“Good.” Zhao Zhuosheng gave a faint smile and set the cup in his hand down.

Feng Jiu’er gazed steadily at Zhao Zhuosheng for a moment, then let her eyes drift back to Zhao Yusheng.

“Zhao Yusheng, is your sworn brother a decent man?”

“Very much so.” Zhao Yusheng nodded without a moment’s hesitation. “Not only do my father and mother like him, but Elder Feng likes him too.”

“Not a single elder in our Zhao Family Village fails to admire him. They all want to marry their granddaughters or daughters to him — but he has never once agreed.”

“Are you sure you’re not describing yourself?” Zhao Zhuosheng looked at Zhao Yusheng and said quietly.

Having been turned away by Qiao Mu, he showed not the slightest sign of displeasure — at least from appearances, his temperament seemed quite good.

Even without paying particular attention, in the two days they had spent together, Feng Jiu’er had quietly formed her own assessment of Zhao Zhuosheng.

Whatever the case, he was also the second person of her intended partner in collaboration — personally named by the elder chief. How could she simply disregard him?

It was just that she truly hadn’t anticipated Zhao Zhuosheng being so immediately captivated by Qiao Mu.

“Zhao Yusheng, is your sworn brother wealthy?” Feng Jiu’er asked quietly.

Zhao Yusheng gave her a look, his thick brows drawing together slightly.

Feng Jiu’er met his gaze and gave a light cough.

“When choosing a husband, beyond looking at appearance and character, one naturally has to consider wealth as well. One can hardly marry someone and then struggle to even eat, can one?”

“That will absolutely not be a problem.” Zhao Yusheng shook his head.

“My sworn brother is even wealthier than I am. Add in the land my father has granted him — he could comfortably support ten Qiao Mus with ease.”

“Who said anything about letting him support me?” Qiao Mu frowned and shot Zhao Yusheng a look.

Feng Jiu’er, however, looked at Zhao Zhuosheng with a thoroughly satisfied nod. “Tall, wealthy, and handsome in every way. Qiao Mu, just agree to him.”

Qiao Mu’s gaze landed on Feng Jiu’er, her brow furrowing even deeper.

“I have no desire to discuss this topic with any of you. I have never once believed in love at first sight.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Qiao Mu with an expression that seemed to say: hadn’t she herself fallen for Yanu in much the same way?

Qiao Mu appeared to read Feng Jiu’er’s meaning, gave her a look, and turned her gaze away.

Zhao Zhuosheng watched the exchange, his faint smile never fading.

“I think we should first finalize the plan. Wasn’t it said that tonight I would deliver it to my sworn father?”

“Right.” Zhao Yusheng gave a nod and, without even reaching for his tea, picked up his brush once more.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at the two sitting across from her and gave a small nod.

“Zhao Zhuosheng, if you truly like our Qiao Mu, you had best act quickly — she is quite a…”

“Feng Jiu’er.” Qiao Mu cut her off.

“It’s alright.” Zhao Zhuosheng looked at Feng Jiu’er and nodded. “I will.”

“Qiao Mu, you need not doubt my sworn brother. I can assure you — this is the first time in his more than twenty years that he has ever said anything like this to a woman.” Zhao Yusheng glanced up from his work.

“That said, sworn brother — the fact that you could say it so openly — I truly admire you for that.”

Zhao Zhuosheng looked at Zhao Yusheng, then once again picked up his teacup.

“Did I not learn from your example?” He turned his head toward Qiao Mu and continued, “Besides — Miss Qiao is not the sort of woman who beats around the bush.”

Zhao Zhuosheng met Qiao Mu’s gaze and raised his cup toward her.

“Miss Qiao, I simply wanted you to know what is in my heart. There is no need to let it weigh on you. I will show you through my actions that I am not one for games.”

With those words, Zhao Zhuosheng brought his cup back and took a measured sip of tea.

