The young man walked step by step to behind her, slowly sitting down on the edge of the chaise lounge. Lost in thought, he didn’t speak for a long time, but his gaze fixed on the young girl grew increasingly intense.

In the end, it was Shen Yao Xing who couldn’t bear it anymore. She turned her head slightly to glance at the visitor: “Big brother, do you have something?”

When the young girl looked over, Song Si Nian lowered his eyes, concealing the devouring love in them. His fingers pinched a lock of her black hair that had fallen onto the chaise lounge as he spoke very softly: “Does that mean I can’t come see Zhao Zhao if I don’t have anything?”

“That’s not it…” Shen Yao Xing turned her face back, allowing him to play with her hair.

At an angle the young girl couldn’t see, Song Si Nian picked up a lock of black hair, leaning slightly to bring it to the tip of his nose and lightly sniff. It was only for a moment before he moved away, dark light surging in his eyes as his voice lowered, sighing as if nostalgic.

“When you were little, Zhao Zhao never asked why big brother came. Zhao Zhao was afraid big brother would be scared, afraid big brother would be bullied by the servants in the household, always staying close to big brother…”

Shen Yao Xing turned her head slightly, not understanding why he suddenly brought up things from childhood.

Song Si Nian’s gaze was terrifyingly gentle as he raised his hand to hover a finger’s width from behind the young girl’s ear, lightly caressing the air: “Does Zhao Zhao still remember the promise she made to big brother when we were little? To never leave big brother, to always protect big brother.”

The young man’s voice was soft, but Shen Yao Xing felt increasingly uneasy as she listened. She turned her head to look back, but was stopped by his finger pressing against her face, the flesh of her cheek deforming from the pressure: “Big brother, what’s wrong with you? Why are you suddenly bringing up things from so long ago…”

They were only a few years old then. If he hadn’t mentioned it, Shen Yao Xing would have almost forgotten.

When Song Si Nian had just entered the household, the servants didn’t treat him well. After all, he wasn’t Mother Shen’s biological child. Those people only put on a superficial act; cursing behind his back was considered mild. They would even bully him from time to time. The key was that Song Si Nian at that time was still a little boy who never spoke up. Even when bullied, he didn’t know to complain. If Shen Yao Xing hadn’t seen it, who knows how badly he would have been bullied.

After that, the relationship between the two became very good. Song Si Nian was so clingy back then,恨不得变成一块年糕，她往哪他就往哪，寸步不离。

There was a period when Shen Yao Xing got annoyed by the clinginess and couldn’t help scolding him. This person didn’t say anything, just hung his head as big tears fell. After all, he was still a child. Shen Yao Xing felt sorry seeing how pitiful he looked and softened her heart. It took quite a while of coaxing before he stopped crying.

The delicate skin under his finger caused Song Si Nian’s heart to race. A faint blush rose on his fair face. He pursed his lips, his gaze unconsciously falling on the young girl’s fair neck, feeling an increasing numbness throughout his body.

“Is Mother having you go propose marriage?” Song Si Nian suppressed the palpitations in his heart and asked about what he cared about most.

Shen Yao Xing’s mouth was squeezed into a pout. Hearing this, she said indistinctly: “You all know about it?”

“Mm.”

“I don’t know what Mother is thinking. She doesn’t even have a clear understanding of that person’s background, yet she’s having me go propose marriage.” Shen Yao Xing shifted further into the chaise lounge, avoiding the young man’s fingers.

Song Si Nian’s eyes darkened slightly as he withdrew his hand, his fingertips intertwining and rubbing against each other: “So if the background was clear, would Zhao Zhao be willing to marry that person?”

“Of course not!” Shen Yao Xing reflexively answered. If possible, she would rather remain single for life.

Just thinking about having to go propose marriage tomorrow made her whole being dejected.

Song Si Nian didn’t speak again. An eerie glint flashed through his pupils as his thin lips gradually pressed tightly together.

—

Early the next morning, while Shen Yao Xing was still half-asleep, she vaguely saw someone sitting by her bed. When she recognized the silhouette, she suddenly jolted awake, so startled that her drowsiness instantly vanished.

“Awake?” Mother Shen said flatly.

“Mother! What are you doing in my room?!” Seeing this face so early in the morning was really frightening.

“What? As your mother, I can’t enter your bedroom? It’s not like you’re some cloistered young man.”

Mother Shen was very displeased with her startled reaction. She stood up and tossed the clothes in her hand over, “Quickly change into these clothes. We’ll be going to the Yin residence shortly.”

Shen Yao Xing, whose head was covered by the clothes, stiffened for a moment before pulling the fabric off her head with an agonized expression: “We’re really going?! Why don’t we wait for an auspicious date to go?”

At least drag it out for a few more days. Perhaps she could find a way to escape by then.

Mother Shen’s hands were clasped behind her back, her stern expression saying it all.

The Yin residence was some distance from the Shen residence. The capital was not small; even by carriage, it took two quarters of an hour to arrive. The Yin family mansion was even more magnificent than theirs. Following the servants, they wound through quite a long path before reaching the place where the young man was.

The design style here was very unique. Wide ditches surrounded all four sides, filled with clear water. Low artificial mountains and waterfalls were arranged, and several types of colorful small fish could be seen in the crystal-clear water. In the middle, there was only one small arched bridge for entry.

The water from the waterfall fell like white mist. The young man, dressed in light-colored clothing, sat in an open pavilion amidst the flowing water. His loose robe spread out on the ground, his long black hair completely unbound, falling casually. With lowered brows and eyes, he looked noble and quiet, as if studying the black and red amber-like seven-stringed zither before him.

Even dressed simply, it did not diminish his air of nobility in the slightest. Instead, amid the hazy white mist, he was like an immortal who had descended to the mortal realm.

Even Shen Yao Xing had to admit that Young Master Yin looked more pleasing now than the previous two times she had seen him. It was probably because he had less arrogance and pressure, and more casualness.

A family servant walked over to within one step of the young man and bowed, saying something. The person who had been focusing on the zither raised his eyes to look in their direction. His gaze swept lightly over the two of them before falling back on the zither. His thin lips moved slightly.