Ning Yin was originally too lazy to bother, but this Xue fellow was taking himself too seriously.

“Let me give you a chance to choose, how about that?”

The young man raised his pink-colored eyes and said, “Let’s see how much she weighs in your heart.”

“What—”

Xue Cen’s words were cut short as a swift gust of wind rose before him.

Then a cold glint flashed, and a frigid short blade was pressed against his neck. The blade was as thin as autumn water, cutting off a strand of hair behind his ear that drifted gently to the ground.

Xue Cen pressed tightly against the wall, his entire body frozen, his flushed face quickly draining to pale white.

“Do you want to live, or do you want your second sister?”

Ning Yin held the short blade as if playing some amusing game, unhurried and supremely elegant. “I’ll count to three. One.”

In his twenty years of privileged and refined life, Xue Cen had rarely even spoken harshly, let alone cursed anyone.

Now with a blade at his neck, after a long struggle, he could only stammer out two trembling words: “Shameless!”

Ning Yin narrowed his eyes: “Two.”

“I will report you…”

“One.”

Xue Cen prided himself on his uprightness and dignity, but now all his humility and self-restraint crumbled before this fierce and savage youth.

“Choose to live?”

The cold gleam of the blade reflected in Ning Yin’s eyes, willful and detached.

So this was the childhood friend Yu Lingxi had protected even at the cost of punishing herself with three lashes, this was the Xue Second Young Master she kept in her heart, the one she said killing would be like stabbing her…

Oh, Young Lady, I gave him a chance to choose.

It was he who abandoned you.

“Just a joke, don’t take offense.” Ning Yin’s smile carried both pity and contempt.

Yu Lingxi had forbidden him to kill Xue Cen, so he truly hadn’t killed him.

Just a little scare, nothing serious.

Look how obedient he was now! Ning Yin inwardly praised himself.

But Xue Cen didn’t see it that way.

The thin, cold sensation of the blade still pressed against his neck; he didn’t believe for a moment it was a joke.

For an instant, this youth had truly harbored killing intent, forcing him to choose his will.

His lips trembled, and after a long moment he hoarsely said: “Despicable.”

His insults were limited to just “shameless” and “despicable,” which Ning Yin was already tired of hearing.

“Second Young Master Xue might try some different insults, such as ‘beast,’ ‘animal,’ or ‘wolf’s heart and dog’s lungs’.”

Ning Yin said: “Though compared to someone like you who acts under grand pretenses but is both stupid and incompetent, a real coward, these terms hardly count as insults for me.”

Xue Cen now looked at him as if he were looking at an incomprehensible madman.

“If Second Young Master wishes to meddle again in the future, perhaps recall today’s choice.”

Ning Yin twirled his fingertip, withdrawing the blade into his sleeve, and said with composed grace, “Ask yourself again, are you worthy?”

Xue Cen’s face was deathly pale. If anyone else had mocked him this way, he would certainly have argued back, asking if they could make a better choice than he had.

But this youth had once single-handedly chased down Yu Second Young Lady’s crazed horse during the spring hunt, and at the moment she fell from the cliff, had risked death to protect her, using his blood to save her life when it hung by a thread…

But did loving someone require comparing who was more ruthless and savage?

For a full ten years, he had watched the Second Sister grow from a tiny little girl into the graceful young woman she was now. If she were in danger, he would unhesitatingly step forward to help, protecting her in his way… the choice the other had given had no practical meaning.

How could such an unscrupulous youth be a good match for Second Sister?

To allow those bright eyes of hers to rest upon another man, Xue Cen was unwilling.

“Aiya… why am I lying on the ground? Ow, why does my chest hurt so much, as if someone stepped heavily on it?”

The servant boy who had been knocked unconscious slowly awoke, caught sight of the rigid Xue Cen nearby, and hastily rose, saying, “Second Young Master, why do you look so unwell? Where is that guard?”

Xue Cen maintained his dignified and refined bearing, though his eyes now held a defeated weariness. He closed his eyes and said: “Return to the manor.”

He was determined to investigate the true background of that youth.

A quarter of an hour later.

