“Ah Ke, you’re here!” Zhu Yanyan’s eyes lit up when she saw Shi Fa Ke, and she happily came out to greet her. When she got closer and saw Shi Fa Ke’s appearance clearly, she hesitated slightly, “Ah Ke, you… have you been crying?”

Shi Fa Ke’s appearance wasn’t actually inappropriate – otherwise the wet nurse wouldn’t have brought her in like this. But Zhu Yanyan had always been observant, immediately noticing her somewhat heavy expression and slightly red and swollen eyes.

Shi Fa Ke was startled and unconsciously touched her eyes.

“Young Master Lu… didn’t it go well?” Zhu Yanyan looked at her and asked tentatively.

Shi Fa Ke arriving at this time with such an appearance, someone as clever as Zhu Yanyan had obviously already sensed something.

The wet nurse became anxious, “Miss… Miss Shi, she…”

“Wet nurse.” Zhu Yanyan glanced at the wet nurse, then looked seriously at Shi Fa Ke, “I want to hear what Ah Ke has to say.”

The wet nurse covered her mouth with her handkerchief, looking worriedly at Shi Fa Ke, obviously already regretting bringing her in.

“Yanyan.” Shi Fa Ke carefully glanced at her, meeting her persistent and determined gaze. She suddenly realized that Zhu Yanyan wasn’t as fragile and inexperienced as she appeared. Steeling herself, she looked at her and said gently, “Yanyan, Young Master Lu is not the person you’re looking for.”

“Impossible.” Zhu Yanyan answered decisively without thinking, “He is.”

Seeing her so certain, Shi Fa Ke felt somewhat conflicted, but ultimately what needed to be said still had to be said.

“He really isn’t. I tested him… he doesn’t know martial arts.” Shi Fa Ke briefly recounted what had happened today.

After listening, Zhu Yanyan remained silent for a long time.

“I want to see him once.”

“This…” Shi Fa Ke hesitated.

“Miss, this isn’t proper…” The wet nurse, who had been wiping her tears with her handkerchief, couldn’t help but speak up, “This doesn’t follow the rules…”

“I’ll persuade my mother. Could you help me arrange things with Young Master Lu, Ah Ke?” Zhu Yanyan ignored the wet nurse and looked persistently at Shi Fa Ke, speaking softly.

“Miss… why put yourself through this…” The wet nurse choked up.

“Regardless, I need to see him once more before I can give up.” Zhu Yanyan spoke with a calm expression, showing no signs of sadness or disappointment.

But perhaps because she was too calm, it made people even more worried.

Shi Fa Ke hesitated for a moment, “Alright, if Madam Zhu agrees, I’ll speak with Young Master Lu.”

“Ah Ke, it’s so wonderful to know you.” Zhu Yanyan held her hand, smiling radiantly.

The next day, Lu Chi didn’t go to the academy but had someone request leave for him.

Although the injuries weren’t serious, most of them were on his face. He had only felt his cheeks aching faintly before and hadn’t paid much attention, but when he got up to wash his face in the morning and saw his reflection in the water, he realized something was wrong. No wonder Ah Ke had cried so miserably looking at him yesterday…

Indeed, he had been beaten quite badly. He should have protected his head and face.

Those turtle grandsons were definitely jealous of his beauty!

Going out with such an unsightly face would truly be beneath his dignity, so Lu Chi felt justified in taking leave.

Just as he had sent someone to request leave and returned to sit in his room, grimacing at his pig-like appearance in the mirror, he suddenly heard someone knocking at the door. Lu Chi wasn’t surprised – he could even guess who it was.

Looking at his pitiful appearance in the bronze mirror, Lu Chi got up to open the door.

Sure enough, standing outside wasn’t anyone else but Shi Fa Ke, carrying breakfast to see him.

“Why did you come so early?” Lu Chi smiled at her, but this smile pulled at the wounds on his face, causing him to wince slightly from the pain.

Shi Fa Ke stared blankly at Lu Chi. After one night, his face had become even more swollen and looked even more shocking.

“I brought green bean stewed rice.” Shi Fa Ke woodenly handed him the food box, “I originally planned to bring porridge, but you’re tired of it, aren’t you? So I made the rice softer and easier to digest…”

When she was nervous, she talked more, somewhat making conversation for the sake of it.

Lu Chi took the food box, “Come in.”

