For a moment, He Ketian’s boudoir fell quiet, with one admiring the painting and the other eating pastries, creating quite a harmonious atmosphere.

“What kind of person is Miss Zhu?” He Ketian suddenly spoke out of the blue, breaking the tranquil atmosphere in the room.

The question was rather abrupt, and Shi Fa Ke looked at her with some confusion.

He Ketian obviously realized the question was somewhat sudden. She gently stroked the small seal reading “Master Linyuan” on the painting with one hand, while tucking fallen hair behind her ear with the other, smiling gently and gracefully as if asking quite casually: “I’m just curious. Miss Zhu has always stayed within her boudoir, rarely venturing out. Very few people have seen her. I heard she’s quite skilled at growing camellias?”

He Ketian came from a good family, and through years of effort, she had become quite accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She had also restrained her earlier solitary and perverse nature, becoming a virtuous woman praised by all. Naturally, she had made many close female friends, such as Miss Shen Tongyun from Golden Full Tower, Miss Lin Jiaojiao, the third daughter of Laifu Records, and even the young lady from County Magistrate Zhou’s family… Her social circle could be considered quite extensive.

She had met the concubine-born daughters from the Zhu family’s second branch several times, but she had never seen the legitimate eldest daughter from the main branch. It was precisely such a person, whose status could completely overshadow hers, who had taken a fancy to Master Linyuan, whom she had been thinking about day and night!… How could this not make her anxious?

“Mm, the camellias Miss Zhu grows are very beautiful. She even cultivated five-colored camellias.” Shi Fa Ke nodded, recalling those stunning camellia plants she had seen when first meeting Zhu Yanyan in the Zhu family garden.

He Ketian felt quite uncomfortable inside and asked again: “…How does she look?”

Shi Fa Ke thought of Zhu Yanyan’s delicate, timid appearance and said quite fairly: “She’s truly a rare beauty.”

He Ketian became even more frustrated.

Great, not only was her family background better, but her appearance could also overshadow hers. How infuriating.

“Since Miss Zhu is so wonderful, why would she take a fancy to Young Master Lu?” He Ketian said resentfully. “This is a mismatch in family status. Haven’t you investigated whether there’s something suspicious about this? Don’t let it ruin your reputation as a matchmaker.”

These words sounded rather harsh. Although Shi Fa Ke had previously had doubts, hearing them from He Ketian’s mouth made her very uncomfortable, and she instinctively replied: “Young Master Lu is handsome, learned, and a promising scholar. Why couldn’t the Zhu family take a fancy to him?”

He Ketian was at a loss for words, feeling bitter inside.

Moreover… she noticed that Shi Fa Ke’s attitude had become subtly different.

Last time when she asked about the Zhu family marriage, Shi Fa Ke had said such matters with no concrete progress shouldn’t be discussed carelessly as it would harm the young lady’s reputation, and had specifically warned her that the matter wasn’t settled yet, telling her not to speak of it.

But now… she seemed much less evasive about it.

Could it be that this marriage proposal had made progress? He Ketian thought, her heart sinking.

Though feeling depressed inside, He Ketian showed nothing on her face. Instead, she entertained Shi Fa Ke well, and before she left, even had the kitchen pack two portions of jade belt cake for her to take home.

As soon as Shi Fa Ke left, He Ketian gritted her teeth and called Rouge in to prepare writing materials. She was going to practice calligraphy!

When she was writing her sixth sheet of large characters, He Kexian returned from outside, entering the main gate carrying a box of snow crisps and heading straight to He Ketian’s courtyard.

“Where’s Ah Ke?” Looking around and not finding her, He Kexian asked.

“She went home.” He Ketian, who had achieved peace of mind through practicing calligraphy, replied leisurely.

He Kexian was somewhat disappointed. He had rushed back for nothing. “It’s rare for her to visit. Why didn’t you keep her longer?”

He Ketian’s brush trembled, and a blob of black ink dropped onto the rice paper. In an instant, all her peace of mind went to hell. She looked up at her brother with a melancholy expression.

He Kexian was startled, only now noticing that his sister was practicing calligraphy again… Hmm, what had happened that required calligraphy to calm her mind and cultivate character?

“…Did you quarrel with Ah Ke again?”

He Ketian bit her lip: “Brother, let me ask you a question.”

“Mm?”

“If you suddenly discovered you had fallen for someone, but that person currently has no feelings for you whatsoever, and you might have even offended them before, what would you do?”

He Kexian’s heart jumped. Had his feelings for Ah Ke become so obvious?

“What does this matter have to do with you? Practice your calligraphy properly.” After saying this, He Kexian flicked his sleeves and left, his steps so hurried it was as if dogs were chasing him.

He Ketian was stunned. Huh?

Of course this matter concerned her!

Brother was becoming more and more inexplicable.

Meanwhile, Lu Chi looked at the sky, feeling somewhat downcast.

Illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk threads. Although he was no longer feverish, his head was still somewhat foggy. Because of his rare physical discomfort, he felt even more aggrieved.

She had been coaxing him before, but today she just left like that.

Fine, he was actually jealous, feeling that Shi Fa Ke treated that Miss He and the young lady who had eaten his minced meat porridge yesterday better than she treated him!

However… Ah Ke wouldn’t really ignore him, would she? Thinking this, he felt a bit panicked and decided that if the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain. Simply put, if Ah Ke didn’t come to coax him again, he would have to go coax her first…

However, Lu Chi actually had no experience dealing with young ladies. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be in the current awkward situation of taking a fancy to a girl, only to have that girl wholeheartedly want to be his matchmaker.

While he was struggling with this, he suddenly heard knocking at the door.

Lu Chi’s eyes immediately brightened, and he hurriedly got up to answer the door.

However, when he saw clearly who was standing outside, he raised his eyebrows. Standing outside wasn’t the girl he had been thinking about, but a handsome young boy.

He had an injury on his head, wrapped in white cloth that looked somewhat comical. It was none other than Zhu Li, whom Ah Ke had mentioned—the one who had been severely beaten by Old Master Zhu and required a doctor.

“Teacher.” Zhu Li bowed respectfully.

Rarely so respectful.

“Mm.” Lu Chi glanced at his forehead, certain he had snuck out.

Seeing Lu Chi remain silent, Zhu Li felt somewhat nervous. This trip out hadn’t been easy. Being knocked unconscious by his grandfather’s inkstone was real, but after waking up, he continued pretending to be unconscious, waiting for an opportunity to sneak out when no one was watching. Perhaps because he had left too hastily, his forehead was still throbbing with pain.

But hadn’t Sister Shi said that Teacher had already agreed to take him as a disciple? Why was there no indication of it at all?

“Teacher, I’ve come to formally acknowledge you as my master.” Since the teacher wasn’t speaking, Lu Chi could only steel himself to say it.