The Young Lady Is Much Too Delighted

Less than two months after the venerable Ren Shen took office as a third-rank official and Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, thirteen-year-old Chu Zhi was packed off to the Ren residence. They were afraid the Ren family might back out and refuse to honor the betrothal arranged when the children were young.

In a daze, Chu Zhi first entered the residence and immediately spotted a stern young man standing in the most conspicuous place. He looked to be around her age. Her cheeks flushed red as she softly greeted him, “Good day, Third Brother.”

The young man was elegant and proud. At her words, he merely raised an eyebrow and said coolly, “Wrong.”

Chu Zhi's confused expression met the young man's icy gaze.

“Ren Shizhi.”

Chu Zhi hurriedly lowered her head to hide her fluster, then softly greeted him again. “Good day, Eldest Brother Ren.”

The young man only lowered his eyes and gave a slight nod, saying nothing.

Ren San never showed up, not even before the banquet ended.

It wasn't until her seventh day at the residence that she finally saw her fiancé, Third Young Master Ren.

Before she could say, “Liang-ge,”

he brushed past her without even glancing her way.

Chu Zhi's face went pale at once. She stared blankly at the young man's retreating figure. The cold wind made her eyes sting. His back looked so unfamiliar now, nothing like the gentle big brother who had taken her peach-picking seven years ago.

A servant of the Ren family tried to comfort her. “Third Young Master has always been cold. Don't take it to heart, Miss.”

Chu Zhi only stared blankly into space. The Old Madam Ren had told her to learn to be considerate.

All she got in return was the young man's cold, cutting ridicule.

“You're not a maid. Why are you going into the kitchen? And this sweet drink doesn't even taste good.”

“If you're clumsy, you should know better. This sachet is so ugly, you'd be better off throwing it away.”

Whenever she heard things like that, Chu Zhi told herself he was simply too cold by nature.

What truly broke her heart was something that happened in the late spring of the following year.

The Xu family girl smiled and asked Chu San, “Who is this? Why don't I recognize her?”

For once, the usually aloof Chu San looked awkward. Before Chu Zhi could speak, he answered for her. “She's a distant cousin of mine.”

Chu Zhi froze for a moment and lowered her eyes. So she was only a younger sister.

**

In his previous life, the person Ren Anyu looked down on most was his legitimate wife, Chu Zhi, who came from the countryside. She was dull and cautious, and her only two virtues were that she was pretty and obedient.

But women like her were everywhere. Now that he'd been given a second chance at youth, he found Chu Zhi even more irritating. He'd kept her at a distance for a year and was fretting over what to do with their wedding date fast approaching, until he realized his elder brother seemed to have feelings for her.

A wicked idea took root in his heart. He personally pushed her into his elder brother's arms, and the two ended up together. He'd thought he should celebrate finally getting rid of a burden. But when he saw Chu Zhi sitting obediently in his brother's arms, a sudden pain struck his heart.

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Theme: Turn around and look. Hope is all around you.