The candy in his mouth dissolved, and Ning Yin followed the direction where the kite had fallen, standing outside the back door of a household.

Looking over the wall, he saw a large ginkgo tree in the courtyard with lush branches and dense leaves, with the blue phoenix kite helplessly hanging on the uppermost branch.

The wall was low, and Ning Yin leaped over it effortlessly, walking to the trunk of the ginkgo tree, which was as thick as a person’s embrace, and lightly pressed his hand against the rough bark.

With a pat of his palm, the trunk shook, and the kite fell along with the rustling leaves, swaying down into his palm.

He frowned slightly, making a regretful clicking sound: the wing bone was broken and would need some time to repair.

From a distance came the sound of pattering footsteps—it was the child of the household running over with a pinwheel, who stopped in his tracks upon seeing the strange young man in the courtyard.

“Little child, if others saw me doing bad things, they would lose their lives.”

Ning Yin placed the kite behind his back, his voice chillingly cold.

The child sniffled and stared at him, biting his finger.

“But I’m in a hurry to get back and make repairs, so I don’t eat children.”

Ning Yin raised one finger to the child in a gesture of silence.

Then he opened the door and walked out boldly.

…

Tomorrow would be the Dragon Boat Festival, and the servants were hanging wormwood at the entrance and sprinkling realgar.

Every year at this time, Madam Yu would order the kitchen to wrap many rice dumplings to be distributed along with reward money to the manor’s servants and maids.

The servants and laborers lined up to receive their rewards, making the front courtyard extremely lively.

With nothing else to do, Yu Lingxi had personally woven five longevity threads, giving one to each family member.

The remaining one, she tucked into her sleeve.

The hour of Si had arrived, and today happened to be the last day for taking the medicine.

Although her body no longer felt feverish today, to be safe, it would be better to finish the last pill.

Yu Lingxi knew that with Ning Yin’s personality, he would certainly disdain going to the front courtyard to celebrate with everyone else. After some thought, she had the maids prepare a few hot rice dumplings and a pot of sweet flag wine, packed them in a food box, and personally carried them to the back courtyard.

When Yu Lingxi entered, Ning Yin was carefully washing his hands, and on the table sat a jar of cooled paste, along with brushes, paper, and other items.

“Wei Qi, why are you making paste?” Yu Lingxi gently placed the food box on the table and asked curiously.

Ning Yin did not answer, only lightly shook the water from his hands, and sat down, saying: “Take it yourself.”

Yu Lingxi knew he was referring to today’s dose of the antidote.

She stared at Ning Yin’s pale, thin lips for a moment, then finally held her breath slightly and leaned across the table toward Ning Yin.

She thought the “taking” method would be the same as yesterday, but when her lips lightly touched his, she found nothing between his teeth or lips.

Ning Yin’s breath momentarily stilled, and then he laughed in a muffled way.

Yu Lingxi, who usually caught geese, had now been pecked by one—having misunderstood for the first time, she raised her eyes with reddened earlobes, as captivating as a hook.

She retreated slightly, pursed her lips, and snorted: “You’re fooling me?”

“Young Lady pounces on me recklessly to take liberties, then turns around and blames me—how unreasonable.”

Ning Yin blinked very slowly, raising his wet hands to show his innocence. “My hands are wet; I just wanted Young Lady to take the medicine herself.”

Giving her medicine would have been a simple matter, yet he had to make such a production of it.

Yu Lingxi sighed helplessly and asked softly: “Where is it?”

Ning Yin lowered his eyes: “In my bosom.”

Yu Lingxi reached out, feeling inside his collar.

“Higher, more to the left.”

Ning Yin hissed, “Where is Young Lady touching?”

“I didn’t! I haven’t even touched you.”

He made it sound like something when there was nothing, and Yu Lingxi gave him a soft, annoyed look.

Having finally obtained the medicine bottle, Yu Lingxi let out a breath of relief and sat up straight.

She poured the pill out and swallowed it in one breath, but was still choked by the momentary intense bitterness, hastily pouring a cup of tea to drink and wash down the pill.

Ning Yin lost the opportunity to “physically” help ease her bitterness, his fingertips rubbing together in a rather regretful manner.

