Shen Zhiyi: "That’s not okay."

Xiao Huaian was confused.

"You’re choosing between me accompanying you and sister-in-law accompanying you, and you didn’t choose me?"

Shen Zhiyi: ...

Why are you comparing yourself to Yu Tingwan?

The next moment.

Yu Tingwan stood up.

Under Shen Zhiyi’s astonished gaze, she hooked her arm around Wei Zhao’s.

Right where the wound was.

Xiao Huaian was just about to speak in concern, but saw that Wei Zhao didn’t even flinch, as if he didn’t feel any pain at all.

He could endure!

"Seriously, you promised me first, and now that Wei Zhao is here, you’re leaving me for him?"

Shen Zhiyi: "You’re being too..."

Cuts him off.

Yu Tingwan, who hadn’t spoken sweet words in a long time, softly said, "My husband is always number one to me."

"Even if we just agreed to meet, or even if I’m in a hurry to reincarnate, as long as he’s around, everything else gets pushed back."

Yu Tingwan: "You should understand."

Yu Tingwan dryly: "After all, I’m madly in love with him, hopelessly so."

Shen Zhiyi: ???

You’re in that deep!

Xiao Huaian: ???

Damn, he’s so jealous!

He also wants to be treated like this!

Xiao Huaian started feeling annoyed with Wei Zhao.

Especially seeing Wei Zhao being all soft and gentle after being coaxed.

Comparing oneself to others is infuriating; if you can’t compare, then pull him down. He was just about to mention Wei Zhao’s injury and his earlier reckless probing, wanting Yu Tingwan to scold him.

But before he could speak.

Wei Zhao seemed to sense his intention: "Are you still going to borrow money for this night market?"

Xiao Huaian: ??

Yu Tingwan’s face fell, and she sat down with Wei Zhao, eerily saying, "It’s funny, I just mentioned Heir Xiao’s confidante to Shen Zhiyi."

Xiao Huaian: ???

His heart skipped a beat, and from afar, he could still hear the sound of bids being placed at the auction. What else didn’t he know?

Although Yu Tingwan knew that Xiao Huaian was just playing around.

But...

"No lending. I don’t care about anything else, but this time Shen Zhiyi is sitting here."

Saying this, she noticed something was wrong; Wei Zhao’s lips were paler than when he pretended to be sick.

She hadn’t put any powder on him.

Of course, it was because of blood loss.

Yu Tingwan was just about to lean in for a closer look.

Wei Zhao raised his hand to push her away.

Xiao Huaian: ?? Courage!

Wei Zhao listlessly said, "People are watching."

Yu Tingwan: "So what? I’m not doing anything else."

"I don’t believe you."

Yu Tingwan felt bad, inexplicably having no credibility with Wei Zhao.

But she couldn’t bear to scold him, turning her head, deciding not to say anything to Shen Zhiyi either. But she had to find someone to blame.

So she unhesitatingly glared at Xiao Huaian: "What are you looking at? Never seen a couple?"

Wei Zhao advised, "Don’t mind him; he’s always been easily amused."

Xiao Huaian: ???

Do I deserve to die just for sitting here?

He snorted with laughter, really not wanting to bother, turning his head to ask Shen Zhiyi.

"Do you care about the rumors about the confidante?"

He tried to see some dissatisfaction on her face, but there was none.

Shen Zhiyi’s gaze fell on his hand holding the fan, wanting to remind him to be careful not to drop it.

This fan was expensive.

But then she remembered their changed statuses.

Just a fan, even if it broke, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

Shen Zhiyi completely forgot that Yu Tingwan had just used the fan handle to crack a walnut. She wasn’t worried about Yu Tingwan getting hurt, not a bit!

She was just about to speak.

Wei Zhao: "Doesn’t care."

Xiao Huaian: ?

Yu Tingwan nodded: "Indeed, she’s exceptionally generous. Even though she hasn’t entered your Xiao Family, she thinks if you really care about that woman, she’ll arrange for her to be a concubine."

