Chapter Seventy: Followed Me

"Are you out of your mind!" Shen Youli abruptly stood up, her pretty, large eyes brimming with disgust.

"If you came here for this matter, get lost right now! I will never eat a single cake from your family for as long as I live! Take your cake and get lost!"

Shen Youli was breathing heavily from anger, and she even pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her hands meticulously, as if she found the mere association utterly repulsive.

Cheng Yuan was taken aback, never expecting such an intense reaction before she had even finished speaking.

Yet, she also realized that she might have touched upon one of Shen Youli's boundaries, but when it came to this matter, she had no one else to turn to for help.

After gathering her thoughts, she tried again, saying, "Lady Shen, I wanted to ask you to pretend to seduce him. You know that Yunyue and I are close friends now, but she has been blinded by a scoundrel. Her father already knows and has only allowed her one final meeting so that she can completely give up on him. That scoundrel clings to wealth and status, using sweet words to deceive Yunyue's devoted heart, and now he hangs around gambling dens. If he gets to meet Yunyue again, I'm afraid he'll fill her head with more honeyed lies!"

Her voice carried a hint of agitation, and her eye rims were slightly moist, painting a picture of sorrow and frustration on behalf of her dear friend.

Shen Youli was momentarily stunned as well. Qi Yunyue had kept things tightly under wraps, and given that she was usually well-behaved and sensible, Shen Youli would never have imagined she would secretly entangle herself with a scoundrel.

That girl...

"Hmph, she bickers with me every single day, yet now she wants my help? You must have the wrong person!" Shen Youli crossed her arms and proudly lifted her chin.

Seeing that Shen Youli's anger had subsided, Cheng Yuan felt a surge of joy: there was still a chance!

"Lady Shen, those involved are confused, while onlookers see clearly. I saw it as plain as day—you clearly care about younger sister Yunyue far more than those people who only know how to spout sweet nothings. After all, concern breeds anxiety, concern breeds anxiety. Besides, I know that our Lady Shen is magnanimous; saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. A trivial matter like this should be a breeze for you to handle, isn't that right?"

History proved that someone like Shen Youli was indeed susceptible to flattery.

A long speech left Shen Youli feeling slightly dizzy, her mind registering only a few flattering keywords.

Her face flushed with a faint blush, and her eyes kept darting toward Cheng Yuan. When their gazes met, she gave a light cough.

"I am not helping for free, you know."

Cheng Yuan nodded. "Of course. Whenever there are new chocolate cakes in the future, I will personally send a batch exclusively to you for tasting."

Shen Youli finally turned her entire body around and lazily resumed her seat.

🐟 "Speak, then. What do you want me to do?"

---

Xie Changzhi waited outside for a long time, feeling his head grow somewhat dizzy and heavy again.

He patted his face, and a gust of cold wind blew past, clearing his mind slightly.

Catching sight of Cheng Yuan out of the corner of his eye, he quickly stood up and walked over.

"Sister Yuan..." Suddenly, he felt a burning gaze land on his forehead.

He saw that the young lady from earlier, whose nose had been perpetually pointed up at the sky, staring intently at him. Caught in the act of peeking, she gave him one more frank look before turning to leave.

"Let's head to the academy now; we still have time." Cheng Yuan calculated inwardly as she grabbed Xie Changzhi's wrist and pulled him forward, failing to notice Xie Changzhi's abnormally flushed face.

"Just say that Miss Yun is looking for him."

On a snowy day, there were very few scholars about. Cheng Yuan waited for a long time before managing to stop one.

The scholar stared blankly at Cheng Yuan's face, taking quite a while to collect himself before nodding repeatedly.

"I understand, I understand. Please wait a moment, Miss Yun."

"Wait!" Cheng Yuan added, "Once he comes out, please ask him to meet me in that alley."

Her face was flushed and rosy, brimming with bashful shyness.

The scholar looked thoroughly dazed again, nodding hastily before turning and practically fleeing the scene.

