Zhu Yanyan was enthusiastically insisting on personally serving Shi Fa Ke a bowl of the minced meat porridge she had made herself. However, before her hands could even touch the pot lid, the wet nurse had already stepped forward with a ladle: “Miss, step aside a bit so you don’t get burned. Let this old servant do it.”

With that, she skillfully ladled out a bowl of porridge.

Shi Fa Ke quickly thanked her and reached out to take it.

“Come, come, sit down and eat.” Zhu Yanyan pulled her to sit beside her.

Shi Fa Ke sat down and tasted a spoonful.

“How is it?” Zhu Yanyan asked with her hands supporting her chin, looking expectant.

Shi Fa Ke looked at Zhu Yanyan with surprise: “It’s very delicious.”

While called minced meat porridge, compared to what she had made before, Zhu Yanyan’s bowl could be called a luxury version… It was very fresh upon tasting, with detectable dried shrimp and scallops inside, but only the fresh taste without any fishy smell.

To blend so many ingredients together without any conflict was actually quite difficult. For Zhu Yanyan to achieve such amazing results on her first try—could it be that she had great culinary talent?

“Really?” Zhu Yanyan’s face lit up: “I used rich broth to stew the porridge and added many ingredients!”

“Oh? What did you put in it?” Shi Fa Ke asked curiously.

Zhu Yanyan tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said with some distress: “I don’t remember, but there were many things.”

Shi Fa Ke’s mouth twitched—so casual… She somehow felt something wasn’t quite right.

“But that’s not important. As long as it tastes good, that’s enough. If you like it, I’ll make it for you again.” Zhu Yanyan waved her small hand magnanimously.

Shi Fa Ke was truly a bit moved.

However, before she could finish being moved, she saw Zhu Yanyan’s face suddenly turn red, saying somewhat shyly: “Do you think… Young Master Lu would like it?”

Shi Fa Ke thought he probably would like it, since the porridge was truly delicious—very amazing upon tasting but not greasy at all. She nodded: “Such delicious porridge, he should like it.”

“That’s wonderful! If he likes it, that would be wonderful—it wasn’t in vain that I spent the whole morning learning to make this porridge!” Zhu Yanyan took Shi Fa Ke’s hand, and as she spoke, her voice suddenly lowered: “Ah Ke, I’m so happy… I barely slept all night yesterday. When I closed my eyes, I could see his appearance, but somehow his features were always very blurred…”

Hearing this, Shi Fa Ke silently glanced at the wet nurse standing nearby, remembering her previous words: “Miss was so excited about Miss Shi’s visit today that she barely slept all night, and got up early this morning to busy herself in the small kitchen, saying she wanted to properly entertain Miss Shi.” Doesn’t your conscience hurt?

The wet nurse noticed Shi Fa Ke’s gaze and silently looked away.

Zhu Yanyan didn’t notice the silent exchange between Shi Fa Ke and the wet nurse, pulling Shi Fa Ke to share her thoughts: “Ah Ke, why do you think that is?”

“Hmm? Why what?” Shi Fa Ke came back to her senses, looking at her with confusion.

Zhu Yanyan bit her lip: “I always can’t remember Young Master Lu’s appearance.”

“What?” This time Shi Fa Ke was truly surprised. Lu Chi’s appearance… very few people would be unable to remember it.

Moreover, previously she had clearly said that she had seen Lu Chi once while going to offer incense, and immediately recognized that Lu Chi was the young man who had saved her ten years ago. How could she now say she couldn’t remember Lu Chi’s appearance?

Not to mention, she had just seen Lu Chi again yesterday.

Zhu Yanyan didn’t realize she had let something slip, only pouring out her troubles with some distress. In the past, aside from her wet nurse, she had no one to talk to. Even with her own mother, Madam Zhu, she rarely revealed her inner thoughts. Now having a friend she could talk to, she felt much more relaxed and subconsciously became very dependent on her.

But… many things she couldn’t explain too clearly.

