa Ke had no idea the chef had engaged in such rich speculation. Her attention was entirely focused on the pot of wine on the table.

It was plum wine, carrying a rich, sweet plum fragrance. Seeing that Lu Chi had already drunk a cup, Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help feeling a bit greedy, looking at him eagerly with anticipation. “Is it good?”

Seeing her obvious desire, Lu Chi couldn’t help but laugh. “Would you like to try some?”

Plum wine was quite mild with no real kick to it. To Lu Chi, it hardly counted as alcohol – at most it was sweetened, wine-flavored water.

“May I?” Shi Fa Ke’s eyes immediately lit up.

At home, her father, mother, and brothers all forbade her from drinking!

Lu Chi was about to say “of course you can,” but seeing her bright-eyed expression, he somehow felt something wasn’t right. He silently swallowed those words and very cautiously held up one finger. “Just one small cup to taste.”

Shi Fa Ke nodded happily.

At home, alcohol was something she couldn’t touch even a sip of. She’d long wanted to try what wine tasted like.

Though Lu Chi felt something wasn’t quite right, thinking it was just a small cup of mild fruit wine, there shouldn’t be any problem… right?

So he poured her a shallow small cup.

Well, just a shallow layer – to be precise, not even half a cup.

This was also due to Lu Chi’s cautious nature, because he always felt that once anything became associated with this Miss Shi, it would develop in bizarre directions…

Shi Fa Ke looked with bright eyes at the red plum-colored liquid in the wine cup. How beautiful!

She smelled it – indeed very fragrant.

Shi Fa Ke tried taking a small sip. Hmm… very rich and sweet, with plum flavor and another strange fragrance. It was indeed delicious! No wonder her father and brothers all loved drinking! This way she carefully savored it gave Lu Chi some unpleasant thoughts. She… couldn’t be drinking alcohol for the first time, could she?

Just as he was about to ask her, he saw her tilt her head back and very boldly drain the entire cup in one go.

Lu Chi carefully observed her, seeing her complexion remained normal, her breathing steady, without even a trace of flush on her fair, tender cheeks.

Hmm, he was indeed overthinking. After all, it was just a small cup of mild plum wine – how could there be any problem?

Thinking this, Lu Chi finally relaxed his slightly raised guard.

After drinking, Shi Fa Ke silently smacked her lips, as if savoring the taste, making Lu Chi laugh. How much did this girl love alcohol?

But since they were in public, out of caution, Lu Chi resisted softening and didn’t pour her more, instead quietly moving the wine pot to a place farther from her.

Shi Fa Ke stared longingly at the wine pot for a while. Seeing Lu Chi had no intention of relenting, she could only lower her head and pitifully eat her food. At home, she was strictly controlled regarding alcohol and never thought that this was outside, Lu Chi wasn’t her parents or brothers, and she had paid for the wine… Logically, Lu Chi had no right to control her – she could drink to her heart’s content.

Unfortunately, Shi Fa Ke didn’t realize this.

Lu Chi’s lips curved upward, thinking she was becoming increasingly adorable.

While eating, Shi Fa Ke suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked at him. “Young Master Lu, I’ve wronged you.”

“Hmm?” Lu Chi was startled. Being apologized to so solemnly made him somewhat flustered. “What… what’s wrong?”

Shi Fa Ke let out a long sigh. “The Zhu family marriage… I’m afraid it won’t work out.”

Ah? Just this matter…?

Lu Chi’s mouth twitched, but he still comforted her. “Don’t take it to heart. This matter was improper from the start.”

“But I can’t understand it! It was clearly the Zhu family who sent the invitation asking me to be their matchmaker. Why did they go back on their word and give up so easily!” Shi Fa Ke puffed out her cheeks, speaking very angrily.

“What did you say that made them give up?” Seeing she insisted on discussing this matter, Lu Chi sighed inwardly and could only accompany her in this conversation.

“I said exactly what you suggested.” Shi Fa Ke paused, then suddenly looked at Lu Chi and said, “From a common sense perspective, Miss Zhu and Scholar Lu don’t seem to be well-matched… I wonder why you chose Scholar Lu for Miss Zhu?”

This last sentence came abruptly and inexplicably. Lu Chi was stunned, momentarily unable to follow her jumping thoughts.

Then he saw her suddenly assume a serious expression, narrow her eyes, and say with an unfriendly tone, “Is this Miss Shi’s question, or Scholar Lu’s?”

Lu Chi was silent for a moment, only then realizing… she was reenacting the scene from her visit to the Zhu family?

Just as he was thinking this, he saw Shi Fa Ke change her expression again and say, “It’s Scholar Lu’s question.”

Then she asked and answered herself, smoothing her sleeves and assuming a very dignified posture. With a stern little face, she sat upright and said, “The common saying goes ‘don’t look down on poor youth,’ especially when Young Master Lu is a scholar. Miss Shi should know that my father-in-law advanced through imperial examinations and reached the third rank. Therefore, the Zhu family doesn’t value wealth when choosing a son-in-law – as long as he has talent for learning and is motivated to improve, there will always be a day for success.”

She imitated Madam Zhu’s dignified yet rigid manner perfectly, except… this chubby little face really wasn’t suited to such a dignified and rigid expression! It looked absolutely ridiculous.

After speaking, she adopted a probing manner, looking at Lu Chi with a cautious expression. “But I’ve heard that in the Zhu family’s clan school, there are more than five scholars like Scholar Lu. Wouldn’t it be more reliable to choose a talented scholar from the Zhu family’s clan school, knowing his background and character?”

Then she suddenly sat there motionless.

Lu Chi laughed and shook his head. Just as he was about to say something, Shi Fa Ke suddenly looked at Lu Chi and laughed coldly, making his hair stand on end.

“Miss… Miss Shi…?” He instinctively called her name.

“Heh, Miss Shi makes a good point. Then let this marriage be called off – no need to mention it again.” Shi Fa Ke looked at Lu Chi while laughing coldly.

Hmm… one could say her expressions and speech were extremely vivid and lifelike.

At this point, Shi Fa Ke finally finished her entire performance, sitting there looking at him pitifully.

“…” Lu Chi silently glanced at the empty wine cup beside her.

He suddenly realized… she was drunk, wasn’t she?

To be drunk so imperceptibly yet so creatively… What could Lu Chi do? He was helpless too! Even now, aside from her somewhat abnormal words and behavior, her complexion was perfectly normal without a trace of flush, appearing to show no signs of intoxication whatsoever.

Moreover, it was just a small cup of mild plum wine – even someone who had never drunk alcohol shouldn’t react like this… Lu Chi rubbed his slightly aching head, remembering the eldest Shi brother who became a chatterbox after one drink. Lu Chi thought with some pain – was this a hereditary alcohol tolerance in the Shi family? One cup and they’re down?

“Just like that, the Zhu family marriage is gone.” Over there, Shi Fa Ke pouted, looking ready to cry.

“The Zhu family went back on their word. This matter has nothing to do with you. Be good, don’t cry…” Lu Chi was afraid she would cry and hurriedly coaxed her.

“But… but…” Shi Fa Ke sniffled, feeling extremely wronged. “Why is Young Master Lu’s marriage so difficult!”

Lu Chi’s mouth twitched. “I’m sorry for troubling you…”