Under the old pine tree outside the classroom, Zhao Huanxi cleared his throat and said to Qian Ming, who was staring at him inexplicably, “I have a friend who, out of dissatisfaction with the arranged marriage set by his family, impulsively agreed with his fiancee to pretend to be a married couple and divorce after three years. However, after marriage, he found that he really liked the bride his family had chosen for him. Now he’s troubled, how can he avoid divorcing his wife? He came to ask me, but I don’t know either. Qian Xiong, do you have any good ideas?”

Qian Ming didn’t think much of it and said, “What’s so difficult about this? Just be straightforward and say it. After all, where in this world can you find a woman who is willing to divorce her husband willingly? When she agreed to that agreement with you in the first place, it must have been out of desperation.”

Zhao Huanxi startled, blushed and said, “It’s not me, it’s a friend of mine.”

Qian Ming cooperated and smiled obsequiously, “It’s a slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue.”

Zhao Huanxi continued, “My friend said that his wife seems to not like him very much, so he feels awkward about bringing up the topic of not divorcing.”

Qian Ming, rubbing his chin, asked, “What does your friend look like? Is he ugly?”

“He should… not be considered ugly…”

“What’s his family background like? Is he wealthy?”

“He should… be doing okay…”

“What’s his personality like? Is he hot-tempered? Is he lecherous?”

“He’s not hot-tempered, and he’s not lecherous.”

Qian Ming said, “That doesn’t make sense.” He began counting on his fingers, saying, “Look, according to what you said, your friend is good-looking, comes from a good family, and has a decent personality. Someone like that, even I would like. How could his wife not like him?”

Zhao Huanxi blushed again and said, “Stop talking nonsense!”

“I’m just giving an example. Are you sure your friend’s wife really doesn’t like him?”

Zhao Huanxi subconsciously nodded twice before realizing it, and quickly said, “My friend said she doesn’t like him.”

“Then there must be another issue,” Qian Ming said confidently.

Zhao Huanxi stared at him intently, his eyes unblinking.

“The dynamics between men and women are complex. I haven’t observed how your friend interacts with his wife, so all I can ask about are surface-level details. For example, do you know how your friend usually addresses his wife?”

Zhao Huanxi hesitated and whispered, “…Jiejie.”

“What?” Qian Ming seemed like he didn’t hear clearly.

With a hint of shame, Zhao Huanxi forced himself to say, “He calls his wife ‘Jiejie’.”

“Hahahahahaha!” Qian Ming burst into laughter.

Seeing Qian Ming laughing uncontrollably, Zhao Huanxi’s face turned green with embarrassment.

“Is it really that funny?” he asked angrily.

“Sorry, hahaha, I just can’t imagine… hahaha, cough!” Qian Ming barely stopped laughing, putting his arm around Zhao Huanxi’s shoulder. “Who calls their wife ‘Jiejie’? Haha, you call your… no, wait, your friend calls his wife ‘Jiejie’. So, what do you think your friend’s wife considers your friend as?”

Zhao Huanxi replied, “Consider him what?”

“Of course, she considers him a Didi! If you call someone ‘Jiejie’, wouldn’t she consider you a Didi? Would an older sister like a younger brother the same way she likes a man? Even if someone like me falls for an older girl outside, I’d start by calling her ‘Jiejie’, then ‘Meimei‘, and only when things progress would I call her ‘Xiao Baobei’er‘ before making a move. If I called her ‘Jiejie’ every day, even if she has a slight romantic interest in your friend, wouldn’t that be completely erased?” Qian Ming replied.

Zhao Huanxi suddenly realized, “I see. Then I… I’ll tell my friend not to call her ‘Jiejie’ anymore.”

Qian Ming suppressed a smile and nodded repeatedly, “Change the way to address her first and see if there’s any change.”

When Zhao Huanxi returned to his seat in the classroom, he was still thinking about what to call her if not ‘Dong Jiejie’.

He thought: Right, I can call her Dong’er. She said I could call her that on our wedding night.

With this comparison, calling her ‘Dong Jiejie’ indeed made him feel small and disadvantaged, but calling her ‘Dong’er’ was different. It made him feel equal to her.

