“Are you sure you didn’t get it wrong? Cousin is really coming back today?” Lichu asked, her round eyes wide with anticipation.
“Absolutely sure. The servant even went to the Censorate to ask the Heir himself,” came the reply. “They said the Heir is already on his way back to the residence.”
Lichu jumped to her feet at once and headed outside. “Then what are we waiting for?”
Chunxing hurried after her, worried she might do something reckless. “Miss, what are you planning this time?”
Lichu walked out of the courtyard with light, quick steps. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Chunxing asked blankly, “How can you be so confident, Miss?”
“I had a Taoist calculate it for me. The tenth is an auspicious day. Everything should go smoothly.”
Lichu lowered her voice and leaned closer to Chunxing. “Today is extremely lucky. If you want to make something happen, today is the day.”
Chunxing looked doubtful. “Does that really work?”
“Well, we’ll find out if we try.”
By the time Lu Shiji returned to the residence, dusk was already falling. Pink clouds spread across the sky, coloring the evening light.
He walked through the winding corridors, crossed the front courtyard, then took the narrow stone path that wound through the rock garden.
His steps were steady, unhurried.
From behind the rockery ahead came faint rustling sounds. He glanced in that direction, at the empty cluster of rocks, but didn’t slow down.
“Ah!”
A soft cry rang out. Shen Lichu missed her footing on the stone steps and stumbled straight into Lu Shiji’s arms.
Qingsong, following behind Lu Shiji, sucked in a sharp breath at the sight, his face turning pale with shock.
This cousin—was she really using such a cheap trick to get close to the Heir?
Had she lost her mind?
Lichu crashed into Lu Shiji’s chest and instinctively grabbed his robe, barely managing to steady herself.
In that instant, a scene from her dream flashed through her mind.
That man’s hand gripping the back of her neck, forcing her into his arms. The broad, solid chest. The clean scent of pine.
It had been a dream, and yet she remembered it with unsettling clarity. Exactly the same.
Lichu stiffened all over. A chill ran up her spine, and the performance she had carefully planned seemed to get stuck in her throat.
For a moment, she even regretted coming near him.
A low voice sounded above her. “Miss Shen, what are you doing?”
Lichu jolted back to herself and quickly looked up, meeting a pair of gentle yet distant eyes. They were like a clear pool in summer, cool and soothing.
She shook her head at once. She really was being foolish—how could she compare her cousin to the man in her dream?
Her cousin was a true gentleman, open and upright.
Besides, that man in the dream had been burning hot, while her cousin carried a cool, restrained presence. Even his body felt cool.
Lichu finally steadied herself. She swallowed, her voice still a little stiff and awkward.
“I was about to go up the stone steps just now, but I slipped and almost fell. Luckily, Cousin appeared in time and saved me.”
Qingsong barely dared to breathe, his face tense. The Heir despised these kinds of deliberate embraces more than anything. With the cousin acting like this today, no one knew what kind of outcome awaited her.
Lu Shiji lowered his gaze. She was still pressed against him, both hands gripping his robe. Her eyes, bright like a startled deer’s, were deliberately innocent, yet there was a hint of guilt she couldn’t quite hide.
He thought of their marriage in his previous life. Back then, she never wanted to be close to him. When she looked at him, her eyes were always fearful, evasive. She had never once thrown herself into his arms.
This was the only time.
He had almost forgotten that she had once been so vivid and alive, her bright eyes filled with nothing but him.
Seeing that he still hadn’t spoken, Lichu grew uneasy. His clear, calm gaze seemed able to see straight through her, making her wonder if he had already seen through her little act.
She swallowed again, then let go of his robe and stood properly.
As she suddenly pulled away, his arms felt empty, and a quiet hollowness rose in his chest.
Lu Shiji’s hand at his side tightened slightly, but in the end, he didn’t move.
Only that restless, unwilling heat in his chest continued to smolder, growing stronger by the second.
