How they were exposed, Yu Jin couldn’t figure out for the life of him. Of course, that wasn’t important right now – what mattered was how to get through this predicament.
“I didn’t know Young Master Yu could act,” Jiang Si coldly remarked, pinching Yu Jin’s sleeve.
Yu Jin blinked. “Well… does this count as intimate contact between us?”
Jiang Si’s face flushed, and she hurriedly let go of Yu Jin’s sleeve.
Since his act of playing pitiful had been exposed, he might as well return to his true colors. Yu Jin smiled slightly and shamelessly said, “You were the one who initiated it, though.”
“Yu Qi!” Jiang Si was furious. “Do you have no shame?”
“None at all,” Yu Jin grinned, moving closer to Jiang Si. Suddenly, he lowered his voice, “I only want you.”
Why would he need a face if he could have Si’er?
“I only want you…”
Hearing these words, almost like a murmur, Jiang Si’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She felt a sense of panic, as if there was nowhere to escape, momentarily forgetting to push away the person approaching her.
Looking at the young woman so close to him, Yu Jin lightly licked his lips, feeling an impulse to steal a kiss.
He wondered if kissing Si’er’s rosy cheek would earn him one slap or two.
Never mind, he’d kiss her first and deal with the consequences later…
Yu Jin lowered his head further but suddenly stopped.
No, there was still blood on his face. It would make Si’er uncomfortable.
Though he had stopped, Jiang Si reflexively swung a slap at him.
With a loud smack, Yu Jin gently caught Jiang Si’s wrist and complained pitifully, “Even if Miss Jiang thinks I’m acting, you shouldn’t slap my face.”
He should have kissed her after all. Now he got slapped for nothing.
“Don’t talk about acting. Just now, you-“
“What about just now?” He wouldn’t admit to anything since he hadn’t kissed her.
Jiang Si was stumped by the question, biting her lip and unable to speak for a moment.
Yu Jin put on a look of sudden realization: “Miss Jiang, you didn’t misunderstand that I was going to kiss you, did you?”
Jiang Si’s face darkened, feeling even more embarrassed.
This scoundrel, every time she was around him, she ended up at a disadvantage. She’d better leave.
Jiang Si shook off Yu Jin’s hand and turned to leave without a word, but a strong force pulled her back.
Caught off guard, Jiang Si bumped into his body.
“Let go of me!”
“Shh-” Yu Jin suddenly winked, and before Jiang Si could react, he lowered his head and pressed his thin lips against her cheek, which was as beautiful as a flower.
The kiss was as light as a dragonfly touching water, fleeting, but both of them trembled at the same time, able to hear each other’s thunderous heartbeats.
After a brief and subtle silence, Yu Jin said softly, “There, now it’s not a misunderstanding. If you want to slap me, go ahead.”
He appeared nonchalant, but his heart was filled with joy, as if brilliant spring flowers were blooming one after another.
He could finally be sure that Si’er had feelings for him.
Jiang Si stepped back, awkwardly breaking free from Yu Jin’s embrace, and ran out.
Ah-man was under the silk tree, picking up a silk tree flower and putting it on Erniu’s ear. Seeing Jiang Si running out in a hurry, she quickly stood up. “Miss, you-“
“Back to the manor!” Jiang Si didn’t dare to look back, feeling as if there was a terrifying beast behind her. If she turned back, she would fall into its clutches, be devoured alive, and be beyond redemption.
In the blink of an eye, the mistress and maid disappeared without a trace. Erniu barked twice but knew better than to chase after them.
Long Dan heard the commotion and ran out of the kitchen. Seeing the open courtyard gate and then looking at Yu Jin standing on the stone steps in front of the house door, he was confused. “Master, why did Miss Jiang leave?”
Yu Jin didn’t even acknowledge Long Dan’s words, just staring at the courtyard gate with a silly smile.
He was so happy that he had kissed Si’er and didn’t get slapped.