Yu Lingxi pretended not to see his little thoughts, and after recovering from the bitter taste, she brought out the rice dumplings and sweet flag wine, placing them on the table.

“Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival; I’ve specially invited you to celebrate together.”

As she spoke, Yu Lingxi touched her sleeve and said softly, “Hold out your hand.”

Ning Yin tilted his head, not knowing what little scheme she was planning now.

But he obediently extended his left hand, resting it flat on the table.

Yu Lingxi’s sharp eyes noticed that the apricot-white ribbon on his left wrist was gone. Thinking carefully, she realized she hadn’t seen the ribbon on his wrist for several days.

So she casually asked: “Where is your keepsake?”

Ning Yin immediately understood, slowly raised his eyes to look at her, and said: “Threw it away.”

Yu Lingxi found it quite amusing.

If he had thrown it away, his expression would certainly have been very indifferent, not like this—watching for her reaction.

But since he wasn’t wearing that ribbon around, reminding her of what had happened in the Golden Cloud Temple’s secret chamber over ten days ago, Yu Lingxi was grateful.

She smiled faintly, blinking her eyelashes, and said: “If you threw it away, then fine. I’ll give you something better.”

With that, she took out the longevity thread hidden in her sleeve and gently tied it around Ning Yin’s wrist.

His skin was a cold white, and the five-colored longevity thread tied around his wrist had an indescribable elegance.

Ning Yin lowered his eyelids, staring unblinkingly at her nimble, delicate fingertips, and asked: “Did Young Lady make this?”

Yu Lingxi frankly answered with an “Mm.”

“Yesterday you told me to figure things out myself, and while making this longevity thread, I did think about it a bit.”

She lowered her eyelashes, carefully tying the string knot for Ning Yin. “Nothing major happened in the manor yesterday, just the servants and maids idly gossiping about my marriage prospects, which I have already reprimanded them for…”

The hand resting on the table tightened slightly, rubbing the fingertips.

Yu Lingxi took in his barely perceptible small reaction and continued: “I have no plans to marry anytime soon, and in this lifetime, I probably won’t like any other man again. With Xue Second Young Master, there is only the brotherly and sisterly affection of childhood friends.”

The hand that had been rubbing its fingertips paused, changing to leisurely tapping on the table, one tap after another.

“Why does Young Lady explain these things?”

Ning Yin propped up his head to look at her, his tone indifferent, but warmer by quite a bit, not as cold and piercing as yesterday.

“There’s no harm in explaining, what if someone took it seriously?”

Yu Lingxi held back a smile, lifting her eyes to meet Ning Yin’s deep gaze. “There, done.”

Ning Yin raised his hand, swaying the longevity thread on his wrist.

A longevity thread worn by someone as wicked as him was practically a mockery of the gods.

But it felt quite nice.

“Flashy,” he complained, though his eyes caught the five colors, spreading into a faint arc.

“Even the flashiest things look good on you,” Yu Lingxi hummed.

This was not flattery, but the truth from both her lifetimes.

Ning Yin swayed the knotted thread again and laughed softly: “The three days of medicine weren’t wasted; Young Lady’s mouth has become sweeter.”

Recalling those two heart-pounding methods of administering medicine, Yu Lingxi’s cheeks grew warm.

She cleared her throat, trying to steer the conversation in a more proper direction: “For the Dragon Boat Festival, one should drink sweet flag wine. This is newly brewed from the Wangrui Tower—hurry and taste it.”

Today Ning Yin seemed to be in a very good mood and was quite accommodating. Following her words, he took out the wine pot and poured a cup of wine—

Using the very cup Yu Lingxi had just used for tea.

“Hey, that’s my—”

Yu Lingxi was about to remind him to use a new cup when she saw Ning Yin pick up the wine, turn the cup, and place his lips exactly where her faint lip rouge had left a mark, taking a sip.

That lip rouge imprint overlapped with Ning Yin’s lips, leaving a subtle, brilliant color, which was then tasted by his tongue.

“…already used cup.” Yu Lingxi finished her sentence in a daze.