“Miss Zhu, you truly have mistaken me for someone else.” He sighed, feeling somewhat reluctant to be harsh.

Zhu Yanyan immediately stopped and slowly lowered her head.

Seeing Zhu Yanyan hang her head without speaking, Shi Fa Ke and the wet nurse immediately felt their hearts rise to their throats. Shi Fa Ke even kept signaling Lu Chi with her eyes, trying to get him to be more tactful or offer some comfort. Lu Chi was almost amused by her antics.

“Wet nurse, Ah Ke, may I speak with Young Master Lu alone for a moment?”

Suddenly, Zhu Yanyan spoke softly.

Though her voice was quiet, it was very firm, carrying a tone that brooked no refusal.

“Absolutely not!” The wet nurse immediately stood up, as if facing a great enemy. “Young miss, you promised Madam…”

“Just for a short while.” Zhu Yanyan looked up at the wet nurse with pleading eyes, her gaze watery, as if she would cry if the wet nurse didn’t agree.

The wet nurse had never been able to maintain a firm stance against her young miss, especially when looked at with such tearful eyes. Unsurprisingly, she relented.

“Just a short while… We’ll be right outside in the courtyard. If anything happens, just call out.” The wet nurse said somewhat conflicted, pulling Shi Fa Ke along as they walked out, closing the door behind them.

Lu Chi’s mouth twitched. What could possibly happen?

After the wet nurse and Shi Fa Ke left, the room suddenly became quiet.

“Does Miss Zhu have something to say to me?” This time, Lu Chi’s attitude softened considerably, and he took the initiative to break the silence.

Zhu Yanyan stared at him intently, as if brewing something, or perhaps suppressing something.

Lu Chi didn’t understand what she wanted to do, so he simply closed his mouth again.

“Young Master Lu, I know you have unavoidable difficulties. Now that there are only the two of us in this room, we might as well speak plainly.” Zhu Yanyan looked at him and suddenly spoke. Her eyes were bright, as if they could burn someone. She stared tightly at Lu Chi and said softly, “You’re from Feiqiong Stronghold on Thousand Cliff Mountain, aren’t you?”

Lu Chi immediately raised his eyebrows, making no attempt to hide his surprise. She… actually knew?

“To cover this up, you clearly possess martial arts but pretend to be powerless.” Zhu Yanyan looked at him with certainty. “I recognize the tattoo on your hand. You may deceive others, but you cannot deceive me.”

“And you still dare to meet me?” Lu Chi looked at this seemingly frail young woman before him and finally showed a trace of interest.

This Miss Zhu had remarkably bold courage.

Weren’t these sheltered young ladies supposed to be extremely well-behaved and rule-abiding?

“You promised to marry me. Why wouldn’t I dare meet you?” Zhu Yanyan met his gaze directly, her bright eyes sparkling without any evasion.

“Knowing I’m from Feiqiong Stronghold on Thousand Cliff Mountain, you still want to marry me?” Lu Chi asked curiously.

Zhu Yanyan thought he wanted to break his promise and immediately became anxious, reaching into her collar to pull out a jade pendant that never left her side. “You promised to marry me and even gave me a token. You can’t go back on your word.”

Lu Chi immediately recognized the jade pendant as something that belonged to his mother, matching the jade bracelet on Shi Fa Ke’s wrist – both were items meant for daughters-in-law.

“Do you think your parents would agree to let you become a bandit chief’s wife?” Lu Chi smiled meaningfully.

The four words “bandit chief’s wife” made Zhu Yanyan’s cheeks flush red. She pressed on despite her embarrassment, “I have my ways. So you agree to marry me?”

…

“Why aren’t they coming out yet?” In the courtyard, the wet nurse paced anxiously in circles, unable to resist pressing her head against the door to listen to what was happening inside.

With a man and woman alone in a room, if word got out, what would happen to her young miss’s reputation…

Shi Fa Ke was also quite curious and couldn’t help but join in eavesdropping.

Just as she pressed her ear to the door, she heard Lu Chi’s voice from inside.

“Miss Zhu, rest assured. I will choose an auspicious day to formally propose marriage.”

His voice was gentle and pleasant to hear.

Shi Fa Ke was stunned.

Just then, the door inside suddenly opened.

Shi Fa Ke and the wet nurse, who had been pressed against the door eavesdropping, couldn’t stop in time and tumbled inside head first.

“Young miss…” The wet nurse steadied herself and smiled somewhat sheepishly. “Is everything settled?”

Zhu Yanyan’s expression seemed somewhat dazed. “Probably… settled.”

“So this matter is over?” The wet nurse hadn’t heard much earlier and asked tentatively.

