Yao Zuizui continued to lower her eyes, pretending not to see anything, focusing entirely on attending to Xue Rui.
Xue Rui, on the other hand, squinted his eyes, utterly lost in sleep, completely oblivious to the lingering gazes of the beauty nearby.
Yao Zuizui knew that the beauty couldn’t possibly be from the Xue household because the original host’s memories contained no trace of her.
If she wanted to figure out why the woman harbored such animosity toward her, Yao Zuizui couldn’t think of a reason.
The original host, Huahua, had a gentle and meek personality, never provoking others, let alone displeasing young ladies like her.
So, there was only one possibility—Xue Rui.
Yao Zuizui glanced at Xue Rui, who was dozing off, blissfully unaware of the world, and silently cursed him as a troublemaker who attracted nothing but trouble without realizing the dangers of the world.
Lady Xue was overjoyed because this was the first time Xue Rui had attended the Lantern Festival banquet.
Thus, she enthusiastically began introducing the guests to him.
Xue Rui, whose sleep had been disturbed by Lady Xue, was thoroughly miserable. Yet, he dared not openly defy the old lady’s wishes, so he pretended to listen while letting everything go in one ear and out the other, not retaining a single word.
Yao Zuizui, however, paid close attention. Since Xue Rui couldn’t be bothered, she had to take extra care.
The identities of the masters were intricate, and she couldn’t afford to mistake a single one.
When the introductions reached the beauty who had been sneaking glances at Xue Rui, Yao Zuizui finally understood.
Turns out, she was Lady Xue’s maternal granddaughter from her maiden family, distantly related to Xue Rui.
Lady Xue introduced her with great pride and emphasis, devoting far more words to her than to anyone else.
“…Rui’er, Jiaoniang is the jewel of our Chen family. She excels in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, embroidery, and needlework—there’s nothing she can’t do. Just look at her beauty—enough to make fish sink and geese fall, to outshine the moon and shame the flowers. Seeing her reminds me of the days when Jiaoniang’s grandmother and I were just young maidens…” Lady Xue rambled on, lost in nostalgia.
Yao Zuizui thought Lady Xue’s praise was excessive, and her intentions were far too obvious.
Everyone present could see that Lady Xue was trying to play matchmaker between Xue Rui and Chen Jiao.
But Xue Rui? In front of everyone, he let out a soft snore.
Perhaps Lady Xue’s introduction of Jiaoniang had been too long and tedious, lulling him to sleep.
He hadn’t even spared Jiaoniang a single glance.
The atmosphere grew awkward, the room silent except for Xue Rui’s rhythmic breathing and occasional snores.
Jiaoniang, who had initially worn a shy smile, now looked stiff, her fingers twisting her handkerchief as she lowered her head, too embarrassed to look up.
Lady Xue snapped out of her reminiscence and finally noticed the awkwardness.
She straightened her expression and said sternly, pulling Xue Rui out of his sweet dreams, “Since Rui’er is tired, he should go back and rest. Health comes first.”
Xue Rui, delighted by Lady Xue’s words, immediately thanked his grandmother and urged Yao Zuizui to push him away.
His utterly tactless behavior made Lady Xue, who had been present the whole time, look even more displeased.
She forced a smile. “Our Rui’er caught a chill on New Year’s Eve. The medicine hasn’t fully cured him, and he’s developed a habit of excessive sleepiness. Jiaoniang, please don’t take it to heart.”
Jiaoniang covered her mouth with her handkerchief and gave a soft laugh. “I understand. Cousin has always been like this—utterly straightforward.”
===
Yao Zuizui pushed Xue Rui out of the banquet hall, only for him to shove a hand warmer into her arms.
His excuse? He was too lazy to hold it himself.
But this time, Yao Zuizui had learned her lesson. She pulled out another one. “Young Master, this one is lighter. You hold it.”
Thus, the two of them tacitly each held a hand warmer as they made their way back to the courtyard.
Xue Rui noticed that the path looked no different from usual—dimly lit with faint, flickering lanterns.
He frowned. “Where are the festival lanterns?”
“They’re on another path. If you’d like to see them, we’d have to circle the entire estate,” Yao Zuizui answered honestly.
“Let’s go.” Xue Rui stifled a yawn, forcing himself to stay awake.
He distinctly remembered her mentioning several times that she wanted to see the Lantern Festival lights.
How could this girl’s memory be worse than his? She’d forgotten in the blink of an eye.
Luckily, he remembered.
Though he was exhausted, delaying sleep a little longer to see the lanterns wouldn’t hurt. He planned to sleep until noon tomorrow anyway.
Despite this, Xue Rui still dozed off in his wheelchair on the way to the lanterns…
Yao Zuizui didn’t slow her pace, pushing Xue Rui along the lantern-lit path.
The dazzling array of lanterns, novel and adorable in their designs, gave Yao Zuizui a visual feast.
However, she keenly noticed that someone had been following them at a distance.
When she stopped to admire a lantern, the person stopped too.
When she moved forward, the person followed.
Yao Zuizui pursed her lips and decided not to dwell on it.
She woke Xue Rui. “Young Master, we’ve almost seen all the lanterns on this path. Should we take the garden shortcut back to the courtyard?”
Xue Rui, roused from sleep, took in the vibrant lanterns around him and the fading glow ahead.
He suddenly regretted falling asleep.