Xiao Huaian couldn’t believe it.

He wanted to say Wei Zhao had bad intentions and that Yu Tingwan was talking nonsense, but seeing Shen Zhiyi’s genuine expression, his heart sank.

"Shen Zhiyi."

He lost confidence.

"I hold no true feelings for any other woman."

Yu Tingwan blinked: "Alright, alright, don’t worry, she heard you."

Shen Zhiyi indeed heard him.

Yu Tingwan: "But don’t be embarrassed to admit it; she’s willing to bless your happiness."

"After all, last time you spent so much money to take the oiran away and spent the night with her, only to return her the next day. Clearly, you care."

Shen Zhiyi nodded.

Surprised by Yu Tingwan’s thoughtfulness, expressing exactly what she was thinking.

What entanglement! Xiao Huaian: "Who says so!"

Shen Zhiyi: "I do!"

Yu Tingwan softly said: "Plus, that oiran once had a miscarriage for you. That’s why you felt guilty and paid even more attention, always choosing her in the brothel."

Xiao Huaian’s face turned dark, seeking confirmation: "Did she say that too?"

"You can’t misunderstand Shen Zhiyi; this is what everyone privately says."

"Rumors aren’t reliable."

Xiao Huaian hurried to explain.

But what could he say?

After all...

Back then, he didn’t think he and Shen Zhiyi would end up together.

Those rumors were actually started by him.

He seemed to have done other things too.

Shen Zhiyi furrowed her brows: "Last time, Ning Yunling specifically stopped you in the street to ask if it was true or false, and you admitted it. Ning Yunling cursed you for days for being worthless. Have you forgotten?"

"You took advantage of someone else, got her pregnant, though unethical, she’s in that line of work. It was consensual, a transaction, no one should criticize."

Xiao Huaian’s vision went dark, feeling unwell.

Yu Tingwan chimed in: "Yeah, how can you do it and not admit it?"

She lightly added: "Even though Shen Zhiyi will marry you, she won’t make a fuss."

"You’re really lucky. If Wei Zhao were like you, I definitely wouldn’t let him off."

It was a painful truth.

This kind of luck, he didn’t want.

Xiao Huaian struggled to speak: "Sister-in-law, I have something to discuss with Shen Zhiyi. Would you and the ’dog’ please step aside?"

’Dog’ Wei Zhao’s expression remained unchanged.

Not intending to leave.

"She’s not an outsider, and General Wei can’t really move much in his condition."

Shen Zhiyi didn’t believe they were at a point to discuss private matters: "Heir, just speak openly."

She hesitated, asking: "Has the wedding date been set?"

Xiao Huaian was frustrated, but not discouraged or hurried, having had years of patience.

"Mother had our birthdates checked, and there were three auspicious times given: in three months, in seven months, and in four years. What do you think?"

Xiao Huaian added: "The last one is too far off."

Shen Zhiyi nodded, thinking the same.

She pursed her lips: "If it’s okay with you, I’d like it sooner. There’s too much uncertainty; at home, I’ve already put on airs, afraid you might change your mind."

The boat rocked gently, and the candle inside began to flicker.

Yu Tingwan rested her chin in her hand, watching.

Wei Zhao lazily watched too.

Their gazes couldn’t avoid each other, straight and unabashed.

Xiao Huaian suddenly understood why Yu Tingwan glared at him earlier.

Because it was really annoying.

"What are you looking at? Never seen an engaged couple?"

Yu Tingwan: "Husband."

She suddenly thought of Zhou Yurou’s lily-like demeanor and believed she could do even better, trembling: "Scolded me, I’m so scared."

Wei Zhao was silent.

The least tolerant of weak rhetoric, Shen Zhiyi: "Xiao Huaian, if you have something, come at me!"

Yu Tingwan nudged Wei Zhao.

"Why are you not reacting?"

Wei Zhao quietly responded: "If you talk like that, I’m even more scared."