“How could it be over? He… he’s going to marry me!” Zhu Yanyan’s voice rose slightly.

The wet nurse was stunned and looked suspiciously at Lu Chi.

Shi Fa Ke also unconsciously looked toward Lu Chi.

Lu Chi smiled slightly, “Yes, I’ll send word home immediately. Once my elder brother arrives, we’ll choose an auspicious day to formally propose marriage.”

Upon hearing the words “elder brother,” Zhu Yanyan’s face couldn’t help but redden, but the wet nurse and Shi Fa Ke didn’t think much of it, assuming she was just being shy.

However, why wait for his elder brother to arrive? Shouldn’t it be his parents?

The wet nurse was speechless. “Didn’t you say it couldn’t work… This isn’t child’s play…”

“Wet nurse.” Zhu Yanyan glanced at the wet nurse.

The wet nurse immediately fell silent awkwardly. What could she do when her young miss was set on something? Even Madam couldn’t oppose the young miss.

From beginning to end, Zhu Yanyan never dared to look at Lu Chi again. Supported by the wet nurse, she walked away unsteadily, even forgetting to bid farewell to Shi Fa Ke.

…Something seemed not quite right.

But what exactly was wrong, Shi Fa Ke couldn’t figure out for the moment.

“Ah Ke.” Behind her, Lu Chi suddenly spoke.

“Hmm?” Shi Fa Ke instinctively looked at him.

“Since one person shouldn’t be troubled with two tasks, I’ll trouble you with this marriage arrangement.” Lu Chi smiled slightly and cupped his hands.

Shi Fa Ke was stunned. If she successfully arranged this marriage, she would certainly become famous, as it was the marriage of the Zhu family’s eldest daughter – a good assignment that ordinary matchmakers couldn’t even dream of obtaining. But… why didn’t she feel excited or happy?

What exactly had they discussed in the room? Why had Lu Chi’s attitude changed so drastically? Shi Fa Ke couldn’t figure it out.

Seeing Shi Fa Ke’s confused expression, Lu Chi’s eyes showed a hint of rather cunning amusement.

Just like that, the marriage between Lu Chi and Zhu Yanyan seemed to be set in stone.

That evening when everyone returned home, seeing Shi Fa Ke’s absent-minded appearance, they all guessed that the marriage proposal had probably failed, so they considerately didn’t mention it.

Third Brother Shi was curious and wanted to ask, but was stopped by Father’s death stare.

During dinner, seeing his precious daughter only focusing on eating with her head down, too lazy even to pick up dishes, Shi Changhuai immediately frowned and winked at Tao Shi.

Tao Shi rolled her eyes at him. People say doting mothers spoil children, but their family was the opposite. Although she thought this daughter was always overconfident, even boasting about surpassing her betters, a little setback to temper her character would be good. But seeing her daughter’s wilted appearance, like an eggplant hit by frost, she still felt somewhat reluctant. So she cleared her throat and said, “Matchmaking, matchmaking – it doesn’t depend entirely on the matchmaker’s words, but also on both parties’ circumstances. This kind of thing really can’t be forced… Well, if you have nothing to do these next few days, why don’t you come with me to the government office to have a look?”

This was quite earnest and heartfelt.

Shi Fa Ke came back to her senses and blinked. She had been distracted and only heard the latter half – Mother actually said she would take her to see the government office? Hmm… Normally she would be delighted, but right now…

“No, I’ll be very busy for the next period.” Shi Fa Ke shook her head and declined.

“What are you busy with?” Seeing her stubborn act, Shi Chonghai couldn’t help but mock her. As soon as these words left his mouth, he received Father’s death stare again. Shi Chonghai shrank his neck and acted like a quail, not daring to say more.

“Busy with the Zhu family’s wedding,” Shi Fa Ke replied.

“What?!” The response was a chorus of surprised voices from the whole family.

“Uh… what’s wrong?” Shi Fa Ke blinked.

“The Zhu family’s wedding? With whom?” Tao Shi asked incredulously.

“The wedding between Miss Zhu and Young Master Lu,” Shi Fa Ke said matter-of-factly. “Didn’t you all know?”

Today, to arrange the meeting between Zhu Yanyan and Lu Chi and to consider Zhu Yanyan’s feelings, the entire house had been cleared out. Even Third Brother Shi, who had been staying home recently, was forced to relocate.

“This marriage… actually succeeded?” Tao Shi was extremely surprised.

“Yes, it succeeded.” Shi Fa Ke nodded.

“Then why do you look so absent-minded?” Suddenly, Third Brother Shi asked meaningfully.