“Me? I… I’m afraid I can’t.”
Shen Ruolan avoided eye contact, seemingly hesitating about something.
Yuan Siyin maintained a serious expression, but inwardly she was already grinning so hard her eyes narrowed into slits.
Perfect.
Wasn’t this working out nicely?
“What’s there to can or can’t? If you don’t wish to associate with me, just say so directly. No need to beat around the bush with these excuses.”
As she spoke, Yuan Siyin angrily set down her silver chopsticks and stood up to leave. Shen Ruolan panicked, quickly grabbing her sleeve to plead: “I’ll go! I’ll go! It’s just… when sister kindly invites a mere concubine-born daughter like me to attend a palace coming-of-age banquet, I’m naturally overjoyed. I only worry my family won’t consent, hence my hesitation.”
“What’s there to worry about? Once the invitation arrives at your doorstep, how could they possibly refuse?”
Seeing her agreement, Yuan Siyin smoothly returned to her seat with satisfaction.
Thank goodness. She’d genuinely worried Shen Ruolan wouldn’t take the bait.
Otherwise, if she’d really left, wouldn’t this whole table of dishes have been wasted?
When the food arrived, Yuan Siyin devoured it like a whirlwind, leaving Shen Ruolan staring dumbfounded with her chopsticks suspended.
Truly·every dish·only two bites each.
Shen Ruolan watched with such discomfort that she could only rise and make hurried excuses to leave.
Yuan Siyin wiped the grease from her mouth, enthusiastically waving the chicken leg still clutched in her hand: “Won’t you eat more? Alright then, I won’t see you out!”
Only when Shen Ruolan’s figure disappeared around the staircase corner did Yuan Siyin toss down the chicken leg, rub her round belly, and release a satisfied burp.
Finally gone. Any longer and she’d have burst from overeating.
Just how difficult was it to maintain her image as someone who threw money around recklessly—the stereotypical rich fool?!
“Waiter, no need to bring the remaining dishes. Package them to go.”
She left a silver ingot on the table, calmly waiting for the waiter to bring the food box before leading Taxue back to Yuan Manor.
The gatekeeper saw her return and hurriedly grasped the animal-face tin rings to open the gate for her, while another servant led Taxue back to the stables.
The manor was quite lively, with roaring laughter audible immediately upon entering.
“Hahaha really? I want to hear more, more! Fangming brother, please tell more! Aqing never gets to hear such stories at school!”Yuan Siyin followed the laughter without breaking stride, finding Yuan Fuqing in the courtyard leaning on Si Fangming’s shoulder, watching his nimble fingers weaving dogtail grass.”
“Yuan Fuqing! Shouldn’t you be at private school at this hour? Slacking off at home!”
The next moment, Yuan Fuqing was lifted up like a chick by Yuan Siyin.
“E… Eldest sister, why has eldest sister returned?”
Children inevitably show guilt on their faces. His eyes darted about uncontrollably as he tried to seek help from Si Fangming.
Si Fangming chuckled but didn’t look up, merely speeding up his hand movements.
“Daring to seek outside assistance?”
Yuan Siyin set him down, kneading his delightfully plump cheeks with both hands: “Caught red-handed today, weren’t you? And here I specially brought your favorite Four Joy Meatballs from Juxian Inn!”
Yuan Fuqing initially tried to resist, but upon hearing “Four Joy Meatballs,” immediately turned doe-eyed and began wheedling: “Aqing knows he was wrong! Please forgive Aqing just this once, eldest sister!”
Speaking thus, he obediently pressed his face forward, allowing Yuan Siyin to squish and mold it as she pleased.
“Enough, enough. Don’t try to weasel your way out with cuteness.” She waved impatiently.
The main thing is you can actually pass the test.
“Finish eating quickly and go apologize to the teacher. Study properly, and there will be more food when you come back tonight.”