For half the day, Chang Yuncheng had been hovering around Qi Yue with that strange smile and strange tone of voice, making Qi Yue’s skin crawl. Taking advantage of when he went to the privy, Qi Yue quickly summoned the maids.

“From yesterday afternoon until I returned, the Lord didn’t suffer any shock, did he?” she asked in a low voice.

Qiu Xiang didn’t know what to say to this question, but Que Zhi’s eyes lit up.

“Young Madam, when the Lord returned yesterday, he had the scent of cosmetics on him,” she said in a low voice.

Qiu Xiang and A’Ru were startled by her words. What was this dead girl trying to do!

“What nonsense are you talking? There are so many women in the household, and every room burns incense. Which young master doesn’t have a fragrant scent on him?” Qiu Xiang quickly said.

“But the Lord came back from outside, and he went drinking with Young Master Fan. They were outside…” Que Zhi was about to continue when A’Ru beside her reached out and pinched her hard, stopping her in time.

How could these little maids’ thoughts and schemes escape Qi Yue’s notice? She laughed heartily.

“What are you laughing at?” Chang Yuncheng came out and asked.

Qi Yue waved her hand, and the three quickly withdrew.

As soon as they left, A’Ru and Qiu Xiang pulled Que Zhi into a room.

“Sisters, I was thinking of the Young Madam’s good too…” Que Zhi said fearfully, seeing the two maids’ expressions.

“Good? The Lord and Young Madam are just getting along better, and you say this. Do you want the Young Madam and Lord to fight again?” A’Ru scolded coldly.

“Exactly, only you have such a sharp nose. Can’t I smell? What were you rushing to say?” Qiu Xiang was also full of anger. Thinking of something, she looked Que Zhi up and down. “Also, when did you get close to the Lord?”

“I, I was serving tea to the Lord…” Que Zhi said sheepishly.

“Didn’t I say that when the Young Madam isn’t around, none of you are allowed to enter the Lord’s room?” A’Ru’s expression became even uglier as she looked Que Zhi up and down.

Que Zhi felt uneasy under her gaze.

“No, no. I really want the Young Madam and Lord to get along well. I was reminding the Young Madam so that the Lord wouldn’t be bewitched by outsiders…” she said hurriedly, her face alternating between pale and red with urgency. “How could I not want them to get along? If the Lord and Young Madam don’t get along, what good would I have!”

A’Ru looked at her and nodded.

“Good that you know. If the Young Madam isn’t well, none of us will have it easy,” she said.

Que Zhi nodded repeatedly.

“Also, I hope you won’t forget what I’ve said again,” A’Ru continued, looking at Que Zhi with a stern face. “If there’s a next time…”

“There won’t be, there won’t be. There won’t be a next time,” Que Zhi said hurriedly.

While the maids went out to talk, in the room Qi Yue looked at Chang Yuncheng and smiled.

“What are you laughing at?” Chang Yuncheng felt uncomfortable under her smile.

“How did you end up drinking with Young Master Fan?” Qi Yue laughed, propping her chin on her hand as she looked at him.

“Why can’t I drink with him?” Chang Yuncheng frowned.

“Didn’t they say birds of a feather flock together?” Qi Yue smiled.

Chang Yuncheng was about to glare when he remembered Fan Yilin’s guidance.

Don’t always glare. Your eyes are big, and glaring is very scary. Women are all timid and love to overthink. Even when nothing’s wrong, they can imagine something is wrong when you glare… So squint instead. Squinting makes you look more… approachable…

Chang Yuncheng’s half-glare slowly turned into a squint.

Qi Yue had been watching him the whole time, so she clearly saw the change. She was first dumbfounded, then burst into laughter.

Chang Yuncheng’s face immediately flushed red from her laughter.

“What are you laughing at, you damned woman! Would it kill you to speak properly!” he slammed the table and shouted, instantly forgetting Fan Yilin’s words.

Qi Yue continued laughing loudly.

“What are you up to, you guy?” she laughed. “Would it kill you to speak properly?”

Chang Yuncheng swept his sleeves and walked away.

Qi Yue quickly stepped forward to grab him.

“Alright, alright, I won’t laugh at you anymore,” she said, suppressing her mouth. Then she burst out laughing again.

Chang Yuncheng swept his sleeves.

Qi Yue held on.

“Alright, alright, I really won’t laugh anymore. I understand your intentions,” she said. “I forgive you.”

“Do I need your forgiveness? Besides, when did I offend you?” Chang Yuncheng turned to look at her.

Qi Yue smiled and patted her chest.

“Alright, back to normal. Now that’s what you should say,” she laughed, while giving Chang Yuncheng a meaningful look. “Don’t learn from that boy.”

Chang Yuncheng’s face went from blue to red to white.

This damned woman… had been watching him make a fool of himself all along.

Qi Yue patted his arm, smiled with pursed lips, and turned to walk away.

“Oh right,” she stopped and turned to look at Chang Yuncheng with a smile. “I still prefer you this way.”

Chang Yuncheng felt like thunder crashed in his head.

She… what did she say…

That feeling of insects crawling all over his body came again.

After saying this, Qi Yue herself didn’t feel much, but seeing this young man’s somewhat clumsy attempts to change and please her stirred an indescribable feeling in her heart. Perhaps it was because she was older, so expressing her feelings honestly wasn’t a big deal, or perhaps seeing this man was even more easily embarrassed than herself made her less shy instead.