He should’ve admired the lanterns with her.
It probably would’ve been… interesting?
“Young Master?” Yao Zuizui interrupted his rare moment of wandering thoughts.
Instinctively, he replied, “Shortcut.”
Lazy people loved shortcuts.
“Got it.” Yao Zuizui pushed Xue Rui into the garden.
The garden was nearly deserted during the Lantern Festival.
Even the maids and servants who usually tended to it had flocked to the lantern-lit paths to celebrate.
At this hour, only a lazybones like Xue Rui would want to go back to sleep.
And someone with ulterior motives had followed them in.
“Cousin…” A soft, delicate voice called from behind, dripping with shyness.
Yao Zuizui stopped.
Xue Rui didn’t even realize the call was for him.
He was just confused about why they’d stopped.
Chen Jiao caught up, her steps light and graceful, her slender waist swaying, her skirts fluttering.
Xue Rui couldn’t be bothered to turn his head. Only when Chen Jiao stood right in front of him did he reluctantly lift his gaze.
He stared at the woman blocking their path.
Who was this?
Had he seen her before…?
Xue Rui prided himself on his photographic memory. He was certain he’d never seen her in the Xue household—completely forgetting that Lady Xue had enthusiastically introduced this cousin to him less than an hour ago.
Chen Jiao stood before Xue Rui but said nothing more.
Her head was bowed, her fingers twisting her handkerchief, her eyes brimming with infinite shyness—so much so that they seemed on the verge of spilling tears.
But Xue Rui, whose mind was occupied solely by laziness, had no patience for such a beauty.
Frowning, he asked impatiently, “Who are you?”
He’d also wanted to ask why she was blocking their path, but that would’ve required too many words—too exhausting.
Chen Jiao froze, her shyness evaporating into indignation.
“Cousin! I’m Jiaoniang! Grandmother just introduced me…” She stared at him in disbelief, abandoning all decorum.
Meeting his gaze, she didn’t flinch.
Her cousin was so handsome, his family so wealthy—even if he was lazy, she’d still marry him.
As long as the lady of the house wasn’t lazy, she could manage the household perfectly well.
Xue Rui was the eldest legitimate son of the Xue family’s main branch. He’d inherit everything someday. If he didn’t like managing affairs, even better—she’d take charge, ensuring her own family’s fortunes would rise again, perhaps even surpassing their former glory.
Marrying him would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Xue Rui stared at Chen Jiao for a few seconds before replying coldly, “Don’t know you.”
Chen Jiao bit her lip, never expecting her cousin to be so…
Since no one else was around, she decided to be blunt. “Cousin, Grandmother said that once spring comes, we’ll meet a few more times to finalize the betrothal…”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but blush again.
Such shameless words, forced out of a young lady like her—how embarrassing!
But she couldn’t afford not to come.
Chen Jiao shot a wary glance at the maidservant beside Xue Rui, her eyes full of caution and hostility.
Her parents had already sent people to gather information about the Xue household.
Rumors were everywhere—Xue Rui had recently grown very fond of this maidservant, likely having already taken her as a concubine.
Not only had he promoted her to a managerial position, but he also kept her by his side at all times, spoiling her endlessly—just short of formally elevating her to concubine status.
This news had sent Chen Jiao into a panic, prompting her to rush over during the Xue family’s Lantern Festival banquet.
As the future mistress of the household, she couldn’t let a lowly maidservant steal all the favor and attention.
Moreover, she couldn’t allow Xue Rui to take a concubine—she had to nip this affair in the bud.
To her dismay, what she witnessed today only deepened her wariness of this maidservant.
Even during meals, Xue Rui had the girl feed him bite by bite!
Jealousy surged through Chen Jiao like a tidal wave, consuming every inch of her heart.
She’d already decided that Xue Rui would be her future husband, so she couldn’t wait to assert her authority.
Her entire performance wasn’t for Xue Rui’s benefit—it was for the maidservant.
To make her understand the insurmountable gap between them!
Yet, Yao Zuizui remained utterly unaffected by her display, appearing as docile and obedient as ever—but in reality, completely indifferent.
This left Chen Jiao feeling somewhat defeated.
What was even more crushing was Xue Rui’s rejection.
He merely frowned, gave her a disdainful once-over, and uttered two words: “You?”
Xue Rui rarely shook his head—it was too much effort—but this time, he did.
Yao Zuizui, understanding his intent, pushed him forward.
Chen Jiao remained rooted in place, those two words chilling her to the bone.
It was as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over her head in the dead of winter, freezing her to the core.
What did those two words mean?
What was the meaning behind that unmistakable disgust?
“Miss Cousin, please step aside.” Yao Zuizui lowered her head and smiled politely.
Finding no fault in her manners, Chen Jiao reluctantly moved aside, letting Xue Rui’s wheelchair pass.
Master and servant disappeared into the depths of the garden, their retreating figures looking so harmonious that she couldn’t insert herself into the scene.
Tears welled up in Chen Jiao’s eyes.
She knew Xue Rui was the most suitable man in the world for her.
She was also confident that no woman could surpass her in his eyes.
So why did he despise her so openly, without the slightest pretense?
===
Yao Zuizui pushed Xue Rui further away.
As they neared the courtyard, she couldn’t help but ask,
“Young Master, why do you dislike Miss Cousin so much?”
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