Rong Yan nodded and chuckled softly. "I can manage myself. What has your sister been up to lately? I haven't seen her for quite some time…" The young man's eyes dimmed slightly. He had known her preferences long ago, yet deliberately feigned ignorance. 

The burn blisters on his hand, now cut open by the shards, stung, but Rong Yan patiently picked up every crumb of the scattered cake. Seeing her was already difficult enough; if he made even the slightest mistake, he feared her disdain would only deepen.

"Brother Rong, you usually bring my favorite poria cake to the manor. Why did you bring this dingsheng cake today?" Shen Xinghuai's eyes sparkled with amusement as he asked innocently. Shen Xinghuai had always been conflicted. He didn't want his sister to pine for Rong Yan, but neither did he want to see them happily married. Fortunately, Master Rong was proving inept, pushing his sister away with his own hands.

Rong Yan's face paled. He stammered, "It's not like that. I had a misunderstanding with your sister before, but I will definitely treat her well in the future." 

He had been doing a lot of reflecting these past few days, memories of his past life haunting him like a nightmare. He had lost his appetite and sleep. It was all his fault for being so cowardly. 

He loved Shen Xinghuai but hid it from Shen Ruoyu, even marrying her. Later, when she was mistreated by his own sister and nephew, he cared too much about appearances to defend her. Rong Yan hadn't dared to offend the Prince Yu's Manor for Shen Ruoyu's sake. 

Even after her death, he feared retribution and damage to his career, delaying her proper burial. In the end, her decaying body was wrapped in a straw mat and buried unceremoniously.

Shen Ruoyu, after all, was a pampered young lady. For him, she had willingly softened her temper and tried to please others. Rong Yan preferred gentle and virtuous women, and she had attended to everything personally, without complaint. He had seen all her sacrifices, yet never truly cherished her.

Hearing Rong Yan's reply, Shen Xinghuai picked up the last piece of debris and "accidentally" let it slip. This time, the shard sliced a deep cut across the back of his hand. He said, "Brother Rong, please don't come anymore. You are not the right man for my sister. Don't you realize that yourself?"

Having been ostracized since childhood, Shen Xinghuai was adept at reading people. He had long since discovered his future brother-in-law's impure intentions. Every time Rong Yan visited, he spent more time with him than with his sister. His sister would invite him to play chess, but he would feign ineptitude. Yet, Rong Yan had once spent an entire day playing chess and chatting with him, her younger brother.

Moreover, Shen Xinghuai had personally witnessed him discarding a handkerchief his sister had painstakingly embroidered for him. Though the stitches were crooked, it was something he himself could only dream of receiving. Yet, Rong Yan had tossed it aside like a piece of trash. Rong Yan paid attention to his every word and action, often showing concern for him, yet would sulk at his sister over the smallest things. Thus, Shen Xinghuai's loathing for Rong Yan had long been deeply ingrained.

"Xiaohuai, what are you saying? Don't you want me and your sister to reconcile…?"

By now, even the most oblivious person could see Shen Xinghuai's deliberate actions. His behavior was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor; this was the first time Rong Yan had seen him like this.

Shen Xinghuai cut him off with a cold laugh. "Ha, who wants my sister to reconcile with you? How can you be so conceited? Haven't you realized how disgusting you are…?"

Shen Ruoyu's legs had gone numb standing behind the door. Why wouldn't Rong Yan leave? Had he become so entranced by her brother that he couldn't move? If she kept Lu Zhixing waiting any longer, who knew what that man would do? If he hurt himself, so be it, but what if he hurt her?

Their voices were low, and Shen Ruoyu only caught snippets of their conversation. What she heard left her puzzled, but she did understand one thing: Rong Yan wanted to see her.

"Enough! Let me see what kind of scene Master Rong is making in front of my manor." Lifting her teal-colored gown, Shen Ruoyu walked directly towards Rong Yan. She was in a good mood today, a perfect time to set things straight.

"Rong Yan, I always thought someone like you would end up disgraced and abandoned by everyone." Although he was heading in that direction, it wasn't enough.

"The engagement is definitely off. There's no need for you to come looking for me again. I've already shown you enough mercy. Don't push me to be cruel."

Speaking of cruelty, Shen Ruoyu wished Rong Yan would suffer a thousand cuts and be torn apart by five horses.

This life was good. In the past, everything had revolved around Rong Yan. Freed from the shackles of love, Shen Ruoyu felt much more at ease. Now he was begging her to return to that cold, desolate courtyard, as if that were some kind of compensation?

As a supporting female character, Shen Ruoyu wasn't exactly virtuous, but she hadn't been so wicked as to be left without a single decent man in her life.