If you were cold and aloof in your past life, why are you crying in this one?

Xie Mingshuo was forcibly dragged out by Xie Wanyi.

Wang Jue suddenly stepped forward as if no one else was around, grabbed Xi Lingxian's wrist, and tried to take her away without saying a word.

Xi Song slipped between the two like an eel, shielding Xi Lingxian behind him, and feigned ignorance with a silly grin: "Second brother, my sister is the star today. Even if you have something extremely important to do, you can't take her away. Otherwise, where will our Xi family's reputation be?"

Xi Song, this little brat, has the same captivating eyes as his older sister. He's a handsome young man with a beaming smile, and Wang Jue inexplicably can't bring himself to be angry with him.

Wang Jueqing glanced at him up and down, her gaze lingering on his waist.

Xi Song's eyes lit up, and she clutched the purse at her waist, relieved that she had found a topic to change the subject.

"Does my second brother also think my new purse is pretty?"

"So many people have praised me today, I love it."

Xi Lingxian glared at the man in front of her, who exuded a fierce aura, and impatiently pulled her clueless younger brother back.

"Sister, why are you pulling me?"

"I'm hungry, aren't you? Let's eat."

Xi Song nodded, scratched his head, and carefully hung the purse back up.

Today's feast was prepared by the chefs of Zuixianlou Restaurant at a high price, with exquisite dishes that were perfect in color, aroma, and taste. The noble ladies ate with great relish.

Xi Lingxian, showing the utmost hospitality, said, "This year, we have the rare opportunity for the plum blossoms to bloom early. I wonder if any of you sisters would be interested in making plum blossom wine with me?"

Hsieh Wanting exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, you can brew wine too?"

"It's very simple, I'll teach you and you'll definitely be able to do it too."

Shen Qingdai: "I want it. My father loved that jar of plum blossom wine you gave me last time. I'll brew it for him to try this year."

Soon, several young women from the Huan, Xie, and Zhang families also expressed their enthusiasm, saying they wanted to brew wine themselves to honor their elders.

Prominent families are all flourishing, with many children and grandchildren; how much attention and love each child receives from their parents depends entirely on their own abilities.

Girls have to earn their own future.

……

The girls, in groups of three or five, carried bamboo baskets into the plum garden to pick flowers.

The garden was filled with a delicate fragrance, and elegant ladies in splendid attire strolled through it, like fairies descending to earth for a garden visit.

Xi Lingxian's contentment shattered the moment she saw that person.

Wang Jue found himself standing at the entrance of the plum garden.

His gaze swept over the crowd and landed directly on her, carrying a kind of restrained, almost uncontrollable sharpness.

Xi Lingxian quickly lowered her eyes, pretending not to see.

She really couldn't understand this man. She had been so kind as to bring him and Xie Wanyi together, so why was he still angry?

She bit her lip, turned around, and focused intently on picking plum blossoms.

Footsteps approached from behind, neither hurried nor slow, growing closer and closer.

Xi Lingxian paused slightly, then tried even harder to reach the cluster of plum blossoms on the branch.

She stood on tiptoe, raised her hands, and her waist showed a soft curve under the fabric.

Slender and graceful, barely a handful.

Completely unaware of the burning gaze behind him.

"Xi Lingxian".

Xi Lingxian's hand trembled, and instead of cutting the flower branch, it bounced back and almost hit her face.

She took a deep breath, turned around, and wore a polite, aloof smile: "What advice does Young Master Wang have?"

How dare she ask that?

He should give Xie Wanyi a proper status? How could she possibly say that!

Despite being such a petty and jealous person, she actually pushed him towards someone else.

He felt extremely upset.

It was hard to say whether it was anger or resentment, or both, all mixed together, like a wet cotton ball stuck in my throat, making it almost impossible to breathe.

He didn't even know why he came to the plum garden; it was only when he came to his senses that his footsteps had already brought him here.

