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

"Do you know her name?"

"How could I, a man, ask a woman's name?" Zhou Xuan'an said with obvious disgust. "Besides, I'm trying to avoid her at all costs; I have no reason to want to know."

"Fine, as long as you don't cheat on your sister-in-law, otherwise I'll deal with you." Xie Yige threatened, baring her teeth.

"Xie Yige, what nonsense are you talking about!" Zhou Xuan'an suddenly raised his head, looking shocked and wronged. "Your brother is not that kind of person!"

"Yes, yes, I understand." Having achieved her goal, Xie Yige no longer wanted to talk to the just-awakened drunkard. She stood up. "I need to go to our shop. I'm leaving now."

So he summoned Bichun and Zhixia to go out together.

"Miss, shouldn't you have breakfast before going out?" Bichun couldn't help but nag.

"Let's go out to eat together, it's on me." Xie Yige raised an eyebrow at them, her peach blossom eyes flashing with a sly light.

Bichun immediately beamed with joy, and even the usually cold and adorable Zhixia showed a rare smile.

As the three of them stepped out of the main gate, they saw Bao Yu leading a black horse, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, standing there listlessly. He had been waiting for who knows how long, but when he saw them emerge, his eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward to bow.

"Thank you, young lady. I am here on my master's orders to bring you some snacks."

"What kind of snacks?"

"The pastries from that shop you lined up at last time—Yun Su Fang—are freshly baked this morning," Bao Yu said, taking an exquisite food box from her horse and presenting it to Xie Yige with both hands.

"Wow, really?" The three of them looked at Baoyu with surprise and delight.

Baoyu's resentment at having followed her master out to queue early in the morning vanished instantly.

He nodded with a broad smile: "You guys eat it while it's hot, I'm leaving now."

As he was about to ride away, he looked back and saw that Xie Yige and his servant were only interested in the snacks and no one paid any attention to him.

Never mind. I guess the master would receive the same treatment if he came.

After the three of them boarded the carriage, they enjoyed a delicious meal with some tea.

Xie Yige took a small bite, and her eyes immediately widened into two crescent moons in delight. The outer layer was crisp and crunchy, while the inside was soft, chewy, and fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness. It melted in her mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance.

"Yun Su Fang truly lives up to its reputation." She squinted her eyes in satisfaction. "I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to try it last time."

"Yes, Miss," Bichun said, her mouth full of pastry, her words muffled. "Young Master Cui took it to heart after seeing you queue up only once."

Zhixia nodded haphazardly as she ate, not caring what the two women were saying.

They were simply won over. Xie Yige shook her head helplessly, but her eyes were filled with subtle, fleeting joy.

This person came over so early in the morning to disturb my peace of mind; it's really annoying.

"The first pot of mutton soup from Old Tao's family at Xiaonanqiao, paired with this snack, would be absolutely wonderful," Bichun suggested.

As they talked, they arrived at their first destination. Xie Yige had just gotten out of the car when she was enveloped by the unique, rich, and fresh aroma of the first pot of mutton soup.

The aroma was rich but not greasy, carrying the unique warmth of mutton and the scent of spices, spreading in the morning air and making one's mouth water.

The Tao family's shop was run by an elderly couple. It wasn't big, but it was clean and tidy. The three of them, following local customs, found an inconspicuous corner to sit down.

The innkeeper ladled soup into white porcelain bowls and brought them over steaming hot. The woman followed behind, gently placing three bowls of milky white mutton soup in front of them. A thin layer of gold floated on the surface of the soup, accompanied by fresh green coriander, making it very appetizing.

Xie Yige scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth. The rich aroma of meat melted on her tongue, and the warmth slid down her throat to her stomach, making her feel completely comfortable.

In another corner sat a young man and his servant. He wore understated light gray clothes, yet his refined elegance was undeniable. His face was handsome, his eyes possessing a gentle warmth born of scholarly refinement, and his every gesture exuded composure.

He noticed Xie Yige as soon as she entered—because the woman was strikingly beautiful and dressed in extraordinary clothes, yet she didn't seem to mind the shop's simplicity at all.

But he only glanced at it once more before continuing to bury his head in his soup.

If Xie Yige looked up, she would recognize him—it was the very person that Seventeen Sister had told her to stay away from.

The three were happily enjoying their meal when a richly dressed man suddenly appeared in the shop.

His long, narrow fox-like eyes were fixed on the man in gray, who was accompanied by a bodyguard in tight-fitting clothes, exuding an aggressive aura.

Zhi Xia immediately became secretly on guard.

"Why did you come to a place like this?" The fox-like man sat down next to the gray-clothed man, his tone carrying a hint of disdain, his slender fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"Come if you want." The man in gray didn't even look up, his voice indifferent. "Do you need something?"

"Can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?" The fox-like man's eyes were suggestive, and a meaningful smile curled at the corner of his mouth. As he spoke, he even tried to take his hand.

The man immediately and subtly dodged away, a fleeting look of disgust in his eyes.

"Miss, that man in gray looks familiar," Bichun whispered in her ear.

Fearing trouble, Xie Yige didn't dare to raise her head, only stealing a glance out of the corner of her eye. This glance startled her – the man was none other than Liu Yunren, the eldest son of the Grand Tutor's household, known as an "elegant gentleman," whom she had seen in a picture book.

He remained expressionless, seemingly accustomed to this person's behavior.

"Your status doesn't belong in a place like this. Please leave."

But the fox-like man was clearly very dissatisfied with his coldness, and his anger immediately surged.

"Are you still thinking about that person? Don't think that just because he's not interested in the princess and the county princess, you have a chance." A hint of sarcasm appeared on his face.

"I heard from my mother that he had an affair with a woman, and they even exchanged jade pendants as a token of their love."

The man in gray's expression turned cold when he heard him mention that person. "I'm not as despicable as you."

He took out a clean white handkerchief from his pocket, gently wiped his mouth, and then ignored the man, leaving without looking back.

Although the fox-like man was angry, he immediately followed with his guards.

The three servants were left dumbfounded.

Good heavens, what did they hear?

Xie Yige's cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish in frustration, utterly speechless.

It turns out that he wasn't only being watched by women.

Bichun and Zhixia exchanged a glance, neither daring to utter a word.