He decided to call her “Dong’er” from now on, starting tonight when he returned home.

Zhao Huanxi couldn’t help but straighten his back, lifting his head high and sitting up straight in his seat.

✦

In the Jing Guogong Residence, in Jiaxiang House.

“Mom, you summoned me?” Xu Nian’an entered the main room, performed a courtesy, and asked.

Yin Furen’s eyes and brows were filled with a smile as she said, “I received a letter from my (older) brother this morning. He mentioned that my nephew will be coming to the capital to study and prepare for the Grand Examination in two years. He asked me to take care of him. I was thinking of arranging for him to stay at Jiaxiang House, but considering that you all have moved to Zhilan Garden, he would be bored staying here alone with this old lady. It’s better for him to stay at Yifang Garden with you all, so he has someone like Huanxi for company.”

Xu Nian’an said in an angry manner, “Mother is elegant and graceful, where do the words ‘old lady’ come into play? It is belittling oneself.”

Yin Furen laughed even more joyfully, “You have such a way with words, always making people happy.”

Xu Nian’an smiled and said, “Every word from Erxi is true. The one coming from Jiujiu’s house, One wonders if it’s a Biao Ge or Biao Di?”

Yin Furen said, “He is my eldest brother’s fourth legitimate son, named Yin Luochen, who is eighteen years old. You should call him Biao Xiong along with Huanxi.”

Xu Nian’an nodded and said, “Since Mother has spoken, then I will arrange the side chamber.”

Yin Furen said, “I will have all the furniture and items sent to Yifang Garden. Just follow Huanxi’s arrangement. If anything is missing, let me know.”

Xu Nian’an acknowledged.

✦

In the evening, after the end of classes at the Imperial Academy, Zhao Huanxi walked out of the college gates and handed his book box to Zhiyi and zhi’er, who had been waiting at the entrance. He said, “You two go back first. I’ll go back by myself later.”

“San Yé, Furen will ask about it,” Zhiyi and Zhi’er said with a worried look.

Zhao Huanxi handed Zhiyi a piece of silver and said, “Go buy some tea to eat. Wait for me near the residence.”

“San Yé…” Zhiyi looked at him with a pitiful expression.

“Alright, alright, enough. Both of you go wait in front of the Marquis of Yong’an Residence. Later, I’ll go back with your San Yé, and then you can go back to Jing Guogong Residence together,” Qian Ming said.

Zhiyi and Zhi’er agreed to this arrangement.

Zhao Huanxi’s expression remained unchanged.

Qian Ming put his arm around his shoulder and said, “You should also consider your mother’s feelings. After all, you are her only son. Unlike us, if we come home late, at most we’ll be scolded with ‘Where did you crazy kids go again?’ Rare things are valuable, especially sons.”

Zhao Huanxi sighed, “I understand. I just don’t know when this kind of life will end.”

“When you have a son, this kind of life will come to an end. By then, your mother’s energy will mostly be focused on her precious grandson. She won’t have time to manage you as a father,” Qian Ming joked.

A son?

The thought of having a son with Dong Jiejie, no, with Dong’er, made Zhao Huanxi’s cheeks instantly flush red. Without saying a word, he climbed onto his horse.

The group didn’t go to Longjin Bridge this time but went to another place to continue searching for delicious food. Just as they dismounted, a carriage approached from behind.

He Lun watched as the main servants of Qingxiang Junzhu got off the carriage. He leaned in and asked Qian Ming in a low voice, “Didn’t you tell your Biao Yi that Huanxi is already married?”

When this was mentioned, Qian Ming was speechless and said, “I did. She told me not to meddle in other people’s business.”

He Lun: “…..”

“Qian Xiong, He Xiong, come have some litchi jelly,” Zhao Huanxi and Huo Qingzhe called out from a nearby drink stall, waving at them.

On this scorching hot day, the two, feeling thirsty, walked over to join Zhao Huanxi and the others in drinking the refreshing drinks to cool off.

As they were chatting and laughing, Qingxiang Junzhu walked over with Suwei.

“Zhao Huanxi, hold this basket of pomegranates for me,” Qingxiang Junzhu commanded imperiously.

Suwei walked over and handed a small bamboo basket to Zhao Huanxi.

