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Song Jinhe woke from her dream naturally.

There was no shock, no panic. In the dream, she had watched Sheng Congyuan withdraw his hand and turn away, walking step by step further from her until he vanished completely from her sight. When Song Jinhe awoke, she felt a lingering sense of loss. The dream from last night remained shrouded in mist, obscuring the truth. Yet, it felt as though she had truly stepped into that story, her heart aching as if it were shattering.

Why did she harbor such hostility toward Sheng Congyuan, and why did he say those things? The clues were too sparse, the narrative too fragmented; Song Jinhe could find no definitive answer. However, one thing was certain: if she wanted to prove these dreams were real, she had to start with Zhu Mingxuan.

Song Jinhe had once heard her mother say that on the day she was born, she had stopped crying the moment she looked into young Zhu Mingxuan’s gentle eyes and felt his soft, small hands holding hers. By that count, she had known him for eighteen years. Yet, had it not been for these dreams, she would never have imagined that Zhu Mingxuan possessed such a dark and hypocritical side.

Song Jinhe tried hard to recall the woman she had seen with Zhu Mingxuan in her dreams, but having been away from the capital for so long, even though the woman felt vaguely familiar, she could not identify her.

She asked Mingqiu to arrange another meeting with Zhu Mingxuan, but she came up empty-handed once again. In the past, Song Jinhe would not have cared. She never longed to see him; if they met, they met, and if not, she gave it no further thought. She would never have taken the initiative to invite him again just days after being politely declined. Traditionally, she would wait for him to finish his tasks and come to find her; she rarely initiated these meetings herself.

Reflecting on the past four months since her return to the capital, Song Jinhe realized that for the most part, she had not spent much time with Zhu Mingxuan. In the days they didn't meet, he had ample time to do whatever he pleased behind her back without her noticing. And her prolonged lack of awareness—right up until their wedding date approached—meant she truly would not have discovered anything amiss.

Once a person harbors suspicion, even the slightest trace of evidence can guide their thoughts toward doubt.

Seeing her mistress lost in thought, Mingqiu waited a long while before asking, "Young Miss, should I go to the Zhu residence to deliver another message?"

Song Jinhe regained her focus. "No need. If he is busy today, we shall meet another time. With Magistrate Li's birthday approaching, I will see Madam Sheng then. Today, let's head to the Liuguang Pavilion."

Last time, when she went to reclaim her lost earring, she hadn't been able to properly thank Sheng Yao due to Sheng Congyuan’s sudden appearance. Returning to the Sheng residence required observing proper etiquette. Going to the Liuguang Pavilion today to pick out a thank-you gift for Sheng Yao would be a good start.

The Liuguang Pavilion was located in the most prosperous part of the southern district of the capital. The private room on the second floor offered the best view of the woods where An'an had gone missing. Because of its elegant atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and the wide array of rare and precious items for sale, the capital’s nobility loved to gather there to sip tea, admire the view, or seek entertainment.

Song Jinhe left the rest of her servants waiting outside and took only Mingqiu inside. Before the jewelry display shelves, a few noble ladies were browsing with their heads bowed. In the space without specific candles for illumination, the gold, silver, and jade alone made the room shimmer with light.

Song Jinhe walked slowly inside, her gaze sweeping over the ornaments on the shelves. She whispered to Mingqiu, "It seems they have added some new items I didn't see last month."

"Yes, Young Miss. I heard the shop attendant mention that the Pavilion just received new stock. You arrived at the perfect time."

Song Jinhe nodded slightly, her attention fully focused on the shelves that were capturing her interest, planning to pick out a gift for Madam Sheng while also buying some beautiful jewelry for herself. Moving further in, she reached a corner.

Sunlight from the window hit a pure gold hairpin inlaid with pearls, casting a golden glow on the wooden shelf. Song Jinhe’s eyes lit up, and she reached out to take it.

At the same time, a rough, calloused hand—entirely out of place among the delicate trinkets—reached out as well.

Song Jinhe froze. She pulled her hand back instantly and turned, her gaze trembling involuntarily. "Young Master... Sheng."

Sheng Congyuan’s expression stiffened; he seemed surprised, but the surprise felt somewhat forced. It was clear that after seeing her, he was unable to maintain his usual composure. He withdrew his hand as well, his face cold and expressionless. "What a coincidence, Miss Song."

Song Jinhe: "..."

A coincidence?

It was quite a coincidence indeed. At the Liuli Pavilion, the Yuntai Temple, and even the woods across the river, she had encountered him unexpectedly, and she had let his explanations pass. Oh no, he hadn't even been able to explain his reason for appearing in those woods. And now, meeting this big, wooden block in the women's jewelry section of the Liuguang Pavilion? That could hardly be explained by coincidence.

Song Jinhe silently scrutinized him from head to toe. Despite his blank face, his entire demeanor gave off a vibe that forced her to overthink—just as she had accused him of in that dream. His intentions were impure.

The lack of natural ease in Sheng Congyuan’s eyes flickered and passed. Before Song Jinhe could question him, he spoke first: "I came to pick out an ornament for my mother."

"...Oh."

