After attending the banquet, Liu Ziqi not only witnessed Wang Pingting’s twisted and jealous expression but also became the center of attention, even earning the title of the Most Beautiful Woman in the Capital.

Though she felt proud, Liu Ziqi knew the importance of moderation. So, in the following days, she stayed at home and declined all invitations.

She lounged on a chaise, her face covered in a moisturizing mask, while a maid fanned her gently. The comfort nearly lulled her to sleep.

“Miss, your cousin has arrived. The madam asked you to come and entertain her,” Li Momo said softly as she approached.

Liu Ziqi was already resting with her eyes closed and didn’t want to be disturbed, but since the madam had sent a message, Li Momo dared not delay.

Without opening her eyes, Liu Ziqi lazily replied, “Tell my mother I’m busy.”

These days, she had many worries. While others didn’t know, the relatives in her family were well aware of the blemishes left on her face from previous acne. After her stunning appearance at the banquet, these people couldn’t sit still.

One by one, they came to inquire, all for the sake of the good products she had.

These items were bought with a hefty price, and she had no intention of sharing them.

Lately, she had frequently contacted the Cross-Dimensional Service, but the screen in her mind hadn’t appeared for a while.

After using the skincare products Yun Tutu provided for just a few days—especially the scar removal cream—the blemishes on her face had already disappeared.

That tiny tube was half gone already, and she was reluctant to use the rest, now keeping it securely locked away.

The other skincare products were just as effective. Not only had they worked wonders for her, but the results for her mother were even more impressive. Now, her father visited her mother’s courtyard more often and wasn’t immediately drawn away by his concubines as before.

“But the madam…” Li Momo hesitated. After all, she was a dowry maid brought over by the marquis’s wife and naturally didn’t want to put the madam in a difficult position. “Perhaps your cousin is here to visit you. If you don’t go, she might come over herself.”

That was quite likely. Liu Ziqi felt a headache coming on. If it were anyone else, her mother would have sent them away. But this was her cousin from her maternal family. Her uncle always treated her well, and she never missed out on any good things he sent.

“But I haven’t finished this mask yet,” Liu Ziqi grumbled, feeling uncertain if Yun Tutu would come again. She was using one sheet at a time sparingly, unwilling to waste even a single piece.

“Shall I tell the madam to let your cousin come here instead?” Li Momo suggested.

“Go ahead,” Liu Ziqi sighed. She had dealt with many visitors like this lately, and her cousin was someone she couldn’t easily refuse.

Li Momo left with a contented expression. It was clear that the young miss was becoming more considerate.

As soon as Li Momo left, Liu Ziqi immediately sat up and began instructing her four maids. “Hurry, put all my things away. No, lock everything in the cabinet.”

After saying that, she still felt uneasy and followed them into the inner room. “Store them separately. Just leave out what I’ve already used.”

She had already started using the products, so she figured her cousin wouldn’t have the nerve to ask for them.

The four maids stifled their laughter as they obediently put everything away.

They had gotten used to this routine. Every time they put things away, the young miss would take them out again to admire when no one was around.

“Let’s leave this lipstick out,” Liu Ziqi said reluctantly, pulling a tube of lipstick from the stash. “Uncle has always been generous to me. I guess it’s time to make a small sacrifice.”

Shi Lan, one of the maids, dared not make decisions on her own. She presented the tray to Liu Ziqi, who picked through it before finally closing her eyes and grabbing a lipstick. Only then did Shi Lan take the other items to the inner room for safekeeping.

Li Momo returned quickly, and not only had Cousin Lin Qianxue come, but the marquis’s wife, Lin Xi, also accompanied her.

As soon as Lin Qianxue entered the courtyard, she was startled. Liu Ziqi had turned around at the sound, her face still covered in a gold face mask.

Li Momo had already warned her on the way that her cousin was wearing a gold mask, but seeing it still gave her a fright. The mask didn’t match Li Momo’s description—what kind of mask could stick so closely to the face? Could it be a human skin mask?

“Be careful, miss,” Li Momo, anticipating this, quickly stepped forward to steady Lin Qianxue before her maid could react.

“Don’t be afraid; it’s just your cousin,” Lin Xi said helplessly. Her daughter was wearing that face mask again without sharing it with her. Couldn’t she be more considerate and invite her mother to join her for a beauty treatment?

Lin Xi couldn’t help but touch her own face. Years of managing the household and dealing with the concubines had taken a toll on her complexion. Her skin was dry, lined, and spotted.

But after using the skincare products her daughter provided, her skin had returned to its state from a few years ago.

Coupled with some clever makeup, people now mistook them for sisters when they went out together.

The transformation had drawn a lot of attention, with many people finding excuses to visit.

Her status as a first-rank titled lady had warded off a lot of unnecessary trouble; otherwise, they would have had even more visitors.

“Cousin?” Lin Qianxue, still clutching her rapidly beating heart, moved closer. Indeed, it was Ziqi. “Is this the secret to your beauty?”

No woman is indifferent to her appearance. Upon hearing the news a few days ago, Lin Qianxue had wanted to visit, but the Liu family had been entertaining guests, so she had to wait until today.

“It’s nothing; it just makes the skin a bit more hydrated,” Liu Ziqi said, greeting them with her face mask still on. “Cousin, would you like to try it?”

As soon as she spoke, she regretted it. She only had a few face masks left and silently prayed that her cousin would decline. To her surprise, Lin Qianxue graciously accepted, “Thank you, cousin.”

Lin Xi had been a famous beauty, and Lin Qianxue, too, was attractive, though she was still growing and faced the typical concerns of that stage.

“Cousin, I had two pimples here recently, and they left some faint marks,” Lin Qianxue said, leaning in close to Liu Ziqi. “I heard you have something for scars. Could you help me out?”

The two had always been close, so Lin Qianxue had no reservations about being direct.

Liu Ziqi didn’t mind. If anyone else had come straight out with such requests, she would have been annoyed. But this was her dear cousin, and they had always had a good relationship.

Though she hesitated for a moment, she agreed, asking Shi Lan to fetch the items.

Seeing the two cousins supporting each other, Lin Xi smiled warmly. “Qianxue, your father should be returning soon, right?”

Lin Qianxue lowered her head shyly, knowing why her aunt was asking. Her father’s return meant her marriage would soon be finalized.

“In two days, we’ll be entering the capital,” Lin Qianxue answered truthfully. “Before I came over, my mother specifically instructed me to remind you to come by when we’re all together again.”

“Of course, we’ll all be there,” Lin Xi agreed.