Xi Yu and Liu Xu hadn’t pierced that thin window paper yet, but Lan Ci came to the door first.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time Xi Yu met Lan Ci.

The guest courtyard where Xi Yu stayed was beautifully landscaped and equipped with all necessary living items.

And it included a garden.

The garden had trees, flowers, as well as rockeries, streams, and pavilions.

He invited Lan Ci into the pavilion and had the best Longjing tea served.

"Lord Lan is here to talk about Liu Xu, right?"

As soon as they sat down, Xi Yu bluntly asked.

Liu Xu, Lan Ci pondered these two words in his heart.

If the relationship wasn’t close, people usually wouldn’t address like this.

The speculation had an answer.

Lan Ci suddenly felt there was no need to ask so many questions.

All he needed to do was tell Xi Yu not to let Liu Xu suffer grievances.

After sipping some tea, he said, "Although we are not related by blood, she is to me like my sister, Doctor Xi, if you truly like my sister, I hope you handle your family matters before asking her for love."

Xi Yu raised an eyebrow, speaking with certainty, "You’re afraid my family will trouble her."

What kind of temperament the Xi Family has, Lan Ci didn’t know.

Nor did he care.

But if the elders of the Xi Family troubled Liu Xu, he absolutely would not agree.

He had little power or influence, but even if it cost his life, he wouldn’t let his family be harmed.

"If you like her, you should clear all hurdles for her, first communicate with your family, and then express your feelings to her, rather than the other way around, capturing her heart first and then having her face family pressure with you."

"If your family is dissatisfied with her, they won’t do anything to harm you, but towards Liu Xu... it might not be the same, since people’s hearts are naturally biased."

Previously, Xi Yu didn’t quite understand why Liu Xu would be so generous with spending so much Silver on Lan Ci.

Now he understood.

Lan Ci was worth it.

At least he was genuinely thinking about Liu Xu.

Originally, Xi Yu had planned to express his feelings to Liu Xu in the next few days.

Having heard Lan Ci’s words now, he found them very reasonable. Although the elders wouldn’t be able to sway his decision, dealing with family first might make the confession go smoother.

Xi Yu understood Liu Xu’s temperament, a person who wouldn’t silently endure grievances.

If the family troubled her, she would surely kick him aside and leave.

Just thinking about it made Xi Yu uneasy.

He said, "I’ll write to my family right away, Lord Lan, please sit for a moment, I’ll be back shortly."

"Wait..."

Before Lan Ci finished speaking, Xi Yu had already disappeared.

The remaining words were swallowed back.

Lan Ci massaged his temples helplessly.

How did he not know Liu Xu liked this kind of unreliable man?

He suddenly began doubting if everything came to pass, could Xi Yu really take care of Liu Xu?

Xi Yu had good medical skills, but that didn’t necessarily mean he was a suitable partner.

Lan Ci stroked the teacup.

Should he remind Liu Xu not to be in a hurry to accept Xi Yu?

At least test him for a year or so, make sure he is worthy of a lifelong commitment before making a decision.

...

Liu Xu’s courtyard was right next door.

Upon hearing that Lan Ci had gone to see Xi Yu, she worried they might clash, and worried even more that they would hit it off immediately and speak ill of her.

Feeling restless, she finally went to Xi Yu’s courtyard.

Long before, Xi Yu had instructed the gatekeeper’s woman that if Liu Xu came, she was to be shown in directly.

Unfortunately, Liu Xu had never come looking for him before.

"Where’s Lan Ci?"

Upon entering, Liu Xu asked.

The maid who was leading her was momentarily stunned before realizing she meant that Lord Lan from the capital.

"Lord Lan is in the pavilion in the backyard."

This was someone else’s courtyard, so Liu Xu hesitated to walk around freely, "Please take me to see him."

The maid bowed her head, "Please follow me."

She turned the steps heading to the study, leading Liu Xu to the backyard.

Seeing her rushing over urgently, Lan Ci raised an eyebrow, "What, afraid I’ll settle scores with him?"

Liu Xu looked serious, "He knows how to use poison."

In other words, she wasn’t worried about Xi Yu suffering losses.

On the table were two teacups, one of which still held half a cup of tea, evidence that Xi Yu had been there.

Liu Xu glanced around, "Where is he?"

"Who?"

Lan Ci feigned ignorance.

Liu Xu looked skyward speechlessly, "Who else could it be?"

"You and he seem to have a good relationship?" Lan Ci suddenly asked.

Liu Xu immediately got nervous.

Only Ji Mingzhu and Xie Yunzhen knew about her and Xi Yu.

Although she had sent letters home to the capital these months, she never mentioned Xi Yu.

With Lan Ci staring at her, there was a sense of being caught in early romance by a parent.

"Cough, cough..."

Liu Xu cleared her throat, forcing herself to calm down, "What do you want to ask?"

Lan Ci cut to the chase, "What’s the nature of your relationship with him?"

"Friends."

Liu Xu asserted confidently.

They hadn’t yet pierced that thin window paper, so calling them friends wasn’t wrong.

"Keep pretending."

Lan Ci saw through everything, uttering those two words with a tint on his lips.

Liu Xu inexplicably felt a tingle on her scalp, correcting seriously, "For now, we’re friends; whether things will change, I’m not sure."

"You like him?"

Lan Ci asked outright.

After asking, he felt a bit embarrassed.

He and Liu Xu had relied on each other for many years, but rarely discussed matters of love between men and women.

It always felt inappropriate.

Even with the deep bond between them, there was still a visible but ungraspable barrier.

Some things weren’t suitable for open discussion.

In front of her own people, Liu Xu didn’t like lying.

At most... she’d pretend to be naive.

"Like or not like, I’m already in my thirties, still playing such young games?"

Lan Ci leisurely drank a cup of tea, watching with schadenfreude at the silhouette cast on the ground not far away.

"Since you don’t like him, then keep your distance from him in the future, after all, there’s a difference between men and women."

Liu Xu was puzzled, since when did Lan Ci become so pedantic?

"Can’t even make friends?"

"Sure, but the other party must be upright."

As Liu Xu tried to speak, Lan Ci added, "Must have open intentions, cannot have any improper thoughts about you."

Speaking to this point, pretending to be naive seemed pointless for Liu Xu.

She took a teacup from the tray, pouring herself a cup of hot tea.

"I do like him."

Lan Ci: "..."

Unable to hold back anymore, Xi Yu, who had been eavesdropping behind the moon gate, rushed over.

Looking at Liu Xu, he said seriously, "Say that again."

Having been overheard, Liu Xu felt a moment of awkwardness.

But she quickly composed herself, using the act of drinking tea to appear more composed.

"If you didn’t hear it, then forget it."

Xi Yu was practically on his knees, "I heard it, but I wasn’t sure, quickly say it again."

Seeing his goofy look, Liu Xu couldn’t help but smile.

Teasing him on purpose, "I wasn’t talking to you, what does it matter if you heard it clearly or not?"

"How could it not matter, you said you like me!"

Even without her repeating it, Xi Yu was convinced of it.

He grabbed Liu Xu’s wrist, "Come, let’s go see Mingzhu and Ah Zhen, let them witness this, and if you dare go back on your word, I won’t let you off!"