Thus, before her appointment, Shen Ruoyu dismissed Qi Long and instructed the servants to prepare hot water for her bath and change of attire. She found it curious that the Crown Prince, who previously hadn't spared her a single glance, had recently become so eager for her company. It made her wonder if he had perhaps been possessed.

Xiao Chun trailed behind her mistress, a worried frown etched on her face. “Miss… did the Crown Prince give you any trouble?” Even a little maidservant like her knew of Lu Zhixing's preference for men. Not only that, but the Crown Prince seemed to hold women in contempt. How could such a man offer her mistress any kindness?

Sensing her concern, Shen Ruoyu offered gentle reassurance. "It's alright. While being around him does feel like sitting on pins and needles, he didn't make things difficult for me." 

Not only that, but Lu Zhixing had become surprisingly quiet and reserved. Through her observations in this lifetime, Shen Ruoyu had discovered that despite his cold exterior, Lu Zhixing possessed a sensitive and vulnerable heart. Conventional methods wouldn't work on someone like him; the key to breaking him lay in psychological manipulation.

Her words eased Xiao Chun's anxieties. The maid presented Shen Ruoyu with freshly scented clothes. "Miss, since that's the case, I'm relieved. The hot water is ready. Please bathe first; I'll go inform Guard Shi."

Shen Ruoyu preferred to bathe unattended, so Xiao Chun closed the door behind her and quickly departed. As Xiao Chun's footsteps faded, Shen Ruoyu stepped behind the screen and slowly shed her heavy layers.

“What is this on me?” 

N4ked before the mirror, Shen Ruoyu noticed with surprise small, red marks resembling mosquito bites on her pale arms. Similar marks dotted her delicate chest, clearly not caused by any bumps or bruises.

Shen Xinghuai had been diligently studying for the spring imperial examinations, but he still found time to prepare warm soups for her. She'd noticed similar marks after her last visit to the Fufeng Residence. A young woman shouldn't suspect her younger brother, yet logic dictated that she could no longer consume anything he offered.

Immersing herself in the steaming water, the fragrant mist quickly dampened Shen Ruoyu's hair. It was strange; one crucial person from her past life hadn't yet made an appearance in this one.

“It’s probably for the best that he hasn’t shown up.” 

Shen Ruoyu hoped he would stay away. He was yet another character who forced her into the role of the villainous lead to further his romantic relationships with other men. Juggling several men was already exhausting; one less would certainly simplify things.

Shi An was still waiting outside. After her bath, Shen Ruoyu dried herself and headed towards the main gate. The first person she saw wasn't Shi An, but Rong Yan. He seemed to have developed a habit of visiting the Shen residence daily.

A weary look shadowed the young man’s features as he stood holding a food box, persistently pleading with the steward. "She said she couldn't eat poria cake, so I learned to make dingsheng cake for her. Would you please inform her?"

The steward wore a troubled expression. As a servant, he was bound to obey his master's orders. The young mistress had explicitly forbidden him from accepting anything from Master Rong or allowing him entry. However, Master Rong was incredibly stubborn and refused to leave despite the steward's repeated attempts to persuade him.

“Master Rong, the young mistress has a poor appetite lately and isn't eating these sorts of things. Please take it back and enjoy it yourself.”

A biting wind whipped through the air, and Rong Yan felt a crushing weight in his chest, making it hard to breathe. He reluctantly withdrew the food box, forcing a smile. “Alright, then I’ll come back tomorrow. If she desires anything, if there’s anything she wants to eat, I can try…”

The steward interrupted him. “Master Rong, it’s so cold; you needn’t come here every day. The young mistress has stated she won’t see you.”

Shen Ruoyu overheard their entire exchange. Even after the steward's dismissal, Rong Yan stubbornly remained. Instead of confronting him directly, she hid behind the white wall, hoping to glean further information.

It wasn't long before Shen Ruoyu learned something new. The sound of carriage wheels grew closer, and Shen Xinghuai’s carriage stopped before the gate. Dressed in red, he looked strikingly handsome and fair-skinned. 

Taking in Rong Yan’s dejected expression, Shen Xinghuai instantly grasped the situation. He likely assumed his future brother-in-law, abandoned by his sister, had experienced a sudden epiphany and come seeking redemption.

The young man smiled and extended a hand towards Rong Yan. “Brother Rong, did my sister refuses to see you? Why don’t you give me the food box? I’ll pass it on to her for you.”

Rong Yan offered a grateful smile and handed the box to Shen Xinghuai. “Thank you…” He thought, as expected, Shen Xinghuai was the most understanding and obedient.

The moment Shen Xinghuai received the food box, he “accidentally” dropped it. Staring at the scattered cake crumbs, the young man feigned a look of guilt. “I’m so sorry, Brother Rong. You must have put a lot of effort into making these cakes. It’s all my fault; my hands were too stiff, and I didn’t hold it steady…”

Rong Yan crouched down, carefully gathering the broken porcelain pieces and placing them back into the food box. He shook his head. “It’s alright. I’ll just make another batch.”

A sharp shard of porcelain sliced his finger, drawing blood.

Shen Xinghuai stood by, arms crossed, with an air of indifference as he watched Rong Yan frantically collect the debris. In truth, this was his true nature. One face for his sister, and another when she wasn't around.

“Interesting. My little brother truly isn’t as gentle as he appears.” 

Shen Xinghuai’s act was clumsy. The food box hadn’t simply slipped; he had deliberately thrown it to the ground.