As he walked along the street toward the Cui residence, Li Mu Yang felt rather uneasy.
This was the first time he and Cui Xiaoxin had met in private since parting in Jiangnan. Before this, Li Sinian had always been by their side—and back then, Li Sinian had been the protagonist. Cui Xiaoxin had rarely even cast her gaze upon him.
Li Mu Yang carried in his arms the newly painted Picture of Plum Blossoms Proudly Facing the Snow, which he had finished after getting up that morning. Ever since Li Sinian had discovered the painting, she had ridiculed him all morning. Even while they were eating, she had kept saying things like, "Should we go to the Cui residence for breakfast? The Cui family's pastries are famous throughout Tiandu." That girl's tongue was still as poisonous as ever.
Of course, Li Mu Yang had long since grown used to it.
In the past, when Li Mu Yang had been walking ahead, Li Sinian had suddenly grabbed him by the sleeve and made him turn around to face her, all so she could use his dark face as a mirror. Even that kind of humiliation had never bothered him, let alone a few harmless sarcastic remarks like these.
Originally, Li Mu Yang had wanted Li Sinian to come with him. He was afraid that, by coming alone, he would not even be allowed through the Cui family's gate.
But Li Sinian had refused on the grounds that Li Mu Yang had once hurt her.
Standing at the Cui family's gate, Li Mu Yang asked the guards to announce that he wished to see Miss Cui Xiaoxin, and said that Miss Cui Xiaoxin had asked him to come.
Several guards scrutinized Li Mu Yang suspiciously for a long while before finally