Chapter 9 “I’m sorry, it was my fault. Could you…”

At the entrance of the main chamber, Chun Xing, who had just spoken these words toward the room, bowed slightly and hesitantly glanced toward the man standing nearby whose expression was unreadable.

Xiao Rong’s gaze remained fixed on the tightly shut door, as if intently awaiting a response from within.

Only when he confirmed there was no answer—whether unwilling or unheard—did he withdraw his gaze and shoot Chun Xing a meaningful look.

Chun Xing’s eyes drooped slightly as she quickly turned her head to conceal her troubled expression.

Pressing her lips together, she hesitated for a moment before mustering her courage to speak again: “Madam, His Lordship…”

“I won’t see him.”

Si Jin’s voice came from inside the room.

Chun Xing’s shoulders trembled as she turned to seek guidance from her other master.

Xiao Rong lowered his eyes with apparent disappointment. After a moment of silence, he waved his hand to dismiss Chun Xing.

The early morning in Qiu Shui Courtyard was peaceful.

In the corner of the yard, the banyan tree’s branches swayed in the morning breeze, rustling softly.

The pond fish swam joyfully, anticipating the delicious fish food soon to be scattered.

The cicadas’ summer-end chorus seemed to be fading, occasionally emitting final notes that lacked the vigorous intensity of midsummer.

All the servants in the courtyard had been dismissed by Xiao Rong, leaving only his solitary figure standing before the main chamber door. As the sun rose higher, it cast his long shadow beneath the eaves.

Outside the courtyard gate, the remaining servants and those uncertain whether to stay or leave had gathered stealthily.

“Has Madam quarreled with His Lordship?”

“The atmosphere was already tense yesterday. When I passed by the study, I overheard the study attendants saying the two masters seemed to have argued inside.”

“Indeed. His Lordship didn’t stay at Qiu Shui Courtyard last night. He came from Songlan Courtyard this morning.”

“I was on night duty last night. His Lordship did come, but Madam wouldn’t let him in. Late as it was, she insisted he return alone to Songlan Courtyard.”

Since the couple’s marriage, their affection had always been visible to all. On the rare occasions when slight tensions arose, they would reconcile within moments, earning everyone’s admiration.

Never before had there been such a stalemate.

Someone asked: “What’s happening now?”

Chun Xing, who had just experienced it firsthand, shook her head gently: “Madam said ‘I won’t see him’.”

Unlike the other servants, she had been assigned by Xiao Rong from the beginning to serve Si Jin closely while facilitating and covering for their false marital relationship.

Yet even she sensed something amiss this time, a faint unease growing in her heart.

At Chun Xing’s words, the surrounding servants collectively drew sharp breaths.

Before their discussion could deepen, the sound of a door opening suddenly came from within the courtyard.

Holding their breath, they heard a faint female voice in the distance, seemingly saying: “What are you doing here?”

Bathed in sunlight, Xiao Rong’s pale complexion glowed with a luminous sheen, returning to his usual radiant appearance—aloof and unapproachable, yet dazzlingly brilliant.

In contrast, Si Jin appeared exhausted and haggard.

A restless night had left faint dark circles under her eyes, her frightened complexion still pale with faded color. The turmoil in her heart weighed heavily, leaving her nerves unable to relax.

All of this was thanks to Xiao Rong.

Naturally, Si Jin couldn’t muster a pleasant expression for him.

Were they not both grown adults now, this scene would bear a striking resemblance to their first encounter after Xiao Rong had initially teased Si Jin.

“I made you angry yesterday.” Xiao Rong’s thin lips parted, his voice melodious yet his words utterly peculiar. “I’ve come to apologize and find a way to earn your forgiveness.”

Si Jin stared at him in disbelief.

How could he speak so lightly after what had transpired?

To her astonishment, Xiao Rong actually began apologizing.

“I’m sorry, it was my fault. Can you forgive me?”

Si Jin remained silent.

She was so furious she nearly laughed aloud.

Had this man not matured at all over the past decade, or did he still view her as a naive child?

When she didn’t respond, Xiao Rong pressed further: “What must I do to earn your forgiveness?”

He appeared genuinely repentant, having seemingly returned to his normal self in the blink of an eye—as if the person who had committed yesterday’s madness had never existed.

Si Jin declared, “If we separate, I’ll…”

She wouldn’t forgive him anyway!

Before she could finish her insincere words, Xiao Rong calmly rejected the proposal: “That’s not acceptable. Is there anything else?”

Did he truly believe she was offering him suggestions?!

Si Jin felt completely incapable of communicating with Xiao Rong. Frowning, she turned to retreat into her room.

With a flowing motion, she attempted to close the door behind her.

A dull thud echoed—

Si Jin instinctively glanced back.

The brass lock she had used to secure the door last night still hung from the handle. Xiao Rong had slipped his hand through the door gap, blocking its closure and causing the lock to strike against the door.

Xiao Rong lowered his gaze, noticing the lock, and immediately understood what precautions Si Jin had taken after his departure the previous night.

After a moment of silence, he calmly reached out, removed the lock from the door, and casually placed it on a nearby cabinet.

“It’s not safe to leave an unlocked lock hanging on the door—it might fall and hit you. You should only hang it up when you need to lock the door.”

Si Jin stood frozen, watching Xiao Rong warily before quickly regaining her composure: “Don’t come in.”

Her voice was soft, lacking any commanding presence, making her words sound feeble and utterly non-threatening.

Naturally, Xiao Rong didn’t halt his steps and soon stood before her.

Si Jin wanted to retreat, but the corner wall was directly behind her. Any further movement would trap her in an inescapable position, amplifying the intimidating pressure she felt.

