Wealth and honor are decreed by fate.

Chen Yage was completely unaware that You Huan and Xu Jin were actually good friends. This time, You Huan was merely going to catch up with Xu Jin, but she had mistaken Xu Jin for an enemy, and believed You Huan was going to give him a lesson. The thought filled her with delight.

You Huan was left utterly baffled by Chen Yage’s words. He forced a smile. “Huanhuan?”

Chen Yage, in her excitement, had just called him Huanhuan. Upon reflection, she found the name rather catchy. Drawing on her thick-skinned nature, she declared without a hint of embarrassment, “Yes, from now on, I’ll call you Huanhuan. Huanhuan, Huanhuan—doesn’t it just roll off the tongue?”

You Huan was at a loss for words. But to him, a name was merely an appellation. Besides, he had started to regard Chen Yage as a friend, so he didn’t really mind what she called him.

The afternoon sunlight was especially warm, carrying a comforting touch, particularly on the first day after the rain.

To sneak into the manor undetected, Chen Yage had to disguise herself. She wore an oversized cloak, a veil, and a suit of black clothes that she had borrowed from You Huan. Seeing her own reflection—with a flair that was part knight, part thief—Chen Yage couldn’t help but burst out laughing. You Huan, who had seen more of the world than Chen Yage had ever walked, was unfazed.

“Can you really not recognize me like this?” Standing outside the main gate, Chen Yage was visibly anxious, pacing nervously within a one-meter radius.

You Huan tossed his sword to Chen Yage and laughed, “With this, you look even more like a heroine. Relax—aside from your own parents, I doubt there’s a third person in the world who could recognize you like this.”

Chen Yage chuckled softly and playfully punched You Huan. He frowned, “What was that for?”

She shrugged and raised an eyebrow, “Just warming up. In case I get recognized, I’ll need to be ready to defend myself, won’t I?”

“Meeting you must be my bad luck. Let’s go!” You Huan looked at Chen Yage helplessly. Though his words were laced with mock anger, a smile lingered on his lips. Their playful banter brought them closer together.

Just as Chen Yage was about to knock on the door, it suddenly creaked open. A group of servants rushed out in a hurry, and Chen Yage was knocked to the ground. The man who glanced back at her with disdain was none other than the one who had chased Xu Ziyan in the ruined temple the day before.

Chen Yage surmised he must be a servant of the Xu Manor. Given his flustered manner, something serious must have happened. She grabbed hold of a passing leg—remarkably solid, with fine, high-quality fabric. Before she could say a word, the man kicked her aside and shouted, “Where did this filthy woman come from? Get out of my way! What are you all standing around for? Go after her—quick!”

That voice was unforgettable—harsh and grating. Combined with his ugly face, downward-slanting eyebrows, and triangular eyes, he was unmistakably Wang Fugui, the same man who had tried to abduct a respectable woman on the street that day.

“Apologize to her!” You Huan, unable to bear it, stepped in front of Wang Fugui. His right hand gripped his sword tightly, his gaze stern and cold.

“What a joke!” Wang Fugui scoffed, and with lightning speed, yanked off Chen Yage’s cloak and veil before she could react. Seeing her astonished face, he sneered, “So it’s you, little beggar girl. Come to the Xu Manor to beg, have you? What, didn’t you like the steamed buns I gave you that day? Don’t think that just because you had a pretty boy protecting you last time, you can act smug. I have dozens of men with me—do you think he can take them all on?”

Chen Yage seethed with anger. She quickly counted—indeed, Wang Fugui had twenty or thirty men with him. Even if You Huan had three heads and six arms, it would be a tough fight. She signaled You Huan to let Wang Fugui be, allowing him to swagger for a while.

You Huan sheathed his sword and helped Chen Yage to her feet. Wang Fugui seemed to have urgent business and didn’t linger. He shot Chen Yage a warning glare, then led his men away from the Xu Manor.

Watching Wang Fugui waddle away like a penguin, with his duck-like gait and a belly rounder than a ball, Chen Yage could not help but find it both ridiculous and amusing.

“Yage, what are you doing here?” A clear, ethereal voice rang out, breaking Chen Yage’s silent cursing of Wang Fugui.

Du Juan wore a dress of pale yellow gauze, with faint floral patterns woven through it, evoking the image of butterflies fluttering among blossoms. If, in the Peach Blossom Grove, Du Juan had been pure as a mountain stream, now she was like that stream converging in a deep pool—her innocence tinged with depth.

“I’m here to find Xu Jin. Du Juan, I need your help!” Chen Yage anxiously seized Du Juan’s hand. “By the way, why is Wang Fugui here? What happened?”

Du Juan replied, “Sister Ziyan…”

“What happened to Ziyan?”

“After you left the manor this morning, Father ordered Sister to stay in her room and forbade her from leaving the house. But while you were at the Xu Manor, Sister slipped out through the back door. Just now, when Young Master Wang came with his men to see her, they discovered she was gone, so they all went out to search for her.”

“And your father—how does he feel about this?” No matter how wealthy Wang Fugui was, he needed Xu Yushi’s consent for such a marriage. If Xu Yushi did not approve, Wang Fugui would not dare do anything to Xu Ziyan, so his attitude was crucial.

“Father said, no matter what, Sister must be found. He said her marriage to Young Master Wang was settled long ago and cannot be changed. Yage, I don’t think Sister Ziyan is fond of Young Master Wang…” Du Juan lowered her voice and whispered something in Chen Yage’s ear, causing her expression to shift several times.

You Huan, seeing the two ignore his presence entirely, smiled at Du Juan and asked Chen Yage, “Is this the young lady of the Xu family you were looking for? How come I’ve never seen her before?”

“She’s Lord Xu’s daughter, lost for many years and only recently found. It would be strange if you had seen her. I don’t have time to explain. Don’t bother with Xu Jin for now—help me find the eldest daughter of the Xu family. Have you met Xu Ziyan?”

“We met once, briefly.”

“That’s good!” Chen Yage turned to Du Juan, “Do your best to persuade your father to call off the wedding. Leave the search to us. I feel a certain kinship with your sister, and I’ll do all I can to help her. Wait for our good news!” With that, she dragged You Huan away from the manor gates. Du Juan stood there for a moment, finally regaining her senses before hurrying inside.