Chapter 4, the second brother who stands out as a unique exception

One time, as I passed by the rockery in the flower garden, I heard a soft voice saying: "Lian'er, do you know, if you are the wind, I am the sand. You and I will always be together..."

In doubt, the person had already reached the door behind me. The door was not locked, and with a push, it opened.

It is concerning again; Yunxiang is still sleeping in the outer room. What if he misjudges and makes a mistake?

I called out to my second brother several times, but he climbed up the wall without even turning his head, his movements so nimble that he resembled Spider-Man, disappearing into the thick night in the blink of an eye. Really, he has to climb walls and jump over courtyards even in his own home. How did Old Master Xie raise such a good son?

The warm winter sunlight shines upon the two of us. Xie Zhaoying smiles with a captivating charm

I reflexively returned a smile to him, but then felt it was inappropriate and straightened my face.

The man let out a surprised and calm "Oh," as if he could not comprehend my act of ambush

Of course, Xie Zhaoying did not appear at this time

Oh, I forgot. When you were not well before, you would always be locked upstairs at night. Sometimes when I returned late, I would look for a cool drink downstairs.

The handsome man, who was eagerly awaited, was not, as I had initially expected, a person with a lackluster complexion, listless demeanor, weak legs, and a superficial gaze. On the contrary, Young Master Xie had a complexion like polished jade, was full of vitality, had a strong physique, and possessed a sharp gaze. Moreover, he was highly skilled in martial arts. I would say this is based on our first encounter under unusual circumstances.

Yunxiang tugged at my sleeve from behind: "Miss, Miss, he... two..."

The little thief entered my attic as if it were an unguarded realm, heading straight for the bedroom. Realizing that the moment waits for no one, I summoned all my strength and raised the flowerpot high in my hand

I choose to remain still, slow my breathing, and wait for the flower thief to run in the right direction. Of course, I could also choose to scream at this moment instead of waiting a while; if the thief, in a fit of rage, were to kill someone, would I not then be filled with resentment? Even if he does not kill me, when the housekeeper rushes in with a torch to see me in disarray, how would I explain my innocence?

Xie Zhaoying, seeing me eat with great enjoyment, exclaimed: "Fourth sister, when did your taste change?"

I shot him a glance and said, "If it weren't true, what would I be doing arguing with you for half a day?"

Here, I would like to add a character who was not mentioned earlier, Xie Zhaoying, the second elder brother of Xie Zhaohua

I sat down heavily, and Yunxiang immediately put on her clothes to serve tea and pour water for Xie Zhaoying

The regulations of the Xie family are so strict that it seems they are not meant to guard against thieves, but rather to guard against him

Madam Xie said to her second son: "Now that you are back, stay at home and help out. The New Year is approaching, and there is much to do at home, so lend a hand."

Only the drowsy voice of Yunxiang could be heard: "Miss?"

I said fiercely: "A chicken intruded into my yard at night, consumed my tea, and after being slaughtered, I discovered the meat to be exceptionally tender. Therefore, I specifically chose to feed the chicken with tea for cooking, which resulted in this renowned and exquisite dish: Tea-Infused Chicken."

Madam Xie said: "After Xiao Hua recovered from her illness, her taste has become much stronger. She doesn't even know where she learned these skills. The Kung Pao chicken, the fish-flavored shredded pork, and the yellow braised duck on the table were all made according to her methods, and they taste quite good. You should try some too"

I do not wish to entangle myself with him any further, so I exaggeratedly yawned to indicate that I was very tired and that he should leave quickly

Yunxiang was sleeping soundly in the outer room, and I did not disturb her. I got up to use the toilet.

I got up and pulled over Yunxiang, "Don't be afraid, I don't believe in evil overpowering righteousness, can I still give you a discount today? Let me tell you, I have someone backing me up!"

Xie Zhaoying, however, is quite an ungrateful person; instead, she shifted her position and said to me: "Xiao Hua, does our previous agreement still count?"

Indeed. I sneered, "The moonlight is so enchanting, yet what is it that keeps one tossing and turning, unable to sleep?"

He received my disdainful glance, yet he was quite pleased, "Now this is great. Do you still remember what happened before?"

Second Young Master! Yunxiang finally uttered those words

The old excuse: "Inspiration struck suddenly"

Yunxiang became anxious and pulled me hard: "No... it's not like that! Miss, he..."

I asked again: "What are you doing in my room?"

That line, akin to a hydrogen bomb, blasted me back to Pluto

Xie Zhaoying, however, did not speak, but rather appeared to breathe a sigh of relief: "Since you have forgotten, let us consider the agreement null and void. Well, it is getting late, you should rest early, and I will take my leave now"

He replied: "The son knows. It has caused concern for the mother"

You can use the side door

Xie Zhaoying curiously leaned over to take a look at me. It was then that I clearly saw him. The members of the Xie family are all good-looking; Xie Laor's features are well-defined, handsome and tall, with smooth skin and thick hair. Especially those pair of peach blossom eyes, sparkling with charm, and the scent of wine wafting from his satin clothing, truly resembling a young dandy.