“Let us see if there’s anything anyone needs to add. Once my sworn brother has finished drawing it up, we’ll go find my sworn father.”

“Something as significant as Miss Feng unifying the Black Gorge will likely spread quickly. We should not let the matter drag on.”

“Agreed.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and immediately reined in her thoughts.

“Zhao Yusheng, hurry up! Is this part done? Come on, next one.”

The five of them worked deep into the night before Zhao Yusheng finally took the proposal to the elder chief.

Feng Jiu’er was anxious and had no desire to make the trip back and forth, so she simply took a guest room right there in Zhao Yusheng’s courtyard and stayed the night.

If she was not leaving, there was no way Jian Yi and Qiao Mu would go either — all three of them stayed at Zhao Yusheng’s place.

Early the next morning, Zhao Yusheng came through the door looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

Feng Jiu’er glanced up at him, then immediately rose and went forward to meet him.

“Zhao Yusheng, how did it go? Did it pass? Did the elder chief have any suggestions?”

“No.” Zhao Yusheng shook his head.

Hearing this, Feng Jiu’er’s brow immediately furrowed. “No? What do you mean, no?”

“No means no.” Zhao Yusheng reached out and clapped a hand on Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder. “My father had no comments whatsoever.”

“Which means the proposal has passed, and we can begin putting the plan into action right away.”

“Really?” Feng Jiu’er, overcome with excitement, grabbed hold of Zhao Yusheng’s hand. “The elder chief approved everything?”

“Ahem…” Jian Yi, who had followed close behind, stared fixedly at Feng Jiu’er and let out a firm, pointed cough.

Feng Jiu’er glanced sideways at Jian Yi with no intention of paying him any mind, and continued holding Zhao Yusheng’s hand as she pressed, “Tell me honestly — is there really no problem?”

“It’s true, Jiu’er, you don’t need to doubt it any further.” Zhao Yusheng freed his other hand and wrapped it around her arm.

“Your proposal is flawless. Even my sworn brother couldn’t stop praising it. As for my father agreeing — there’s nothing surprising about that.”

Zhao Yusheng shot Jian Yi a sideways glance and led the still-elated Feng Jiu’er toward the main seat.

Feng Jiu’er’s heart was brimming with excitement, yet a thread of doubt still lingered.

She let Zhao Yusheng lead her by the hand, without really taking notice of it.

“I do have confidence in myself — but for the elder chief’s impression of me to have turned around this dramatically, how could I not think more carefully about it?”

Having sat down, Feng Jiu’er looked up at Zhao Yusheng, and only then did she gently pull her hand free from his grasp.

“Zhao Yusheng, come clean with me — has something particularly significant happened these past few days?”

Feng Jiu’er wasn’t lacking in confidence, but with one piece of good news arriving on the heels of another at a pace she could barely keep up with, she couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy.

“My mother told me — over the past few months, my father has been quietly gathering information about you.” Zhao Yusheng explained softly.

“Everything we did in Yamu City and in Desert City, my father knows about all of it. My mother says he looks like he greatly admires you.”

“Of course, my father still worries that Zhao Family Village might come to ruin in my hands. Many things — even when he delegates them to me — I still have to keep him informed.”

“Jiu’er, you won’t object to that, will you?”

“So that’s how it is.” Feng Jiu’er pursed her lips and gave a nod.

No wonder everything had been approved without her needing to say a word — the elder chief had already known it all along.

Feng Jiu’er offered a quiet smile and looked up at Zhao Yusheng.

“Of course I won’t object. The elder chief’s guidance is something we younger generations couldn’t buy even if we paid for it.”

“You should go to him more often and seek his counsel. Stop being at odds with him all the time.”

“I’m not intentionally at odds with him.” Zhao Yusheng steadied his expression. “I understand his difficulties, but I also have my own dreams. That is all.”

“Jiu’er, there’s no time to waste. Let us immediately draw up the plan to reclaim the Black Gorge. I can hardly wait.”