Seeing that Yu Wanru wasn’t falling for his tricks, Xiao Anlan decided to change the subject. “Anhui joined her school’s drama club. There’s a play coming up in a few days, and she’d like you to come watch.”

“Anhui can act in plays? She’s amazing!” Yu Wanru praised. “When is it? Will it be at her school?”

Xiao Anlan nodded, “I think it’s the day after tomorrow. I’ll double-check. She’s mostly doing it for fun, but I hear it’s pretty good. Normally, her school doesn’t allow outsiders, so this will be a rare chance for us to look around, too.”

Ever since passing by the outside of Liulin Girls’ School, Yu Wanru had been curious about it. Now that she had the opportunity, she quickly nodded. “Great, I’ve always wanted to visit her school. Please thank Anhui for me.”

“No need to thank her. She loves an audience—the more of us there, the happier she’ll be. If you want to thank anyone, thank me, hmm?” Xiao Anlan said, gazing at her intently with a smile in his eyes.

Yu Wanru turned her head slightly, avoiding his gaze. “Thank you for the gift, too.”

Xiao Anlan replied, “Just a verbal thank you? Wouldn’t a kiss be better?”

Yu Wanru, blushing, muttered softly, “I’m being serious here.”

Xiao Anlan said, “So am I.”

Yu Wanru ignored him. Sitting together in the open pavilion at the Yu family’s residence, with daylight all around, how could anyone serious say such things?

Thinking of what Su Xiaoman had said, she continued, “My good friend came back recently. She heard about our engagement and would like to meet you. Do you have time?”

Xiao Anlan smiled, “Your friend? Even if I don’t, I’ll make time. Who is she? I don’t think you’ve mentioned her before.”

“Her last name is Su, and her family lives on this street. She moved to the provincial capital after getting married but recently returned. She… separated from her husband, so please remember not to bring it up.”

Xiao Anlan nodded sincerely, “Got it. How about the day after tomorrow afternoon? I’ll pick you both up to watch the play, and afterward, we can join Anhui and her friends for dinner.”

Yu Wanru said, “I’ll check with Xiaoman to see if she’s free.”

Xiao Anlan nodded, “Sounds good.”

A light breeze blew through the pavilion, lifting a stray lock of hair from Yu Wanru’s forehead. She tucked it behind her ear, her earlobe adorned with a small pearl earring. Her fair fingers against the delicate pearl made it hard to tell which was more exquisite.

Xiao Anlan just stared at her.

After a while, Yu Wanru turned her head and asked, “Why are you staring at me?”

Xiao Anlan smiled and said, “Because you’re beautiful.”

Yu Wanru’s face grew warm. “You’re so smooth-talking now. You weren’t like this at first…”

Xiao Anlan asked, intrigued, “How was I at first?”

“When you first came to my house, you seemed so refined. But now… now, you’re…” She hesitated, too embarrassed to say he’d become rather shameless and playful, almost like a rogue.

Xiao Anlan grinned, “Wanru, you have quite the impression of me. No one who knows me has ever called me refined.”

Yu Wanru muttered softly, “I wouldn’t call you refined now, either.”

She felt like she’d been fooled by his initial appearance.

Xiao Anlan thought to himself, what’s so great about being refined? If he were refined, could he have won his future wife’s heart?

Since he still had official business to attend to, Xiao Anlan lingered for a while before reluctantly taking his leave.

….

On the afternoon of the third day, he arrived to pick up Yu Wanru to go see the play.

At that moment, Su Xiaoman was already at the Yu residence, and Yu Wanru introduced them to each other.

Xiao Anlan nodded politely without staring at Su Xiaoman. “Good afternoon, Miss Su.”

Su Xiaoman returned the nod. “Hello, Young Master Xiao.”

Xiao Anlan then asked Yu Wanru, “Are you ready? Let’s go.”

Yu Wanru nodded.

Since Su Xiaoman was accompanying her on this outing, Madam Yu did not insist on sending Aunt An along.

Upon reaching the entrance of Liulin Girls’ School, it was evident that the campus was far livelier than usual. Many of the people moving in and out were visitors from outside the school, and among them, the blue-clad female students in black skirts stood out distinctly.

As Xiao Anlan’s car arrived, many eyes turned toward it.

When Xiao Anlan stepped out of the car, a murmur of comments arose among the crowd.

Most of the female students were teenage girls, and upon seeing a young, handsome, and tall man, they couldn’t help but whisper about him.

Xiao Anlan was long accustomed to such attention and whispers. He appeared unaffected, walked around the car, and invited Yu Wanru and Su Xiaoman to step out.

As soon as Yu Wanru got out, she noticed many eyes observing her.

Being so conspicuously in the spotlight for the first time, she felt a bit uncomfortable and tried her best to relax and ignore it.

Holding an umbrella to shield the two ladies from the sun, Xiao Anlan furrowed his brows and looked into the school. “Anhui said she’d come to greet us. Why isn’t she here yet?”

