Finally returning home, Jiang Ning spotted someone pacing back and forth outside the courtyard from quite a distance. Upon closer inspection, she recognized it was He Yiyi.
"He Yiyi is here to see you," Jiang Ning said as she took out her veil and put it on.
Liu Ming'an followed Jiang Ning's gaze and saw the figure as well, his brow furrowing involuntarily. Today was supposed to be the day He Yiyi's older brother, He Ping, returned home for a matchmaking meeting. How did she have time to come looking for him?
As they approached the house, He Yiyi saw the two of them. Her gaze skipped over Jiang Ning and focused solely on Liu Ming'an as she stammered out a soft "Brother Ming'an."
Her voice was hoarse, and her eyes were rimmed with red, clearly having cried recently. She looked utterly miserable.
Jiang Ning had a vague premonition. She took the package containing clothes and shoes from Liu Ming'an's hand and slipped into the kitchen on her own.
Though their clothes and hair had mostly dried on the way back, they were still damp and uncomfortably sticky. Jiang Ning was eager to change into fresh clothes.
"Yiyi, did you come to see me about something?" Liu Ming'an asked He Yiyi gently after Jiang Ning went inside.
He Yiyi didn't answer, just staring blankly at Liu Ming'an as tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
Liu Ming'an hesitated for a moment before softening his voice, "Let's go inside first. We can sit down and talk about whatever it is."
Jiang Ning lit a fire in the kitchen and began drying the newly bought clothes and shoes. She could hear Liu Ming'an leading He Yiyi into the house, speaking softly and offering words of comfort.
"Brother Ming'an, my brother came back today..." He Yiyi said after sitting down.
Liu Ming'an didn't understand why He Yiyi was mentioning this, but he followed her lead, "Yes, I know. A matchmaker arranged for him to meet a girl from Peach Blossom Village. You told me about it when you came to ask me to write a letter before."
"He didn't come back alone. He... he brought someone with him..." He Yiyi stammered.
Liu Ming'an could tell that He Yiyi's unusual behavior was related to this person He Ping had brought back. However, as an outsider, he didn't feel it was appropriate to pry, so he remained silent and listened.
He Yiyi kept her head down, her expression conflicted. After a long moment, she seemed to make up her mind and finally blurted out the whole story: "It's the younger son of the Chen Family Rice Shop, named Chen Zuyin. He came with my brother and brought many gifts. He said he wanted to visit my mother, and he even bought me lots of pastries, clothes, and jewelry... He proposed to me, and my mother agreed..."
As He Yiyi spoke, her voice grew quieter and quieter. By the end, Jiang Ning could faintly hear the sound of sobbing.
Jiang Ning couldn't help but recall the conversation she had overheard between Third Aunt and another woman in the fields on the morning she went up the mountain. They had mentioned that He Yiyi had feelings for Liu Ming'an, but her mother disapproved of his poor family circumstances and would never allow her daughter to marry him.
Now that He Yiyi had received a proposal, yet came to Liu Ming'an in tears, what kind of drama was this turning into?
Jiang Ning rested her chin on her hand, puzzled.
Inside the house, Liu Ming'an felt a headache coming on. He had always viewed He Yiyi as a little sister, but later he noticed her mother's wariness towards him, almost as if he were a thief. Combined with the village gossip, even someone as oblivious as him could guess at He Yiyi's feelings.
Now that He Yiyi had come to tell him all this, Liu Ming'an was at a loss for words, only able to respond with silence.
"Brother Ming'an..." He Yiyi called out to him again, her voice choked with tears when he remained quiet.
Liu Ming'an rubbed his temples and avoided He Yiyi's gaze as he finally spoke, "The younger son of the Chen Family Rice Shop... I've seen him before when buying rice. He's friendly, filial, and well-mannered. He seems like someone worthy of entrusting your future to."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning didn't know what to think. Was Liu Ming'an truly this dense and oblivious, or was he deliberately playing dumb? Either way, this poor Yiyi girl was about to have her heart broken.
Sure enough, He Yiyi, who had been on the verge of tears, now began to cry in earnest, the tears falling like pearls from a broken string.
"Brother Ming'an, you know very well," He Yiyi looked at Liu Ming'an, her eyes full of disappointment and sorrow as she choked out, "You know what I mean, you must know... Just one word from you, just—"
"Yiyi!" Liu Ming'an cut her off just in time. Some things, even if mutually understood, change nature entirely once spoken aloud.
Liu Ming'an looked at He Yiyi, his expression unusually serious. He spoke earnestly, "I have no brothers or sisters. I've always seen you as my own little sister. Like He Ping, I only wish for you to be safe and happy, year after year."
He Yiyi could hear the sincerity in Liu Ming'an's words, but it was precisely because they were true that they hurt even more. It seemed it had always been just her one-sided feelings.
He Yiyi felt as if her heart had been wrenched. Her tears wouldn't stop. She tried to make out Liu Ming'an's expression, but found only concern in his eyes, not a trace of heartache.
This realization made He Yiyi give up completely. She wiped the tears from her face and ran out of the house.
Liu Ming'an stood up and watched He Yiyi run out of the courtyard until her figure disappeared from sight. Only then did he press his brow and let out a sigh.
"If you truly like her, go after her. If there are any obstacles, I can help you overcome them."
A cool female voice sounded behind him. Liu Ming'an turned to see Jiang Ning leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, gazing at him calmly.
Liu Ming'an frowned at Jiang Ning, seemingly unable to understand why she would say such a thing.
Jiang Ning continued, "I mean it. If that's what you want, I'll help you solve any problems. Don't worry about the consequences."
"Jiang Ning," Liu Ming'an pressed his temples again, feeling his headache intensify, "I truly only see her as a sister. I've never had any inappropriate thoughts. Don't worry about it needlessly."
Jiang Ning responded expressionlessly, "Oh."
Liu Ming'an watched as Jiang Ning turned and went back into the kitchen, emerging a moment later with an armful of clothes and shoes. She said to him, "They're dry now. You can change into these."
Liu Ming'an had only taken a couple of steps forward when he suddenly felt lightheaded. Everything around him seemed to darken, even Jiang Ning's outline became blurry. His feet felt unsteady, and he nearly fell, barely managing to steady himself by gripping the table.
Jiang Ning noticed something was wrong. She quickly put down the things in her hands and moved to support Liu Ming'an's arm, helping him stand. "What's wrong?"
Liu Ming'an took a moment to gather himself. The darkness clouding his vision dissipated, and Jiang Ning's delicate features came into focus.
"It's nothing, just a bit dizzy," Liu Ming'an answered.
As soon as he finished speaking, a hand appeared in front of Liu Ming'an's face, the back of it pressing against his forehead. The hand was cool and pleasant. When it withdrew, Liu Ming'an felt a twinge of regret.
"You have a fever," he heard Jiang Ning say with certainty.