Song Jinhe replied coolly. On the surface, she was calm, but inside, she thought, *Who are you trying to fool?*

She had heard Song Xiao mention the exploits of the Sheng family’s young master. He had entered the imperial court at a young age, possessed outstanding ability, decisive methods, and a swift, efficient style of acting that had earned him the Emperor's favor. Was this really what the Emperor admired? This stiff, awkward man who had "I am stalking you" written all over his face, unable to hide it at all?

Song Jinhe couldn't help but look at him again. He was looking straight ahead, staring fixedly at the hairpin on the wooden shelf, as if to reinforce the notion that he was truly here to shop for jewelry.

Seeing this, Song Jinhe took the opportunity to say, "This hairpin is lovely. If you want to give a gift to Madam Sheng, this would be a good choice."

This was her way of stepping aside; she no longer intended to compete for this hairpin. But no sooner had she spoken than Sheng Congyuan suddenly turned his head. "Do you like this one?"

Song Jinhe: "..."

She began to doubt the stories Song Xiao had told her about the Sheng Congyuan who had solved major cases. The stories claimed he was a man of deep, hidden motives who set traps, was impossible to read, played others like pawns, and successfully secured handles on his enemies before striking them down.

*This?* This man whose hidden motives were so transparent she felt as if she had telepathy, reading the "I want to give this to you" written all over his dark eyes?

Song Jinhe looked away and said mercilessly, "I do not like it."

She walked past him, and the space behind her fell silent. *Was I too cold?* For some reason, she recalled the look of lonely disappointment in Sheng Congyuan’s eyes in the woods that day. She felt that the man behind her probably wore that same expression now.

She reached another corner and, as she turned, she cast a subtle, fleeting glance back. The moment her eyes touched his profile, she quickly looked away. As expected, the tall man was hanging his head, his brow furrowed, his gaze unfocused on the jewelry, his entire being exuding a sense of rejection and loss.

Song Jinhe was by no means dim-witted. Some things had surprised her simply because she had never paid attention to them before—like the possibility of Zhu Mingxuan having an affair. But now, because of Sheng Congyuan’s obvious emotions and her own involuntary focus following her dreams, it was hard for her *not* to notice his intentions.

*He actually seems to like me.*

Song Jinhe’s heart skipped a beat. When did it start, and why? It couldn't possibly be love at first sight at Madam Sheng’s birthday banquet. Even though Song Jinhe had seen many men express their affection, she felt her face grow hot. After all, she had never seen anyone so brazenly show interest in a woman who was already betrothed.

*Could he be... a bit too crazy?*

Countless images flooded her mind—vivid, sensuous, and intense—making her heart thump wildly. Sheng Congyuan was indeed reckless; the dream had shown that he eventually got what he wanted. But Song Jinhe was certain she did not like such a cold, dull man. Even if she broke her engagement with Zhu Mingxuan, she would never marry Sheng Congyuan.

*Could it be that we married because I was rejected and my reputation was ruined, so I just gave up and treated him as a convenient scapegoat?*

This thought made her feel uncomfortable. While she was spoiled and headstrong, she was never that cruel. No matter the reason, it would be extremely unfair to Sheng Congyuan. She would rather remain unmarried for the rest of her life than settle for just anyone.

Suddenly, something clicked, and she gasped. No wonder in that fragmented dream, she had cursed Sheng Congyuan for being shameless and having impure intentions.

*Impure.* That meant he harbored the same despicable desires as that faceless man in her dreams.

*Could he... could he have forced his way into my life?*

Suddenly, everything seemed to make sense. Song Jinhe subconsciously glanced at Sheng Congyuan again, her heart filled with trepidation. She quickly looked away again, as his presence in that narrow space was overwhelming.

The man she had glimpsed had not yet recovered from his disappointment; he looked like a large dog that had lost its way. His ears and tail were drooping, his eyes were downcast, and his mood was heavy. He possessed none of the overbearing, aggressive aura one would expect from someone capable of such forceful actions.

*Is this what they call hiding in plain sight? Playing the fool to achieve a goal? Is this the real reason the Emperor admires him?*

Song Jinhe swallowed nervously. Her gaze landed on another hairpin on a wooden shelf. After just one look, she turned and broke the silence with a swift, brisk tone: "Young Master Sheng, please take your time browsing. I shall take my leave now."

Sheng Congyuan’s eyes flickered, his outward emotions suddenly收敛 (contained). He looked at her deeply for a long moment before saying in a low voice, "Very well. Until we meet again."

Song Jinhe stepped away quickly, as if fleeing from some terrifying beast. Once she was further off, she suddenly remembered something and stopped to instruct Mingqiu: "Wait until Young Master Sheng leaves before you return. If he buys that gold-beaded hairpin, then buy the one I was looking at later. If he doesn't, we’ll take both."

Mingqiu was puzzled but looked back subconsciously. As she did, she saw Sheng Congyuan still standing in the same spot in the North Pavilion, his gaze fixed directly on them.

Mingqiu was so startled that she quickly turned back. She missed the moment when Sheng Congyuan, after standing for a long time, subconsciously reached out to touch his waist—where an ornament should have been—and muttered in disappointment, "Why didn't she mention finding my jade pendant..."