Chapter 130: The Pursuit of Truth

In his previous life, Xue Fanzhi never even realized what kind of demons or monsters his family truly were until the very end. He simply didn’t want to know, didn’t want her to know, and above all, didn’t want her to be hurt.

In this life, why had A-Zhi started investigating the He family? Had she sensed something?

Xiao Yi pondered for a moment and said, “Go arrange a meeting with Lady Ba for me.”

Xiao Yi disapproved. “We’re just moments away from meeting her. Are you really so impatient, my lord?”

After Xue Fanzhi’s formal greeting, there would be a banquet. It was at such a banquet in their previous life that disaster struck Xue Fanzhi. This time, he intended to watch the banquet closely, so they would meet soon enough.

But shouldn’t they avoid meeting before then?

Xiao Yi looked at Xiao Yi, “But I want to see her now!”

“No, my lord, you don’t want to!” Xiao Yi said resolutely.

Xiao Yi was speechless.

If it weren’t for decades of respect, he would have struck him down already.

Xiao Yi continued, “You have to keep an eye on Qin Jianyu, watch Sun Xiaolang, be wary of Lady Xue Qi, and also pay attention to Lady Ba’s side... My lord, I really am stretched too thin. You don’t want to go now, do you? Please tell me you won’t go see Lady Ba!”

Xiao Yi was silent.

Since Xue Qiu was home today, the number of intruders was limited. Someone like him was focused on Qin Jianyu, so if he went to see A-Zhi, Xiao Yi might truly be overwhelmed.

Forget it!

A-Zhi’s safety is the most important thing. It’s best to stick to the original plan.

Whether they meet now or later doesn’t make much difference.

Xiao Yi turned to Xiao Yi, wondering why this fellow was so irritating.

“You…”

“My lord, look!” Suddenly, Xiao Yi pointed outside the window. “It’s that guy again, Wang Erlang!”

Wang Erlang…

Why did hearing that name make him want to laugh?

Xiao Yi looked back and saw Wang Yun-zhi emerging from the guest room of the main house.

Xiao Yi asked, “My lord, what do you think he’s up to?”

Indeed, now there was one more person to watch. Wang Yun-zhi had actually taken the initiative to give A-Zhi a gift. Who knew what ill intentions he harbored?

Xiao Yi gave Xiao Yi a look: go check it out!

Xiao Yi thought to himself, fine, he said he was stretched thin, but really, my lord is too stingy. The monthly stipend isn’t much, but there’s no shortage of tasks. Hmph!

Yuanbao followed behind Wang Yun-zhi and asked, “Young master, you’re walking so quickly. Are you going to greet Thirteenth Young Master?”

“Would a collateral branch warrant my personal greeting?” Wang Yun-zhi said lightly.

Such words were arrogant, but there was no denying it. He was of the main Wang family line, unlike a collateral branch. He was the favored son of heaven; what counted was the main line, not the collateral. It was not arrogance—it was destiny!

Yuanbao nodded and asked, “Then what are you going to do?”

Only after leaving the yard did Wang Yun-zhi reveal, “Get Lady Ba to come out for me!”

Yuanbao: “...”

That’s not appropriate, is it?

“She’s about to perform a ritual. How would Lady Ba come out?”

Wang Yun-zhi smiled, “Fine. If she doesn’t come out, you tell her I’ll publicly expose how she caused Lady Zhang’s death!”

Yuanbao: “...”

Does he like her or want to push her away? This young master is hopeless.

But A-Zhi did indeed come out, just at the spot where they had met before—in the backyard of Xue Qiu’s estate.

There stood a phoenix tree, not yet in bloom, but its canopy spread like an umbrella, providing shade and shielding their view from others.

Wang Yun-zhi stood beneath the tree, his posture even more upright and striking than the tree itself, catching the eye immediately.

But Xue Fanzhi’s heart was as calm as still water; she had no mood to admire the scene. She walked up to Wang Yun-zhi and asked, “What exactly do you want?”

Wang Yun-zhi noticed her composed demeanor, no longer fearful as before. He squinted and said, “Aren’t you afraid?”

Then he smiled, “Right—you’d be afraid if you weren’t out here.”

Xue Fanzhi nodded, then shook her head. “I am afraid, because I cannot bear this accusation. But I am not afraid, because I did not kill anyone. And I believe you won’t reveal it. You just want to see me, that’s all. Just that.”

Yes, just wanting to see her.

What’s this about Lady Zhang? She wasn’t even dead, and exposing it wouldn’t benefit him either.

Wang Yun-zhi smiled, “You’re quite sensible. Do you like the gift I gave you?”

Xue Fanzhi sighed, “So this is why you wanted to ask that question!”

“Why, is it not important?” Wang Yun-zhi disagreed. It was his first time giving a girl a gift—it was a very serious matter.

Xue Fanzhi shook her head, “It’s ordinary. I don’t like it.”

“You...” Wang Yun-zhi was nearly enraged. That was his family heirloom. To give it to her, he had been locked up by his grandmother for half a month and had to sneak out today. And she said it was ordinary, that she didn’t like it.

“How can you not like it?” Wang Yun-zhi wanted to shake her until she said she liked it.

Xue Fanzhi frowned, “Not liking something is just not liking it. Why must I like it? Who said if someone gives you a gift, you have to like it—and keep being asked if you like it? It’s just a gift.”

“Just a gift?!” This woman was far too arrogant. Wasn’t she a pushover? Hadn’t she seen the world? How could she be so presumptuous?

“That’s my gift to you!” Wang Yun-zhi was flustered and deeply unhappy. “You don’t like my gift. Then what do you want?”

Xue Fanzhi smiled, “I think this: the one who gives is you, and your intention is yours. The one who receives is me, and my appreciation is mine. That’s enough. Why must I like it?”

Giving and receiving gifts, with proper etiquette, is the expectation between acquaintances.

Liking a gift from the heart—that’s what sets someone apart.

Yes, they should be different.

She should like him.

But liking someone means liking the gifts they give. Not liking means not liking that person.

And she did not like him!

“I thought you would like it!” Wang Yun-zhi, realizing she did not like him, felt helpless and nasal. “But you don’t! It’s so disappointing.”

“It’s okay not to like!” Xue Fanzhi smiled. “I like two kinds of gifts: those from someone I love, and those I truly appreciate. You are neither, so I don’t like it. But really, it’s nothing.”

See? She didn’t like him, and she thought it was nothing.

Indeed, not liking him—what harm could it do?

Liking is a feeling, a mood. Without that feeling, without that mood, it doesn’t interfere with eating or drinking, it doesn’t kill you. How could it be anything?

But he himself felt it interfered with eating and drinking, missing her pained him. Her saying she didn’t like him made him sad—that was something.

So not liking someone is nothing, but liking someone is something.

He still had to make her like him.

“I’ll give you gifts you like from now on!” Wang Yun-zhi said sulkily, then swept his sleeve and left.