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In the main hall, steam rose from a white jade teacup. A man with a pale, delicate face sat beside it, worry etched on his features. He raised his head, voice laced with concern, “Huayan, what if Miss Jin hasn’t returned by dawn? Should we send someone to look for her?”

Hua Yan stood beside him, bowing her head to comfort, “Young Master, please don’t worry. Miss Jin will be fine.” He had asked this question countless times since last night after searching for her without success.

He returned home unable to eat, tossing and turning sleeplessly at night, worried about Miss Jin. He wished she would look at him with genuine feeling, but her heart only held Cloud Zheng. What could he do about his feelings?

“But it’s already daylight, and she still hasn’t returned. Will she really be okay?” Xu Yi nervously twisted her handkerchief.

“Miss Jin will definitely be fine,” Hua Yan, his personal servant, comforted her.

Although Xu Yi felt somewhat more at ease, she remained worried. Hua Yan glanced outside and advised, “Let’s go back. We can’t stay at the Jin residence any longer. If the Madam finds out, she’ll be angry.” The Madam had already arranged his marriage, and if she knew he was secretly visiting the potential in-laws, she would reproach them.

Xu Yi’s eyes filled with tears, gripping the handkerchief so tightly his knuckles turned white. “No, I want to wait for her to return. Today, I must see her. If I don’t see her now, I’ll never have another chance.”

“But Young Master…” Even if he saw her, he might still have no chance.

Everyone in Shili Town knew that Miss Jin was devoted to Cloud Mei and had even called off her engagement to the young master, causing him to be ridiculed and nearly unmarriageable. He had been humiliated, yet he never resented her, silently caring for her. She, however, treated him coldly, not even bothering to look at him. The young master would be overjoyed just to catch her glance, unable to sleep afterwards. Hua Yan sighed; it was pitiful to witness such unrequited love.

Xu Yi bit his lip, tears welling in his eyes. “Hua Yan, don’t try to dissuade me. Today I must see her. I’ll marry no one else. If she doesn’t want me…”

Just then, the steward in a dark blue robe appeared. Xu Yi anxiously asked, “Has Miss Jin returned? Have you sent anyone to look for her?”

The steward, pleased with Xu Yi’s concern, replied, “Miss has already returned and will come shortly. Please wait, Young Master.”

Xu Yi blinked away tears, clutching his handkerchief. “Is she alright? She was gone all night. Was she hurt?”

“Young Master, please don’t worry. Miss is not injured.”

Xu Yi finally relaxed, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “As long as she’s fine.” A brief smile crossed his face before disappearing, as he worried about what might happen next.

Jin Yu remained silent, leaving Xu Yi feeling desperate. Did she not care that he was to marry another woman? Had he said something wrong? Xu Yi suppressed his emotions, “You have nothing to say to me?”

Jin Yu lowered her eyes and asked flatly, “Who is the woman you are betrothed to?”

Xu Yi’s eyes brightened with hope, “It’s Boss Miao from the town.”

Jin Yu furrowed her brow, her voice calm and emotionless, “Does her family have concubines?”

Xu Yi blinked in confusion. “I heard they have no wife, only two concubines. My mother said I would be the main wife.” An unease grew in his heart.

“I understand. Congratulations, Young Master Xu,” Jin Yu said flatly. Her main wife, Yun Mei, had already ended his engagement, making this a satisfactory outcome.

Xu Yi’s mood plummeted, tears welling in his eyes, “Why? You know I’ve always loved you.”

Jin Yu sighed and finally said, “You shouldn’t have come here. You can still leave now.” She stood to walk out, “Zhao Manager, escort Young Master Xu out.”

The manager quickly entered upon hearing the instruction, hesitating, “Miss…”

“Send Young Master Xu out,” Jin Yu’s voice turned sharp.

“Yes, yes, Miss,” the manager lowered her head and turned to Xu Yi, “Young Master Xu, please.”

Xu Yi, trembling slightly, followed the manager out, with Hua Yan anxiously by his side.

Watching them leave, Jin Yu sighed softly and instructed her servants, “No one is to speak of Young Master Xu’s visit to the Jin residence.” She couldn’t ruin his reputation or let him suffer the same fate as Yun Mei.

“Yes, Miss.”

Jin Yu recalled Xu Yi’s gentle smile, which was brighter than when he cried.

“Is that so?” Yun Mei lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes hiding her expression. He wanted to focus on his wife, but she had gone to comfort the young widower. He had no reason to blame her; he had not fulfilled his responsibilities as a husband in two years. If she desired another man, he understood. In the future, if she wanted him, he would not refuse. Yun Mei’s eyelashes trembled slightly; he should have been serving her.

“Young master, I also heard that Young Master Xu came to see the young lady.”

Yun Mei raised her eyes, “Which Young Master Xu?” Could it be him? Was he still unmarried?

Dao’er looked at Yun Mei in surprise, “Young master, don’t you remember? Besides the Young Master Xu who was previously betrothed to the young lady, who else could it be?”

Now it was Yun Mei’s turn to be surprised, “He’s still unmarried?”

Dao’er nodded, “Yes, I heard his heart is still attached to the young lady. The young lady seems to be very popular among the men in Shili Town.”

“What happened afterwards? Did he meet the wife?”

“No,” Dao’er shook his head, “The young lady left as soon as he arrived and missed him. I heard he is already engaged and about to marry soon. He came to see the young lady before his wedding, just like you did back then. He probably…” Dao’er realized he had misspoken and looked at Yun Mei worriedly, “Young master, I didn’t mean anything else.”

Yun Mei had lowered his eyelids. He did not regret visiting the Second Young Lady before his own wedding. That Young Master Xu coming to see his wife must mean he wanted to marry her. Would his wife marry him? She had previously said she would only marry him, so would she marry someone else now?

Yun Mei’s mind was unsettled.

Dao’er was reminiscing about the Second Young Lady when a servant entered, bowing, “Cloud Zheng, the steward wants to see you.”

Yun Mei raised his eyes, puzzled. Dao’er eagerly instructed, “Let her come in quickly. There must be news about the Second Young Lady.”

Yun Mei’s heart filled with mixed feelings. How could there be news about her now, when they had decided to no longer contact her?

When the steward arrived, Dao’er asked, “Steward Zhao, is there news about the Second Young Lady?”

“Dao’er,” Yun Mei called out.

Dao’er realized his impropriety and closed his mouth.

The steward’s expression turned unpleasant. “No, it’s not related to the Second Young Lady.”

“What is it then?” Yun Mei asked softly.

“Young Master Xu wants to see you.”

Yun Mei and Dao’er exchanged stunned looks. Yun Mei asked, “Is it the young master from the Xu family?”

“Indeed, he is waiting outside.”

Dao’er frowned, “What is he here for?”

Yun Mei stared blankly ahead.

Fei paused before saying, “Young master, what are you talking about? I don’t think the master likes Chen Bi and that young widow.”

“But I think the master likes Su Xi,” Ning Zhi tilted his head, his eyelashes casting a shadow on his cheek.

“Young master, don’t talk nonsense. How could the master like her? Chen Bi has done things that made the world despise her. The master would never like such a person. And though the young widow has only been touched by the master, he was only twelve then. The master probably just saw him as a plaything, not someone to love.”