When Chen Caozhi heard his sister-in-law suddenly ask about Zhu Yingtai, he could not help feeling surprised. He looked at Ding Youwei, a question in his eyes.
Ding Youwei smiled without speaking. Surely her young brother-in-law understood what she wanted to ask?
Chen Caozhi's ink-black brows drew together, then relaxed. He smiled and said, "Why do you suddenly ask about Zhu Yingtai, Sister-in-law? Brother Yingtai is both my colleague and my good friend. That is all."
Seeing that he still wanted to conceal it, Ding Youwei gave a soft "hmph" and asked outright, "Zhu Yingtai is actually a woman, isn't she?"
Looking slightly embarrassed, Chen Caozhi finally nodded. "Yes."
Ding Youwei asked again, "The sixteenth of this month was Zhu Yingtai's twentieth birthday. When you learned of it, you braved the snow to hurry over and wish her a happy birthday, didn't you?"
Chen Caozhi replied, "Since I have the honor of being counted among her close friends, it was only right."
Ding Youwei fell silent for a while, then said slowly, "Caozhi, it isn't that I want to meddle, but this concerns your lifelong happiness. As your sister-in-law, I must take an interest. Since ancient times, how many gifted men and mighty rulers have maneuvered freely at court and on the battlefield, making decisive choices, only to become bewildered and infatuated when romantic feelings were involved? Though you are steady and resourceful, you have only just come of age. There are bound to be things you haven't considered. Perhaps I can help you think them through. Listening to more than one side brings clarity, doesn't it?"
Chen Caozhi's cheeks grew warm. His sister-in-law's words suggested she suspected some secret affair between him and Xie Daoyun. But that was hardly surprising; anyone might have guessed as much. Indeed, he himself