Just as she was thinking, the knocking became even more urgent. Shi Fa Ke hurriedly threw away those strange feelings and rushed to open the door. When she opened it and saw who was standing outside, she could say she was very surprised indeed.

“…Ke Tian?”

That’s right, standing outside the door was He Ketian, who had come rushing over with great momentum.

“How did you come here?” Shi Fa Ke asked strangely.

He Ketian was choked by her question, and her full anger immediately dissipated, because she suddenly realized she actually had no grounds for being angry…

Her mind raced, “I went to your house to look for you, and Third Brother Shi said you came to see Master Lu.”

Shi Fa Ke’s expression became somewhat strange, “You saw my third brother?”

“Mm.” He Ketian didn’t notice Shi Fa Ke’s slightly odd expression, because as she spoke, she suddenly thought of an extremely legitimate reason. She looked at Shi Fa Ke with an unchanged expression, “Third Brother Shi is somewhat worried about you. Although you are a matchmaker, you still need to be careful about propriety. After all, a man and woman alone in a room is always improper and will inevitably attract gossip.”

Shi Fa Ke’s expression became even stranger, “Third Brother asked you to come watch over me?”

He Ketian’s eyelashes flickered slightly. Of course she wouldn’t be so foolish as to admit such a nonexistent thing—what if A’Ke confronted her third brother later? So she sincerely took her hand and said ambiguously, “Third Brother Shi’s concerns are not unreasonable. In any case, I have nothing to do today, so let me accompany you.”

Shi Fa Ke naturally noticed that He Ketian’s expression was somewhat unnatural, but that trace of unnaturalness made her think in the wrong direction…

Sure enough, He Ketian likes her third brother!

Otherwise, how could the usually arrogant Miss He be so obedient and considerate!

What was this—one thing conquers another?

“Achoo!” At the Shi house, Shi Chonghai, who was writing an article, suddenly sneezed loudly. He rubbed his nose, pondered for a moment, then suddenly chuckled and muttered to himself very smugly, “Could it be that little A’Ke is talking badly about me again?”

Mm, having fooled He Ketian into going to Lu Chi’s house, his little sister was probably getting annoyed.

The rare naive Shi Chonghai had no idea that after hunting geese all day, he’d finally been pecked in the eye by a goose. He Ketian had firmly pinned a black pot on him, yet he still felt smugly pleased with himself.

Lu Chi still didn’t know what he was about to face… At this moment, he was lying on the bed without any sense of crisis, his mood quite good as he curved his lips. Although his hands and feet were weak and he couldn’t muster strength, his mood was strangely wonderful.

Opening his eyes in the morning to see the person he loved, and even being able to tease her a bit—this feeling was truly… endlessly memorable. He closed his eyes and quietly savored the memory. Feeling that the fatigue from just waking up had receded somewhat, he supported himself on the bed edge and slowly sat up.

Actually, the wind-heat wasn’t serious, it’s just that Lu Chi had never been sick from childhood to adulthood, so even a minor wind-heat seemed fierce. After resting briefly, not seeing Shi Fa Ke return, he couldn’t help wondering who the visitor was. He put on his clothes, got out of bed, and slowly walked out.

Then he saw someone who made him want to turn around and run.

“…Miss He?”

Lu Chi was somewhat devastated. Why would that arrogant Miss He condescend to come to his small courtyard!

This Miss He had already become his big trouble, especially since she was A’Ke’s close friend, making this awkward relationship rather thorny. Lu Chi wished he never had to see her again…

But what was she doing at his house now?

He Ketian had no idea that the Master Lin Yuan she thought about day and night was thinking entirely about how to distance himself from her. The moment she stepped into the courtyard, she saw the Master Lin Yuan of her dreams and couldn’t help but brighten. She saw him wearing a loose hibiscus-colored thin shirt, his satin-black long hair draped over his shoulders, like a banished immortal, his whole person seeming to glow!

The two gazed at each other—one look lasting ten thousand years.