Cheng Yuan put away her smile. When she turned around, Xie Changzhi's expression seemed somewhat dazed.

"What's wrong? Did you freeze your wits away?"

"No, I might just have caught a bit of a chill. I'll be fine after drinking a bowl of ginger tea when we get back."

Xie Changzhi forcefully shook his head and walked on, holding his umbrella.

Despite the heavy snow, the street vendors were all present.

The narrow alley pointed out by Cheng Yuan was barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

Standing at the corner, Cheng Yuan peeked outside just in time to see Lu Bai hurrying over with a look of delight on his face.

"Get ready," Cheng Yuan said in a low voice.

Xie Changzhi gripped the hemp sack tightly in his hands.

"Little sister Yunyue..."

"Thud!"

"Mmph..."

...

"Boss Cheng, here to see our young miss again?"

"Yes, delivering some goods. Should I announce myself again?"

"No need, no need, go right in. Our young miss gave special instructions: whenever Boss Cheng comes, just go straight in! It's just that this little brother will have to stay outside with us to rest for a bit."

As Cheng Yuan carried the hemp sack into the courtyard, Shen Youli was holding a large bowl of cake and taking a massive bite.

For an instant, their eyes met, and Cheng Yuan tactfully looked away.

She turned around, untied the hemp sack, and dumped the person inside onto the ground.

When she turned back, Shen Youli had already resumed her usual aloof demeanor. She stood up and walked over gracefully.

Lowering her head to examine the figure for a long time, she let out a cold huff.

"Just this superficial appearance? Only a fool like Yunyue would fall for it. If you hadn't begged me, I wouldn't have bothered wasting my time."

Having figured out her temperament, Cheng Yuan merely smiled faintly. "Then I'll have to trouble our eldest Miss Shen!"

Shen Youli clearly relished the deference. "Bring that silly girl over here. As long as this fellow truly is greedy for wealth, I'm confident."

Cheng Yuan gave an affirmative hum, then added, "However, after this is over, your relationship with Yunyue..."

Shen Youli paused her movements, then looked at Cheng Yuan as if looking at a fool. "It's merely a superficial relationship. If I truly cared, would I need to snap at her every single time? That little girl is growing up; sooner or later, she'll remember and appreciate my kindness."

Cheng Yuan uttered an "oh" and stepped back, taking her leave.

After leaving the Shen residence, she headed to the Qi residence.

This time, however, she made her exit by vaulting down from the wall.

Qi Yunyue, a delicate young lady, had been holding back tears and was so frightened she nearly fainted, yet she still bravely jumped down.

Fortunately, Cheng Yuan caught her, and Xie Changzhi subsequently vaulted over the wall to join them.

Cheng Yuan felt a twinge of sentimentality; it was a pity that Lu Bai was not a worthy man, otherwise she would not have had to deal a blow to the young girl's sincere and devoted heart.

"Are you certain you want to go see him?" Cheng Yuan walked a few steps before suddenly turning back to ask.

Qi Yunyue was utterly bewildered by the question, yet she still nodded.

"Sister Yuan, you mustn't play tricks on me." With that, she cast a worried glance toward the wall.

This had to be the two most daring things she had done in her dozen or so years of life: making a secret lifetime pledge with Lu Bai, and scaling a wall just to see him.

"Of course I'm not playing tricks on you. However, before you see Lu Bai, no matter what you witness, do not ask why, understood?"

Qi Yunyue decisively nodded.

Yet when she stood outside yet another wall, her lips parted, only to be forced shut.

Xie Changzhi hoisted both of them up onto the wall, and the three of them successfully landed inside the courtyard.

This was the back courtyard.

Qi Yunyue frowned slightly, her gaze shifting as she walked slowly forward.

"This is... Shen Youli's courtyard."

She murmured to herself.

She glanced back at Cheng Yuan, then turned her head again. The room door was wide open, as if beckoning someone to step inside.

Yet Qi Yunyue was a good girl. Having not seen anything yet, she was about to turn and ask when she suddenly heard a horribly familiar voice.