The Lantern Festival was, in truth, much like the modern Valentine’s Day— merely an opportunity for couples in love to engage in a bit of flirtation.

According to custom, if a young woman fancied a man, she would hand him her lantern and ask him to inscribe a message on it. If the man agreed, it meant a beautiful bond had been formed between them.

As soon as Yin Yin arrived at the Lantern Festival, she began searching for the so-called ‘affinity lantern’ meant to be inscribed by the man one adored. Many young women at the festival carried such lanterns, nearly one in every hand. The only difference was whether the lantern already bore writing or remained blank.

Stopping at a small stall selling affinity lanterns, Yin Yin cheerfully paid ten copper coins for one. When the shopkeeper handed her the lantern, he teased, “Such a lovely young lady. Who’s the lucky gentleman that has won your heart?”

Yin Yin just grinned sheepishly. The shopkeeper laughed along and said, “No matter who the young master is, he’s sure to be willing to write for a girl like you.”

Yin Yin laughed brightly. “Then I’ll take your lucky words to heart~”

Delighted, she held the lantern and headed back the way she came, eager to find Ling Long.

Ling Long hadn’t originally been interested in the Lantern Festival, but seeing how excited Yin Yin was, he had come along. However, once they arrived, the sight of the densely packed crowds made him instinctively frown. Seeing this, Yin Yin let him wait at a small teahouse while she went to buy the lantern herself.

Truth be told, she had wanted to walk the festival with Ling Long, but the crowd was overwhelming and even Yin Yin didn’t feel like squeezing through. Still, the affinity lantern was something she had to get, no matter what.

Meanwhile, Helian Kong was in an exceptionally good mood. He had been grounded for a long time, and every time he tried to go out, Hongwei would appear out of nowhere and drag him back under the pretext of ensuring his safety.

Finally seizing a rare chance to slip out, how could he resist taking a stroll?

Yin Yin ran into Helian Kong at a small stall just after he had finished writing for a girl.

Seeing her approaching with a lantern, Helian Kong smiled. “Don’t tell me Miss Yin Yin is also here for me to write something?”

“Bah!” Yin Yin gave him a scornful look. “Only a blind girl would ask you to write anything.”

With a dramatic flick, Helian Kong opened his gold-trimmed fan and fanned himself suavely. “Then there must be quite a few blind girls in the capital.” He said proudly, pointing toward the girl who had just left. “She was the eighth girl who asked me to write for her tonight.”

Yin Yin’s mouth twitched. “You wrote for all of them?”

“Of course. How could I bear to reject such modest requests from these young ladies?”

Damn it, this playboy! Why was it only in matters of womanizing that Helian Kong seemed to have inherited royal blood?

She pursed her lips at him. “Debts of romance must be repaid. Someone like you is bound to come to a bad end!”

A prophecy, perhaps.

But that was a matter for another time.

Yin Yin continued on her way with her lantern, and Helian Kong trailed after her. As they walked, someone suddenly stepped in front of her.

“I am Shu Chen. May I ask your name, Miss?”

Yin Yin looked up at the man blocking her path, her expression impatient. She hated being stopped like this. Anyone who had ever tried to sell her something on the street before never met a good end.

“What does my name have to do with you?”

Hearing the irritation in her voice, Shu Chen was momentarily stunned. It seemed no girl had ever spoken to him like that before. He smiled at her and said, “Please don’t misunderstand. I mean no harm. I merely wished to make friends.”

As if she didn’t know what ‘making friends’ really means! Just look at all those dating apps!

“Sorry, I don’t like making friends.” Yin Yin said bluntly, and turned to leave. Shu Chen reached out to stop her, but his hand was smacked back by a golden fan.

Helian Kong smiled with deceptive innocence. “Good Sir, if you want to talk, talk. No need for your hands to wander.” Otherwise, you might soon find those hands no longer attached to your body.

That was a hard-earned lesson bought with a week of plain rice and pickled vegetables.

It was only then that Shu Chen seemed to notice Helian Kong. He gave him a once-over and asked with a sharp-edged smile, “And what is your relationship to this young lady?”

Helian Kong blinked. Brother, you’re aiming at the wrong target here! I’m helping you out!

He cleared his throat. “We’re friends.”

Shu Chen smiled slyly. “But just now, this young lady said she doesn’t like making friends.”

“Mm-hmm.” Yin Yin nodded. “It’s because I met him that I don’t want to make friends anymore.”

Helian Kong: “……”

Shu Chen: “……”

Before Shu Chen could respond, Yin Yin had already strode off again, with Helian Kong fanning himself behind her as he followed, swaggering all the way.

Shu Chen stared after her fading figure, his gaze dark.

“Young Master, where have you been? Miss Wang and Miss Yang have been looking all over for you!” A breathless servant ran over.

Shu Chen pointed at Yin Yin’s retreating silhouette. “Yuanbao, find out whose daughter she is. I want to know by tomorrow.”

Yuanbao felt his soul leave his body. Miss Wang and Miss Yang hadn’t even been dealt with yet, and now some poor girl was about to be dragged into this mess?

