After receiving orders, the family servant left the open pavilion in small steps and walked towards them, head lowered respectfully: “My young master invites the two of you over.”

Mother Shen’s demeanor was composed. Hearing this, she nodded, glancing at her reluctant daughter behind her, indicating for her to follow.

Shen Yao Xing pouted, her hands holding large and small gift boxes. Only after Mother Shen had walked far did she reluctantly follow, crossing the small arched bridge that seemed carved from white jade. The two arrived before the young man.

This Young Master Yin seemed unaware of the two, not even raising his head once.

Mother Shen frowned slightly, feeling somewhat displeased. After all, she was also an official appointed by the imperial court, wielding power and authority. She had never been ignored like this before. It was normal for such an intelligent and talented young man to have some arrogance, but too much arrogance easily displeased people.

Remembering the purpose of her visit, Mother Shen calmed herself and finally spoke first: “Young Master Yin, this official has brought her daughter to meet the two elders of the Yin family. Are they present in the residence?”

Earlier, when she asked that servant to see the two elders of the Yin family, he didn’t make a sound and just brought them here. In Mother Shen’s view, marriage was a matter of parental command and matchmaker’s words. Even if a young man was capable, he couldn’t make decisions on his own.

Young Master Yin’s fingers continued to pluck the zither strings, his wide silk sleeves spread over the instrument. Hearing this, his face showed no reaction, his voice indifferent: “My mother is rarely in the capital. Yin family matters have always been decided by me. If Madam Shen has any business, you can speak directly to me.”

Shen Yao Xing stood there absentmindedly, suddenly feeling an itch at the root of her ear. Holding so many things, she couldn’t free a hand to scratch, so she had to tilt her head and use her shoulder to rub the itchy spot. As she moved, she felt their gazes fall on her.

Seeing Mother Shen’s exasperated look, the young girl pouted slightly and silently turned around to continue scratching shamelessly.

The corners of the young man’s cold lips curled up slightly. He withdrew his fingertips from the zither strings, waved his wide sleeve, and raised his hand to gesture: “Prepare seats for the two guests.”

“Yes.” The family servant brought out two soft cushions from somewhere and placed them on the other side of the low table, directly opposite the young man.

Mother Shen sat down composedly, leaving only Shen Yao Xing still standing silently on the side. Mother Shen didn’t force her: “Put down the things and go walk around over there. This official needs to say a few words to Young Master Yin.”

Shen Yao Xing, who had originally wanted to walk away, immediately didn’t want to leave upon hearing this. She was afraid that Mother Shen would talk nonsense about the marriage while she was gone, and by then it would be too late to sabotage it!

The young girl hurriedly put down the things, lifted her skirt, and sat on the soft cushion, her back straight, unusually well-behaved.

“Heh.” A light chuckle came from across. Shen Yao Xing raised her chin, her face thick-skinned.

“Zhao Zhao.” Mother Shen’s face darkened slightly, her eyes warning.

Shen Yao Xing pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth, held back her expression, and let her gaze drift towards Mother Shen’s stern eyes. In less than a moment, as if unable to withstand it, she slumped her shoulders dejectedly and got up listlessly, leaving the open pavilion.

The young man’s gaze followed the young girl’s disappearing figure before calmly withdrawing. His fingers once again lightly caressed the zither strings. His picturesque brows and eyes were noble and enchanting. Against the backdrop of mountains and water, he was like a mural of a beautiful person playing the zither.

Even the aging Mother Shen was dazed by the sight. Fortunately, this young man’s wealth and power were astonishing. Otherwise, with such looks, he would only be a favored male companion fought over by those noble young ladies in the capital.

“May I ask what brings Madam Shen here today?”

The young man’s voice carried a hint of coolness. His fingers plucked the zither strings, and the pleasing music awakened the woman who seemed to have fallen under a spell. Mother Shen’s hand on her knee suddenly clenched into a fist. Her brow furrowed slightly, and a flash of annoyance passed through her eyes.

How embarrassing! At such an age, to be captivated by a child about the same age as her daughter. If this got out, wouldn’t she be laughed at!

—

Shen Yao Xing, watching the two of them from afar, was very depressed. She broke off a thin branch from a nearby well-trimmed plant and whipped at the waist-high potted plants, her gaze occasionally drifting towards the open pavilion.

Due to the distance and the low volume of their voices, she couldn’t hear the content of their conversation clearly. She only knew that after talking for a short while, that Young Master Yin’s gaze turned directly towards her.

Shen Yao Xing felt anxious. The two didn’t talk for long; from afar, she could see Mother Shen’s mouth constantly moving, while the young man seemed to respond only occasionally. After a quarter of an hour, from Mother Shen’s expression, it was clear that things were developing in an unfavorable direction.

Mother Shen approached the young girl, her hands behind her back, her brows relaxed in an unprecedented manner: “Zhao Zhao, if you have anything to say to Young Master Yin, go ahead. I’ll wait for you in the carriage.”

After saying this, she left with the family servant in the direction they had come from. After taking a few steps, she paused and turned her head, as if concerned: “Don’t chat for too long.”

When Mother Shen’s figure disappeared around the corner, Shen Yao Xing finally couldn’t contain herself. She quickly walked to the open pavilion and curiously asked the calm and composed young man: “What did my mother say to you?”

Young Master Yin didn’t even raise his head, saying indifferently: “Doesn’t Miss Shen know the purpose of Madam Shen’s visit?”

“……” She indeed shouldn’t have asked like that. Shen Yao Xing crouched down, instantly becoming much shorter than the young man. She placed her hands on the zither table, her eyes nervously not daring to blink: “Then… did you agree?”

The young man’s dark pupils moved slightly, falling on the few fingers resting on the zither table. The nail beds were all a delicate pink color. Crouched there, she was just a tiny thing. It was hard to imagine that such a delicate and lovable person contained such great strength.

Truly different from those other women, easily making one’s heart itch.

“What are you looking at?” Shen Yao Xing followed his gaze and found that he was staring at her fingers.

Were her fingers so attractive? Could this person have a hand fetish…