Looking at the lifelike phoenix and then at the "earthworm" she had drawn, Su Jinli couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Mr. Jiang is bullying me. How can you exchange a phoenix for an earthworm?" Her laughter was as clear and sweet as the singing of birds in spring.

"Why not?" Jiang Yan gently pressed the phoenix sugar painting into her hand, his fingertips carelessly brushing away the sugar residue on the tip of her nose, his movements gentle and natural. "I think this dragon is full of spirit. It's very similar to me when I first held a pen and wrote eight-part essays. Although it's crooked, it has a noble character." He explained with a smile, his eyes full of sincerity.

Before he could finish his words, a loud thud of a wooden sword hitting the ground suddenly rang out from the entrance of the alley, like a thunderclap exploding in the alley. Young Marquis Su, carrying a pearwood sword that was taller than him, rushed in like a charging calf. The scabbard ruthlessly swept over the candied haws stand next to him, and the bright red fruits immediately rolled all over the ground like a red rain. "Sister! Why are you hanging around with that brat?" The young man's eyes widened, glaring at Jiang Yan fiercely, like a little wolfhound with its fur standing on end, full of vigilance and hostility.

Jiang Yan calmly patted the sugar residue on his clothes, still with a gentle smile on his face: "Young Marquis Su, we meet again." His tone was relaxed and natural, as if he didn't take Young Marquis Su's hostility to heart.

"Who wants to see you!" Young Marquis Su stabbed his wooden sword into the ground, causing the bluestone bricks to buzz as if protesting the sudden impact. "I'm warning you, don't try to mess with my sister!" He brandished the wooden sword, protesting against Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan squatted down and looked at the young man at eye level with a smile in his eyes: "Then guess what I'm planning?" He deliberately teased Young Marquis Su, wanting to see what interesting answer the young man would come up with.

Young Marquis Su scratched his head, his copper-bell-like eyes rolled around twice, and he said with a puzzled look: "How should I know... Do you want to steal my sister's sugar painting?" His answer was full of childishness, which made people laugh.

"I was thinking," Jiang Yan pointed at the "earthworm" sugar painting in Su Jinli's hand, a cunning light flashed in his eyes, "why do you want to invite your sister to join my poetry club." He said his thoughts with a smile, his eyes revealing his admiration for Su Jinli.

Su Jinli raised her eyebrows slightly, with a hint of curiosity in her eyes: "Your poetry club? Is it more interesting than Li Xiuyuan's?" She became very interested in Jiang Yan's poetry club and wanted to know what was so unique about it.

"Of course it's different." Jiang Yan's eyes flashed with a cunning glint, like the leap of sugar syrup before freezing, full of agility and vitality. "My 'No Obstacles Society' isn't bound by rules of rhythm and antithesis; anything interesting can be included in poetry. For example, Miss Su's poem 'Selling Sugar in Spring,' and..." He gently shook the handle of Young Marquis Su's wooden sword, "Young Marquis Su's manifesto 'Killing to Protect My Sister,' both qualify." He detailed the unique features of the poetry society, hoping to resonate with Su Jinli.

Su Jinli watched the light dancing in his eyes. That light was warmer and more intense than the sheen of sugar painting, as if it could illuminate every corner of her heart. "That sounds interesting, but..." She paused deliberately, keeping the question in suspense.

"But what?" Jiang Yan took a step closer. The afternoon sun cast a long shadow behind him, gently enveloping Su Jinli. The ink marks on his sleeves were faintly visible in the light, like unfinished verses, full of poetry and mystery.

"You have to teach me how to draw sugar paintings first." Su Jinli playfully raised the "earthworm" in her hand, her smile sly, like a kitten stealing a bite. "Or I'll copy this 'dragon' poem a hundred times and let everyone in the capital know that the top scholar prefers the earthworm totem." She threatened Jiang Yan half-jokingly, her eyes full of laughter.

Jiang Yan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. His laughter was so hearty and resounding that it drew the attention of everyone in the alley. "What a threat!" He held out his hand, palm facing up. The lines on his palm were as clear as a river, as if telling the story of a life. "It's a deal," he said firmly, his eyes filled with anticipation for this agreement.

Su Jinli hesitated, then slowly placed her hand into his. His palm was warm and dry, and the gentle brush of his lines against the back of her hand sent a subtle shiver through her, like an electric current running through her body. "It's a deal. But in exchange..." She bit her lower lip slightly, a hint of playfulness in her eyes.

"What in exchange?" Jiang Yan's thumb gently brushed across her wrist, where there were still shallow marks from the jade bracelet Liu had given her, as if they were the mark of past pain.

"If I get into trouble next time, you'll have to help me clean it up." Su Jinli looked up at him, but accidentally caught his eye, which was filled with smiles. His eyes were deep and bright, reflecting her shadow, as well as the curling steam rising from the sugar painting stall, which looked like a painted boat in the misty rain of Jiangnan, full of poetry and romance.

"No problem." Jiang Yan's voice was low and gentle, thick with maltose, as if promising an eternal agreement. "But I have one condition." He leaned closer to her, a hint of doting in his eyes.

"What are the conditions?" Su Jinli asked curiously, with a bright light in her eyes.

He leaned close to her ear, his warm breath gently brushing against her reddened earlobe, like the touch of a feather, tickling her. "Next time, before you get into trouble, give me a message first, so I don't have time to buy you a candy painting." He said softly, his tone full of teasing and concern.

Su Jinli burst out laughing and tried to push him away, but his grip tightened. Young Marquis Su, standing nearby, frowned, thinking the two must be exchanging secret messages. He thrust his wooden sword in front of Jiang Yan and angrily demanded, "Hey! What did you whisper to my sister?" His face was filled with dissatisfaction and vigilance.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!