He Ketian couldn’t help but think of a verse: “When golden wind and jade dew meet, they surpass countless encounters in the mortal world.”

For a moment, she was actually mesmerized.

Lu Chi had no intention of spiritual communion with her at all. He only saw Miss He staring at him with intense focus, her eyes flashing with light he couldn’t understand and found somewhat frightening… He unconsciously turned to look at Shi Fa Ke standing to one side, his face showing a plea for help.

Shi Fa Ke coughed lightly, pulled He Ketian, and quietly admonished, “You can come accompany me, but you can’t trouble Master Lu anymore.”

He Ketian despaired at Shi Fa Ke’s obtuseness, secretly rolling her eyes while showing just the right amount of bashfulness on her face. She completely ignored Shi Fa Ke’s words and instead looked at Lu Chi, saying very sincerely, “Master Lu, my brother was very offensive before. Please don’t hold it against him in your magnanimity, and also… don’t hold it against me.”

Right, the one who offended you before was my brother! Not me! He Ketian could be said to be very smooth and practiced at passing the buck.

Lu Chi looked at He Ketian, his gaze somewhat strange… What did this have to do with her brother? She had clearly been sharp-tongued and mocking before, telling him not to harbor any improper thoughts about her. How had her attitude suddenly changed so dramatically?

Hmm, when things go against the norm, there must be demons…

“Miss He is overthinking.” Lu Chi considered for a moment, found a safer response, and said very cautiously.

He Ketian’s heart relaxed, feeling there seemed to be a good beginning. Seeing he looked somewhat pale and weak, she asked with concern, “Master Lu, are you feeling better?”

“I’m fine now.” Lu Chi held back, but couldn’t help asking, “I wonder what brings Miss He here today?”

He Ketian choked, remembering what Third Brother Shi said about the Zhu family taking a liking to him. Her heart felt like it was being twisted with a knife as she bit her lip and said, “I went to the Shi house to look for A’Ke earlier. Third Brother Shi said Master Lu was ill and A’Ke came to visit you, so I… also came.”

This statement was ambiguous and could be interpreted either way.

It could mean she was entrusted by Third Brother Shi to watch over A’Ke, since a man and woman alone in a room wasn’t proper. It could also mean she heard Master Lu was unwell and, being concerned, came to visit… It all depended on how you understood it.

He Ketian’s gaze was shy and timid, hoping Master Lin Yuan could understand her deeper meaning. But unfortunately… clearly all her thoughts were in vain, because Lu Chi, upon hearing this, almost immediately determined it was that baby-faced Third Brother Shi causing trouble!

Immediately, his gaze became somewhat unfriendly.

He Ketian was startled by his suddenly sharp look. When she looked again, his gaze had returned to calm… Mm, probably she saw wrong.

“Master Lu, have you had breakfast?” He Ketian asked attentively.

Lu Chi’s mental alarm bells rang loudly, a row of large characters flashing through his mind: “Unusual courtesy means either treachery or theft.” He instinctively didn’t want to answer this question.

“Not yet, but I brought meat porridge that’s warming on the stove.” Seeing Lu Chi didn’t answer, Shi Fa Ke feared the atmosphere would become awkward and quickly tried to ease the tension.

He Ketian seemed to realize that Master Lin Yuan didn’t much like her, feeling somewhat dejected. But thinking that after all, she had first embarrassed him, then caused him considerable grievance, his current dislike seemed quite natural. She struggled to suppress her hurt feelings, “Let me help serve the porridge.”

Shi Fa Ke was also somewhat surprised that He Ketian actively offered to help, since Miss He had always been a young lady who never lifted a finger.

Based on Shi Fa Ke’s past experience, once she actively offered to help, it was best not to refuse, or the young miss would definitely lose face and turn hostile…

So she smiled and nodded, “That would be good.”

Lu Chi fundamentally wanted to refuse, but Shi Fa Ke had already smiled and agreed, even pointing out the kitchen direction, so he could only remain silent.