One day in April, Tongluo Town suddenly bustled with activity.
The Lu family’s betrothal gifts flowed like water into the Zhu residence, the grand procession and lavish presents leaving everyone speechless.
“So Scholar Lu’s family was this wealthy all along…”
“Then those rumors about him coveting the He family’s fortune and forcing marriage to the He family’s eldest daughter… were all lies?”
“Of course they were lies. Look, he can afford to marry the Zhu family’s young lady, and just look at this procession…”
In a street-facing private room on the second floor of Shengxing Restaurant, Shen Tongyun angrily smashed a teacup. “Using things from my family’s shop to put on airs, yet daring to parade around so ostentatiously—how shameless.”
He Ketian, sitting across from her, glanced at her upon hearing this. “Didn’t you say you convinced your mother to exchange the items?”
This topic made Shen Tongyun even angrier. “Who knew that after taking our things for free, they’d still dare to complain about the quality and run to my father to tattle, even causing my parents to fight!”
He Ketian’s eyes dimmed as she turned to look out the window at the stream of betrothal gifts flowing past. Her heart felt hollow—her Scholar Linyuan was getting married.
She had been the first to like him.
She had been the first to have marriage negotiations.
The Zhu family’s madam had already refused the match…
How unwilling she felt.
How had everything suddenly settled into place, becoming a foregone conclusion?
Even through the private room door, she could hear the whispered conversations outside, mocking the He family for overreaching and spreading rumors to slander Scholar Lu. He Ketian clenched her fists, feeling she could no longer stay.
She suddenly stood up. “Tongyun, I’m going back first.”
With that, she pushed the door open and left.
“Hey! You promised to keep me company!” Shen Tongyun stamped her foot.
He Ketian didn’t listen to her and had already gone downstairs, immediately regretting it.
Shengxing Restaurant was exceptionally lively today, probably because the Lu family’s betrothal procession happened to pass by. Everyone was sitting and watching the excitement. When they saw He Ketian come down from the second floor, everyone’s expressions became particularly subtle.
“Eh, that’s Miss He, isn’t it?”
“She used to bully Scholar Lu for being an outsider, saying he coveted the He family’s wealth and forced marriage. Look at today’s procession—does Scholar Lu look like he lacks money? And he’s marrying the Zhu family’s daughter, a proper young lady from a scholarly family…”
“Exactly, exactly. They misjudged him, didn’t they? Back then they despised him as a penniless scholar and broke off the engagement. Now they must be regretting it terribly…”
“Look at her expression—she looks like she’s about to cry.”
Whispers surrounded her from all sides. He Ketian’s face alternated between pale and flushed, feeling extremely humiliated.
“What are you all chattering about? Who said Scholar Lu is marrying the Zhu family’s young lady?” A familiar voice suddenly spoke up.
He Ketian turned around to see a smiling baby face—it was Shi Zhonghai, the third brother of Shi Fa Ke.
“But someone saw with their own eyes that the betrothal gifts came from Willow Lane,” someone retorted unconvinced.
“That’s right.” Shi Zhonghai walked behind He Ketian and stood firm, saying seriously, “But it’s not Scholar Lu who’s marrying the Zhu family’s eldest daughter.”
“Then who is it?” The one asking was He Ketian.
She turned around, staring at Shi Zhonghai expectantly.
Shi Zhonghai looked down at her. “Scholar Lu’s elder brother.”
He Ketian’s eyes immediately lit up.
Shi Zhonghai found it amusing. “Let’s go, I’ll escort you back.”
He Ketian looked around—this indeed wasn’t a place to linger, but she hesitated slightly. “I came with Miss Shen, and she’s still in the upstairs private room.”
Just then, someone walked through the entrance.
It was Shen Tongyun’s father, Shen Qing.
He looked around as if searching for someone. When he spotted Shi Zhonghai, his gaze paused slightly, and he nodded at him.
“Uncle Shen, Miss Shen is in the upstairs private room,” He Ketian hurried forward to say.
Shen Qing nodded his thanks, cupped his hands toward Shi Zhonghai, and went upstairs.
Shi Zhonghai looked at He Ketian. “Reassured now?”
He Ketian was startled, then nodded.
“Then let’s go. I’ll escort you back.”
More and more people were gathering around. He Ketian didn’t dare stay any longer and quickly agreed.
Shi Zhonghai protected He Ketian as they left Shengxing Restaurant. Due to the crowd, He Ketian was almost half-embraced by him. She instinctively looked up at him—that perpetually smiling baby face seemed particularly reliable.
“Third Brother Shi,” she called out.
It was very crowded and noisy all around. He Ketian thought he probably couldn’t hear her, but he suddenly looked down at her. “Hmm?”
“Thank you.” He Ketian smiled at him.
Shi Zhonghai squinted slightly.
Mm, indeed very sweet.