Outside the window, the cicadas chirped incessantly.

Sang Yao sat alone by the window, the fragmented sunlight falling on her snow-white cheeks as she rested her chin in her hand, feeling puzzled.

She was just an ordinary girl who rarely ventured out. She couldn’t figure out Xie Yun’s intentions for this action.

She imagined countless scenarios but ultimately felt that the only possibility that made sense was that Xie Yun might actually be a good person.

Looks can be deceiving. Could someone like Xie Yun really have a kind heart?

But that was just too incredible.

Suddenly, there was a hurried sound of footsteps outside. The door creaked open, and Ran Dong whispered, “Miss!”

Sang Yao snapped out of her thoughts, quickly stood up, and turned to look at Ran Dong, who was holding a large bundle of cloth. Sang Yao closed the door behind her, walked over, and gently placed the bundle on the table.

“Miss, it’s been washed.”

Sang Yao walked over and unfolded the soft fabric, revealing a large black outer garment inside.

Ran Dong said, “It’s still a bit damp. I’ll find a small box to store it in later.”

Sang Yao nodded and said, “That will do.”

Ran Dong said, “I’ll go prepare then.”

Sang Yao nodded again. As Ran Dong left, Sang Yao quietly moved towards the bronze mirror, took a glance at her reflection, and wondered, “What’s wrong? Did I not sleep well last night? Why do I feel a bit off?”

She picked up some lip rouge and lightly applied it.

After a moment, she left with Ran Dong.

As soon as they entered the small garden, they saw Sang Yin walking with his hands behind his back.

He furrowed his brows, looking serious and in a bad mood.

Sang Yao’s heart tightened, and she stopped in her tracks, wanting to avoid him.

Just as she turned around, she heard a deep voice behind her, “What are you sneaking around for?”

Sang Yao froze and silently turned back, blocking the small wooden box in Ran Dong’s hands behind her, and said, “Father, you’re back.”

Sang Yin grunted and glanced at Sang Yao, asking, “All dressed up, where are you off to?”

Sang Yao: “…”

The look in her father’s eyes.

She hadn’t even put on any makeup, just a little red lip color.

“How can there be a showy appearance?”

“I want to go out for a walk, it’s so boring at home.”

Sang Yin probably didn’t really care where she wanted to go. He didn’t ask where Sang Yao was going, but said, “By the way, I heard you fell yesterday. Is there any serious injury? Have you seen a doctor?”

Looking at this calm appearance, her father still didn’t know it was Xie Yun who helped her?

Sang Yao shook her head and said, “I’m fine.”

Sang Yin relaxed, then scolded, “Why are you so careless? How could you fall in such a situation?”

Sang Yao complained, “Someone pushed me.”

Sang Yin immediately straightened up, raising his eyebrows and said, “Who dared to push you?”

Sang Yao shook her head and said, “I don’t know either.”

At that time, it was crowded and chaotic, so it was really hard to find out. Sang Yin pursed his lips and fell silent.

After a while, he began to mutter, “I think that little fool is tired of living. What’s the point of pushing you for no reason?”

“Why is everything going wrong recently? I don’t see many good people in the court.”

Thinking of the recent setbacks encountered with Xie Yun, he cursed again, “That Xie surname as well, so arrogant, showing no respect for his elders. I think he’s doomed sooner or later.”

Sang Yao thought to herself, the Xie with such arrogance, isn’t it just Xie Yun?

Although she didn’t particularly like him before, this time he also showed his kindness. She felt he was a warm-hearted person who wasn’t good at expressing himself, so she cleared her throat and said, “… It should be okay.”

Sang Yin: “What?”

Sang Yao felt a little guilty and said, “… That Xie person.”

“It seems quite kind, very enthusiastic.”

…

Sang Yin’s gaze towards Sang Yao changed from incredulity to affectionate. He stepped forward and patted Sang Yao’s shoulder, his voice softened a lot, saying:

“Yao Yao, you should read more serious books and less of those romance novels.”

Soon, according to the agreement, Sang Yao took a carriage to the Moon Embrace Pavilion.

It was an elegantly decorated restaurant with excellent privacy.

But Sang Yao didn’t quite understand, it just delivering some clothes? Was it necessary to come to such a place?

Ran Dong was a little nervous and asked, “Miss, the person who invited you, really has no intentions towards you?”

Otherwise, why would they meet in such a place?

There were actually quite a few people who admired Sang Yao, but they were mostly wealthy young men. However, Sang Yao always felt that they were just attracted by her appearance and never paid attention to her.

But Xie Yun…

He couldn’t be compared to those second-generation rich at all.

Sang Yao felt that if she suspected that he liked her just because he helped her, it would be an insult to Xie Yun.

“No, there isn’t.”

“…It should be because of his refined temperament and habit of coming here.”

She entered the restaurant, the environment here was elegant, and there were hardly any people on the long corridor. The shopkeeper led the way in front, and soon they arrived at a door.

Sang Yao took the wooden box from Ran Dong’s hand and said, “Wait for me here.”

She took a deep breath, then lightly knocked on the door.

The door quickly opened, and it was Xie Yun who opened it himself.

