Lin Wanxiao secretly thought to herself that more than anything, she hoped Yin Weiyin wouldn’t meet him, just like her.

That way she could smugly think that while she wore mourning clothes as a widow, Yin Weiyin was living like a widow in reality.

But things didn’t go as she wished.

"He’s here."

Yin Weiyin’s simple statement struck Lin Wanxiao like a bolt from the blue.

Her face quickly turned pale, and only after a while did it regain some color. She tried to remain calm as she said, "Let him come, it’s got nothing to do with me...He’s come to see you, right?"

Yin Weiyin noticed her reaction, knowing that the young widow couldn’t let go of her pride. Such a woman, aware of her own feelings yet striving not to care while also fearing to truly ignore them, truly doesn’t know what she wants.

"...Where is he?" Lin Wanxiao asked repeatedly when Yin Weiyin stayed silent for a long time, "...Tell me, so I can avoid him."

"Why do you need to avoid him?" Seeing Miss Lin’s expression, the female crown pondered a bit and then said, "He’s seen me, seen Yin Tingxue, and met Zhou Yitang... but hasn’t seen you."

Miss Lin instantly lost her color, standing like a sheet of white paper that the wind could blow over. After a long while, she trembled slightly as she spoke, her eyes full of sorrow: "...I’m still observing widowhood...it’s only right he doesn’t see me. This is good, this is fine..."

"Right, he doesn’t know you’re here."

Lin Wanxiao was stunned in place, blushing with embarrassment, and she angrily retorted, "Are you teasing me?"

"If you can’t figure things out, who else should I tease?" Yin Weiyin chuckled softly, her voice showing only a hint of fluctuation.

The long-widowed Miss Lin had never encountered someone like this. Breathing heavily and almost brought to tears, she rubbed her eyes, speaking coldly: "I—I won’t see him."

"Really won’t see."

"Don’t want to see!" she declared vehemently.

"He also happens not to want to see you."

"That’s perfect...what did you say?" Lin Wanxiao spun around, astonished.

Yin Weiyin shook her head lightly, laughing softly: "Is it hard to understand? With someone like him, ever so affectionate, how could he give up so many dear confidantes for one woman? Since you’ve been so hesitant and indecisive, he’ll just let bygones be bygones. But since he can’t say it himself, he asked me to come and tell you personally."

"How could he... Is it you teasing me again, are you teasing me? It must be... I, I..."

Lin Wanxiao started loudly, but the image of Chen Yi raising his hand to throw away a sachet on New Year’s Eve crossed her mind, and her voice gradually softened.

Yin Weiyin sighed conveniently, saying, "Ultimately, it’s my fault for being unnecessary, misjudging his deep affections, making you take this trip for nothing."

"...." Lin Wanxiao bit her lip, not knowing what she was thinking, and after a long time, she said: "...Since I’m here, I’ll meet him and part on good terms."

Saying this, she felt even weaker herself, sensing a tug in her chest urging her to laugh. From the beginning of their acquaintance to now, everything had been a mix-up, never having parted well, so how could they part well now... Indeed, the troubled look on the female crown’s face broke Lin Wanxiao’s heart.

"You, you brought me here. At most, at most I owe you a favor." Lin Wanxiao said hurriedly.

"Owe a favor..." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Yin Weiyin hesitated for a long time and finally nodded under Lin Wanxiao’s gaze, saying:

"Then I will do my best."

Fearful that she might go back on her word, Miss Lin quickly added: "Alright, alright! I may not be of much use, but I’ll certainly help in any way I can in the future."

The female crown nodded with much reluctance and slowly turned around, stepping into the courtyard and out of Lin Wanxiao’s sight.

She slowly curled her lips into a smile...

This favor did not come easily and should be used to its fullest potential,

What help could a young widow, ignorant of Taoist Skill and without Martial Arts, offer?

Yin Weiyin brushed her sleeve, her fingertips grazing the smooth stomach under her Daoist robe, imagining the reluctant and helpless expression the young widow would have, her smile growing even broader.