Shi Fa Ke was caught in a difficult position and could only see He Ketian to the door.

“Master Lu… really hates me.” Standing at the gate of Lu Chi’s courtyard, He Ketian held back her heartache and said softly.

“He’s sick, so naturally he’s a bit willful. Besides… you did offend him quite badly before.” Shi Fa Ke consoled her.

It would have been better if she hadn’t tried to console her—the more she consoled, the more He Ketian wanted to cry.

Before! Who knew he was Master Lin Yuan before! A thousand gold pieces couldn’t buy early knowledge! If she had known he was Master Lin Yuan, she would have happily married him long ago! Perhaps by now she would already be living in conjugal bliss with her Master Lin Yuan, envying only mandarin ducks and not immortals. Where would there be the current heartache and embarrassment…

After a long silence, He Ketian finally couldn’t help asking, “I heard… the Zhu family has taken a liking to Master Lu?”

Shi Fa Ke was startled, then frowned, “You heard this from my third brother? He’s really too tactless. How can he spread rumors about something that hasn’t even taken shape? If he ruins that young lady’s reputation, I’ll definitely settle accounts with him!”

“Third Brother Shi only let it slip because he knows we’re good friends. You know I’m tight-lipped and won’t spread it around.” Seeing her change the subject, He Ketian quickly tugged at her sleeve and said softly.

If possible, she wished this matter would sink into silence and never be mentioned again. How could she possibly spread it around!

Shi Fa Ke was somewhat troubled, thinking: My brother and my good friend have a close relationship—what should I do? Should I break up the lovebirds or help things along?

“A’Ke, has the Zhu family really taken a liking to Master Lu?” Seeing Shi Fa Ke remain silent, He Ketian asked unwillingly again.

Shi Fa Ke rubbed her head with some frustration, “This matter isn’t settled yet. You absolutely mustn’t tell anyone.”

“I understand.” He Ketian said sullenly.

She wouldn’t tell anyone—it would be better if it didn’t work out.

After thinking, she probed somewhat unwillingly, “Do you know why the Zhu family would take a liking to Master Lu?”

Damn… could it also be because they discovered Master Lu’s secret, knowing he’s the distinguished Master Lin Yuan, and that’s why they set their sights on him?

Shi Fa Ke was troubled by this matter, and since it involved Zhu Yanyan’s reputation, out of professional ethics, even though He Ketian was her friend, she couldn’t tell her the details. So she said half-jokingly, “What’s wrong? Just because you failed to recognize gold inlaid with jade, doesn’t mean others can’t have a discerning eye for pearls.”

Because He Ketian’s attitude had been so good recently, Shi Fa Ke thought she had let go of the matter and harbored no resentment, so she made this joke. She didn’t know… she had hit exactly on He Ketian’s sore spot.

He Ketian’s face immediately contorted, and she was so angry she nearly spat blood.

That dead girl Shi Fa Ke always had the ability to unconsciously stab at her vital points!!

Silently reciting “small impatience ruins great plans” a hundred times, she barely managed to resist turning hostile on the spot. He Ketian gripped her handkerchief tightly, forced out an ugly smile with a terrible expression, and said stiffly, “Farewell.”

Then she turned around and boarded the carriage with a dark face.

The speed of her face-changing frightened the driver standing in front of the carriage… The poor driver was left with severe psychological trauma from this, causing him to remain unmarried for life. Dear mother, women were truly terrifying!

Watching the He family carriage depart, Shi Fa Ke belatedly thought: Hmm… Ke Tian’s expression looked a bit strange just now. Probably because Master Lu gave her the cold shoulder?

Shi Fa Ke sighed deeply and went back to see Lu Chi.

Lu Chi sat silently, the table of food still untouched.

“Weren’t you hungry? Why aren’t you eating?” Shi Fa Ke pressed her forehead, not knowing what he was up to now.

That table of delicacies would make even her, who had clearly eaten breakfast, feel her appetite stirring. Why did Lu Chi, who claimed to be extremely hungry, look completely unmoved?

“I want to eat meat porridge.” Lu Chi looked at her silently and said.

…For some reason, these words sounded inexplicably pitiful.

Shi Fa Ke’s mouth twitched. She didn’t understand why he was so fixated on meat porridge. Compared to this table of delicacies, her pot of meat porridge was simply too humble to be mentioned… What kind of strange taste and judgment did Master Lu have?

“This chicken silk porridge also looks very fragrant and sweet.” Shi Fa Ke pushed the porridge He Ketian had just served in front of him, “No matter what, at least take a bite.”

Lu Chi silently turned his head away.

“Master Lu!” Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help getting a bit irritated.

Lu Chi pressed his lips together and said with a dejected expression, “I have no appetite. My mouth feels terribly bland…”

Fine, he was a patient. She would endure it.

Shi Fa Ke took a deep breath and softened her voice to coax, “Even without appetite, you should eat a little. Otherwise, how can your body recover?”

Lu Chi lowered his eyes and finally reluctantly reached out to hold the bowl.

His lack of appetite was real. His mouth felt bland and bitter, and everything tasted flavorless. The supposedly fragrant and sweet chicken silk porridge tasted like chewing wax in his mouth.

Shi Fa Ke watched him eat with a bitter and resentful expression, but her thoughts gradually wandered.

She was pondering Zhu Yanyan’s matter. She couldn’t directly ask Lu Chi about past events, but she needed to find out whether he was the young man who saved Zhu Yanyan on Thousand Cliff Mountain ten years ago.

What to do…

Shi Fa Ke racked her brains and suddenly thought: if Lu Chi was the young man who saved Zhu Yanyan that year, he must know martial arts and be quite skilled. Otherwise, how could he have killed those vicious bandits?

Shi Fa Ke’s eyes lit up. Right! She could test whether Lu Chi knew martial arts!

At this moment, Shi Fa Ke suddenly remembered that day when she came to Willow Leaf Lane to find Lu Chi and encountered him practicing boxing… At the time, she instinctively assumed he was practicing health-strengthening boxing like her third brother, preparing for future examinations. After all, the current imperial examinations required strong bodies to endure them. She had heard that many candidates collapsed in examination halls due to insufficient stamina.

Now thinking about it, she might have been too presumptuous then…

What was the truth? She needed to test him.

“Why do you keep staring at me like that?”

Just as she was feeling pleased with herself for thinking of such a brilliant idea, Shi Fa Ke suddenly heard Lu Chi’s voice. She snapped back to attention, only then realizing that while she was pondering, she had been staring at Lu Chi the whole time.

“Watching to see if you’re eating properly.” Shi Fa Ke said, trying to appear calm.

But her eyes were bright and sparkling—clearly scheming something.

Lu Chi chuckled softly, not exposing her, “Then you’d better watch closely.”

His laughing voice was inexplicably low and deep. Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help rubbing her ears again, as if they were itching again… This was truly bewildering.

Master Lu was simply toxic.