“Brother, where are you going?” He Ketian asked, puzzled.

He Kexian waved his hand dismissively, “I’m going to see him off.”

He Ketian twitched the corner of her mouth—see him off? He was probably scheming something again… He’d better take it easy. Looking at Chu Yizhi’s half-dead appearance, he really looked pitiful. Don’t actually provoke him too severely and really take his life.

Meanwhile, He Kexian followed Chu Yizhi out the main gate and walked a few steps forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

“Chu Yizhi, since childhood it’s always been A’ke who protected you. You’ve never had any sense of responsibility.”

“Don’t come bothering A’ke anymore from now on. And if you can’t control your mother and wife, letting them come cause trouble for A’ke again… I won’t be soft-hearted toward women.”

Chu Yizhi stopped in his tracks and looked at He Kexian angrily.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s quite frightening.” He Kexian sneered, then said leisurely, “You’re quite protective of that Lady Sun, aren’t you? Did you get a taste of newlywed bliss?”

Chu Yizhi’s face flushed red immediately, “You’re shameless!”

“Fine, fine, fine, I’m shameless. As long as you’re not shameless, that’s enough. But seeing how you protect that Lady Sun, why do you come pestering A’ke? This wanting what’s in the bowl while eyeing what’s in the pot—aren’t you the shameless one?” He Kexian laughed lightly, his eyes full of contempt.

Chu Yizhi clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his pale, thin hands bulging, “She has always been well-educated, kind, and virtuous. This matter has nothing to do with her, and she is already my wife. If you dare insult her again, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

He Kexian’s expression became somewhat strange.

Well-educated, kind, and virtuous?

This fool… he was truly foolishly pitiful. It seemed that even now he hadn’t figured out why he got drunk after passing the scholar examination that day, and why he took advantage of his drunken state to molest the young lady from his teacher’s family, ultimately having to marry her as punishment…

But it was better that he remained foolish.

“Hehe, as long as you’re happy.” He Kexian smiled cheerfully and patted his shoulder, then pressed down slightly on his shoulder with his hand.

He pressed right on Chu Yizhi’s previously injured arm. Although the injury had mostly healed by now, how could it withstand such pressure? He immediately felt a sharp pain and instinctively shook him off.

While still in pain, he heard He Kexian say lightly, “You should take good care of your delicate little wife at home, and remember—don’t come looking for A’ke anymore. Otherwise, next time… you might not be able to keep your hand.”

The implication was crystal clear.

Chu Yizhi’s eyes widened suddenly as he looked up at him, “It was you!”

The mastermind behind cornering him in the alley that day and beating him severely… was He Kexian!

“If my mother hadn’t mistakenly thought Uncle Shi had injured me, she wouldn’t have bothered A’ke. I’m going to tell A’ke that you were the one who sent people to injure me that day.” Chu Yizhi looked at him, speaking through gritted teeth.

“What proof do you have that I sent people to injure you?” He Kexian shrugged.

“That day in the alley, those people deliberately injured my hand, and what you just said clearly shows…”

Moreover, having people corner him in an alley for a beating was one thing, but using several young women to do it—not only was he beaten for no reason, but he also gained a reputation as a libertine. His fellow students mocked him, and afterward his teacher gave him a thorough scolding… What’s more, the teacher was now his father-in-law, and he felt utterly humiliated at the time!

“I don’t know anything about that. I was talking about almost crippling your hand in the courtyard just now.” He Kexian said with an innocent expression.

But that expression was clearly one of fearless confidence.

Chu Yizhi was certain it was him, and immediately became furious, his pointing finger trembling, “You’re shameless!”

This person had become foolish from all his studying—he couldn’t even curse properly, just repeating the same insult over and over.

“The shameless one is you.” He Kexian’s smile faded as he looked at him expressionlessly, “You’re already married, yet you still think about someone you shouldn’t. You came looking for A’ke on the second day after your wedding—are you trying to compromise her reputation?”

Chu Yizhi’s face turned ashen, “So you sent people to beat me?”

“Just helping you sober up, no need to thank me.”

Chu Yizhi laughed angrily, nodding repeatedly, “Good, very good of you.”

He Kexian also nodded, shamelessly saying, “I think I’m quite good too.”

“You must be very pleased with yourself,” Chu Yizhi suddenly said, looking at him.

“What?”

“You’ve always found me displeasing since childhood, just jealous that I knew A’ke first, jealous that A’ke treated me better. Now you can finally legitimately exclude me from A’ke’s life—aren’t you very pleased?”

He Kexian chuckled, “You’re just foolish yourself.”

“Yes, I’m foolish.” Chu Yizhi said quietly, “But don’t be too pleased. A’ke doesn’t like me, but she doesn’t like you either. I’m waiting for you to end up the same way I did.”

He Kexian felt somewhat uncomfortable at his words and instinctively retorted, “What a strange thing to say, as if I liked that foolish girl.”

Hearing this, Chu Yizhi’s gaze became rather incredulous, then he actually laughed softly, said nothing more, turned around, and walked away.

He Kexian, it turns out you’re not even as good as me.

At least I understand my own feelings.

What about you?

He Ketian and Shi Fa Ke in the courtyard were unaware of the tense confrontation outside the main gate.

But He Ketian knew full well that her brother following them out was definitely like a weasel paying New Year’s respects to a chicken—harboring ill intentions… Unlike her brother, He Ketian didn’t dislike Chu Yizhi. After all, he was refined, handsome, and scholarly—as a woman, it was really hard to dislike him. However, He Ketian knew that his heart and eyes were full of Shi Fa Ke, so she had never developed any feelings for him.

He Ketian understood very clearly how much Chu Yizhi liked Shi Fa Ke, and since the Chu and Shi families were close, she had always thought Chu Yizhi would eventually marry Shi Fa Ke, which would be a happy outcome for all. She never expected things to turn out like this… He had liked A’ke since childhood but never dared to say so, yet was manipulated by his mother and Lady Sun into marrying against his will. It was both amusing and pitiful.

But seeing his haggard appearance and panicked expression just now, seeing his eyes full of despair and sorrow, even the usually hard-hearted He Ketian felt somewhat sympathetic. After all, they had grown up together…

He Ketian looked at Shi Fa Ke with rather complex emotions. Shi Fa Ke stood there with downcast eyes, lost in thought.

Was she thinking about what Chu Yizhi had said before leaving?

“Ketian,” Shi Fa Ke suddenly spoke.

“Hmm?” He Ketian’s heart tightened, and she rarely softened her tone, planning to comfort her properly and be a caring sister for once.

“I was just thinking—you come to my house every day. Are you hoping to see someone?” Shi Fa Ke looked at her seriously with a completely sincere expression.

He Ketian’s heart panicked, then she felt somewhat absurd, “That’s what you were standing here thinking about just now?”

Shi Fa Ke looked at her strangely, “What else would it be?”

He Ketian’s expression immediately became somewhat indescribable.

“Chu Yizhi was right—you really are the most heartless person.” After a long moment, He Ketian slowly exhaled and said.