She had only walked a few steps with a smile when she was suddenly embraced tightly from behind.

The embrace was so forceful it made her cough twice.

The man behind her was radiating heat all over, as if he had just taken a hot bath.

He seemed to want to say something but could only make inarticulate sounds.

Because she was facing away and couldn’t see each other’s faces, it didn’t feel as tense.

Qi Yue’s face reddened slightly.

“Well, hitting you was somewhat rash, but it can’t be considered wrong. Let’s consider this matter over…” she said slowly.

Chang Yuncheng couldn’t hear what she was saying. His ears and heart were bubbling, with the soft and fragrant person filling his embrace, and for the first time she wasn’t struggling or resisting.

Although this woman said she didn’t buy his act, it seemed those words and behaviors had taken effect after all…

Was it finally over?

“Then, let’s go to bed,” he said hoarsely, his hands moving upward, accurately covering those two plump, round peaches. Grasping them from this position was even better than before, feeling as if juice was flowing and fragrance filled his hands.

A’Ru and Qiu Xiang had just sent Que Zhi away from the courtyard and were turning back when they heard Qi Yue’s scream from the main room, followed immediately by crashing sounds.

The two exchanged glances, seeing each other’s helplessness.

Here we go again…

Fan Yilin received word from a servant and took leave from his wife, mother-in-law, and father-in-law one by one.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t meddle in other people’s marital affairs,” his wife instructed.

“Young people should watch their words,” his mother-in-law said, squinting as she fingered her prayer beads.

“Say what you should say, drink when you shouldn’t say anything. Don’t cause trouble for me,” his father-in-law glared and barked.

Three people, three sentences, expressing the same meaning.

This made Fan Yilin very depressed. Was he really the type who didn’t watch his words? He was so good at talking!

He had managed to go from the fierce Lord not even wanting to look at him to personally inviting him for drinks in just one day. Wasn’t this enough to prove his charm?

In the private room, Chang Yuncheng had been sitting for quite a while. The dishes in front of him were untouched, but he had already drunk quite a bit.

“The Young Madam still won’t reconcile?” Fan Yilin was very surprised, looking at his expression.

Impossible. How could his experience be useless?

“You could say we reconciled,” Chang Yuncheng said in a muffled voice, pouring more wine.

Fan Yilin breathed a sigh of relief. I knew it. How could it not work?

“Then?” he asked, puzzled again.

Chang Yuncheng drained his cup without speaking.

Fan Yilin looked at his gloomy face and understood in an instant.

“The Young Madam still won’t let you get close?” he asked in a low voice.

Had this matter really become common knowledge?

Had he, Chang Yuncheng, already become the laughingstock of all Yongqing Prefecture?

Chang Yuncheng slammed his wine cup heavily on the table.

Fan Yilin was startled but got his answer.

“Aiya, aiya. What’s this?” he quickly laughed, personally coming over to pour wine for Chang Yuncheng. “This clearly shows the woman is being shy.”

Shy?

Chang Yuncheng was stunned.

Fan Yilin coughed, his eyes sparkling.

“Yes, just now?” he winked and asked.

Chang Yuncheng knew what he was asking. His wine-flushed face reddened slightly. This kind of thing…

“Mm,” he made a noncommittal sound.

Fan Yilin grinned.

“So, she said no, you just didn’t, and then came out?” he asked in a low voice again.

What else could he do?

Chang Yuncheng glared at him.

Fan Yilin shook his head with clicking sounds, unable to help laughing.

Young people… so young…

“Someone, someone,” he suddenly clapped and called out.

A servant immediately entered.

“Go quickly, go call those two beauties from Zuixian Pavilion that young master mentioned,” Fan Yilin said, rubbing his hands with a smile.

The servant was startled and gave Fan Yilin meaningful looks.

Young master, we’ve long run out of pocket money, and those two beauties young master mentioned are very expensive. Are we going on credit?

If the old master finds out, won’t he break your legs…

Fan Yilin naturally understood the servant’s expression and gave him meaningful looks back, glancing toward Chang Yuncheng.

Isn’t there someone to pay here… Hurry, if you miss this village, there won’t be this shop…

The servant understood and left happily.

“Why call those women again for no reason? So noisy,” Chang Yuncheng frowned.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. This time they’re not coming to sing,” Fan Yilin laughed, grinning at Chang Yuncheng. “Lord, how do you… how do you with the Young Madam… you know?”

What kind of talk is this! How dare he ask! Chang Yuncheng held his wine cup and squinted at him.

This man was scary when glaring and also scary when squinting. Fan Yilin couldn’t help but shrink his head.

Soon, with a chorus of melodious voices and a wave of fragrance, two gorgeously dressed women entered.

Fan Yilin, following the principle of teacher’s precedence, chose his favorite for himself, then sent the other to Chang Yuncheng.

“Come, beauty, let’s share a drink…” Fan Yilin was overjoyed, embracing the courtesan and drinking mouth to mouth.

Chang Yuncheng’s expression showed some impatience.

“Young… master…” the courtesan beside him also tried to follow suit and lean forward, but Chang Yuncheng glared at her, frightening her so much she swallowed her words.

Over there, Fan Yilin and the courtesan were pressed face to face, entwined together. The man’s flirtation and woman’s coquetry made the atmosphere in the room sultry.