The jade pendant still retained the young woman’s warmth. That warmth felt like an electric current running up from his fingertips. His hand trembled, and Song Si Nian quickly grasped the jade pendant in his palm, afraid he might drop it.

“Big brother… what’s wrong?”

“Hmm?”

Shen Yao Xing hesitantly pointed at his face with her finger: “Your face is so red, are you feeling unwell?”

“No, no…” Song Si Nian quickly turned away, his usually calm features showing a rare sign of fluster.

Knowing he couldn’t stay any longer, he made up an excuse and left the courtyard. He jogged quickly back to his own courtyard, and only after closing the door of his bedroom did he finally relax.

Song Si Nian leaned against the door, breathing slightly heavily. Feeling the jade pendant in his palm, he couldn’t help but smile again. He walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, holding the jade pendant and examining it closely.

Then, unable to resist, he brought it to his nose and sniffed lightly, as if he could faintly smell the young woman’s unique scent.

Song Si Nian’s eyes gradually became unfocused. He smiled foolishly, rubbing his face against the jade pendant.

“Zhao Zhao…”

Big brother is in love with you…

—

The banquet was set up in the open space of the garden in the mansion. The place was not small, easily accommodating over fifty people. On the day of the banquet, the Shen residence was crowded. Looking around, almost everyone was an elder bringing a younger person, and the younger ones were predominantly male.

Everyone was dressed up elaborately, their faces not veiled but powdered. Shen Yao Xing, perched on a high wall, watched until she wanted to poke her own eyes out.

“Young miss, the master asks you to hurry and prepare,” Qing Shu urged from below.

“No need to prepare, just like this.”

“But… but you haven’t even changed into your banquet clothes…”

Shen Yao Xing jumped down and looked at her clothes. She patted her chest, “This outfit is fine.”

“But…” Qing Shu wanted to say something more.

Shen Yao Xing impatiently interrupted her: “Are we going or not? Otherwise, I’m going back to sleep.”

Helpless, Qing Shu could only follow her to the banquet venue. In the garden’s open space, tables and chairs of various sizes were arranged in rows. Many people had already taken their seats, and some young men of similar age were standing on the other side, admiring flowers and chatting.

When Shen Yao Xing entered, she was undoubtedly the most eye-catching, simply because she was the only young female in the venue. Cursing inwardly, she raised her chin and calmly walked to her seat, sitting down with her legs crossed, looking rather casual.

Song Si Nian, sitting next to her, saw this and smiled, raising his hand to pour her a cup of tea.

The young men who were originally admiring flowers all took their seats. Curious or shy glances fell on the young woman. Though it should have been an unrefined posture, she made it seem somewhat cute, like a child deliberately trying to annoy adults.

While the young ones thought this way, the elders had different thoughts. There were quite a few who had never seen Shen Yao Xing before, and seeing the young woman’s face still retaining some baby fat, they couldn’t help but wonder if this Miss Shen had not yet come of age.

Shen Yao Xing, being scrutinized by numerous gazes, was truly displeased. It wasn’t until she saw another woman of her age, Chu Yi, that she relaxed a bit, raising her hand to gesture to her.

The gazes on Shen Yao Xing were finally dispersed. Some people who recognized Chu Yi’s identity hurriedly stood up to greet her or went over to curry favor. Those young men generally preferred mature and flirtatious women like Chu Yi, and their gazes immediately shifted.

Shen Yao Xing had never found this woman Chu Yi as agreeable as she did now. She was simply her savior!

As time passed, Madam Shen and Song shi entered the banquet together. Seeing this, others also took their seats. When everyone was seated, a person slowly walked in through the garden gate.

He wore a moon-colored robe, his skin like jade, his black hair like ink. His lips were thin with a faint pink tinge, his upturned eye corners naturally bewitching. His tall, slender figure had excellent proportions, and the noble air around him seemed innate.

The previously noisy banquet suddenly fell silent. Regardless of gender, all eyes were fixed on the man.

The man’s calm expression never changed. He slowly walked through the middle of the seated guests on both sides, each step seeming to tread on people’s heartstrings, like the stars revolving around the moon as he stepped towards the young woman.

Until he stopped a step away, Shen Yao Xing blinked, looking up with a bewildered expression.

Who is this, making such a grand entrance!

“I heard that today is Miss Shen’s welcoming banquet. This is a small token I prepared for Miss Shen. I hope Miss Shen won’t find it too humble.”

After speaking, the man presented a delicate small box in front of her.

Shen Yao Xing didn’t take it, but kept examining him. After holding back for a long time, she couldn’t help but ask: “Who are you?”

Young Master Yin’s eyes darkened slightly, and he smiled faintly. His voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear: “It seems… those few pastries shouldn’t have been offered to Miss Shen.”

“……” Alright, now she knew who he was.

“Young Master Yin!?” Chu Yi, sitting on the other side, exclaimed in delight.

With these words, the scene immediately burst into an uproar.

“Minister Shen actually managed to invite Young Master Yin!”

“It seems Young Master Yin knows Miss Shen?”

“I heard Young Master Yin is rarely in the capital. This is the first time we’ve seen his true appearance, and he truly is exceptionally beautiful!”

“What’s the use of being good-looking? As a man, instead of learning proper male virtues, he goes out to do business and shows his face in public. It’s simply disgraceful.” …

Praise after praise followed, interspersed with a few voices of disdain and mockery.

The man turned a deaf ear to all external sounds and presented the box to the young woman again. Shen Yao Xing hesitated for a moment, but still said a word of thanks and raised her hand to accept it.

Madam Shen was clearly surprised that Young Master Yin would attend. That invitation was just sent as a try. What surprised her more was that her daughter seemed to know him.

Madam Shen was overjoyed and immediately had someone arrange a seat, surprisingly placing it next to Shen Yao Xing and Song Si Nian.

Next, the banquet began. A group of men dressed in flowing clothes walked to the center of the circular platform and began to dance with soft, flexible movements. Their waists twisted more vigorously than those modern women, seemingly unconcerned about herniated discs.

Just one glance was enough to make one’s eyes sore. Shen Yao Xing looked away, holding the delicate black box in her hand. Suddenly, she became curious about what was inside. This person was so wealthy, surely what’s inside must be valuable.

Song Si Nian noticed the young woman’s gaze was entirely on the black box. The hand resting on his knee slowly clenched. He bit the tender flesh inside his lip hard, his fingertips twitching, wanting to recapture the young woman’s attention.

“What did Young Master Song think of that performance just now?” The man interrupted his action.

Song Si Nian’s heart tightened. He turned his head to look at the person sitting next to him, only to find himself plunging into those eyes as deep as an abyss. In an instant, he felt as if all the unethical, sordid desires in his heart were exposed before the man, with nowhere to hide.

Song Si Nian’s face turned pale. He forced a smile: “Very good…”

“I also think it was… very good.” The man narrowed his eyes, his meaning unclear.

The happiest person after the banquet should have been Madam Shen, although the source of this happiness was unknown, making Shen Yao Xing feel vaguely uneasy.

Two days later, she finally understood the source of Madam Shen’s joy.

In the main hall, there were only Madam Shen and Shen Yao Xing. Madam Shen took a sip of hot tea, put down the cup, and without any preamble said: “Find a day, I’ll accompany you to the Yin family to propose marriage.”

A cup of hot tea hadn’t even made it down her throat when this thunderbolt struck, causing her to choke and splutter. Shen Yao Xing coughed violently, the teacup in her hand shattering. She coughed until her eyes were red before she calmed down. With wide eyes, her voice changed in disbelief:

“Propose marriage!!?”