Thinking this, the young girl suddenly put her hands behind her back and simply sat cross-legged on the soft cushion.

The young man looked up and saw the young girl staring at him with wide eyes, her chin raised high.

In the long stare-off, it was finally the young man who looked away first. He turned his head to look at the low waterfall not far away and said unhurriedly: “Naturally, such a major matter as marriage cannot be decided so easily. Moreover…”

His eyes fell on the young girl again, with an unclear meaning: “Moreover, Miss Shen and I have only met a few times.”

“So you didn’t agree?” Shen Yao Xing excitedly grasped the key point, but then thought, if he had refused, Mother Shen shouldn’t have had that expression.

“Not exactly,” the young man said again.

Shen Yao Xing was left hanging by his unhurried attitude: “What do you mean exactly?”

Young Master Yin brushed aside his wide sleeve. The upturned corners of his eyes carried a hint of allure, and his lips curved upward: “I told Madam Shen that it all depends on Miss Shen’s performance.”

“……”

Shen Yao Xing, whose mindset had exploded, couldn’t figure out what she had done to offend that Young Master Yin even after returning home. Could it be because she ate a few of his pastries last time, so he wanted to mess with her like this?

At night, Shen Yao Xing tossed and turned on her bed, unable to fall asleep. She suddenly sat up, her gaze determined.

No, she had to escape.

Shen Yao Xing casually grabbed the outer garment placed nearby and put it on. She walked to the door and pressed her ear against it. She could faintly feel the breathing sounds outside, even and steady, clearly not even dozing off.

She then walked to the window on the other side. Before she could even get close, half a figure suddenly appeared outside the open window. Under the moonlight, those wolf-like eyes vigilantly stared at her.

“Young Miss, it’s so late. Aren’t you going to rest?”

“……” Damn, she almost had a heart attack.

Shen Yao Xing said irritably, “I’m cold and want to close the window.”

The next second, the person outside closed the window with a bang.

“……” You win this round.

The helpless Shen Yao Xing had no choice but to flop back onto the bed. She yawned and fell asleep thinking about leaving.

The next morning, before she was fully awake, Shen Yao Xing felt someone by her bedside, seemingly staring at her for a long time. She struggled to open her eyes and vaguely saw Song Si Nian standing there motionless, watching her.

Shen Yao Xing was startled again. She suddenly sat up, pulling the silk quilt higher, her feet pushing against the bed as she moved inward, stammering in fear: “Big- Big brother, wh-why are you here?”

Song Si Nian’s gaze was resentful as he pressed his lips together without speaking.

“Big brother, I was still sleeping. How could you just come in!”

Why did they always like to enter and leave her room as they pleased? If this continues, she’ll suffer a nervous breakdown!

“Did you agree?” The young man suddenly asked out of nowhere.

“What?”

Song Si Nian gritted his teeth: “The marriage.”

Shen Yao Xing frowned, realizing that her big brother’s behavior was becoming increasingly strange, completely unlike when he was younger and easy to guess. Coming to watch her sleep early in the morning for this kind of question was truly hard to understand, even if they were siblings.

“Big brother, please go out first. I need to change clothes.”

But Song Si Nian wouldn’t listen, his gloomy expression somewhat terrifying: “Answer me…”

Feeling very upset, Shen Yao Xing scratched her head: “Who told you that? Of course I didn’t agree.”

If she had known, she wouldn’t have come back. Too many troubles and a troubled heart.

Hearing the young girl’s denial, Song Si Nian felt relieved, his expression slightly better. Remembering what happened in the mansion today, he said: “Then did Mother force you to agree? Otherwise, why has the news of your marriage to Young Master Yin spread throughout the entire capital overnight?”

This time, Shen Yao Xing was truly shocked. Wasn’t this matter not yet settled? How had it spread throughout the entire capital!?

Seeing the young girl’s expression, it seemed she was unaware of this matter. Song Si Nian pressed his lips together, his gaze resentful like a jealous husband, and softly said: “Early this morning, the threshold of our mansion was almost worn out. Everyone came to congratulate you and bring gifts…”

“Which bastard…” Shen Yao Xing knocked her head on the bed with a “thud,” silently gritting her teeth. If she found out who started this rumor, she would definitely put a sack over their head!

After Song Si Nian left the bedroom, Shen Yao Xing finally got out of bed. She picked up her outer garment and called out while fastening it: “Qing Shu, come in!”

Qing Shu, who had been waiting outside the room, lowered her head and shuffled into the bedroom at a turtle’s pace.

“Why was Big Brother in here? Didn’t you know to stop him and ask him to wait outside?”

Qing Shu felt a bit wronged and mumbled softly with her head lowered: “The Young Master’s expression was so terrifying, how could this servant dare to stop him…”

Shen Yao Xing gave her an exasperated look: “Were you afraid he’d eat you?”

Qing Shu secretly glanced at the young girl and didn’t dare to continue speaking.

She thought her mood was already bad enough today, but little did she know there was something worse waiting for her.

“What!?” Shen Yao Xing pointed at her own nose, somewhat in disbelief: “You want me to accompany that person shopping!?”

Sitting in the main seat, Mother Shen frowned and said sternly: “Why are you so shocked? If I tell you to go, then go.”

“I…” Shen Yao Xing was about to refuse, but then she thought, isn’t this a good opportunity to leave? Once outside, she could disappear in a flash, regardless of what kind of shopping it was.

Thinking of this, the young girl grinned and nodded eagerly: “Alright, I’ll accompany him shopping then!”

