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

A crisp sound came from behind.

Cui Yutang's steps froze.

He slowly turned around and saw that Xie Yige had left the group and walked up to him. Her beautiful eyes looked him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Did you do something wrong?" She tilted her head slightly. "Why won't you look at me?"

Cui Yutang's ears suddenly turned red. He shook his head frantically, a hint of helplessness in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Yige," he said cautiously, his voice slightly unsteady, "I'll queue up to buy this for you next time... I, I'll go now."

He turned to leave after he finished speaking.

"Where are you going?" Xie Yige called out to him. "Take me back."

Cui Yutang paused for a moment, then nodded repeatedly, "Oh, okay, okay."

He led the horse and walked beside her. The two walked side by side on the streets of Chang'an at dusk.

Xie Yige glanced at him and saw that he looked absent-minded, so she couldn't help but smile.

This person seems a bit off today.

"I heard from my brother that you hurriedly rode away on horseback after participating in the Ministry of Personnel's selection examination. Where did you go?"

Cui Yutang's heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his voice and said in a muffled tone, "I went back to the villa."

"Why are you back in the city so soon?"

"I..." His face suddenly turned bright red. He wanted to make up an excuse, but he didn't want to lie to her, so he stood there, looking at her, feeling very helpless.

Seeing his expression, Xie Yige didn't press him for details, but simply smiled slightly.

"Speaking of which, you invited me to Chaoyi Villa to see the pear blossoms last time, and we were already halfway up the mountain..." She seemed to remember something, and her face flushed for a moment, "Since we didn't end up seeing them anyway, why don't we go tomorrow and make up for it?"

Cui Yutang was stunned for a moment.

Is she... is she asking me out? What a coincidence!

Wouldn't it be a huge loss to refuse myself?

That secret room... I hope it's okay if she doesn't see it, right?

Before he could even come to a decision, the person had already nodded quickly.

"Yi Ge! Thank you, Yi Ge!"

A cheerful female voice came from behind.

The two turned around together and saw Li Zhiwei and her brother Li Zhige standing not far away, with Li Zhiwei waving vigorously at her.

"It really is you! Brother told me it was you up ahead, but I didn't believe it." Li Zhiwei took two steps forward and happily hugged her.

Cui Yutang watched from the side, his brows furrowed in worry. He desperately restrained his hand, which wanted to throw Li Zhiwei away.

Looking at Li Zhige, who was gazing at Xie Yige with tender eyes, the ominous feeling became even more pronounced.

"What are you doing here?" Xie Yige hadn't seen Li Zhiwei for a long time since that day on the island in the middle of the lake, so she was very happy to run into her again.

"My brother and I just got back from the military camp and are about to go out to find something to eat," Li Zhi said with a smile. "By the way, should we go to Linshui Pavilion again tomorrow? I'm starting to miss the Hunyang Mohu there." She couldn't help but swallow as she spoke of the delicious food.

Cui Yutang's heart suddenly jumped, and he looked at Xie Yige with some nervousness.

"Zhiwei, I'm sorry, I have an appointment tomorrow."

Li Zhiwei then glanced at Cui Yutang beside her, looking at Xie Yige with a half-smile: "Have you made an appointment with Young Master Cui?"

Xie Yige nodded shyly.

Li Zhige's expression suddenly froze.

Cui Yutang became even more convinced that his ominous feeling was not unfounded.

"Where are you guys planning to go? Can I join you?" Li Zhiwei looked at her with a mixture of excitement and envy.

She leaned close to Xie Yige's ear and whispered, "I promise I'll slip away to play somewhere else when the time is right, so it won't disturb your time alone."

Xie Yige's ears turned red.

"We're going to his estate to admire the pear blossoms, otherwise..." She turned to look at Cui Yutang, her voice gentle, "Cui Yutang, would you like another person to come?"

Cui Yutang felt wronged.

But he dared not say it.

He could tell that she wanted Li Zhiwei to come along.

I could only nod.

"Young Master Cui is indeed magnanimous!" Li Zhiwei praised him generously.

"Brother Cui, may I have the honor of accompanying you?" Li Zhige suddenly spoke, his gaze sharp. "I've heard that your estate has beautiful scenery, and I've longed to visit it for a long time."

"Welcome," Cui Yutang replied casually.

After saying goodbye to the Li siblings, Xie Yige noticed that Cui Yutang had been hanging his head and looking dejected the whole way.

He led the horse, protecting her as they walked on the inner side, his pace much slower than when they came. Apart from occasionally reminding her of the road conditions, he seemed to have lost all his energy.

As they were about to reach the Zhou residence, Xie Yige looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, took his hand and led him behind a large tree nearby.

Baoyu, Bichun, and Zhixia immediately and with great awareness, stood guard on the perimeter, their backs to them, in a row.

"Cui Yutang, are you unhappy?" Xie Yige's voice was as gentle as spring water.

Cui Yutang remained silent.

He simply hooked his arms around her slender waist, lifted her up, and pulled her tightly into his embrace. His high, straight nose pressed against her long, graceful neck, and he let out a muffled sound: "Mmm."

The voice carried a sense of grievance that had nowhere to be appealed.

Xie Yige's heart was quickly softened.

He looks so pitiful.

She appears aloof and dignified in front of others.

"I'm sorry, how about I spend time with you alone next time?" She reached out and hugged him back.

Cui Yutang didn't speak, but simply hugged her tighter. His chin rested on her shoulder, his warm breath brushing against her collarbone.

Her body couldn't help but tremble slightly.

After a long while, he finally said in a muffled voice, "You said it."

"I said it."

"No taking it back."

"No regrets."

He finally raised his head.

His deep, phoenix-shaped eyes reflected the newly lit lights of countless homes, shining even brighter than the Milky Way. He looked at her, a slow smile spreading across his lips, like a child who had stolen candy.

"I'll remember that."

Xie Yige felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, so she looked away and pushed his chest, saying, "Good thing you remembered. Let go of me now, it won't look good if someone sees us."

Cui Yutang reluctantly let go, but before releasing her, he gently kneaded her fingertips one last time.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"it is good."

Xie Yige turned and walked into the mansion. After taking a few steps, she looked back at him again.

He was still standing there, the shadows of the trees swaying, the lights dim, and he just stood there, his gaze following her.

When he saw her turn around, he smiled again.

Xie Yige quickly turned back and strode into the mansion, her ears burning.

This person is truly... a source of trouble.