Where does the inspiration come from

Second brother, what are you doing coming into my room at three in the middle of the night

Xie Zhaoying pressed further: "You don't even remember this?"

With this thought in mind, I carefully lifted the heaviest flower pot I could manage from the corner of the wall, held my breath, and quietly followed behind that person.

The father has decreed that no doors shall be opened during the curfew hours

I bent my waist and kneeled to pay my respects to him, and he helped me up, saying a few affectionate words in a very proper manner. I honestly felt a chill run down my spine. His fiancée, Miss Bai, was gazing at him with deep affection from the side, yet he remained oblivious to her presence

Xie Zhaoying smiled at me affectionately, "Fourth sister, do you not recognize me anymore?"

The man displayed a look of surprise

I do not know whether to be surprised or delighted. Is it really to gather from me?

At this moment, a plate of boiled pork slices was brought in by the servant. This dish was not originally available in Dongqi; I guided the chef to prepare it after my arrival. The Xie family generally prefers light flavors; it is not that they do not enjoy spicy food, but Dongqi has traditionally lacked delicious spicy dishes. I once took on the role of a Dongqi version of Jang Geum, personally cooking several Sichuan dishes, which surprisingly won the hearts of many. Since then, there has been a Sichuan dish at every family banquet.

The fragrant clouds rise to light the oil lamp, and upon seeing that man, she lets out a soft exclamation of "Ah"

The more I listen, the more something feels off. A person who can traverse rooftops and move from house to house, even if not as swift and trace-less as Xiang Shuai, should still be light as a swallow and agile in movement. Yet this person walks with a steady and unhurried pace.

Xiao Hua, I heard that you fell and are now fine, is that true

I stamped my foot in frustration and exclaimed, "What do you mean by 'two'!"

Xie Zhaoying today is vastly different from yesterday. He wears a golden crown, his hair tied up, and is dressed in a long white robe adorned with cloud patterns, with a jade belt around his waist. He stands tall and straight, exuding elegance, resembling a jade tree in the wind. This change in attire made him almost unrecognizable.

Miss, no, he... he is 2... 2... 2... 2

The next day at dinner, I saw Xie Zhaoying again

Xie Zhaoying, with a puzzled expression, picked up a piece of meat and slowly chewed it in her mouth, "It is indeed delicious. Where did the fourth sister learn this from?"

Later, I often encountered Xie Zhaoying at the Xie household. He seemed to be unemployed, living off his parents, and spent his days idly. The elderly Xie couple appeared to have lost hope in him and did not intervene much.

Even if he can run out of my courtyard today, he cannot escape from the Xie residence; even if he can escape from the Xie residence, he cannot evade the laws of Heaven and the King

My curiosity has been piqued: "What agreement is it, after all?"

At that time, I did not believe that the thief had come to target me. Miss Xie Zhaoke, renowned for her beauty and standing out among the crowd, would be the choice of anyone with discernment

Xie Zhaoying pouted and lowered her head to eat honestly

Ah? I turned around and glared at this unknown visitor, "Second Brother?"

As my mind raced, the flower thief approached me step by step

Xie Zhaoying said: "Oh. It is the closest way to come home from Xicheng by climbing over the wall from your place."

He is even happier: "That is even better"

Xie Laer seems to be completely unconcerned about seeing his sister in her pajamas, eagerly engaging me in conversation

It was probably the sound I made that caused a young maid to run out with a flushed face, disappearing in a flash. I recall that she seemed to be Lady Xie's maid. What a good girl, Xie Zhaoying, sneaking over to the old lady's side.

My first thought was: a flower thief

I lost my balance, missed my target, and rolled to the side with a thud, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

In ancient times, the nights were devoid of city lights. I walked in the dark towards the small kitchen when suddenly, I heard a whoosh in the cold wind, followed by an unidentified object landing in the flower bushes of the small courtyard. A man let out a sound of discontent.

Since it is the New Year, family members naturally need to reunite

This person is acting erratically, unable to express themselves clearly, even more foolish than Xie Zhaohua was at the beginning

I shook my head honestly

I interrupted her: "Don't speak!"

Agreement? What agreement?

Here, Xie Zhaoying adjusted her attire and calmly walked out from behind the rockery. Upon seeing me, she made a face as if to say, "Fourth sister, you have come to play in the garden as well?"

Having resolved my personal issues, I instinctively wanted to wash my hands, only to realize that there was no water in the room. Those who study medicine tend to have varying degrees of obsessive cleanliness, and I knew that if I did not wash my hands at that moment, I would not be able to sleep peacefully. Thus, I put on a piece of clothing and quietly went out in search of water

It was a night so dark that one could not see their own hand, with a gentle breeze blowing. That evening, I had a few more cups of osmanthus wine brewed by Xie Zhaoke—this girl truly has remarkable skills; even in modern times, she need not worry about finding a good job. Not long after falling asleep, I was awakened by the urge to urinate.