Zhai Yanlin followed his selfish intention and forcefully pushed through the marriage proposal. During this time, he was incredibly proud of himself. He had been thinking, what expression would Cheng Yujin show when she knew that everything was a foregone conclusion? When she finally married into Cai Duke Manor and became his wife, would she lowered her posture and came to beg him?

Simply imagining it excited Zhai Yanlin to no end. Today’s meeting was also specially arranged by him. He wanted to see what Cheng Yujin’s expression would be when she saw him again.

Cheng Yujin was once again was ascertained by Lin Qingyuan’s magnanimity. This young man had a pure and innocent heart similar to Xu Zhixian, but was more capable and independent. Such a person, if she married him, she would have a very comfortable life in the future.

She lowered her gaze and whispered, “Thank you, Compiler Lin.”

Under the bright lights of beautiful lanterns, Cheng Yujin looked dazedly at the man in front of her, wondering whether it was a fate’s will or a man-made encounter.

Lin Qingyuan had actually seen Cheng Yujin from a distance away. Wearing a white cloak, the girl was standing in front of a stall, looking at the lanterns displayed around. Although he only saw her back figure and couldn’t see her face, Lin Qingyuan felt a sense of familiarity and was inexplicably sure that she was Cheng Yujin.

By the thirteenth, the servant girls in the manor began to become antsy, and at the fifteenth, they all changed into new, bright clothes. Everyone was very lively. In Cheng Yujin’s courtyard, Du Ruo and Lian Qiao were very eager to dress their Miss to be on par with a celestial fairy. Today was a rare day without restrictions. Their Miss must surprise the crowd and capture the heart of the future male master. It would be best if a new marriage proposal came immediately after.

On the contrary, Cheng Yujin didn’t have much enthusiasm. These days, she had been secretly worrying about the problem with Cai Duke Manor. After Cheng Yuanjing told her to leave the matter to him, there was no other news. Cheng Yujin was anxious, and she especially wanted to know what Cheng Yuanjing’s so-called solution was.

Except for sighing, Cheng Min was helpless to do anything. She couldn’t bear seeing Cheng Yujin like this, but remembering the brat in her own family, she was unable to say anything.

A few months ago, Xu Zhixian’s state seemed to be wrong, and he looked to be out of spirit. As a mother, Cheng Min could roughly guess what was bothering her son. She initially thought that the marriage talk she had put down earlier suddenly found a fortunate turnaround. But not long after, Xu Zhixian came home in depression. Cheng Min tried to mention Cheng Yujin again, but her son just shook his head in silence.

Cheng Yumo and Cheng Min were both visiting their natal home, and it happened that Cheng Yuanjing also came back today. It was rare for the Cheng family members to be so complete, and it was even more lively than New Year’s Eve. Old Madam Cheng was very happy to see all her children and grandchildren gathered, and everyone enjoyed a lively reunion banquet.

After being full and warm, people became drowsy. Old Madam Cheng retired to the inner room to take a nap, and Xu Nianchun was also sent to bed by Cheng Min. After placing her daughter in the green gauze cabinet, Cheng Min closed the door gently and stepped out.

Cheng Yuanjing knew that Cheng Yujin detested hearing Huo Changyuan’s name, so he skipped the detail and casually said: “I heard it just now. Did the manor celebrate your birthday?”

“No.” Cheng Yujin shook her head lightly, seemingly didn’t care at all: “It’s just an ordinary day, a symbol without special meaning. There is no need to make a great fanfare of it. Moreover, I am still observing mourning. Compared to celebrating birthdays, having the reputation of filiality is more important for my future.”

Cheng Yujin fell silent for a long time. She knew that she was too naive. She thought that if she rejected Zhai Yanlin, he would weigh the pros and cons, and finally retreated. But what if he didn’t? Zhai Yanlin was more powerful than the entire Yichun Marquis Manor, and his words held much more importance to the Cheng family than hers, a mere eldest miss. If he shed all pretense of cordiality and insisted on marrying Cheng Yujin, even if she was unwilling, what could she do?

The gap between the strong and the weak was too far. What’s more, her action might be backfiring this time. She rejected Zhai Yanlin so mercilessly, which anger him and made him deliberately wanted to marry her for revenge. After marriage, there were too many ways for a man to make a woman’s life miserable.

Cheng Yuanjing’s mood had improved, but his face was still cold: “Then you tell me, what is your mistake?”

Cheng Yuanjing’s ability to control his expression was first-rate, and even Cheng Yujin didn’t realize that he was no longer angry. Seeing Cheng Yuanjing’s cold face, she thought that his anger hadn’t calmed down yet, so she seriously admitted her mistakes and didn’t dare to conceal anything: “I shouldn’t leave the main hall alone, I should have come out to greet Ninth Uncle, and I shouldn’t say that the two books are in my room.”

Cheng Yuanjing was very angry. A flame was burning under his calm facade, which he forcefully suppressed. But when he lowered his head and met Cheng Yujin’s innocent eyes, he suddenly found no outlet for his burning anger.

Cheng Yuanjing knew well that she was pretending. This girl was sleek and cunning and had countless tactics to deceive others. She was especially best at confusing a man’s mind, including how she used a coquettish and subservient look.