"Knock knock knock... Young Master Yin, are you awake?"

Yao Fu's voice came from outside the door. Without thinking much, Yin Ming picked up a cotton cloth to wipe his hands and went to open the door.

"May I ask what business the city lord has with me? Please come in."

When Yin Ming was in a good mood, a faint smile would often appear on his lips.

In Yao Fu's eyes, the more she looked at this son-in-law, the more satisfied she became. Not only was he handsome, but he also had a good personality and was very polite. She was sure her daughter would be very happy marrying him.

The two sat down at the tea table, and Yin Ming took out a teapot and teacups from the tea tray and poured a cup of tea for Yao Fu.

"This is the ink lotus that the two young heroes left in the room when they treated my wife that day. Now that my wife is cured, this item should be returned."

A flash of light appeared in Yao Fu's hand, and a jade box appeared in his hand.

He respectfully presented the jade box with both hands. Yin Ming raised an eyebrow. He had already tacitly agreed to give the Ink Lotus to them, but he didn't expect Yao Fu to take the initiative to return it to him.

Under Yao Fu's repeated insistence, Yin Ming finally gave in and accepted the jade box, placing it on the tea table.

After delivering the jade box, Yao Fu didn't seem to intend to leave. Only after Yin Ming's questioning gaze did he cough twice and speak:

"I have another matter to discuss, which is... my daughter's marriage."

Yao Fu awkwardly clasped his hands together, and he subconsciously glanced at the doorway, as if to make sure no one would suddenly appear.

Yin Ming glanced at the screen discreetly. The wedding of the male and female leads? Great, Ling Yao is here too, so he doesn't have to go through the trouble of repeating it to the male lead.

So far, everything is normal. Yin Ming is even wondering if this counts as the third happy event. After all, he was the one who arranged this marriage, and if it really happens, Yin Ming will feel a sense of accomplishment.

Until the Lord of Yao City, with a conflicted expression, finally said the following:

"I wonder if Young Master Yin is interested in my daughter? I know my daughter is a bit mischievous, but that's only because she's young. She's actually quite well-behaved and gentle by nature..."

Yin Ming couldn't hear what the city lord said after that. He only felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and his eyes gradually widened.

"Is he crazy? Am I crazy?! What is he saying?!"

"What does the city lord mean?" Yin Ming swallowed hard. Brother, the male lead is listening right behind us. Are you trying to kill me by saying something like this?

Also, it was clearly agreed before that it would be Lingyao and Yaoling! Why are they asking him now if Yin Ming likes Yaoling? What's going on?!

"It's like this, after the banquet that night, my daughter was a little upset. After asking her in detail, I learned that her desired husband is Young Hero Yin. Before, I was presumptuous and thought she liked Young Hero Ling, so I took it upon myself to make this decision..."

"Stop...stop talking." Yin Ming raised his hand to interrupt Lord Yao, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.

You can't keep saying things that offend the male lead, or he'll hold a grudge.

Oh no! Everything was going so well, but now this wife-stealing incident has inexplicably happened. The male lead will be annoyed to death by this!

No, I need to think carefully about how to distance myself from him. Otherwise, if the male lead really thinks that Yin Ming interfered and ruined his plans, then this feud will really be formed. I can't let the male lead develop a rift with me at this time.

Yin Ming didn't know why Yao Ling had taken a liking to him. Recalling their first meeting, he had complained that the female lead ignored him.

Now it's all over, we've met, but it's all over.

The female lead is really something. I told you not to ignore me, not to like me!

“I…” Yin Ming unconsciously bit his thin lips, “I am actually… already married.”

As if afraid Yao Fu wouldn't believe him, Yin Ming picked up a small stove from the side, opened the lid, and showed him what was inside:

“We’re already married. I got up early this morning to make this. It’s my wife’s favorite dish, and I plan to take it back to her tomorrow…”

Yao Fu looked at the contents of the stove, opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

After a long silence, he finally managed to stammer out, "Oh, I see. I was being presumptuous..."

Since things had come to this point, staying any longer would only make things more awkward. Yao Fu stood up nonchalantly, and before leaving, he solemnly said, "Please don't take today's events to heart, Young Hero Yin..."

Yin Ming nodded, watching the city lord's departing figure, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief—finally, he had gotten rid of the city lord.

But what follows is the important part.

How can he explain to the male lead so that the male lead will believe that he is also confused about everything that is happening?

The liquid in the furnace had already solidified. Yin Ming absentmindedly took out a square piece of oil paper and wrapped the shaped small cubes one by one.

"Can I come out now?"

Ling Yao's calm voice came from behind the screen. Yin Ming's eyelids twitched, and he replied hesitantly, "It's fine."

Well, Yin Ming's excitement, which had lasted all night, was finally dampened by the city lord's cold water.

Why did he call the male lead over so he could hear everything clearly from behind the screen?

If the male lead weren't present, Yin Ming could have come up with other excuses when recounting the story, subtly implying that the marriage was off...

Now the male protagonist has heard it in both ears; it's over, he's completely doomed.

Yin Ming dejectedly put all the packaged little cubes into his spatial ring. He decided it was best not to try to improve his relationship with the person in question now, since it wouldn't be of any use anyway. He should just focus on getting past this hurdle first.

“Yin Ming…”

"Ah Yao, I don't know why this misunderstanding happened. Believe me, I really don't have any special feelings for Yao Ling."

Yin Ming preemptively blurted out his thoughts. Rather than letting the male lead interrogate him, he decided to take the initiative and stick to his guns and deny everything!

"Hmm." Lingyao responded faintly, her gaze falling on the empty stove.

Seeing that his reaction was too calm, Yin Ming was afraid that he only believed him on the surface while secretly keeping a record of it in his mind, so he quickly raised his finger to the sky and swore, "I really don't like her, A Yao, you have to believe me."

"Yin Ming just said that you are already married?" Ling Yao asked this seemingly random question.

Yin Ming was taken aback and before he could react, he heard Ling Yao continue, "I've never heard you mention your wife before."

"Huh? Wife?" Yin Ming's mind went blank for a moment. Where did he get a wife?

Oh right, Yin Ming just made up a lie to refuse Lord Yao, saying he was already married.

"Well, actually I'm not married yet." Yin Ming scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed about the sudden mention of this topic.

"I was lying to him just now." Yin Ming felt something was off after saying that, and fearing that Ling Yao would misunderstand, he quickly added, "But everything I told you was the truth."

"Is Yin Ming really married?"