In Qiu Liuyue’s eyes, this was Chihuai’s shop taking advantage of its long-standing reputation and extensive connections to bully the little guys, while those in the capital looked down on outsiders. But in reality, the situation wasn’t as complicated as Qiu Liuyue imagined.
Qiu Liuyue’s pastry shop was now thriving, and even the Second Prince had heard of its fame. Although, in the Second Prince’s opinion, Chihuai’s pastry shop was slightly better than Qiu Liuyue’s, his royal upbringing ensured he maintained proper decorum. Without any conflict of interest, he wouldn’t speak ill of another shop.
Moreover, the Second Prince found Qiu Liuyue’s pastries quite delightful—unique and flavorful, with their own merits, even if they didn’t quite match Chihuai’s standards.
The reason he hadn’t suggested buying anything from Qiu Liuyue’s shop earlier wasn’t out of disdain for a newly established business. It was simply because they had just finished breakfast together, and neither he nor Qiu Liuyue had much appetite for pastries at the time.
As the only son of the Imperial Consort, the Second Prince was doted on and held to high expectations—after all, he was her sole hope in the struggle for the throne. Accustomed to being the center of attention, he was reasonable and well-mannered but not particularly adept at considering others’ feelings. Naturally, he didn’t dwell much on Qiu Liuyue’s thoughts.
At that moment, with his stomach full, even if he had thought of Qiu Liuyue, he wouldn’t have assumed she’d want to eat again right after breakfast. Besides, he didn’t even know the shop belonged to her.
Now, nearing noon and feeling peckish after a morning of strolling, spotting Chihuai’s pastry shop naturally led to the idea of buying some snacks before heading to a restaurant for lunch. It was a perfectly logical sequence of events. Yet, Qiu Liuyue took it the wrong way and spiraled down a path of resentment.
The Second Prince never expected that his casual suggestion would trigger such a “spectacular, thrilling, and peculiar” mental storm in Qiu Liuyue.
Though seething with anger, Qiu Liuyue restrained herself, aware of the Second Prince’s status. Meanwhile, the prince, engrossed in selecting pastries, didn’t notice the fleeting changes in her expression.
But Qiu Liuyue was petty. Just because she didn’t explode immediately didn’t mean she wasn’t fuming. Spotting a “familiar face” nearby, she saw an opportunity to stir trouble and wreck the place. Chaos would deter the upper-class clientele, who wouldn’t want to shop in a messy environment, naturally driving them to her recently famous shop instead.
This way, she could crush her competitor, attract a flood of customers, and vent her anger—a perfect trifecta. So, Qiu Liuyue decided to act.
The pawn she intended to use wasn’t entirely unknown to Chihuai—it was the same spoiled nobleman who had fled to the capital, the one who had harassed Qiu Liuyue and was later taught a lesson by Yue Hengyan. After that humiliating incident, the nobleman had been confined, and in his frustration, he smothered his infant niece—his sister and the high-ranking official’s newborn daughter—to regain the official’s favor.
His sister felt no remorse; in their eyes, daughters were liabilities, especially illegitimate ones. Sacrificing the child to secure the official’s affection and resources for her eldest son was a worthwhile trade.
Their plan succeeded. The official, still attached to the child born during happier times, softened at his concubine’s tearful pleas and eventually pardoned the nobleman after a token punishment.
Freshly freed, the nobleman seized the chance to “buy pastries” as an excuse to enjoy himself outside. Still, mindful of his recent reprimand, he kept his antics in check and actually showed up at the shop.
Unbeknownst to him, Qiu Liuyue arrived later, and he didn’t notice the woman who had caused his confinement and “forced” him to kill his niece.
Seeing him, Qiu Liuyue was reminded of Yue Hengyan. However, Yue had since become preoccupied with business collaborations between his family and the Chi family, leaving no time for romance or noticing Qiu Liuyue’s “entrepreneurial talents.” Prideful, she refused to lower herself, and their connection faded into oblivion.
In Yue Hengyan’s memory, Qiu Liuyue’s impression had long since eroded.
Yet, the thought of Yue Hengyan made Qiu Liuyue’s heart skip unpleasantly. She resented him for not pursuing her, and her affection had curdled into spite. By contrast, the Second Prince—royal, handsome, and future emperor—was everything she wanted.
Though arrogant, Qiu Liuyue knew she hadn’t fully secured the prince yet. If he learned of her past with another man, it could jeopardize her plans. Thus, the nobleman who knew too much had to go.
Coincidentally, Qiu Liuyue lived by the creed: *Strike first, or suffer later.* To prevent the nobleman from spilling secrets, silencing him permanently was ideal. Failing that, discrediting him in the prince’s eyes would suffice.
In the shadows, Qiu Liuyue smirked coldly. “Don’t blame me. You brought this on yourself. *Every man for himself—the heavens destroy the selfless.* So, don’t complain if my methods are harsh.”
Surveying the shop, she grinned.
This would erase the Yue Hengyan complication *and* cripple her rival. A flawless two-for-one.
Thus began the farce Chihuai witnessed.
Qiu Liuyue shoved the nobleman when no one was looking. Mistaking it for another customer, his temper flared. The accused customer, unwilling to take the blame, retaliated verbally. The nobleman, stubborn and dismissive of explanations, escalated the conflict.
New to the capital and fresh from confinement, the nobleman didn’t know the shop’s backing. Used to unchecked behavior in his hometown, he saw no reason to hold back. The other customer, no pushover, grew angrier—especially with Qiu Liuyue subtly fanning the flames.
Chaos erupted.
Qiu Liuyue watched, pleased. “*Fight. Fight harder. The messier, the better.* Hmph. You dare compete with me? Know your place.”
The shopkeeper, aware the owner was observing, quickly restored order and began investigating. But the nobleman, intent on causing trouble, had no interest in truth. To him, stirring chaos proved his power; backing down would mean weakness.
As the shopkeeper struggled to uncover the truth, the nobleman kept disrupting.
Then, a twist: amidst the turmoil, the nobleman spotted Qiu Liuyue.
Her face was etched in his memory. In his mind, his earlier advances had been a compliment—she should’ve been honored and submitted, like the girls back home. Instead, she resisted, escalated the situation, and got him punished and confined, leading to the chain of events afterward. To him, she was the root of all his misfortunes.
Seeing her now, his rage eclipsed even his anger at the other customer. “Well, well! Look who it is! How *familiar* you seem. So it *is* you! Truly, *enemies cross paths often.* No wonder today’s been so unlucky—it’s because of a shameless little *witch* like you!”
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