CHAPTER SEVENTEEN — HE WAS FRIGHTENED OFF
Nangong Yi's entire body went rigid. For a heartbeat he sat utterly still, then—almost instinctively—he straightened his posture and put a careful distance between them.
Tang Ke Xin caught the movement at once.
A quiet laugh blossomed in her heart.
So he can be startled after all. It seems that little tactic worked rather well.
Before either of them could speak again, a respectful voice sounded from outside the carriage.
"Mayor, an urgent report has arrived from the city."
Nangong Yi's expression shifted—just slightly.
"Very well."
He rose smoothly to his feet and stepped out of the carriage without another word.
Tang Ke Xin blinked after him, then allowed a small, triumphant smile to curl her lips.
He was gone.
Whether he had truly been summoned by urgent business…
or whether he had been frightened off by her sudden boldness…
she could not say.
But the result was the same.
The troublesome deity had finally departed.
As for whether he was the man from that night—
she did not dare probe further.
Not yet.
Not when the truth might cost her life.
---
When she returned to the Prime Minister's estate, the household erupted with joy.
The Prime Minister beamed so broadly that his cheeks trembled, and the Prime Minister's wife could not hide her astonishment. Despite Tang Ke Xin's years of foolishness, both parents had always doted on her with genuine affection.
Tang Ke Xin, however, had no desire to parade her recovery. She remained quietly within the manor, avoiding unnecessary attention. Days passed in peaceful idleness—too peaceful, in fact.
And Tang Ke Xin was not a woman who tolerated boredom well.
So she began… experimenting.
---
"Miss, what are you doing?"
Dong'er stood nearby, utterly baffled.
Her mistress—who now understood far more than she let on—was currently tying a young tree to a wooden stake with lengths of wire. To an outsider, it looked like the whimsical play of a child. But Dong'er knew better. Even if she could not understand the purpose, she knew her mistress never acted without reason.
"You'll see soon enough," Tang Ke Xin replied, not bothering to hide anything. Dong'er was loyal, intelligent, and knew when to hold her tongue.
"Very well," Dong'er said, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
---
"Miss, Young Master Mu has arrived," the butler announced as he hurried into the courtyard.
"No. I'm busy," Tang Ke Xin said without looking up, her hands still working with the wire.
The butler stared at her, bewildered.
Busy?
With… tying a tree?
He had no idea what she was doing, but it certainly did not look like something that required urgent attention. Still, he remembered how deeply the young lady had once adored Young Master Mu. Surely she must not have heard him correctly.
"Miss, it is Young Master Mu," he repeated, emphasising the name.
Dong'er stepped forward before Tang Ke Xin could respond.
"Butler, please inform Young Master Mu that the young miss will not be receiving guests."
The butler blinked.
"Oh…"
He left reluctantly, muttering to himself.
The young miss used to chase after Young Master Mu like a little shadow. Why would she refuse to see him now?
But orders were orders.
---
Moments later, the courtyard gate slammed open.
Mu Shaoyi stormed in, fury radiating from him like heat from a forge.
"Tang Ke Xin! What are you pretending at? Playing hard to get? You—"
His voice, sharp with rage, cut through the air.
But halfway through his tirade, he stopped abruptly.
His eyes widened.
His expression froze.
Because the sight before him was not at all what he had expected.
Tang Ke Xin stood beneath the shade of a young tree, sleeves rolled up, her delicate hands deftly twisting wire around the trunk. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across her serene face.
She looked calm.
Focused.
Completely unbothered by his presence.
And for the first time, Mu Shaoyi found himself utterly speechless.