A thirteen or fourteen-year-old youth emerged from the other end of the bamboo grove.

The youth wore a bamboo-green shirt, had thick eyebrows and large eyes, red lips and white teeth, with a servant of similar age following behind him.

“Cousin Brother Tianyu?” Qiao Wan frowned, looking very unwilling to see the youth.

Hearing the voice, Qiao Zhao, who had her back to the youth at the edge of the bamboo grove, paused in her movements, then continued with the needles even more quickly.

The person talking to Wanwan should be Cousin Brother Kou Tianyu.

This cousin brother had quite an age gap with her. When she had previously come to the capital, each time was just a hurried meeting. Thinking about it now, she even felt somewhat unclear about what Little Cousin Brother looked like.

Kou Tianyu didn’t notice Qiao Zhao and the other person at first, walking toward Qiao Wan with a stern face: “Wanwan, you’re still young. Running around everywhere by yourself – what if you got lost? That would be troublesome. You mustn’t do this in the future, understand?”

Qiao Wan pouted: “I’m not alone. I came with Big Brother.”

Cousin Brother Tianyu was really annoying, always lecturing her with a stern face, even more serious than Big Brother, when he was only a little bit taller than her.

“Oh, where is Cousin Brother?” Kou Tianyu was startled.

The servant beside him tugged at Kou Tianyu’s sleeve: “Young Master, Cousin Young Master is over there. Eh, there’s also a young lady—”

The servant immediately became excited.

It was a young lady!

Could it be that the scene from storybooks where young masters and ladies secretly meet was being so luckily witnessed by him?

Qiao Zhao had already withdrawn the needles and nodded slightly to Qiao Mo.

Kou Tianyu frowned but didn’t curiously walk over like an ordinary youth his age would. Instead, he stood in place, waiting silently.

When Qiao Mo walked over, the youth didn’t even glance at Qiao Zhao, saying with a serious face: “Cousin Brother, it’s wrong for you to meet with a girl here.”

Qiao Mo: “…”

Qiao Zhao: “…”

The siblings thought in unison: This must be someone else’s cousin brother – his tone was too irritating!

Seeing Qiao Mo speechless, the youth was rather satisfied with his cousin’s attitude and added: “A graceful lady is a gentleman’s good match – I can understand that. If Cousin Brother wants to meet, next time please don’t bring Wanwan, since Wanwan is still young.”

Qiao Mo raised his hand and patted Kou Tianyu’s head: “I understand. Cousin Brother’s lesson is correct.”

The youth quickly glanced at Qiao Zhao, his face rapidly turning red.

How could Cousin Brother do this, actually touching his head in front of a woman!

Qiao Zhao looked sympathetically at her elder brother, thinking: Having such a cousin brother around all the time, and Big Brother could still maintain his good temper – that wasn’t easy.

Just as she was thinking this, unexpectedly the youth looked toward her, examining her with scrutinizing eyes before nodding: “Miss, though your private meeting with my cousin brother is somewhat improper, your ability to not judge by appearance shows decent character.”

The youth nodded with a profound expression and walked away.

Qiao Zhao and Qiao Mo looked at each other.

“Your cous… oh, I mean Big Brother Qiao’s cousin brother, is he always like this?”

How hadn’t this little brat been beaten to death yet?

Qiao Mo nodded while suppressing laughter: “Cousin Brother has a serious personality. Miss Li will get used to it.”

“Speaking of others behind their backs is not gentlemanly behavior!” Kou Tianyu had somehow reappeared before the two.

“Why did Cousin Brother return after leaving?”

“I came to see the fawns. I just forgot.” After saying this, the youth walked toward the fawns, not forgetting to call out, “Erniu, come here.”

Completely acting like “I’m standing here enjoying the scenery, please carry on.”

“Cousin Brother—”

Kou Tianyu turned back with a serious face: “Cousin Brother, please rest assured, I will keep your secret.”

Footsteps sounded, followed by Kou Qinglan’s surprised voice: “Tianyu, what are you doing here?”

“Erniu said Elder Sister’s deer gave birth to twins, but I checked the records – deer should have single births. To prove Erniu wrong, I came to verify.” The youth explained.

“But there are two fawns born.” Second Miss Kou’s train of thought was instantly derailed by her brother.

“Right, because I forgot about the existence of twins.” After the youth finished speaking, his thick eyebrows rose: “Why is Second Sister here?”

Kou Qinglan was stumped.

Why was she here? Wasn’t it all Third Miss Li’s fault?

Just now when she ran back, she found a maid and quietly called Elder Sister aside to tell her what happened here. Who knew Elder Sister would actually say “don’t use those you doubt, don’t doubt those you use” and told her to just bring Third Miss Li back. This made her seem wrong on all sides, and more terrifyingly, she was caught red-handed by Little Brother!

“Second Cousin Sister was here all along.” Qiao Wan interjected.

“Hmm?” Kou Tianyu stared at his sister, his expression suddenly darkening: “So Second Sister is a matchmaker!”

“No, no, Tianyu, let me explain!”

“Explain what? Second Sister needn’t deceive me. I’ve read storybooks – when great family daughters mess around with impoverished scholars and end up abandoned tragically, the maid matchmaker is the real culprit! Second Sister, this is wrong of you, do you know…”

The youth instantly entered chatterbox mode. Miss Qiao looked shocked, murmuring: “Big Brother, so Cousin Brother was already being very polite to you earlier.”

“That’s right—” Qiao Mo suddenly stopped, his gaze deepening as he stared at Qiao Zhao: “What did you just call me?”

Qiao Zhao’s heart tightened, knowing she had misspoken, but maintained a nonchalant expression: “I called you Big Brother, of course. Didn’t Big Brother Qiao agree I could call you that?”

Mm, calling him “Big Brother” was still more natural and comforting.

Qiao Mo’s lips moved.

Miss Li’s words sounded fine, but “Big Brother” and “Big Brother Qiao” were different. The instant he heard “Big Brother” just now, his usual composure nearly crumbled.

Pressing an unfamiliar girl for details was something Qiao Mo considered very rude, yet he did it anyway: “Did Miss Li just call Tianyu cousin brother?”

Miss Qiao decided to be shameless to the end: “Isn’t that young master Big Brother Qiao’s cousin brother?”

What she said was completely correct, but why did you call him a cousin brother?

Qiao Mo persistently questioned, expressing this meaning tactfully.

Qiao Zhao replied without changing expression: “It’s an abbreviation.”

Qiao Mo was completely at a loss.

Kou Qinglan suddenly rushed over, grabbing Qiao Zhao’s hand and running: “Sorry, I need to take Miss Li to find Elder Sister!”

Little Brother’s rambling could go on for another hour. She’d be crazy not to run.

Qiao Zhao was dragged forward by Kou Qinglan holding her wrist, only able to turn back and hastily gesture the number “three” to Qiao Mo.

Qiao Mo nodded in understanding, inexplicably feeling somewhat disappointed: Though it wasn’t quite appropriate, since Miss Li was already calling him Big Brother Qiao, he should probably ask her name too.

“Big Brother, I’m thirsty. Let’s go back too.” Qiao Wan tugged at Qiao Mo’s sleeve.

Qiao Mo took Qiao Wan’s hand: “Cousin Brother, I’m taking Wanwan back then.”

“Cousin Brother, please do as you wish.”

After Qiao Mo left with Qiao Wan, only the youth and the servant remained before the bamboo grove. The youth said leisurely, “Erniu, about today’s events, remember to keep them secret, understand?”