In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

Xie Yige hurriedly closed the box and rushed out to greet him, blocking the doorway: "Brother, let's go to the yard to admire the flowers and talk."

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard. Spring sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows, and a gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers.

"Yige, there's a poetry gathering on the island in the middle of the lake in three days," Zhou Xuan'an said. "Many students who participated in the spring imperial examinations and talented young men from the capital will be there. Would you like to come along?"

He actually had his own selfish motives. With their parents not in the capital, as the elder brother, he had to worry about his younger sister's marriage and see if there was anyone she liked.

Will a lot of people go? Will he go? Xie Yige was a little conflicted. She wanted to see if he was there, but she didn't want to see so many strangers.

"Go ahead," Zhou Xuan'an said again. "You can ask Zhiwei to come with you."

"Okay." She nodded.

Early the next morning, three days later.

When Bichun entered the bedroom, she saw a round, pink jade foot kick out from under the covers. A small jade cat pendant was tied around the ankle with a red string. It swayed gently as its owner turned over, making one want to grab it and play with it.

"Miss, you're almost late, are you still sleeping?" Bichun sighed helplessly.

"I'm so sleepy... Can I not go?" Xie Yige turned over and buried her face in the blanket.

"Didn't you already promise the eldest son? You also made an appointment with Lady Li."

"All right."

Xie Yige listlessly got up and let Bichun dress her up.

Bichun styled her hair into a cloud-like bun, adorned with a pear blossom hairpin called "Ya Haitang". As she swayed her head sleepily, the jade petals swayed slightly, and the tiny pearl tassels swayed gently in the morning light, revealing a touch of lively elegance on the woman's body.

She dazedly changed into a light blue dress, then lowered her head and swayed as she boarded the carriage.

When we arrived at the shore outside the island in the middle of the lake, there were already quite a few people there. The lake was vast and blue, with a dozen or so painted boats floating leisurely. Willows along the shore swayed in the wind, and everywhere we looked, there were young men and women in fine clothes.

As soon as Zhou Xuan'an arrived, he was pulled aside by his classmates at the Imperial Academy for a chat.

"Brother, you go ahead with your work," Xie Yige said. "We'll meet at the island in the middle of the lake later. I'm going to find Zhiwei, and we'll take a boat together."

"Then be careful."

When she found Zhiwei's boat, she was taken aback. It was a large pleasure boat, and although it was only one story, it was still quite magnificent. But—why was there a small gap between it and the shore? She couldn't jump over that.

"Yige, over here." A clear male voice rang out.

It was Li Zhige! He took out a long plank and placed it between the shore and the pleasure boat. It wasn't very wide, just enough for one person to pass through. Today he was wearing a dark blue brocade robe, which made him look dashing.

Wait, why is he calling me Yige? Isn't it inappropriate for a man not to call me that?

"Yige, walk over slowly, don't be afraid, I'll help you." Li Zhige said, reaching out his hand with eager eyes.

"What about Zhiwei?"

"She's inside, I don't know what she's busy doing."

Xie Yige stepped onto the long plank. The plank trembled slightly, and her heart tightened. She saw the hand move even closer, almost touching her arm.

"Young General, men and women should not touch each other. I can go there myself."

Li Zhige's face stiffened, and he silently withdrew his hand. A hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

Just as Xie Yige was about to take her second step, she was pulled back into a pleasant embrace.

It was a blend of cool sandalwood and his unique scent. Without the slightest hesitation, her hands naturally wrapped around his neck. She felt herself lifted into the air and flew onto the ship.

"Brother Li, would you mind if I hitched a ride?" After putting Xie Yige down, Cui Yutang looked at Li Zhige with a slight smile on his lips and a cold look in his eyes.