“She’s engaged?!” With an indescribable sourness in his heart, his phoenix eyes, as if dotted with ink, darkened. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but ask, “If she’s already engaged, why would mother have such thoughts?”

He didn’t even care for the Fifth Princess’s side husband, surely mother wouldn’t be so muddled as to make him the side husband of that poor scholar.

“It’s a long story, but in any case, your mother has given up on this idea. This also involves Miss Su’s privacy, so it’s not appropriate for me to say more to you.”

“Father, please tell me. You know how much I love stories.” Shen Yuan pestered for a while, but Wen Rong only smiled, while also instructing the kitchen on the dishes to be prepared.

If he won’t say, then he won’t say.

Shen Yuan sat on the stool, feeling dejected. He rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment, wondering what secrets this matter could have.

It was probably that Su Jin’s family was poor, and the other family had a change of heart and broke off the engagement.

The old story of despising the poor and loving the rich, what was so difficult to talk about?

Moreover, her family’s poverty was a fact, and the broken engagement was also a fact. Hmph, to put it bluntly, wasn’t she just concerned about saving face, afraid of being laughed at, so she asked his parents to help keep it a secret?

What a face-loving… Su Jin.

The last two words stuck to the tip of his tongue, making Shen Yuan inexplicably think of that dream again.

Come to think of it, although Su Jin didn’t have the bright and graceful look of Gu Zhi, her delicate features were indeed very pleasing to the eye.

True, her personality was a bit dull, but where else in the capital could you find a woman who would blush at just a glance from a young man?

Especially when she was sleeping there, looking so obedient and soft.

The feeling of touching her…

“Yuan’er?”

Wen Rong had just finished instructing the steward to send some newly tailored clothes to the outer courtyard. When he turned his head, he saw Shen Yuan blushing, lost in thought.

Even his fingertips resting on the table were fidgeting, looking completely distracted.

“Yuan’er.” Wen Rong called out again, more forcefully.

“Go and invite Miss Su over. After all, you’ll be family in the future. It’s good for you to get closer to her as soon as possible.”

Outside, it was approaching noon, the hottest time of the day.

Huai An held an umbrella, following closely beside Shen Yuan. He had been standing by the door earlier, not daring to listen too much, but now he was very curious, “Young Master, who exactly is this Miss Su? The Madam values her so much, and even the Master is asking you to invite her personally.”

“Father just found out about how I teased her yesterday, and now he wants me to apologize to her first, to avoid being reported and punished later.”

Kicking away a small stone at his feet, Shen Yuan felt very conflicted.

He clearly didn’t like Su Jin, but he would unconsciously think of that dream about her from time to time.

Especially after hearing the news of her engagement just now, he couldn’t describe the feeling in his heart.

This emotion was truly unfamiliar, and Shen Yuan couldn’t quite figure it out. His gaze shifted to the servant beside him, his eyes brightening as he spoke, “Huai An, in those story books, have there ever been…”

Before he could finish, the anxious servant interrupted, admitting his fault.

“Young Master, I really won’t dare to do it again.” Huai An’s face twisted in misery. “Except for the one you discovered, I really haven’t read any more.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Shen Yuan’s expression froze.

Huai An was good at reading people’s expressions. Seeing his displeased look, as if he didn’t believe him, he quickly raised three fingers sincerely, with a forehead full of nervous sweat. His eyes darting around, he said very seriously, “Young Master, if I’m lying to you, then… then punish me by making me grow a face full of…”

“Handsome young men?”

Although Huai An’s oaths were always unusual, wishing to grow a face full of handsome young men seemed a bit half-hearted.

“What nonsense are you saying now?” Shen Yuan laughed despite his annoyance, about to flick him on the forehead.

The servant, who had just been dejected while proving his innocence, suddenly widened his bean-like eyes, pointing at the figure in the alley ahead, excitedly stumbling over his words, “Young Master, look, quick, someone has actually come to visit!”

“Come to visit?” Sheltering in the tree shade and pondering, Shen Yuan looked where he was pointing. In the alley paved with blue flagstones, a young man in a crabapple red robe was holding an oil paper umbrella, gently knocking on the wooden door.

The blue steps and red robe contrasted with his ink-black hair. From a distance, it accentuated his fair skin and handsome features.

Even Shen Yuan couldn’t help but silently admire his good looks.

“Young Master! Miss Su really has some ability. It’s only her second day in the capital, and there’s already a young man coming to admire her. No wonder the Madam thinks so highly of Miss Su.”

The folding fan in his hand tilted, hitting Huai An’s forehead with moderate force, causing him to wince in pain.

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Shen Yuan snorted coldly, “Miss Su hasn’t even started school yet. How would anyone in the capital know about her, let alone come to admire her?”

“Young Master, please don’t be angry. I was just saying. Perhaps this young man is tired from walking and has come to ask for a drink of water.”

Huai An carefully glanced at Shen Yuan, only to receive another hit on his head. “Young Master?”

“Who would come to a dead-end alley to ask for water when they’re tired from walking?”

From the entrance of this alley to its end, there was only one separate wooden door to the outer courtyard of the Shen residence.

People in the capital rarely entered this alley.

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, recalling what his father had said about Su Jin earlier. His heart tightened, and he couldn’t help but look at the umbrella-holding young man a few more times.

Long fingers knocked lightly, and in a moment, the wooden door opened in response.

Su Jin stood on the stone steps, her bamboo-green sleeves gently lifted by the wind. Her dark eyebrows curved as she looked at the person in front of her with confusion, “May I ask who the young master is looking for?”

The young man holding the umbrella lowered his gaze. His peach blossom eyes seemed to contain a sky full of stars, with only a hint of crimson at the corners. This touch of color on his jade-like features made him look like a bewitching flower spirit. His low voice trembled slightly, as if restraining something, “Miss Su, I’ve been looking for you for a long time.”

“Looking for me?” Su Jin became even more confused. She searched her memory but couldn’t recall ever meeting this person.

She politely stepped back half a step, “May I ask what business the young master has with me?”

“Of course, I’ve come to return something and also…” He swallowed the words that were about to come out, his peach blossom eyes seeming to ripple like clear waves, “The weather is hot, so I’ve also come to ask for a drink of water.”

“Eh?”

His tone was far too familiar, and Su Jin was stunned.

Their eyes met, and she saw him curve his lips. The handle of his umbrella tilted, perfectly shielding the two of them, leaving only the crabapple red and bamboo green sleeves intertwining in the wind.

Oh my, oh my, oh my.

This young man is really too bold, doing such things in broad daylight without any concern for propriety. Huai An pursed his lips as if watching a show, gossiping, “Young Master, what do you think they’re doing under that umbrella? Hehe…”