Just as he finished speaking, a lively voice called out from nearby, “Ge, Wanru, over here!” Xiao Anlan’s younger sister, Xiao Anhui, waved at them from inside the school gate.

Xiao Anlan led Yu Wanru and Su Xiaoman over.

Xiao Anhui jogged over to meet them and escorted them inside.

“Where’s Anya?” Xiao Anlan asked her.

“She’s setting up the stage,” Xiao Anhui replied.

With makeup still on her face, Xiao Anhui looked quite charming, which intrigued Yu Wanru, who couldn’t help but gaze at her.

Noticing this, Xiao Anhui proudly touched her large braid and chuckled. “How do I look? Quite grand, right?”

Yu Wanru nodded. “What are you performing?”

“A miserly old landlady,” Xiao Anhui replied with a grin.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Anlan joked, “Isn’t that just you?”

Xiao Anhui stomped her foot in protest. “Ge, how could you say that about your own sister? Can’t you keep quiet for once?”

Huffing in mock anger, she took Yu Wanru’s hand. “Wanru, promise me you won’t speak to Ge tonight!”

Yu Wanru smiled at the playful sibling duo.

Xiao Anhui wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue at Xiao Anlan, then noticed Su Xiaoman next to Yu Wanru. Her eyes widened with curiosity. “Who is this beautiful lady?”

Yu Wanru introduced her. “This is my friend, Su Xiaoman. Xiaoman, this is Anhui.”

Su Xiaoman greeted Xiao Anhui with a warm smile.

Circling around Su Xiaoman, Xiao Anhui exclaimed with admiration, “Wow, Xiaoman, you’re really beautiful.”

Su Xiaoman chuckled. “Thank you. You’re adorable too.”

“Aww, and your smile is so gentle! Xiaoman, are you married? I have another brother who’s single; do you want to be my sister-in-law?” Xiao Anhui teased.

Before Yu Wanru could change the topic, Xiao Anlan interjected, “Anhui, mind your words.”

Xiao Anhui fell silent immediately. Though she often bantered with Xiao Anlan, she knew to be cautious when he was serious.

Yu Wanru glanced curiously at Xiao Anlan, surprised to see him display such authority. She had assumed he was always smiling and easygoing.

Noticing her gaze, Xiao Anlan straightened his posture, but a slight smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Xiao Anhui guided them to seats in the auditorium before hurrying backstage to prepare.

The three of them sat in a row, with Yu Wanru in the middle, Xiao Anlan and Su Xiaoman on either side.

The play began shortly after they were seated.

To enhance the stage’s ambiance, the entire hall was darkened, with only the stage illuminated. The audience was shrouded in darkness.

As Yu Wanru watched intently, she felt a tickling sensation on her hand but dismissed it, placing her hand on her lap instead. However, soon enough, the tickling returned on her thigh.

Startled, she looked down. In the darkness, she saw a hand resting on the armrest beside her, with its fingertips just brushing her thigh, lightly moving as if to tickle.

She quickly moved her leg away and turned to look at Xiao Anlan.

He was staring at the stage with a look of intense focus, seemingly absorbed in the performance.

If not for her position beside him, no one would suspect he was up to anything mischievous.

Noticing her leg had shifted away, Xiao Anlan began slowly inching his hands toward her side.

Feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, Yu Wanru watched his hand approach and finally slapped it away firmly.

The slap made a sharp sound that rang out in the silent dark, attracting curious glances.

Blushing, Yu Wanru lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with anyone who might be watching, fearing they’d notice something amiss.

Su Xiaoman whispered, “What’s wrong, Wanru?”

Yu Wanru stammered, “There… there was a mosquito.”

“Oh, did it bite you?”

Yu Wanru shook her head. “No, I already smacked it dead.”

Su Xiaoman didn’t question further and advised her to be careful, then turned her attention back to the stage.

Xiao Anlan rubbed his reddened hand, surprised by the strength behind her soft-looking hand.

He then took Yu Wanru’s hand.

Yu Wanru tried to pull away but stopped struggling, wary of causing a scene and attracting more attention.

Xiao Anlan opened her hand, blew gently over it, and softly asked, “Did you hurt yourself?”

Yu Wanru’s irritation eased a little. She had hit him pretty hard, and yet he was asking if she’d hurt herself.

Feeling a bit guilty, she replied quietly, “I’m fine. Are you hurt?”

Xiao Anlan said, “If you rub it for me, it won’t hurt.”

Yu Wanru muttered in embarrassment, “Then… then I hope it does hurt.”

Xiao Anlan sighed, “Wanru, you’re so heartless.”

Yu Wanru said nothing.

Undeterred, Xiao Anlan held her hand and gently brushed it over his hand. “There, it’s all better now.”

Yu Wanru muttered, “How can that possibly help?”

Xiao Anlan chuckled, “Just knowing you care makes it better.”

Blushing, Yu Wanru fell silent, too shy to continue speaking to him.

Seeing her quiet, Xiao Anlan took her silence as consent, and a wide grin slowly spread across his face.