The waiter waiting to collect the payment, along with the other diners in the shop, were all stunned—clearly not expecting such a turn of events.

The few men who had just been mocking the An family’s live-in son-in-law also failed to react for a moment.

Fan Changyu was first dumbfounded, then asked in confusion, “Was your pouch stolen on the road just now?”

She then called out to the waiter, “I’ll pay.”

During the festive season, the streets were crowded, and pickpockets found it easy to make their move.

Because of Fan Changyu’s loud shout, the crowd in the room all turned to stare at them for a moment before resuming their meals. Some even commented, “When we go see the lantern fair later, the streets will be packed with people. It’ll be even easier for thieves to steal things off you—you’d best be careful!”

Others whispered, “That man looks even prettier than a woman. Could he be some kept pretty boy?”

Someone nearby refuted, “How could that be? He just tried to pay the bill himself!”

“What’s so hard about putting on a show after that An family son-in-law made a fool of himself? But with a face like that, living off a woman wouldn’t be difficult for him…”

Before Xie Zheng could lose his temper, Fan Changyu scooped up Changning with one arm, grabbed his hand with the other, and hurriedly dragged him out of the restaurant.

Only when they reached the main street did she finally catch her breath and ask, “Your pouch really was stolen?”

For an instant, Xie Zheng’s cold expression stiffened. He gave a small nod.

With his skills, it was impossible for someone to get close enough to pick his pocket without him noticing. As Fan Changyu had guessed earlier, he had simply bought too many things for the child and hadn’t realized he’d run short of money.

After all, in the past, whenever he went out to buy something, it had never occurred to him that his money might not be enough.

Fan Changyu, recalling how he’d gone into the bookstore earlier but hadn’t bought anything because the prices were too high, thought he should have known how much he had left. It didn’t make sense for him to only realize he had no money when it came time to pay. She sighed. “It must’ve been when the crowd got thick on the road just now. A thief must’ve lifted it right off you.”

She took out her own purse, counted out two silver pieces and a handful of copper coins, and handed them to Xie Zheng. “Here, take this. If there’s anything you want to buy at the lantern fair later, it’ll be convenient.”

Changning chimed in generously, “Ning-niang’s New Year money can go to Brother-in-law too!”

Smiling from ear to ear, they really did look like a family.

Something unfamiliar stirred within Xie Zheng. He frowned and said, “No need. I won’t be buying anything.”

“You’re so stubborn. It’s just handy to have some money on you.” Thinking he was simply embarrassed to take her money, Fan Changyu grabbed his hand outright and pressed the coins and silver into his palm.

Her hands were always warm; when she caught his, that warmth seemed to seep through his skin and deeper still.

When she withdrew her hand, Xie Zheng looked down at the handful of coppers and bits of silver in his palm. His fingertips curled almost imperceptibly, and then, as if to conceal something, he closed his fist.

Dusk had fallen, and lanterns now glowed in every street and alley.

The warm yellow light carved out the lines of his profile. He looked at Fan Changyu, and in his ink-dark phoenix eyes, his expression grew increasingly unreadable. “Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for? You already bought so much for Changning, and besides, you still have forty taels with me…” Fan Changyu said offhandedly.

Xie Zheng simply listened quietly. When she finished, he said, “Candy money is candy money. It’s not the same.”

Fan Changyu was slightly taken aback. Just then, a sudden cheer rose from the crowd in the distance, drawing the attention of all three of them. Looking over, they saw that it was a street performer breathing fire.

No one knew how the performer managed it. A small burning bamboo stick in his hand, and with one powerful blow, the tiny flame turned into a roaring burst of fire. The onlookers cried out and stumbled back in fright when the flames swept toward them, only to burst into applause a moment later.

Changning was fascinated, tugging at the hem of Fan Changyu’s clothes. “A-jie, Ning-niang wants to see the big fire!”

By now the sky had turned completely dark, and the streets were crowded with people. Afraid that Changning might trip or get knocked over, Fan Changyu simply lifted her into her arms and said to Xie Zheng, “Looks like the lantern fair has already started. Let’s go have a look.”

Xie Zheng cast a glance at the group performing the fire-breathing act, letting all the emotions in his eyes fade away, then said to Fan Changyu, “Let me carry her.”

Fan Changyu, strong as ever, refused at once. “No need. Your injuries haven’t fully healed yet…”

Xie Zheng replied, “Carrying a child won’t matter.”