Xiao Rong looked at her, his voice gentle: “Today isn’t my day off. I’ll leave after having breakfast.”

Then he added: “I’ll have it with you.”

“I won’t play the role of a loving couple with you anymore.”

Xiao Rong’s dark eyes remained fixed on her, intense enough to be overwhelming.

“I was never acting. I’ve wanted this kind of life with you since long ago.”

Si Jin’s eyes widened, but before she could speak, they were interrupted by Chun Xing’s hurried arrival.

“Madam, My Lord.”

Chun Xing rushed to the doorway, her expression flustered.

She desperately tried to signal Si Jin with her eyes, while the shifting shadows near the courtyard gate revealed that the servants waiting there earlier hadn’t yet dispersed.

Those outside hadn’t clearly overheard the entire conversation.

But occasional words like “separation,” “loving couple,” and “not acceptable” had already sparked rampant speculation.

Uncertain of her masters’ situation, Chun Xing could only dutifully rush to remind them that continuing their argument would likely expose the matter entirely.

But Si Jin had no mind to care about exposure now, instinctively taking a step back.

The reason for needing to play the loving couple had been fabricated by Xiao Rong all along.

It was only her own foolishness that made her believe it all this time.

Xiao Rong watched the step of distance between them, his fingers curling slightly with apparent dissatisfaction, but he made no further move.

Instead, he turned and whispered some instructions to Chun Xing, which Si Jin had no heart to listen to.

She stood slightly turned away, appearing unguarded, but should Xiao Rong attempt to approach again, she would swiftly retreat further from him.

Such evasion was ultimately meaningless, just as Xiao Rong’s elaborate schemes to forcibly bind her in this marriage were.

She wouldn’t achieve the outcome she desired, and neither would Xiao Rong.

After giving his instructions, Xiao Rong stood silently for a long while before finally speaking to her: “Then I’ll come see you after I finish work today.”

Si Jin didn’t respond, nor did she glance at him again.

Only when the sound of footsteps faded beyond hearing did she relax her entire body, releasing a heavy sigh.

Breakfast was brought into the room by Chun Xing, while other servants remained ordered to stay outside, preventing any unnecessary noise from disturbing Si Jin.

The room was quiet. Si Jin looked at the spread of dishes on the table with no appetite.

In the past, Chun Xing would have tactfully remarked in front of others that the morning’s meal had been prepared according to the master’s instructions tailored to the mistress’s tastes.

But now, she kept her head bowed and said nothing more. There was no need to speculate – it was clear the two masters had fallen into an irreconcilable conflict.

Suddenly, Si Jin looked up and asked: “Chun Xing, what did he instruct before leaving?”

Chun Xing paused, seemingly surprised that Si Jin would actually inquire about Xiao Rong’s parting instructions.

She then replied: “The master said the mistress seemed in low spirits. If the mistress wishes to go out, I should advise her against impulsive actions.”

Si Jin’s eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, the thought that had just formed in her mind being heavily suppressed once more.

Over the next two days, the weather remained overcast, matching Si Jin’s somber mood.

She went nowhere and told no one about the matter.

Xiao Rong kept appearing before her, seemingly no different from during their previous acting, yet Si Jin felt his presence was excessively frequent – perhaps simply because she didn’t want to see him.

Xiao Rong’s gaze followed her like a shadow, yet lacked its previous forcefulness. Each time he came to see her, he presented himself as gentle and seemingly non-threatening.

Had it been any other minor matter, Si Jin might have actually believed him.

This was likely why she had always been easily deceived by him before.

But now things were different. Xiao Rong was also strangely stubborn – whenever Si Jin mentioned divorce, he would immediately darken his face and refuse, not even bothering to conceal his reaction. Si Jin didn’t need to deliberately discern truth from falsehood anymore.

Finally came the day of the Si family banquet, where Si Jin would be able to see her parents.

Yet she discovered she couldn’t possibly confide in them about this.

About how her marriage to Xiao Rong over the past year had been false. About how she had agreed to end this marriage in exchange for her brother’s transfer from the capital.

The outcome was obvious without much thought.

Her family would likely think she had gone mad.

Was there truly no way to resolve this?

The carriage suddenly jolted momentarily. Though the bump was slight, it caused Si Jin’s wavering gaze to fall upon the face of the person beside her.

Xiao Rong had been watching her and hadn’t had time to look away, his eyes meeting her trembling gaze directly.

His eyes lit up, actually allowing Si Jin to discern joy on that usually expressionless face.

“Have something to say to me?”

Si Jin’s heart skipped a beat. Every previous time Xiao Rong had said these words, they had concealed sinister schemes that made one tremble. Could he already be plotting some dark deed after just this momentary exchange of glances?

Xiao Rong seemed to have discerned her thoughts from the changing expressions on her face.

His gaze gradually darkened. After a moment of silence, he proactively said, “I was just looking at you earlier, not thinking about anything else.”

Si Jin puffed her cheeks slightly, inexplicably expressing disbelief.

Since she couldn’t outmaneuver him, the only option was not to believe whatever he said.

The carriage traveled all the way to the Si residence.

Today’s family banquet had several carriages parking at the entrance, making the road appear crowded.

Si Jin hadn’t exchanged a single word with Xiao Rong throughout the journey. When the carriage stopped, she was the first to bend down and disembark, as if determined to show through her resolute attitude that she wouldn’t compromise or yield to Xiao Rong.

But just as she stepped off the carriage and steadied herself, she looked up and happened to see Si Ming, who had also just arrived at the mansion entrance.

Si Jin’s eyes trembled, seeing her long-unseen older brother happily wink at her.

In that moment of hesitation, Xiao Rong had already come to her side, his voice low as he leaned close to her ear: “Let’s go greet your brother together.”