Pei Xiao stood in the study courtyard, touching the row of blisters at the corner of his mouth, sighing inwardly.

Before, when he saw Xie Zhifei anxiously develop blisters, he had gloated.

You have no backbone, getting yourself into such a state over some little woman.

Now it was his turn, and he discovered that men were mostly lacking backbone when it came to certain women.

Footsteps sounded behind him.

It should be them.

Pei Xiao took a deep breath, turned around, and blurted out: “Yan Sanhe, no need to wait until tomorrow. I can give you my answer right now—I’m with you.”

After speaking, he focused his gaze, “Xie Zhifei, why are you here?”

I should be asking you that.

Xie Zhifei asked through gritted teeth: “Why didn’t you think more carefully?”

“Think about what?”

He’d been restless all night, thinking forward and backward, thinking east and west, but still wanted to follow Yan Sanhe.

Yes, that certain little woman was Yan Sanhe.

When the Ji family was desperate and cornered, she helped them without holding grudges, not only sealing Old Madam’s split coffin but also saving everyone in the Ji family.

A person couldn’t be so ungrateful and unrighteous.

Besides that, a person also couldn’t be heartless and faithless.

Who was Yan Sanhe?

Apart from Chengyu and Huairen, she was the person Young Master Pei valued most.

Having gone through so many life-and-death experiences together, if he just patted his behind and left now, would he still count as human?

Most importantly, the divine woman’s background and circumstances were so pitiful—how could he bear to leave her alone?

“Xie Chengyu.”

Pei Xiao’s expression was unprecedentedly solemn: “This is the result of my thinking all night, my carefully considered decision.”

Xie Zhifei: “Because of Li Buyan?”

One night ago, yes.

One night later, no.

Pei Xiao: “Because of Yan Sanhe.”

Xie Zhifei was speechless.

If it were because of Li Buyan, he would never agree to let this kid wade into these muddy waters. But because of Yan Sanhe, he had nothing to say.

“What about you? Why did you come here at this hour?”

Xie Zhifei smiled: “You’ve already come. How could I not? Do you still want to win the beauty’s heart or not?”

Pei Xiao pointed at him.

You’re doing it for lust, I’m doing it for righteousness. We’re not on the same level.

Outside the courtyard.

Yan Sanhe’s expression flickered slightly.

She suddenly remembered her first encounter with these two.

One had blocked her in an alley, standing and sitting with no proper posture, couldn’t be more annoying;

The other had cursed her as a little tramp, his mouth as foul as a cesspit.

“I’m not surprised about Third Master, but Young Master Pei…”

Li Buyan whispered in Yan Sanhe’s ear: “…I’m viewing him in a new light.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes drifted toward her.

Li Buyan’s eyes closed, “Don’t push them away again. Neither of the two things you need to do next will be easy to handle.”

“I won’t push them away.”

A touch of emotion flashed through Yan Sanhe’s curved eyes, “They both owe me.”

“That’s the right way to think about it.”

“Come on, let’s go in.”

“Wait, someone seems to be coming.”

Li Buyan turned around, her gaze looking into the distance, her brow furrowing slightly.

How did she come?

A richly dressed matron approached, surrounded by attendants, showing Yan Sanhe an ingratiating smile.

“Miss Yan, long time no see?”

“Who are you?”

Yan Sanhe asked instinctively.

Those three words made everyone freeze.

Madam Wu’s expression became extremely awkward.

“Miss Yan, I know I had many ways I wronged you before. Please don’t hold a petty person’s faults against them. Tomorrow is Old Madam’s birthday. She’s been looking forward to seeing you for so long…”

Someone from the Xie family?

Yan Sanhe’s expression showed a hint of panic: “Um… I have things to handle, so I won’t be going. Please convey my regards to Old Ancestor and wish her a hundred years of longevity.”

Madam Wu had come personally on this trip in secret, not just for a simple “hundred years of longevity” wish.

“No matter how busy you are, you still need to eat. Miss Yan, tomorrow just come accompany Old Madam for the birthday banquet. You don’t need to stay for the opera, and you can leave early.”

Madam Wu stepped forward and grasped Yan Sanhe’s hand, “You’re a good child who understands elders’ hearts. Tomorrow I’ll toast you in apology.”

Yan Sanhe pulled back her hand, saying lightly: “What’s past is past. I don’t take it to heart. Tomorrow I really do have business. Please go back.”

With that, she turned and hurried away.

Madam Wu became anxious, “Miss Yan, just for Third Son’s sake, would that work?”

Yan Sanhe’s footsteps didn’t stop.

Madam Wu was both angry and anxious, turning to plead with Li Buyan: “Miss Li, please help persuade her. Old Madam has truly been looking forward to this like waiting for the stars and moon.”

Li Buyan stood dazed for a moment, then without a word, chased after Yan Sanhe.

Even a servant girl was ignoring her completely. Madam Wu ground her teeth in fury.

“I’ve already lowered myself to this extent, yet she still wants more? Even killing someone only requires nodding the head to the ground!”

“Madam, what should we do now?”

“What else can we do?”

Madam Wu glanced impatiently at the servant woman and turned to walk back.

“Her eyes are on top of her head—she looks down on this useless person like me. We need to send someone more capable to invite her.”

“Right, right, right, have the eldest young mistress come. She’ll definitely be able to bring her back.”

Madam Wu pointed at the servant woman and scolded: “The eldest young mistress is so capable, why don’t you go curry favor with her? One by one, do you even have any sense of hierarchy…”

The servant woman was so frightened her head shrank, not daring to make another sound.

The footsteps faded away. Two people emerged from the courtyard.

Pei Xiao raised an eyebrow at Xie Zhifei, asking cautiously: “Your mother…”

“Don’t talk about her.”

Xie Zhifei coldly interrupted: “Talk about Yan Sanhe.”

Pei Xiao gave a start, “Yan Sanhe isn’t right.”

Xie Zhifei: “What’s not right?”

Pei Xiao lowered his voice: “Do you remember, last time when Xie Xiaohua came to deliver the invitation, Yan Sanhe inexplicably asked who Old Ancestor was.”

That was just a few days ago—how could he not remember?

Xie Zhifei had thought this girl didn’t want to return to the Xie residence and deliberately said that. Who would have imagined that just now when she saw Mother, she actually asked “who are you?”

This was too unbelievable.

Xie Zhifei’s expression was extremely grim, “Come on, let’s go ask.”

“I bet Miss Li noticed too. Otherwise she wouldn’t have said nothing at all.”

Pei Xiao walked and muttered: “Xie Zhifei, the divine woman seems off to me. It doesn’t look like she’s pretending. Could she be…”

“Shut your mouth!”

Xie Zhifei’s face darkened as he quickened his pace.

…

Yan Sanhe had just returned to her courtyard when Li Buyan caught up;

Li Buyan was just about to speak when Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao arrived.

After the three exchanged glances, they surrounded Yan Sanhe tightly from all sides.

Living together day and night, they were familiar with every word and action. Yan Sanhe knew she couldn’t hide it and didn’t want to hide it, pointing to her own head.

“I don’t know. Just now I had no impression whatsoever of that matron, as if I’d never seen her before. And this Old Ancestor you all keep mentioning…”

She couldn’t help glancing at Xie Zhifei, her eyes showing some bewilderment.

“I’ve thought for a long time but can’t remember ever having any connection with her.”