After a brief pause, he added, “I noticed that the other children on the street are all being carried by their fathers or elder brothers.”

Fan Changyu looked around and realized that the families with children out to see the lanterns indeed had the fathers holding them.

With her and Yan Zheng bringing Changning along, it was easy for people to mistake them for a family of three.

Yan Zheng was tall and broad-shouldered; with Changning in her arms, quite a few passersby were already glancing curiously their way.

Some, not knowing the truth, even whispered and pointed at Yan Zheng.

Remembering the scene in the restaurant earlier, Fan Changyu hesitated for a moment, then finally handed Changning over to Xie Zheng. “If your arms get tired, give Ning-niang back to me.”

Xie Zheng agreed calmly.

He was half a head taller than Fan Changyu. Changning lay on his shoulder, craning her neck to look farther ahead, pointing excitedly first here and then there, unable to contain her delight.

Fan Changyu walked beside Xie Zheng, still holding the painting the scholar had drawn for them, and for once, a relaxed smile appeared on her face.

Many pedestrians, seeing them together, couldn’t help but praise them as a perfectly matched couple.

A middle-aged husband and wife passed by with their young son. The woman, carrying the boy, caught sight of Fan Changyu’s group, immediately thrust her child into her husband’s arms, and scolded with a frown, “Look at that young gentleman—so considerate to his wife! You useless man, can’t you see my arms are about to fall off?”

The husband, now holding the child, had his ear pulled and twisted aside, crying out “Ow, ow, ow!” and apologizing repeatedly.

Fan Changyu couldn’t help but laugh, though something in the woman’s words made her feel a little uneasy.

She lifted her eyes and secretly glanced at Xie Zheng—only for him to turn his head at that very moment. Their gazes met amid the flickering lantern light.

“What is it?” he asked.

Fan Changyu cleared her throat and quickly looked away. Spotting the tall lantern tower ahead hung with multicolored lights, she said, “I think there’s a riddle-guessing game over there. Let’s go try it!”

Changning, seeing the dazzling array of lanterns in the distance, cried out in excitement, “Ning-niang wants a piggy lantern!”

Fan Changyu laughed. “Alright, let’s go have a look first.”

Xie Zheng asked, “Is she born in the Year of the Pig?”

Before Fan Changyu could reply, Changning already nodded hard, counting on her chubby fingers. “A-jie is a Tiger, Ning-niang is a Pig!”

Xie Zheng gave Fan Changyu a peculiar look. “You’re only nine years older than your sister?”

Fan Changyu said, “To be exact, ten years. I was born in the first month of the Year of the Tiger, and my younger sister was born at the end of the twelfth month of the Year of the Pig.”

She looked at Changning, her gaze softening. “Once the twelfth month passed last year, Ning-niang turned six. According to the town’s custom, when the parents are in their mourning period, one mustn’t openly celebrate a child’s birthday, lest it shorten the child’s lifespan. So we didn’t prepare a birthday gift for Ning-niang—just cooked her a bowl of noodles.”

Then she turned to Xie Zheng. “You had some too—it was that time I made the fatty intestine noodles.”

Xie Zheng: “……”

That wasn’t exactly a pleasant memory.

But if her birthday was in the first month, then she would be sixteen this month?

His eyes lowered slightly.

Fan Changyu suddenly asked him, “What’s your zodiac sign?”

Xie Zheng didn’t answer.

She began to guess at random. “Are you a Dog?”

That sounded a bit like an insult; a few passersby turned to glance at them in surprise.

Xie Zheng swept her a cold look from the corner of his eye. Fan Changyu wanted to school her expression, but failed to suppress her grin.

She said, “If you really are a Dog, that actually suits your temperament.”

The smile on her face was utterly unrestrained and bright.

Xie Zheng turned his head slightly to look at her. “What do you mean?”

Fan Changyu cleared her throat. “They say people born in the Year of the Dog are especially vindictive—and have a sharp tongue, too.”

Before she could finish, she was met with a chilly glare.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, Fan Changyu muttered, “You don’t know how venomous your own tongue can be?”

Xie Zheng’s lips curved faintly. “I haven’t said much about you in other matters. I merely pointed out that your taste in men is poor. Just one Song Yan, and you’re still pining after him to this day…”

Fan Changyu finally understood what it meant to reap what one sowed. Back then, in order to stop him from misunderstanding her intentions, she had made up the ridiculous lie that she was hopelessly in love with Song Yan. And now, he seized every chance to mock her for it.