Only the foolish Huai An didn’t understand the reason.

The carriage clop-clopped—

Steadily moving along the road to the villa.

Shen Yuan leaned comfortably against the carriage wall, resting his eyes.

“Young Master.”

Huai An gently massaged Shen Yuan’s shoulders. Seeing him silent, thinking Shen Yuan was unhappy, he quickly tried to console him, “Perhaps Young Master Liu has kept the Fifth Imperial Princess occupied today, that’s why she didn’t come to pick you up. As the saying goes, a good woman fears a clingy man, you mustn’t be heartbroken.”

“When it’s mutual, there’s no need for the word ‘clingy’.”

Liu Ming was officially engaged to Gu Zhi as her primary husband. Even without this relationship, the three words “Liu Grand Tutor” were enough to make Gu Zhi cautious.

Not to mention that the last time she escorted him home from the spring outing, it had already displeased the Liu Grand Tutor.

Shen Yuan didn’t believe that Gu Zhi would truly continue to offend the Liu family for that bit of affection.

Moreover, Mother had said before that noble ladies in the palace were often fickle. Last time when Gu Zhi made such a big show at the gate of the Shen manor.

It was nothing more than wanting to test the bottom line of the Liu family, to test Her Majesty’s intentions regarding the heir apparent.

If among the three dukes – Liu Grand Tutor, Shen Grand Tutor, and Song Grand Defender – she alone possessed the sons of two dukes, Her Majesty’s favor would be self-evident.

Talk of childhood sweethearts and innocent love, yet she couldn’t wait for Shen Yuan to be ignorant of the ways of the world, obedient and compliant, foolishly offering up the Shen family.

That’s why Mother had repeatedly instructed him not to develop feelings for Gu Zhi.

These things were also what Father had explained a few days ago, allowing Shen Yuan to understand.

Fortunately, he had no interest in Gu Zhi to begin with, so it didn’t matter much.

However, Shen Yuan hadn’t slept well last night, so his speech was lazy now, lacking energy, “Did Liu Ming really invite Young Master Song today?”

“Yes.” Huai An nodded blankly.

He had never heard of Liu Ming being close to the Song Grand Defender’s concubine-born son.

Shen Yuan opened his eyes slightly, could it be that that jealous pot had truly set his heart on supporting Gu Zhi to the position?

Today’s outing gathered the sons of the three dukes.

However, even if Liu Ming had this intention, it probably wouldn’t work.

Thinking of the first time he met Song Zhi, that person was wearing begonia red, extremely alluring.

The way he looked at Su Jin was even more undisguised, very bold.

Come to think of it, the young man who had been clinging to Xu Wei recently, causing everyone at Qingshan Academy to know about it, seemed to also have the surname Song.

A thought flashed through Shen Yuan’s mind, his brows furrowed tightly as if hiding mountains, he beckoned Huai An and whispered a few instructions.

The Liu family villa was located in the suburbs, hidden in lush mountains and built by the water.

As soon as the carriage steadied to a stop.

Shen Yuan alighted with Huai An’s assistance, raising his eyes to see Gu Zhi holding Liu Ming’s hand, standing at the entrance with a radiant smile.

“Young Master Shen.” Liu Ming smiled ambiguously, “I heard Young Master Song was going to the Shen manor first, I thought you would come together. How come, did he not go to your residence?”