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

Cui Yutang and Xie Yige were also stunned, remaining frozen in their original positions for a moment.

"Why haven't you two separated yet?"

Zhou Xuan'an raised his hand with trembling hands, pointing at the two of them, his voice slurred.

Cui Yutang was the first to react, immediately shielding Xie Yige behind him completely. Xie Yige peeked out from behind him, cautiously observing the situation.

"Brother Xuan'an, this matter... is a long story."

"Then let's talk somewhere else." Zhou Xuan'an took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm. "Yi Ge, you go back to Pear Garden first."

"Brother, don't bully him, okay?" Xie Yige pouted and said fiercely, "I'll cry."

Zhou Xuan'an suddenly felt like he was about to have a heart attack. He hadn't even done anything yet.

Cui Yutang turned around, reached out and gently stroked her cheek, his movements tender, completely ignoring Zhou Xuan'an's presence.

"Sweetie, you go back first. I need to have a good talk with your brother."

"Hmm." Xie Yige looked back every few steps and walked away feeling wronged.

Seeing this scene, Zhou Xuan'an felt even more choked up.

He took Cui Yutang directly to the study.

After the two were seated, the candlelight flickered, and Cui Yutang's cool and handsome face was illuminated and dimmed in the firelight.

Zhou Xuan'an looked at his brother across from him, who used to seem perfect from head to toe, but now he just felt annoyed no matter how he looked at him.

"What just happened between you two?" he asked, trying to suppress his anger. "You weren't drunk, were you bullying my sister?"

"I'm not drunk." Cui Yutang's attitude was very serious, showing no signs of intoxication.

Zhou Xuan felt a pang of guilt. He recalled that back in Donglin, his sister had been subtly inquiring about this man; the two of them must be a willing buyer and a willing seller.

"When did you two get together?" The two of you weren't even that close when the results were released last time!

Cui Yutang suddenly fell silent for a moment. This question was a bit difficult to answer; when exactly did they get together? So he decided to change his approach.

"I fell in love with her when I was in Donglin, the time she brought you clothes. It was love at first sight."

He had actually developed feelings for her much earlier. He had once secretly watched her bathing and playing in the pond, but at the time he didn't know who she was.

"The time you delivered clothes? Wasn't that more than three months ago?"

Good heavens, he's already thinking about his sister so early! And he had no idea. He's itching to roll up his sleeves again.

"Brother Xuan'an, I am serious about Yige," Cui Yutang said solemnly, his gaze frank and firm. "Although there was a misunderstanding in the middle, my feelings have never changed."

"If you allow me, I will personally go tomorrow to ask the Duchess of Yan to act as matchmaker and bring Yan to formally accept the betrothal gift."

"What?" Zhou Xuan'an was stunned and stood up excitedly.

"Your family would allow you to marry a woman from an ordinary family as your principal wife?" He looked incredulous. "I remember your family didn't even want to marry Princess Yuzhen. Didn't you only marry into powerful and influential families?"

Is this guy crazy?!

"I've already consulted my father and grandmother," Cui Yutang said, his voice soft but resolute. "I'll handle things with my grandfather and the clan; you don't need to worry."

Looking at his earnest expression, Zhou Xuan'an's heart softened. In all the years he had known Cui Yutang, he had never seen him speak in such a tone—no longer the usual aloofness and indifference, but an almost pleading tone.

"This is a huge matter, I can't make the decision myself." Zhou Xuan'an was silent for a moment before finally speaking, "I need to write back to Donglin and ask my parents for their opinion first. Your family is not an ordinary family, I don't know whether it will be a blessing or a curse for my sister to marry into it."

Cui Yutang's heart sank immediately.

But he didn't argue; he simply paused for a moment, then asked, "Could I also write a letter to your parents and send it along with yours?"

"Can."

So, just like back in Donglin, the two of them each occupied one side of the desk and picked up their pens to write letters. Only this time, however, they took a very long time. The candlelight burned quietly, and the only sounds in the study were the occasional rustling of paper being moved and replaced.

The two only left the study when Zhang Yizhi and the others had been waiting for too long and came out to look for them.

"Brother Cui, if we don't leave now, our curfew pass won't be valid anymore," Zhang Yizhi called out from the doorway.

Cui Yutang glanced at Zhou Xuan'an, nodded slightly, and then turned and left.

They left close to 9 PM.

After seeing everyone off, Zhou Xuan'an lingered in the courtyard for a while, the night wind blowing on his face, carrying the chill of late spring.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and walked towards the Pear Garden.

Sure enough, Xie Yige was still awake.

She sat on a chair in the dormitory, leaning against the window and looking outside with a worried expression. As soon as she saw him, she rushed over.

"Brother, how is he? You didn't bully him, did you? You didn't hit him, did you?"

"He's my best brother, how could I bully him?" Zhou Xuan'an felt a pang of sadness. Besides, even your brother can't beat him.

He reached out and helped her adjust her cloak.

"When exactly did you start liking him, without saying a word?"

"It was when I brought you clothes in Donglin," Xie Yige replied weakly.

Well, these two even fell in love with each other at the same time.

"So you're saying it's all my fault?" Zhou Xuan'an sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Who says it isn't? It's your fault."

Zhou Xuan'an was speechless, sighed, and softened his tone.

"Why did you have to fall for him? His family is so complicated, with so many rules, and he's the head of the five surnames and seven clans. I might not even be able to protect you in the future, can't you find someone else?"

"I don't like the other people because they're not good-looking," Xie Yige said matter-of-factly. "Your sister is a hardcore looks-obsessed person."

"You inherited this problem from your mother, didn't you?" Zhou Xuan'an sighed again.

"Brother, you can protect me. Our family is actually quite powerful." She leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Have you heard of Liuying Pavilion?"

Zhou Xuan'an looked blank: "I haven't heard of it."

"It's a place that specializes in training top assassins and buying and selling information."

"so what?"

"Liuying Pavilion is owned by our family." Xie Yige raised an eyebrow at him. "If anyone bullies me, I'll beat them up." She grinned, showing off her pretty teeth and making what she thought was a fierce expression.

"Sis, you're not asleep yet, why are you already dreaming?" Zhou Xuan'an couldn't help but touch her forehead. "Are you getting sick again?"

Xie Yige brushed Zhou Xuan'an's hand away with obvious disgust. She walked to the window and clapped her hands a few times in a peculiar rhythm.

Suddenly, four men in black appeared out of nowhere.

They all knelt down in front of Xie Yige.

"Master, what are your orders?"

Zhou Xuan'an poked his eyes with his fingers, his mouth agape. He was hallucinating!