After all, Young Master Lu’s identity couldn’t be mentioned.

Before seeing Young Master Lu yesterday, Zhu Yanyan had fantasized countless times about his appearance, and had thought that no matter what he looked like, she would be willing to marry him. Until she saw him yesterday…

Such a gentleman, elegant as jade trees and orchids, was even more wonderful than she had imagined.

But… somehow, she felt an uneasy sense of unfamiliarity welling up from her heart.

Was it anxiety from her gains and losses at play?

“Ah Ke, I really want to see him again…” Zhu Yanyan said softly.

When he saw her, did he also feel that strange unfamiliarity?

He didn’t recognize her at all.

Zhu Yanyan thought with some disappointment.

“Oh, so you want to see Young Master Lu again.” Shi Fa Ke looked at her with a smile, teasing.

Zhu Yanyan came back to her senses and immediately realized the ambiguity in her words, her face turning red: “That’s not… I…”

She thought Shi Fa Ke was teasing her for making up nonsense about not remembering his appearance just to see Young Master Lu again!

Although Shi Fa Ke was teasing, she knew privately arranging for them to meet would be improper. Yesterday’s meeting was just a coincidental encounter—doing it again would definitely not be acceptable.

“This matter would need Madam Zhu’s agreement.” Shi Fa Ke thought for a moment, then added: “If Madam Zhu agrees, I’d still need to ask Young Master Lu.”

Hearing this, the wet nurse’s eyes stopped avoiding and she looked at Shi Fa Ke approvingly: “Miss Shi is right. Private meetings are improper. If others knew, the young lady’s reputation would be ruined. Even if they were to meet, it must be done according to proper etiquette.”

Zhu Yanyan knew this matter couldn’t be changed, so she put aside the thought, only gripping Shi Fa Ke’s hand and saying with a face full of shyness: “One matter, one person—Ah Ke, I trust no one but you. I entrust my marriage to you.”

This weighty trust moved Shi Fa Ke somewhat.

Moreover, being entrusted as matchmaker for the Zhu family’s eldest daughter was not an opportunity just any matchmaker could get. Therefore, she nodded and solemnly promised: “I will definitely do my best to handle this matter well.”

Zhu Yanyan blinked, feeling she should be shy, but instead smiled foolishly.

Shi Fa Ke couldn’t help but laugh too, thinking Zhu Yanyan was truly straightforward and lovely… If Young Master Lu saw her like this, he would surely like her very much.

Just as the two were looking at each other and laughing, a commotion suddenly arose outside. Although the sound seemed distant… such unusual noise always made people feel uneasy.

“Wet nurse, go see what’s happening.” Zhu Yanyan turned to look at the wet nurse.

The wet nurse acknowledged and quickly went out, afraid that something might happen to frighten her young lady.

Before long, the wet nurse returned.

“They say the Third Young Master contradicted the Old Master, and the Old Master struck too hard in his anger, making it necessary to call a doctor. Now the Second Branch’s madam is crying and making a fuss, wanting to take the Third Young Master back.” The wet nurse said, then sighed: “The Third Young Master is also pitiful. He was nearly spoiled by that madam, and now that he’s finally caught the Old Master’s attention, he’s not living up to expectations.”

As Shi Fa Ke listened, she began to understand.

“The Third Young Master… could that be Zhu Li?” she asked.

“Exactly. Among the young masters in the household, he ranks third by age. He’s the child left by the Second Branch’s first wife.” The wet nurse said with some melancholy—children without their birth mothers nearby were truly pitiful.

Thinking of the child she had just seen outside the mansion gates, who had been so lively and spirited, Shi Fa Ke was somewhat worried. How hard must the blow have been to require calling a doctor?

Seeing Shi Fa Ke looking distracted, the wet nurse suddenly stopped talking and lightly slapped her own mouth. Family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly—she really shouldn’t have been gossiping in front of an outsider. If the madam found out later, she would surely be punished again… How could she not control this loose tongue of hers?