Sensing that something about his presence felt off, Lichu’s guilty voice grew softer. “I really didn’t mean to do it.”
Whenever she needed something from him, she would look at him just like this—eyes wide, full of longing.
Just like before, when she had begged him with red, watery eyes to spare the Shen family.
Later, when he had to deal with the Shen family, he remembered how pitiful she had looked, and in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to act ruthlessly.
She could be far crueler than he ever was.
He lowered his gaze, forcing back the anger simmering beneath, and in a calm, cool voice said, “Miss Shen, be careful next time.”
Lichu froze for a moment. Before she could react, Lu Shiji had already walked past her in long strides.
Qingsong, following behind, froze too, scratching his head before hurrying to catch up.
It wasn’t until Lu Shiji’s figure disappeared completely among the rockeries that Chunxing rushed out.
“Miss, are you hurt?”
Lichu shook her head. “No.”
“Then… what’s wrong?” Chunxing asked, noticing her hesitant expression.
Lichu turned toward the direction Lu Shiji had gone, her eyes slightly dazed.
Was he… upset?
But he hadn’t pushed her away.
“Miss Shen Lichu bumped into Brother Shiji?”
“Yes. It seems Cousin slipped on the steps and just happened to fall into the Heir’s arms. I was standing nearby and saw it all!”
Since the Heir was returning to the residence, Song Qinghe had sent a maid to wait, so she could bring him ginseng chicken soup at the right time.
She hadn’t expected Shen Lichu to pull a stunt like this.
Hua Shan snorted coldly. “She’s clearly doing it on purpose! Using such cheap tricks to seduce the Heir—it’s shameless!”
“Don’t worry, Miss. The Heir wouldn’t care about her antics anyway. I saw him leave looking displeased. He must be furious at Cousin’s nonsense.”
Song Qinghe’s tone was full of disdain. “Brother Shiji is disciplined and upright. How could he ever like such a foolish, reckless woman? It’s natural he’s annoyed.”
Hua Shan frowned. “But Madam Duke wants the Heir to marry that Cousin. Now that Cousin is being so bold, always showing up near the Heir… doesn’t that bother you?”
Song Qinghe, calm and collected, laughed with a trace of sarcasm. “Let her be. If she annoys Brother Shiji, even if Madam Duke wants this marriage, he still won’t agree.”
He hates these kinds of affectations the most.
Hua Shan smiled. “You really understand the Heir, Miss.”
Song Qinghe smiled faintly, pressing her lips together. Having grown up with him, how could she not know him?
In his heart, she was different from everyone else.
“Brother Shiji has been busy with court cases these past days. I’ll take this ginseng chicken soup from the kitchen and bring it to him,” she said.
Hua Shan laughed. “You’re thoughtful, unlike that foolish Cousin. The Heir has been working hard for days, and she still bothers him with her ridiculous tricks.”
“Mind your tongue,” Song Qinghe replied, though secretly she felt satisfied.
Carrying the food box, she headed straight for Wenlan Garden.
Outside, Xiping was frowning, unsure what to do. Seeing Song Qinghe arrive, he hurried forward. “Miss Song, why are you here?”
“I heard Brother Shiji returned, so I came to bring some food,” she said with a smile.
Xiping hesitated. “The Heir… seems to be in a bad mood today.”
Not just a little bad—unusually so.
The Heir rarely showed his emotions. Even when displeased, he usually kept a calm face. Today, he returned with a stormy expression that made Xiping jump.
He didn’t dare tempt fate.
Song Qinghe frowned slightly. “I should go see him.”
Xiping dared not release her casually. “Better I go in first and announce your arrival.”
Song Qinghe nodded. “Alright.”
Carefully, Xiping pushed open the door. Inside the study, only two lamps burned, casting a dim, oppressive light over the room.
When he looked up and saw the dark figure sitting at the desk, his heart started pounding. He opened his mouth cautiously.
“M-Master, Miss Song is here.”