Ling Buzhan came out wearing a smoky-blue hair ribbon. Paired with the jade pendant at his waist, it added a touch of blue-green to his otherwise elegant appearance.
“Looks good!” Feiying nodded repeatedly, then suddenly realized something.
“Oh—”
“Is it because Miss Liu often wears green, so that’s why you…”
“Stop talking nonsense.” Ling Buzhan cleared his throat. “It just happened to be this one.”
“Too talkative.”
……
When Ling Buzhan arrived at the entrance, he unexpectedly spotted a familiar carriage.
The Regent Prince Shen Hanzhi’s carriage.
“Tsk.”
Ling Buzhan’s expression immediately darkened.
Why was this man everywhere?
He rolled his eyes and was about to enter the restaurant when someone behind him called out.
“Master Xie.”
Cang Yu stood there with his sword in his arms, his expression haughty.
“My lord wishes to speak with you.”
Ling Buzhan turned around with a fake smile and gave a perfunctory salute.
“Your Highness.”
Shen Hanzhi didn’t even lift the carriage curtain. Clearly, he didn’t want to see him either, yet he’d gone out of his way to summon him over.
Hah. What a bored man.
“Master Xie seems to have encountered something pleasant,” Shen Hanzhi said coolly. “You’re wearing your emotions on your face. Surely you can’t hide anything from me.”
Ling Buzhan’s smile didn’t falter.
He deliberately replied, “I have a beautiful lady accompanying me tonight. Naturally, I’m happy.”
“The Regent is…”
“Eating alone?”
Shen Hanzhi: “……”
“Bold!” Cang Yu immediately defended his master. “His Highness is of distinguished status. Naturally, he can’t simply dine with just anyone!”
“Oh—”
Ling Buzhan smiled and cupped his hands.
“Of course.”
“Then Your Highness can enjoy your meal alone.”
“Goodbye.”
He turned around and walked away, his back radiating confidence and smug satisfaction.
There was silence inside the carriage.
Silence outside as well.
Cang Yu hesitated for a long while before finally asking, “Your Highness… are you getting out?”
Shen Hanzhi stepped out of the carriage.
He stared meaningfully at Mingyue Tower before turning toward the restaurant across the street, Jufu Pavilion.
“Keep an eye on the place opposite.”
His voice was cold.
“Find out who he’s dining with.”
Cang Yu bowed.
“Yes!”
His eyes suddenly lit up.
“Your Highness, the third floor has a perfect view of the street. Whoever comes to meet him will be visible at a glance. Why don’t we sit there tonight?”
“Mm.”
Shen Hanzhi agreed.
A short while later, the White Residence’s carriage stopped outside Mingyue Tower.
Crack!
The teacup in Shen Hanzhi’s hand shattered.
Cang Yu nervously glanced downstairs and quickly said, “Your Highness! It’s Miss Liu! Not Miss Bai!”
Shen Hanzhi’s gaze froze.
“Who mentioned Miss Bai?”
That was what he said, but his expression visibly relaxed.
Anyone could tell.
Cang Yu silently mocked him in his heart, but naturally didn’t dare say a word.
Shen Hanzhi gave a faint laugh.
“Princess Pingyang still wanted to arrange a marriage between Master Xie and some noble young lady…”
“Looks like he’s already chosen someone.”
The smile on his face didn’t last long.
Behind the White family’s carriage, he spotted a woman sneaking along with a maid.
Even with her face covered, Shen Hanzhi recognized her immediately.
It was Bai Zhen’er.
He slammed his hand against the table.
Cang Yu nearly dropped to his knees.
“Your Highness!”
Shen Hanzhi’s face darkened.
“Bring her up.”
“Yes!”
Cang Yu didn’t dare disobey. He immediately hurried downstairs and stopped Bai Zhen’er just as she was about to enter Mingyue Tower, then “invited” her up to Jufu Pavilion.
“Oh, I have something to do today!” Bai Zhen’er complained miserably. “Can I see your master another day?”
“Miss Bai, please.”
Cang Yu was practically begging.
“Please don’t go into Mingyue Tower!”
“I…”
Bai Zhen’er stopped mid-sentence when she saw Shen Hanzhi sitting at the table.