He was still dressed in black, but compared to yesterday’s simplicity, today seemed a bit more magnificent, with gold thread embroidered on the front, the robe hanging down to the ground, and a leather belt tied around his slim waist, giving him a restrained sense of power.

But still quite good-looking.

Sang Yao quickly averted her gaze and said, “Master Xie…”

Xie Yun nodded and stepped aside, saying, “Come in.”

Sang Yao walked in, and she directly handed the wooden box to Xie Yun, saying, “Master Xie, your clothes are here.”

“I specifically instructed them to be careful when washing. There shouldn’t be any damage. Would you like to inspect them?”

Xie Yun took it and casually placed it on the table, saying, “No need.”

Yesterday, he seemed to care a lot, but why was he so indifferent today?

She didn’t ask further, only saying, “Then, Master Xie, I’ll take my leave.”

Xie Yun said, “Wait.”

Sang Yao made a sound of acknowledgment.

Xie Yun said, “Because Miss Yao was coming, I specially had them bring some fine brew from the cellar here.”

Could it be true that he wanted to have a drink with her?

Even though Sang Yao trusted Xie Yun, she couldn’t help but become wary. She took two steps back and said, “It’s better to forget it.”

She tactfully said, “It’s not very appropriate, Master Xie.”

Xie Yun said, “I see.”

“I originally wanted you to bring some for Master Sang on your way. Since you think it’s not appropriate, I’ll send it to him myself next time.”

Sang Yao’s whole body trembled. Upon hearing this, she immediately said, “…Wait!”

“Do you want me to give it to my father?”

Xie Yun nodded and asked, “What do you think?”

Sang Yao felt a little guilty. She looked away and said softly, “Then… I’ll wait.”

Xie Yun smiled but didn’t say anything. He gestured, saying, “Please, have a seat.”

Sang Yao sat opposite Xie Yun.

The two of them sat facing each other in silence. Xie Yun’s gaze openly fell on Sang Yao, and from the moment she sat down, his gaze never wavered.

Over the years, Sang Yao hadn’t really changed much.

He couldn’t quite understand why he hadn’t noticed her before; she clearly didn’t fit in with that group of mediocre people.

Sang Yao was initially quite at ease.

But Xie Yun’s gaze was too obvious; he stared for a long time. Sang Yao couldn’t help but start to worry if her lipstick was smeared.

After enduring for a while, she raised her gaze and said, “…Master Xie, is there something on my face?”

Xie Yun said, “No.”

Sang Yao made a sound of acknowledgment.

The two fell into silence, but Xie Yun was still looking at her.

Sang Yao’s heart was racing. She couldn’t bear it anymore and asked again, “Master Xie, why do you always look at me?”

She looked at him and asked, “Is there something you want to say?”

Xie Yun avoided the question and asked, “Is your injury better now?”

Sang Yao squeezed her hand. It wasn’t really an injury. She nodded and said, “It’s better.”

Xie Yun said quietly, “The person who pushed you has been identified. It’s Miss Wang from the Wang family, with whom you’ve had some grievances before. How do you want to handle her?”

Sang Yao didn’t react for a moment and made a sound of acknowledgment.

Who was this Miss Wang? Her impression of her was vague, but among those she had grievances with, it must have been one of the girls from the Li Yao Pavilion. But Xie Yun… was he really this concerned?

Even her father hadn’t mentioned finding her.

With his legs crossed, Xie Yun couldn’t tolerate others bullying Sang Yao, so he proposed several solutions:

“She probably acted impulsively. Do you want her to come and apologize, and then retaliate in kind, or do you want to directly dismiss her father, so she won’t have the chance to attend such banquets again?”

Sang Yao: “…”

Why was it getting weirder!

Sang Yao couldn’t help but feel even more nervous.

Xie Yun: “Hmm?”

Sang Yao couldn’t help but think more. The sense of strangeness reached its peak at this moment. She stuttered, “Wait, Master Xie, what are you talking about…”

At this moment, there was a knock on the door.

Already nervous, Sang Yao hurriedly stood up and walked to the door.

Just before opening it, she turned back and asked cautiously, “Can I open the door?”

Xie Yun’s expression wasn’t very good, but he still said, “Go ahead.”

Sang Yao opened the door.

“Master, when I came…”

The servant’s words abruptly stopped, standing outside the door, staring at Sang Yao with dilated pupils.

When he came, he saw the servant preparing to deliver wine, thinking that Xie Yun was waiting for a big shot and probably didn’t want to be disturbed. So, he thought to deliver the wine ahead of time before the arrival of the guest.

But he never imagined that the big shot was Sang Yao.

He regretted coming!

He mentally slapped himself twice!

Sang Yao looked at the wine in his hand, her face brightening, and said, “Thank you, give it to me.”

The servant, unable to refuse, immediately handed it over.

Sang Yao took it, then turned to Xie Yun, who had already stood up, and said, “Master Xie, thank you for your kindness! I will definitely give it to my father!”

Seizing the opportunity, she added, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave!”

With that said, she lifted her foot to leave.

Xie Yun hadn’t finished speaking yet. He didn’t even want to look at the incompetent servant. Watching the girl about to leave, he frowned and blurted out, “Yao Yao, wait.”

…

Sang Yao paused.

The calm address was deafening at this moment.

The servant silently stepped back two steps, very politely closing the door for them.