Shi Fa Ke followed him into the courtyard. In these few steps, hundreds of thoughts had already run through her mind, but facing such a face, she really couldn’t bring herself to say she wanted him to see Zhu Yanyan once more…

“You certainly can’t go to the academy today. Why don’t I go help you request leave?” Shi Fa Ke walked a few steps with her head down, suddenly said this, and turned to leave.

She was backing out.

Lu Chi caught her, “I already had someone request leave.”

“I see…” Shi Fa Ke looked somewhat awkward.

“If you’re so afraid to see me, why did you come to visit me?” Lu Chi wanted to laugh, but considering his facial injuries, he laughed very restrainedly.

“I didn’t.” Shi Fa Ke instinctively retorted, but when she saw Lu Chi’s face, her momentum immediately deflated. She lowered her head to stare at her toes and said woodenly, “How could I possibly be afraid to see you…”

“Has my face become so ugly that you don’t dare look at it?” Lu Chi asked plaintively.

“No… no!” Shi Fa Ke hurriedly raised her head again, and to prove that he wasn’t so ugly she didn’t dare look, she made an effort to stare at him, “Not ugly, I just… I just…” As she spoke, her head drooped again, somewhat dejected, “…just feel very sorry for you.”

Lu Chi couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to tap her head, “Don’t worry, my face isn’t disfigured. In a few days I’ll return to my original handsome self.”

The way he seriously called himself “handsome,” Shi Fa Ke knew he was deliberately teasing her, so she smiled cooperatively.

“What an ugly smile,” Lu Chi commented.

Then, regardless of how awkward she felt, he turned to sit in the courtyard, opened the food box, and began eating the green bean stewed rice.

The stewed rice contained not only green beans but also preserved meat. The rice was soft and glutinous, with the fresh fragrance of green beans and the distinctive salty aroma of preserved meat. Each bite was particularly comforting.

Shi Fa Ke went into the house to get water, “I originally wanted to make soup, but it wasn’t convenient to carry, so have some water.”

Lu Chi obligingly took the cup and drank some water, seeing her standing beside him like a servant, not sitting down. This posture… wasn’t just about guilt.

Hmm, showing excessive courtesy without reason.

“Speak up, what else is there?” Lu Chi said while leisurely drinking water.

Seeing an opening, Shi Fa Ke quickly struck while the iron was hot, stealing a glance at him and carefully stating her purpose, “Miss Zhu wants to see you once.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Chi “pfft” and spat out his water.

Well, so this was what she was waiting for.

“Hasn’t it already been confirmed that I’m not the lifesaver she’s looking for?” Lu Chi put down his water cup, somewhat displeased.

“Yes… but Yanyan just wants to see you once. After seeing you, she’ll give up.” Shi Fa Ke smiled ingratiatingly.

Her smile could be called extremely fawning.

Not knowing how Zhu Yanyan had convinced Madam Zhu, the lady had actually agreed to let her meet with Lu Chi. Coming to visit Lu Chi today was only one reason – the second was to persuade him to see Zhu Yanyan.

“Yanyan? You two are quite close.” Lu Chi looked at her with some sourness.

Shi Fa Ke smiled even more fawningly.

This smile was truly grating. Lu Chi found it painful to look at and averted his gaze.

“Fine, I agree.” With a light snort, he picked up his chopsticks and lowered his head to eat.

He agreed so easily? Shi Fa Ke immediately beamed with joy, “Young Master Lu, you’re such a good person!”

No, he didn’t want to be a good person at all, thank you.

It was just… he couldn’t bear to see her in difficulty.

Even though she was always putting him in difficult situations!

“Young Master Lu…” Just as he was thinking this, Shi Fa Ke spoke hesitantly again.

“What else?”

“If… I mean if, if Yanyan decided on you and insisted on marrying only you, what would you do?” Shi Fa Ke asked carefully.

Lu Chi raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t this supposed to be the last meeting? How could there still be such a risk? Perhaps we shouldn’t meet after all.”

“No, no, no, I was just talking casually, just casually…” Shi Fa Ke hurried to remedy the situation, but still asked one more question, “Yanyan comes from a scholarly family, is extremely beautiful, and has a gentle and agreeable personality. Why are you… so resistant?”

This was very strange!

Lu Chi smiled coldly, glancing at her meaningfully, “Because I like women with good fortune.”

Shi Fa Ke felt her scalp tingle under his gaze, laughed dryly twice, and ultimately didn’t dare say anything more.

She only sighed inwardly – this taste… really was consistent as always.