He was usually cold, but today he was practically frozen solid.
His entire expression screamed stay away unless you want to die.
She quietly asked Cang Yu, “What’s wrong with him?”
“Who upset him today?”
“Quite a few people.”
Cang Yu started counting on his fingers.
“Several senior officials, the Empress Dowager, Master Xie, and then…”
He pointed at Bai Zhen’er.
“You.”
“Me?”
Bai Zhen’er pointed at herself.
“I only just came out today!”
She’d spent most of the day playing dress-up with Liu Yueti.
How had she managed to offend Shen Hanzhi?
Shen Hanzhi let out a deep breath.
He had originally intended to set the teacup down heavily in front of her, but in the end, he restrained himself.
“Master Xie is dining with Miss Liu. Why are you getting involved?”
“You already know?”
Bai Zhen’er’s eyes widened.
She accepted the teacup and sat down opposite him.
“It’s Yueti’s first date. I can’t let her go alone.”
Shen Hanzhi’s expression softened slightly.
“…That’s all?”
Bai Zhen’er thought about it.
“And Mingyue Tower’s ribs?”
Shen Hanzhi gave a quiet laugh.
“The food at Jufu Pavilion is also good. What would you like to eat?”
“Then you order for me.”
Bai Zhen’er smiled brightly, resting her chin in her hands.
“I want whatever you usually like.”
Shen Hanzhi hesitated, but eventually answered.
“All right.”
Behind them, Cang Yu’s expression became strange.
Members of great noble families weren’t supposed to let others easily figure out their preferences, especially someone of the Regent’s status.
Even he only knew what his master disliked.
Cang Yu was curious.
But when the dishes arrived, his expression became even stranger.
These absolutely could not be the Regent’s favorite foods!
So the Regent was still guarding himself even around Miss Bai?
The dishes were laid out one after another.
“Osmanthus sticky rice lotus root, glutinous rice balls, date-paste pastries…”
Bai Zhen’er looked over the dishes.
“Crystal shrimp, Eight-Treasure soup, shark fin, bird’s nest, sweet-and-sour pork…”
She looked at Shen Hanzhi.
“You like all of these?”
Shen Hanzhi lowered his eyes.
“…Yes.”
Bai Zhen’er smiled until her eyes curved.
“Then I know what you like now.”
Cang Yu’s eyes widened.
How does she know? I don’t even know!
Bai Zhen’er picked up her chopsticks with a silly smile.
Every dish on the table was something she liked—except the date-paste pastry.
Shen Hanzhi likes date-paste pastries!
That was an unexpected preference.
Even when it came to something as simple as his favorite food, he refused to say it outright and had to tell her through such roundabout means…
Bai Zhen’er sighed helplessly.
If she wanted him to actually say the words “I like you,” it was going to be incredibly difficult.
…But it was kind of adorable.
……
Liu Yueti entered the private room with Wei Zhao.
As she looked up, a breeze happened to sweep through the room. Her blue-green skirt fluttered gently, perfectly complementing the verdant hills and dusky scenery beyond the window.
Ling Buzhan: “……”
Liu Yueti smiled brightly.
“Oh! Master Xie, you’ve already ordered the ribs?”
Ling Buzhan came back to himself and smiled.
“I noticed you liked them that day, so I ordered them especially for you.”
“Please, sit.”
He looked at Feiying and Wei Zhao.
“Miss Liu and I have something important to discuss. The two of you can take some dishes outside and eat.”
Feiying happily came over with a bowl.
Wei Zhao, however, didn’t move.
She smiled lazily.
“No need. I already ate.”
“The cooks at the White Residence aren’t any worse than the ones at Mingyue Tower.”
Ling Buzhan: “……”
Is she deliberately showing off?
She grabbed Feiying, who was struggling to get enough food onto his plate, and dragged him out of the room, leaving the two of them alone.
Ling Buzhan got straight to the point.
“Miss Liu, did you bring the letter?”
“Of course.”
Liu Yueti didn’t keep him waiting. She pushed the letter toward him.
“I said I’d keep my word.”
Ling Buzhan placed his hand over it but didn’t immediately take it.
Instead, he asked meaningfully,
“Miss Liu… did you read it?”