Xu Yunci's voice was low and tinged with worry.

Li Shiyue didn't raise her head, but her eyelids trembled slightly. Xu Lingzi and Xie Yizhi beside her seemed to see right through her. Panic gripped her, and she tried even harder to break free, but her strength was utterly insignificant against Xu Yunci.

"I'm really fine."

Li Shiyue simply gave up struggling. She realized that the more she struggled, the less likely he would let go. Sure enough, after she loosened her grip, Xu Yunci's eyes showed a hint of helplessness, and he loosened his grip on her wrist considerably.

With just a red mark, Xu Yunci released his hand.

"If you don't watch where you're going, you'll bump into something and start crying."

As soon as he let go, Li Shiyue quickly pulled her arm back, as if she wanted to hide, and turned her head to cover the embarrassment and anger on her face: "It's not that I didn't get hurt, but my cousin came in a rage, he was so fierce, he was going to scare me to death."

Xu Yunci wasn't angry; her lips curled slightly upward, seemingly in a good mood. She was probably annoyed when she saw the young woman before her, who insisted on looking at the red mark on his wrist.

"I thought you were coming to discuss your birthday banquet with Fifth Sister, so I came to check on you. Alright, alright, I was wrong. How about I apologize to Yan Yan?"

Xu Lingzi glanced sideways, looking at her elder brother with some surprise in her eyes. Why did his tone sound like he was coaxing a child? She didn't speak, but her eyes met her elder brother's. She seemed to have discovered what he was doing.

Li Shiyue seemed to suddenly remember something; she had been so engrossed in listening to Xu Lingzi talk about the wooden box Guo Xun had made that she had completely forgotten about the important matter.

"I do want to talk to her, but I'm thinking of going back to get some things first, and then I can come back to see my cousin."

"What is so important?" Xie Yizhi craned his neck, like a curious child.

“These are items that Yan Yan is going to add to my dowry. Why are you two gentlemen so curious? Are you going to add to my dowry too?” Xu Lingzi raised an eyebrow, her gaze towards Xie Yizhi carrying a hint of scrutiny that was not easily detected.

In her mind, Li Shiyue was not someone who spoke carelessly. Rather than saying that she was making malicious speculations, it would be more accurate to say that Li Shiyue was actually wary of everything around her because of her upbringing.

"Adding dowry? I've never heard of that. What does it mean to add?" Xie Yizhi scratched his head. It was no wonder he didn't understand. After all, in recent years, the Xie family had been mostly composed of young men, while the women were from collateral branches and had little to no close relationship with the main family.

"Anything is fine, like jewelry from the bride's family, or anything you think is nice. But Cousin Xie, you're a gentleman, and you also want to add to my dowry, aren't you?" Xu Lingzi covered her mouth and chuckled, quickly changing the subject.

"Go back and get it. I'll wait for you to come back."

Xu Lingzi gently nudged Li Shiyue's waist with her hand hidden under her sleeve, signaling her to go first.

"Okay." Li Shiyue didn't even look up, and walked past Xu Yunci out of the main courtyard.

Xu Yunci's gaze followed Li Shiyue, watching her figure gradually disappear at the courtyard gate, the smile in his eyes slowly fading. Turning back, he met Xu Lingzi's meaningful gaze, and the corners of her lips curved upwards.

Li Shiyue left the main courtyard at breakneck speed, as if a raging flood was rushing behind her, wishing she could just fly away.

Chunling was puzzled, so she simply jogged to catch up. She clutched her lower abdomen and looked at the girl who was gradually putting distance between her and herself. Just as she was about to speak, she was suddenly pulled back.

"Shh-"

Chang Shun suddenly appeared out of nowhere, grabbed Chunling and pulled her aside, covering her mouth tightly to prevent her from making a sound. Before she could explain, Chunling saw the man who resembled the young master and quickly chased after the girl.

After walking a distance, the maple leaves rustled as they fell from above, and Li Shiyue felt her legs go weak. She then sat down on a rock next to the artificial hill.

"Spring Silk..."

Before she could finish speaking, Li Shiyue stood up abruptly, looked at Xu Yunci who was only a few steps away from her, and turned her body to avoid his gaze.

"Didn't my cousin stay and talk to her? He came out so quickly."

Xu Yunci stopped in his tracks, realizing that his little cousin was trying to avoid him. Afraid that he would frighten her if he went forward, he simply stood still.

"I told her that she was of marriageable age, and it wasn't appropriate for Xie Yizhi to stay there, so she didn't stay any longer."

The maple trees beside the artificial hill rustled as some maple leaves fell in the autumn wind, their apricot-yellow leaves and the red maple leaves at their feet seemingly reflecting each other in the autumn breeze.

Ginkgo leaves hung high on the branches, while the red maple leaves at her feet looked as dazzling as blood. A moment of silence followed, and Li Shiyue heard a soft sigh beside her ear. By the time she looked up, the sigh had vanished into the autumn wind.

Only Xu Yunci's eyes were fixed on her, the smile in them seeming to mock her for being overtaken no matter how fast she walked.

Thinking this, a look of shame and indignation flashed across Li Shiyue's face, and her red earlobes betrayed her feelings.

Why are you avoiding me?

Xu Yunci's voice was low and tinged with helplessness, as if the warm breath from above his head was still there. The blush on Li Shiyue's ears deepened.

"I didn't." Li Shiyue turned to the side, not daring to look at Xu Yunci's gaze.

"Because of what I said that day, you're avoiding me." Xu Yunci's words were certain, but his tone was calm, so Li Shiyue didn't feel pressured.

He raised his hand and pinched the area between his eyebrows, looking somewhat worried. This was the first time he had encountered a situation even more difficult than dealing with those old ministers in the previous dynasty.

“It’s my business to say I love you, and I won’t force you to do anything like other people do. Whether you accept it or not is your business, and you don’t need to avoid me because of this. I’m still your cousin, aren’t I?”

Li Shiyue pursed his lips, still clinging to her like that, showing no sign of being her cousin.

Unbeknownst to her, Xu Yunci had already seen through her maidenly appearance. If she were to raise her head now, she would surely see the smile in Xu Yunci's eyes.

"In a few days, around the Double Ninth Festival, how about we go to Guanqing Garden? Once we're there, you can take a look and arrange things according to your wishes. By your birthday, everything will be all set."

Xu Yunci didn't take a step. Although he was talking, he didn't mean to offend anyone, which gradually made Li Shiyue lower her guard.

"I understand. Guanqing Garden is my cousin's place, so it's fine for him to make all the decisions." Li Shiyue raised her eyes and pursed her lips as she looked at Xu Yunci.

"Cousin, who would you like to invite for this event, such as Princess Chunhui, or perhaps a few princes?"

If she were to spend the occasion alone with her family behind closed doors, she could simply not invite anyone. But this time is different. Since it's a grand celebration, there's no intention to leave out the two princes and the princess.