Gifting the Brocade Pouch!

Uncle Yan had thick eyebrows and large eyes, with a long, thin face. Even without anger, he possessed a certain gravitas. When he fixed his sharp gaze upon you, it made your breathing quicken, feeling as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing down on your chest, suffocating you.

Even as his son, Yan Xiangma found it difficult to withstand such a formidable presence.

He lowered his head, fiddling with the soup spoon in his hand, avoiding his father's scrutinizing gaze. "It's the person who rescued Cui Xiaoxin when she was attacked at the Beast-Faced Pavilion last time. The doctor who treated him was someone we arranged and spoke to. I had someone investigate, and that man's name is Li Mu Yang, a classmate of Xiaoxin's. Xiaoxin is kind-hearted and feels indebted to him, so she wanted to help him catch up on his studies."

"Hero saves the beauty?" Uncle Yan's expression grew even more somber. "Have you thoroughly investigated his background and origins?"

"His background is clean. His family has lived in Jiangnan City for over a decade. He couldn't be an embedded agent arranged by some family. Xiaoxin hadn't even come to Jiangnan City more than ten years ago. The Cui Family hadn't even planned to send her to Jiangnan City then." Yan Xiangma replied.

"Don't be careless." Uncle Yan's gaze softened considerably as he looked at his son, Yan Xiangma. "The Cui Family has a daughter who is blossoming, and I fear that some ill-intentioned individuals might deliberately approach her. If handled improperly, it could lead to another major disaster. Tiandu has also been restless lately. The Cui Family intends to form an alliance with the Song Family, and Xiaoxin grew up with Song Tingyun from the Song Family, who is known as the 'Song Family's Jade,' as childhood sweethearts. Therefore, both families intend to bring them together—with Xiaoxin's return to the capital this time, I'm afraid this matter will be put on the agenda. At such a time, we absolutely cannot afford any other complications."

"Xiaoxin is going to be engaged to Song Tingyun?" Cui Xinci exclaimed in surprise. "How come I didn't get any news about such a big event?"

"It's still under confidential discussion. Whether it can be finalized depends on the approval of the patriarchs of both families. The Song Family's old master, who was once a powerful figure, is over a hundred years old and recently suffered a relapse of an old illness. His health is reportedly very poor, and it's uncertain if he can survive this winter. Under such circumstances, the Song Family also needs strong support to help them mitigate the loss of prestige that would follow the old master's passing. The Song Family likely values this marriage even more."

"Song Tingyun has the title 'Song Family's Jade,' and his appearance and demeanor are impeccable. Moreover, he's one of the earliest experts among the younger generation to reach the Idle Cloud Realm, and he's one of the Empire's most valued young men. If Xiaoxin were to marry him, she wouldn't be wronged." Cui Xinci said with a smile, happy that her niece had found a good match. "However, shouldn't something like this be discussed with Xiaoxin? Xiaoxin is outwardly gentle but inwardly strong-willed, and she's quite stubborn. If she has someone she likes in her heart, even her brother and sister-in-law won't be able to force her."

Uncle Yan looked at his beloved wife, a rare smile appearing on his face. "That's a matter for your Cui Family; I, an outsider, can't make the decision. How about you go and ask?"

"If you can't make the decision, do you think I can? A married daughter is like spilled water. I, as a member of the Cui Family, am probably not as important in their eyes as you, an outsider. After all, you are the lord of Jiangnan City, and they have to consider your reputation."

Uncle Yan knew his wife's straightforward nature and shook his head with a smile. "Xiaoxin's matter needs to be handled properly. Even the slightest spark must be extinguished promptly. Otherwise, once it becomes a raging fire, we'll be powerless."

"Don't worry, Father. I'll handle it." Yan Xiangma replied respectfully.

Uncle Yan nodded. "Please eat slowly. I have to go to work."

With that, he pushed back his wooden chair and stood up, walking out.

Yan Xiangma saw his father out and returned to find his mother sitting in the hall, making tea.

Seeing Yan Xiangma return, Cui Xinci asked, "Xiangma, have you handled the matter I told you about?"

"Mom, I was just about to tell you about it." Yan Xiangma said with a wry smile. "That kid refused."

"Refused?" Cui Xinci was greatly surprised. "That box of pearls is priceless, enough for them to live in luxury for a lifetime. And the admission notice to Jiangnan University—he, a poor and ugly useless student, is still not satisfied? What does he want?"

"Mom, he's not useless—"

"What? Just because he's not useless means he can demand an exorbitant price?" Cui Xinci was furious. She had treated him with sincerity and offered generous terms, but she hadn't expected to encounter someone who dared to try and extort her. Wasn't this like lighting a lamp in a latrine, seeking death?

Yan Xiangma pouted. "Mom, if I told you that he did it for true love, would you believe me?"

"True love?" Cui Xinci chewed on the somewhat unfamiliar word. From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever mentioned 'true love' in front of her.