When Yin Yin returned to the teahouse with the lantern, Ling Long was still seated, sipping tea. The shopkeeper chuckled when he saw her. “Young Lady, you’re finally back! Several girls have already come asking this young man to write on their lanterns!”

What the hell? Where did all those vixens come from trying to seduce her crush?! Yin Yin’s brows instantly knit together. “Did you write for them?”

The shopkeeper replied, “Not at all! Don’t worry, Miss. This young man didn’t even spare them a glance.”

Ling Long accidentally choked on his tea. He suddenly suspected that this shopkeeper might be one of the Yin Family’s planted spies.

Yin Yin smiled, satisfied, and sat down next to Ling Long. She shyly handed him the lantern and said, “Will you write something for me?”

Ling Long looked at her and couldn’t help smiling. “What would you like me to write?”

Yin Yin thought for a moment. “How about, ‘In the sky, may we be two birds flying side by side; on earth, may we be two rich tycoons^[1]from Bai Juyi’s poem 《Song of Everlasting Regret》; Original phrase: ‘In the sky, may we be two birds flying side by side; on earth, may we be two trees with branches intertwined’.”

Ling Long: “……”

He took the brush from Helian Kong and began to write quickly and elegantly. His calligraphy was beautiful, just like the man himself. But the content……

‘Yinyin’s head is full of wild thoughts, aimless and scattered; though lacking in learning or skill, she still loved to play the fool.’

……

She nearly spat out blood.

“Hahahaha!” Helian Kong laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes, pointing at the lantern. “Brilliant! Ling Long, what poetic talent you have!”

“Shut up!” Yin Yin wanted to throw the teapot at Helian Kong’s face. “This one doesn’t count! I’m going to buy a new one!”

She was just about to head back into the market when her eyes landed on the words ‘Yinyin’ written on the lantern.

Yinyin? Yinyin!

Not Yin Yin^[2]尹隱, but Yinyin^[3]隱隱?!!!

Yin Yin suddenly realized something earth-shattering. Her crush had been calling her Yinyin all this time!

Crush, I’m sorry! I misunderstood you for so long!

Seeing Yin Yin suddenly giggling to herself, Ling Long was puzzled. “What’s so funny?”

Yin Yin looked at him and said sweetly, “Lingling, I’m sorry, I wrongly accused you.”

Ling Long: “……”

That soft ‘Lingling’ nearly made Helian Kong spit out his tea. “Could you not be so nauseating?! I only laughed a little, that’s all!”

……

After paying for the tea, Yin Yin followed Ling Long to return to Zhuwang’s headquarters. But as she turned, she saw Liu Ruoxi walking toward them. Liu Ruoxi appeared surprised as well, and by her side was Bitao, who called out cheerfully upon seeing Ling Long, “Young Master Ling Long, what a coincidence!”

Ling Long gave them a gentle nod. Liu Ruoxi smiled and walked up. “It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Very well.” Ling Long replied calmly. “How’s Luzhu’s treatment going?”

“I visited a few times earlier. Jia Qing is truly a miracle doctor. Luzhu can now speak a little. He said once he heals her throat, he’ll treat her face next.”

“That’s good to hear.” Said Yin Yin, relieved. “I wanted to visit her earlier, but I was being followed by Mo Lingya.”

Only then did Liu Ruoxi turn her gaze to Yin Yin. The affinity lantern in Yin Yin’s hand was glaringly conspicuous, with freshly written ink still drying. Liu Ruoxi recognized Ling Long’s handwriting.

As she studied Yin Yin, Yin Yin studied her in turn. Liu Ruoxi carried no lantern. Then again, a great beauty like her probably had men lining up to write for her.

Unfortunately, the only one Liu Ruoxi wanted to write for her had written for someone else.

Love could be cruel like that sometimes.

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.” Ling Long’s voice pulled Liu Ruoxi from her thoughts. She nodded and smiled. “Until we meet again.”

Helian Kong trailed behind Ling Long and Yin Yin, frequently glancing back at where Liu Ruoxi had disappeared. He shook his head and sighed. “You just turned down a beauty. And not just any beauty— a great beauty.”

“You like her?” Ling Long looked at Helian Kong.

Helian Kong shook his head. “What’s the use if I do? She only has eyes for you, this heartless man.”

Yin Yin gave Helian Kong a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Kongkong, are you craving plain rice and pickled vegetables again?”

Helian Kong shivered. He leaned in to whisper to Ling Long, tattling, “Back at the market, there was this super handsome guy asking about Yin Yin.”

This time, it was Yin Yin who shivered. This damn Helian Kong, he’s tattling now?!

Ling Long clearly found the matter interesting. He smiled at Helian Kong. “Oh? Which family’s young master?”

“He said his name was Shu Chen. You should’ve seen the way he looked at Yin Yin……”

“And how exactly did he look at her?”

Helian Kong’s heart trembled. “N-not much! Ah, what a lovely full moon tonight~”

Seeing the smile still on Ling Long’s face, Helian Kong suddenly had a sinking feeling that someone was about to be very, very unlucky.