“I… I don’t really understand what you mean.”
Lu Yunze scratched his cheek.
Li Zhiya chuckled softly and sat down inside the pavilion.
“To be honest, Jin Shun has always been a headache—not only for me, even Father struggles with him.
That kid was spoiled rotten since childhood. He does things without restraint, always believing everyone should bend around his temper.”
“Oh?”
Lu Yunze raised a brow, somewhat intrigued.
“I thought the attitude between father and son would be tougher than that.”
Lu Yunze had overheard Jin Huancheng and Luo Yao talking earlier, and Jin Huancheng didn’t seem arrogant or overbearing at all. He was polite and mature, a proper gentleman.
“That’s exactly why Father suffers.”
Li Zhiya sighed.
“Because Jin Shun’s reputation became too foul, it even damaged Father’s image. You teaching Jin Shun a lesson this time… honestly felt satisfying for everyone.”
Lu Yunze thought for a while, then asked:
“Jin Shun is your younger brother—don’t you feel the need to defend him?”
“I did want to,” she smiled thinly, “but isn’t he still alive?”
Li Zhiya’s voice grew colder.
“Jin Shun has never once treated me like a sister. My decision to ignore him is already mercy.”
Lu Yunze didn’t really want to dig into it.
“You keep saying you’re Jin Shun’s sister, but your surname is Li.”
Li Zhiya didn’t expect him to ask so bluntly. Her smile paused.
“…That story is long.”
“Then don’t tell it.”
Lu Yunze waved a hand. He had enough problems in the Luo household; no way would he get involved with Jin family drama on top of it.
Li Zhiya didn’t mind. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Anyway, let’s talk about you instead.”
“Me?”
“A boy capable of forcing Jin Shun into submission… that’s impressive.”
While speaking, she shifted closer and closer.
Their distance shrank—her face moved near enough that Lu Yunze could see the curve of every eyelash.
Li Zhiya was undeniably beautiful, and with makeup enhancing her features, she was dangerously alluring.
“A capable man like you must have many girlfriends, right?”
Lu Yunze blinked.
Before he could speak—
“He’s single.”
Jiang Sui suddenly appeared, directly squeezing herself between them and separating the two.
Her polite smile remained, yet her tone toward Li Zhiya was ice-cold:
“Even if my young master is excellent, his standards for choosing a partner are extremely high. Not just any woman can enter his eyes.”
“You are…?”
Li Zhiya frowned.
“Just the young master’s maid.”
“A maid?”
Li Zhiya sneered.
“But when we arrived, we saw you two… very close.”
“Everyday job duties,” Jiang Sui replied calmly.
“A competent maid not only cleans and cooks, she must also understand how to ‘relieve the master’s tension’ and soothe his emotions. Surely, as someone older, Miss Li should understand these things. Why pretend to be shocked?”
“…Older? I’m twenty-eight!”
“I’m not even twenty yet. In my eyes, you’re definitely my elder. Auntie.”
“You—!”
Li Zhiya flushed in anger. She turned to Lu Yunze, but he remained silent.
“Hmph.” She took a deep breath.
“I won’t argue with a maid. Our statuses are different. I should have shown more generosity.”
“That’s good,” Jiang Sui smiled.
Then she placed a silver tray between them.
On the tray were neatly cut cubes of butter cake.
“Young Miss Luo made these for you. She said this is her small gift—please enjoy.”
“Luo Yao made food herself?”
Li Zhiya frowned.
“No poison, right?”
“Young master can testify.”
Jiang Sui pointed.
Lu Yunze rubbed his nose awkwardly.
To be honest, Luo Yao made this yesterday, and it actually tasted great.
And Jiang Sui’s cooking skills had always been reliable.
Knowing this, Li Zhiya smirked:
“As expected, daughters of noble houses are more appealing. Unlike certain people involving poison and violence everywhere—such a shame someone still keeps them around.”
She spoke while grabbing a piece of cake with a fork.
But the moment she tasted it—
her expression twisted into pure agony.
She wanted to spit it out, but with two people staring, she forced herself to swallow.
Lu Yunze blinked.
“What’s wrong?”
Li Zhiya pointed at the tray, face stiff:
“This thing… why is it so—”
“Young Miss’s cooking skills are wonderful, right?”
Jiang Sui cut her off smoothly.
“Since she made it for an honored guest, saying it tastes bad would hurt feelings, wouldn’t it?”
Li Zhiya’s jaw tightened.
But looking at Lu Yunze, she could only force a smile.
“Yes… Miss Luo has amazing talent. Truly gifted—she could become a head chef.”
“…Right.”
Lu Yunze wasn’t convinced.
Honestly, Jiang Sui’s cooking tasted good—but Luo Yao’s cake today…
Yeah. Not safe.
Jiang Sui continued calmly:
“Miss Li should thank me. If not for me, you wouldn’t be able to taste such rare delicacies.”
Li Zhiya gave a stiff laugh toward her:
“Thank you for the delicious cake… Miss Jiang.”
“Mm. Remember my name, Miss Li.”
Li Zhiya didn’t dare stay another second—she claimed urgent business and dashed away.
Only when she disappeared did Jiang Sui drop her smile and look at Lu Yunze.
“Young Master—what was that?”
Lu Yunze raised his eyebrows.
“What?”
“In the future, when you leave the house, protect yourself.”
Her voice chilled.
“And when you meet new women—tell me first.”
“…Why?”
“I will check if they are safe.”
“You make me sound like a three-year-old.”
Lu Yunze flexed his bicep.
“My body isn’t just decoration. I can protect myself.”
Jiang Sui silently touched the muscle.
“…Firm. Real muscle.”
“See?”
“Young Master’s lower abdomen is also firm.”
“…Can you not?”
“Isn’t it? If your abdomen isn’t the strongest, then what is? From now on, when I give nightly full-body massages, I must carefully examine every muscle.”
Lu Yunze covered his face.
Only Jiang Sui could say such insane lines with a straight expression.
Just when he wanted the moment to end—
Luo Yao suddenly arrived in the courtyard.
She spotted him, lit up, and rushed over:
“Yun-gege! Why are you here?”
“Huh? Did you need me?”
Lu Yunze glanced sideways.
As expected—
Jiang Sui had vanished completely.
Even though she still held the tray seconds ago.
How did she disappear that fast?
Luo Yao wiped sweat from her forehead.
“I heard Jin Huancheng’s daughter went to find you alone. I was worried.”
“She already left.”
“She didn’t do anything to you, right?”
“No.”
Lu Yunze shrugged.
“We talked peacefully.”
“That’s good.”
Luo Yao relaxed, but then her eyes grew serious.
“Yun-gege, your luck with women is growing increasingly terrifying. There are too many dangerous girls around you. I don’t like this.”
“…What are you saying?”
“Nothing. Our business with Jin Huancheng is finished—let’s go.”