Before she could be happy for long, Mother Shen’s cold voice cut off her thoughts: “Don’t think you can run off anywhere. I’ll send a few secret guards to watch you from the shadows. Moreover, I’ve also sent people to guard the city gates, so you’d better give up that idea.”

The bright smile on the young girl’s face lasted less than two seconds before cracking. The corners of her mouth pressed down, and her expression changed immediately: “I won’t go.”

“You don’t have to go, but then you’ll return to your bedroom and can only come out when you agree,” Mother Shen said composedly, as if she had anticipated the young girl’s reaction, very generously allowing her to make a “choice.”

Both paths led to the same result. Fine, if it was just accompanying someone shopping, she would do it. She wanted to see what this person could do!

—

In the scorching summer heat, even being drenched in sweat couldn’t deter those in the capital who loved lively scenes. The bustling market street had everything one could want, with the sounds of vendors rising and falling constantly.

At this time, the most eye-catching pair on the street was walking along the shaded side. A young man in a moon-colored long robe walked in front, his face covered with a light veil, his brows and eyes like a painting. Following behind him was a petite young girl, currently holding large and small boxes in her hands, her cheeks already flushed from the sun, fine beads of sweat sliding down from her temples.

Shen Yao Xing was nearly grinding her teeth to pieces. She had originally wanted to come out to annoy him, but every word she said was met with a retort that left her speechless. He even used Mother Shen to threaten her, making her his errand girl for nothing.

Looking at the leisurely figure in front of her, if she didn’t know he was unfamiliar with martial arts, she would definitely go up and challenge him to a match, to let him know why the sky was so blue and the ground so hard!

Shen Yao Xing kept the distance between them at exactly five steps, neither more nor less.

Looking at the large and small boxes in her hands, Shen Yao Xing suddenly felt somewhat sentimental. She remembered that a long time ago, she had dreamed of finding a tall and strong boyfriend to follow behind her, carrying large and small packages, while she would walk in front with her head held high. That would have been such a wonderful feeling.

Now, however, before she even had the chance to enjoy walking in front, she was the one carrying packages behind someone else. She wondered if she had committed some sin in a past life to suffer like this.

Young Master Yin walking in front paid no attention to the sentiments of the person behind him. He casually entered a shop, picked up a white jade hairpin placed in a brocade box, swept it with his cold eyes, then turned back to ask the person behind him: “What do you think of this jade hairpin?”

The boxes of various sizes almost covered the young girl’s face. She couldn’t even be bothered to look, instinctively contradicting, “It’s not good-looking, it’s ugly.”

The young man ignored her opinion and directly picked up another jade hairpin, continuing: “This one should be better than the previous one.”

Seeing that he was about to buy again, Shen Yao Xing couldn’t help but advise: “Don’t buy it. You’re not even carrying them, and I can’t hold that many!”

The young man examined the two hairpins, but in the end still had the shopkeeper wrap up the first white jade hairpin he had picked. The wrapped hairpin was casually placed on top of the stack of gift boxes.

Shen Yao Xing frowned: “Can’t you carry it yourself? I’m not your servant.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve strolled through the market, so I’m naturally curious about these small items.” Young Master Yin seemed to be explaining to her, his lips curling slightly as he glanced back: “Since Madam Shen asked you to accompany me this time, Miss Shen might as well consider it a good deed.”

“Heh.” Shen Yao Xing sneered. She had done plenty of good deeds, but never one like this, being a beast of burden behind someone else.

She pressed her lips together and took two steps closer, asking in a low voice: “Will you really refuse the marriage to my mother when the time comes?”

Shen Yao Xing realized that the best way now was to have him refuse the marriage. As long as Mother Shen’s idea was dispelled, she believed her days would be much better.

“That depends on Miss Shen’s performance.” The young man’s voice was indifferent.

Again with this phrase. Somehow, Shen Yao Xing felt like she was being played in the palm of someone’s hand, and it made her extremely uncomfortable.

At noon, the two entered the Yu Bao Zhai. Unexpectedly, this Young Master Yin had a private chamber here, far more luxurious than those elegant residences. The decor was more exquisite than her bedroom, with an antique flavor, and even had a resting area in the inner room.

Exhausted from a day of walking, Shen Yao Xing didn’t stand on ceremony with him at all. She put down the things in her hands and directly flopped onto the wide soft couch. Through the hanging bead curtains, she could see the young man looking in her direction.

Shen Yao Xing narrowed her eyes slightly. In her hazy vision, she felt the young man’s figure seemed increasingly familiar. She sat up, parted the bead curtains with a “swish,” and asked curiously: “Do you have any brothers or something like that?”

The young man’s tea-drinking motion paused slightly. His dark eyes were like ink, quietly freezing over: “I am the only son in my family, with no siblings.”

“Oh.” Shen Yao Xing was just asking. She had originally thought this person might be in disguise, after all, she had seen the disguise techniques of this world, which could completely change one’s face. But she couldn’t sense even a hint of internal energy from this person, clearly not a martial artist, and there were no traces of disguise on his face. That’s why she wanted to ask if he had any siblings.

The young man raised his eyes slightly: “What’s the matter? Is Miss Shen thinking of that friend who resembles me?”

The young girl yawned, her eyes closed as she lay half-asleep on the couch, mumbling: “I told you, he’s not a friend…”

The chamber was quiet for a while, until soft snoring sounds came from the girl’s direction.

“Heh.” The male voice, not deliberately concealed, grew even colder. Glancing at the blurry figure, a cold curve appeared at the corner of his lips.

“Not as stupid as imagined.”