Zhao Huanxi didn’t take it, looking puzzled. “Why should I hold the basket for you? Don’t you have servants for that?”

The group of well-dressed Gongzis gathered around the drink stall already attracted attention. With the arrival of Qingxiang Junzhu, even more people gathered around, watching the scene unfold.

“I told you to hold it, so hold it. How does holding a basket for me degrade you?” Qingxiang Junzhu said angrily.

“Biao Yi, I’ll hold it for you, alright?” Qian Ming tried to mediate.

“You, go away! What’s it to you? Zhao Huanxi, are you going to take it or not?” Qingxiang Junzhu scolded Qian Ming, then turned her gaze back to Zhao Huanxi.

Seeing her unreasonable behavior and how she had scolded Qian Ming, Zhao Huanxi became angry. “I’m not taking it!”

“You—” Qingxiang Junzhu couldn’t bear being rejected publicly. Feeling frustrated, she grabbed a bowl of the refreshing drink from the stall and splashed it towards Zhao Huanxi.

Zhao Huanxi was caught off guard by her action and couldn’t dodge in time, getting splashed directly. Not only did his clothes get dirty, but even the new string that Dong’er had just tied for him today was stained by the brownish liquid.

As everyone was shocked by Qingxiang Junzhu’s unreasonable act, they saw Zhao Huanxi pick up a bowl of drink and splash it all over Qingxiang Junzhu’s face.

The drink splashed onto Qingxiang Junzhu’s head and face, dripping onto her clothes, creating a mess.

Everyone: “!”

Qingxiang Junzhu was startled by the splash, and when she recovered, she couldn’t believe it. She clenched her fists and screamed, “Zhao Huanxi, have you gone mad? How dare you splash me?”

“What if I splash you?” Zhao Huanxi slammed the empty bowl onto the stall, looked at the dirty string, feeling extremely upset. He pointed at her and said, “My mother, my sisters, my wife are all women, so I won’t lay a hand on women. But I warn you, don’t provoke me again, or there will be something even more humiliating waiting for you! Hmph!”

He tossed a piece of silver to the stall owner, then turned to the stunned Qian Ming, He Lun, and others, bowed slightly, and said, “Brothers, apologize for the trouble. I’ll take my leave first.”

Qian Ming broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said, “Go ahead, take care on the road.”

Zhao Huanxi turned and walked away.

“Zhao Huanxi, you just wait!” Qingxiang Junzhu, feeling utterly humiliated, shouted angrily as she watched Zhao Huanxi’s departing figure.

Zhao Huanxi rode his horse with determination, almost reaching the Jing Guogong before he remembered that Zhiyi and Zhi’er were still waiting at the Marquis Yong’an Residence. He turned his horse around and met them halfway. It turned out that Qian Ming had sent them back after returning home.

“Dong Jiejie, Dong Jiejie!” Zhao Huanxi returned to Yifang Garden and immediately called for Xu Nian’an.

Xu Nian’an came out of the room and saw that his moon-white silk robe was dirty in large patches around his waist and abdomen. He hurriedly led him back to the room and asked, “What happened? What’s going on?”

“It’s that Qingxiang Junzhu. She seems to be out of her mind. She insisted that I hold the basket for her. When I refused, she splashed tea on me,” Zhao Huanxi complained angrily.

Xu Nian’an helped him remove his outer robe and found that his inner clothes were also dirty. He asked Xiaowei to bring a new set of inner clothes and pushed Zhao Huanxi behind a screen, saying, “Clean yourself up first, change your clothes, and then we’ll talk.”

After a while, Zhao Huanxi came out from behind the screen wearing clean inner clothes, holding the knot with the jade pendant in his hand, looking listless. “This knot is all dirty because of her,” he said.

“It’s okay, it will be clean after washing,” Xu Nian’an said, taking the knot and placing it on the table, then helping him put on his outer robe.

Zhao Huanxi’s gaze remained fixed on the knot, feeling indignant. “Dong Jiejie, can you believe someone like her exist? I have no grudge against her, why is she targeting me like this?”

Xu Nian’an smiled and, while tidying his clothes, said, “She’s not targeting you, she likes you.”