But with Si’er leaving like this, would she not come tomorrow?
Thinking of this, Yu Jin put away his smile and felt dejected.
After all, the most important thing was to get Si’er to agree to marry him as soon as possible. He still needed to work harder.
“Has Yu Qige returned?” Jiang Zhan stood at the main gate, looking inside. His face suddenly lit up with joy as he walked in. “Yu Qige, where have you been these past two days?”
“Jiang Erdi is here,” Yu Jin composed himself and walked down the stone steps.
Jiang Zhan, however, was shocked: “Yu Qige, what happened to you? Did you just get into a fight?”
Only then did Yu Jin remember that he was still pretending to be injured. He had to continue the act: “Mm, it’s nothing serious.”
Jiang Zhan was still very surprised: “Yu Qige, with your martial arts skills, who could have hurt you? Something this big happened to you, why didn’t Long Dan say anything? He just said you had gone out on business.”
“It was just a small accident. I just got back and haven’t had time to change my clothes. It’s just a minor external injury.”
“Where are you hurt?” Jiang Zhan asked, concerned.
Although sometimes he was annoyed that Yu Qige had designs on his fourth sister, Jiang Zhan was still very grateful to this lifesaver and friend.
To put it bluntly, although his martial arts were not great, if Yu Qige needed it, Jiang Zhan would not hesitate to risk his life for him.
Knowing that Jiang Zhan was a straightforward person, Yu Jin lifted his sleeve to show him: “It’s just this kind of small injury, just bled a little.”
“That’s good.” Jiang Zhan sighed in relief, but then became more confused, “But why is there blood all over your face?”
Yu Jin touched his chin and smiled, “That’s the other person’s blood. I just wiped it carelessly.”
“I see. Well, go wash up quickly. After you’re done, let’s go to the best tavern for a drink. It’s my treat, to help Yu Qige get rid of the bad luck.”
“Alright, Jiang Erdi, wait a moment.” Yu Jin saw that he had finally fooled Jiang Zhan and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It’s not easy to fool an honest person.
“Wait!” Jiang Zhan, who had just sat down on the stone bench, suddenly called out, his gaze fixed on the simple food box on the stone table.
This food box looked very familiar.
After staring for a few moments, Jiang Zhan’s expression changed.
Of course, it was familiar, it was the liangpi from Wang Wu Sao’s shop on East Street!
“Jiang Erdi, what’s wrong?” Yu Jin came back, following Jiang Zhan’s gaze. His eyes flickered.
Was this something Si’er brought for him?
No, Si’er didn’t know he was coming back today. This must have been prepared for Erniu.
Thinking of this, a strong sense of crisis arose in Yu Jin’s heart.
Hmm, after marrying Si’er, he should still sell Erniu.
“Yu Qige, where did this liangpi come from?”
“What’s the matter?” Yu Jin sensed something was amiss but probed casually.
“I’m wondering why this liangpi looks like the one I bought,” Jiang Zhan said, puzzled.
The liangpi Jiang Erdi bought?
Yu Jin’s mind raced, and he quickly thought of the most likely possibility: Jiang Zhan cared so much for Si’er, could this be what he bought for her to eat?
He couldn’t let Jiang Zhan know Si’er had been here!
After figuring it out, Yu Jin smiled without changing his expression: “I had Long Dan buy it from the street.”
“Oh, I see. I didn’t expect Yu Qige to like Wang Wu Sao’s liangpi too. My fourth sister and I love it as well.”
Yu Jin raised his eyebrows.
He hadn’t guessed wrong after all. Luckily, he had managed to cover it up.
Yu Jin knew well that although Jiang Zhan had a good nature, as a brother who doted on his sister, he certainly wouldn’t tolerate his sister running off alone to a man’s house.
“Young Master Yu, our Miss left something behind-” Ah-man came running in hurriedly, her words cutting off abruptly.