But Shen Jintang would either say she was "unwell" or "busy," and in short, she would refuse to see him.

On the evening of the third day, Gu Zhixing stood outside Yutang Palace, looking at the tightly closed palace gates, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

Ye Qingzhou sighed as he watched from the side: "Your Highness, how about... we just climb over the wall and go in?"

Gu Zhixing gave him a cold glance: "Get lost."

Ye Qingzhou shrank back, thinking: Well, he's really angry.

Until Lin Tingwan's wedding day.

Whether as Lin Tingwan's tutor or Shen Huaixu's cousin, Shen Jintang had no choice but to attend.

She wore a light blue dress, with only a simple silver hairpin in her hair. Standing in the crowd, she was as quiet as a shadow.

Even so, Gu Zhixing spotted her at a glance.

He strode over, and Shen Jintang caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye. She subconsciously took a step back and turned to leave.

Gu Zhixing's eyes darkened, and he reached out and grabbed her wrist with a force that was neither too strong nor too weak, yet she couldn't break free.

"Shen Jintang." His voice was extremely low, carrying a hint of suppressed anger, "How long are you going to keep avoiding me?"

She struggled but couldn't break free. She could only look up at him, feigning calmness: "Is there something you need, Your Highness?"

"What's the matter?" He sneered, his grip tightening slightly. "I've come seven times in three days, and you've avoided me every time. Now you're asking me if I have something to say?"

Shen Jintang's eyelashes trembled, and she turned her head away from him: "I'm just... busy."

"Busy?" Gu Zhixing stared at her profile, his voice almost squeezed out through clenched teeth, "So busy that you won't even see me?"

She pursed her lips and remained silent, her wrist aching from his grip, yet she stubbornly refused to utter a sound.

Looking at her like this, Gu Zhixing felt even more frustrated.

He desperately wanted to carry her back and get to the bottom of things, but he was afraid of scaring her, so in the end he could only grit his teeth and let go, his knuckles turning white and his bones turning slightly blue.

“…Okay.” He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. “Don’t leave after the ceremony.”

Shen Jintang didn't respond, but turned and blended into the crowd, though her heart was pounding wildly.