"True love." Yan Xiangma nodded seriously. "Honestly, I was moved by him. Why don't we just betroth our cousin to him? I believe he'll treat our cousin sincerely—"

Slap—

Cui Xinci slapped the side of her son's head. "Are you still in the mood to joke at a time like this? I asked you to handle this because I wanted to build goodwill with that child. After all, he saved our Xiaoxin. Our Cui Family owes him a favor. If he wants money, we'll give him money; if he wants a future, we can offer him one—but Xiaoxin, that's absolutely not an option."

"Didn't you hear what your father just said? A child from an ordinary family, how can he compete with the Cui Family? Or the Song Family? Isn't that courting death? If we forcefully try to push him and Xiaoxin together, we won't be helping him; we'll be ruining him. Xiangma, quickly find a way to resolve this. If your father has to step in personally, the consequences will be too severe."

"Mom—" Yan Xiangma rubbed his head where his mother had hit him, asking in confusion, "He's just a poor boy, why are you so concerned?"

"Children from ordinary families are still children." Cui Xinci sighed softly. "Children at this age don't know the immensity of heaven and earth, wanting to reach for the moon—but that's not bravery; it's foolishness. Go, handle it gently. I don't want him to hold any grudges against us, nor do I want Xiaoxin to be sad."

"Mom, that Li Mu Yang—" Yan Xiangma seemed to hesitate.

"What about Li Mu Yang?"

"He's really dark." Yan Xiangma said with a smile. "He looks like a lump of coal fallen in the snow when he's with our cousin."

Slap—

Yan Xiangma's head was hit again.

Li Mu Yang was unaware that he had become a topic of conversation at the Yan family's breakfast table, nor did he know that he was even entangled in a massive aristocratic marriage alliance in Tiandu.

He was simply happy because of Cui Xiaoxin's arrival, and he felt sweet bliss from a simple exchange of glances between them.

This was a realm he had never ventured into before, a heart-pounding emotion he hadn't experienced with his sister, Li Sinian.

Love is like sugar, sweet to the point of melancholy.

Li Mu Yang's mood right now was both sweet and melancholic.

When Cui Xiaoxin arrived, Li Mu Yang had already finished breakfast and completed two sets of high school second-year practice exams.

Seeing Cui Xiaoxin arrive, Li Mu Yang quickly went to meet her, smiling. "Have you eaten breakfast? Would you like anything to drink?"

See, a man with no dating experience has such a scattered train of thought.

"A cup of tea would be fine," Cui Xiaoxin nodded.

"Please have a seat," Li Mu Yang invited Cui Xiaoxin to sit down, then rushed inside to pour the tea.

Cui Xiaoxin pointed at the lapis lazuli table they used for studying and asked, "Why has the table become like this?"

"Oh, my dad accidentally knocked the table over while practicing his skills yesterday—that's why it's like this." Li Mu Yang had anticipated Cui Xiaoxin might ask, so he had the answer ready. See how smart he's become now?

"Oh." Cui Xiaoxin nodded. "Does Uncle Li practice swordsmanship?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Otherwise, how could the cut surface of the table be so neat?"

"——"

Fortunately, Cui Xiaoxin wasn't one for gossip and didn't dwell too much on that table. She reviewed the two practice tests Li Mu Yang had taken that morning and said, "As long as you can answer the questions, they're generally correct. So, let's go over the problems you couldn't answer—like this one, what part do you feel you don't understand?"

"I have no idea how to solve this problem. I feel completely lost."

"That's because you weren't paying attention in class. This problem seems to have no clear direction, and the few methods provided don't seem to connect. However, there's one approach that can help. You just need to apply that method, and you'll easily find the answer—"

Time always flew by when he was with Cui Xiaoxin.

By the time dusk settled in, Li Mu Yang's parents returned from work, and Li Sinian also came home from school with her backpack.

As usual, Cui Xiaoxin got up to leave again.

Li Mu Yang couldn't persuade her to stay and stood up to see her off.

"Are you coming again tomorrow?" Li Mu Yang asked.

"Yes," Cui Xiaoxin said, gently brushing a strand of hair from her forehead, revealing her crystal-clear left ear. "Until the night before the exam."

"Thank you," Li Mu Yang said gratefully. He knew that since Yan Xiangma had come looking for him, it meant Cui Xiaoxin must also be facing pressure at home. Yet, she had never mentioned a word of it, consistently coming to tutor him as always.

She was truly a woman who could easily inspire affection.

Cui Xiaoxin thought for a moment and took out a brocade pouch from her embrace.

"This is for you," Cui Xiaoxin said with a smile, handing him the brocade pouch.

"What is this?" Li Mu Yang asked.

"I asked for two," Cui Xiaoxin replied, her cheeks flushing. Under the dim moonlight, she looked as delicate as a camellia swaying in the wind. "They say it can bless us with good exam results."