He wanted to ask her why. Why did she push him to someone else? How could she be so heartless as to abandon everything?

But when the words were about to come out, his tongue seemed to get tied in knots, and he took a roundabout way.

"It's rare to see plum blossoms at this time of year. Do I need your permission to appreciate them?"

Still the same pathetic guy!

"I wouldn't dare." Xi Lingxian snorted twice, turning her back on him. "Go ahead, you can climb the tree to look at me without any problem, just don't fall and cause trouble for our family."

"..."

Wang Jue stood there, watching her back, the anger in his chest growing stronger and stronger.

He watched her tiptoe to reach the flower branches, watching her slender waist bend into a soft arc beneath her clothes.

Xi Lingxian clearly felt the thorny gaze on her back. Unable to bear it any longer, she tried to shoo the person away with a tree branch, but her wrist was suddenly gripped by a hand as strong as an iron clamp.

"you--"

Her words were abruptly cut off.

Wang Jue's palm was burning hot, his fingers were clenched tightly, and his strength was astonishing. Xi Lingxian was pulled by him and staggered a step, almost falling into his arms. He then pulled her forward without any mercy.

"Wang Jue! Let go!" She struggled to pry his fingers off.

He dragged her along, her steps faltering, her shoes clattering on the cobblestones. "Are you crazy? In broad daylight—"

He didn't speak, his jawline taut and his lips pressed tightly together.

Xi Lingxian was practically dragged and pulled through the plum grove by him. She stumbled and almost hit her knee on the stone steps.

"Let me go!" She clenched her fist and slammed it hard against his arm.

Wang Jue paused, bent down, put one arm around her waist and the other around her knees, and lifted her onto his shoulder.

The world spun around.

Xi Lingxian's world was instantly turned upside down.

"Wang Jue! Put me down! Do you hear me! Put me down!"

She struggled and kicked wildly, her fists raining down on his back.

But the man still held her waist tightly, and no matter how much she struggled, he didn't budge.

He held her waist with one hand, and even used the other hand to push aside a tree branch that was sticking out in front of them.

"If you move again," his voice came from beneath her, "I don't mind carrying you all over the Xi mansion like this."

Xi Lingxian was furious and continued to beat his back without any restraint.

The plum garden was deathly silent.

The girls looked at each other, speechless for a long time.

"Young Master Xi! Your sister has been carried away by Young Master Wang!"

The branch in Xi Song's hand fell to the ground with a "thud." He looked up, bewildered, and asked, "Who carried whom away?"

"Your sister! Xi Lingxian! Wang Jue is carrying her on his shoulder, and she's gone that way!" The girl pointed.

Xi Song looked in the direction she was pointing and saw the sky-blue figure in front of the moon gate, as well as the familiar figure on that person's shoulder, struggling desperately.

"..." Xi Song's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

He dropped the bamboo basket and chased after her, shouting, "Second brother, stop right there! Put my sister down!"

The young man ran very fast.

Wang Jue turned around, tilted his head slightly, and glanced over indifferently.

Xi Song seemed to be nailed to the spot by something, unable to move an inch.

His throat bobbed, his lips trembled twice, and the imposing aura he had just displayed had long since vanished.

He was both timid and flustered, and pitifully said, "You...you give my sister back to me. Where are you taking her? You're not my brother-in-law yet, you can't do whatever you want...right?"

Hearing her brother's cowardly behavior, Xi Lingxian was so angry she almost fainted: "What are you afraid of him for? Beat him up!"

"I……"

Seeing his cowardly appearance, Wang Jue's coldness softened slightly. "I won't hurt her. You wait here and don't follow me."

Xi Song stood there, opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Behind him, a group of girls caught up, but when they saw Xi Song's cowardly appearance, they all fell silent.

But considering that the other party was Wang Jue, it seemed reasonable.

In the distance, Xi Lingxian's cursing voice drifted over faintly, full of vigor.

"..."