Chapter 15: Against All Odds

“Miss Lu, are you awake?”

Lu Yao hurried to the wardrobe, quickly chose a long-sleeved dress to put on, shoved the ruined clothes into the deepest corner, and glanced around to ensure nothing was left behind before feigning a sleepy expression and opening the door.

The maid, seeing her yawn, apologized, “Miss Lu, Second Madam instructed me to wake you before she left for Hongfa Temple, so you wouldn’t miss the time for folding paper flying horses.”

Hongfa Temple—praying for children?

A heaviness pressed against Lu Yao’s chest.

Unbidden, her mind conjured images that were far from suitable.

Before formally teaching the maid how to fold paper flying horses, Lu Yao quietly asked, “Do you know why Second Master doesn’t like Madam?”

The maid, startled, anxiously glanced around. Only when she was sure no one was nearby did she exhale in relief.

“Miss Lu, you must always mind your words in the old house. If Madam hears this, it could be a matter of life and death. We were all brought into the old house in recent years, and know nothing of the past. But…” The maid swallowed nervously, leaned close to Lu Yao’s ear, and whispered, “According to the old staff, Second Master’s birth mother was the Master’s first wife. She died in an ‘accident’ when Second Master was five. But it’s rumored that her death wasn’t accidental, that Madam…”

The maid didn’t finish her sentence, but raised her hand and made a slicing gesture across her throat.

Lu Yao’s heart tightened.

She began to question Ye Zehong’s true reason for marrying Qiao Wan’er.

“What are you two beauties whispering about?”

Ye Zema, having just woken up, went first to Plum Garden to check on Lu Yao’s injury, and not finding her there, came to the main hall.

He sat beside Lu Yao, casually leaning in, his eyes darting to her arm.

Under his scrutiny, Lu Yao felt uneasy and instinctively drew her arm back.

She managed a strained smile. “Good morning, Third Master. We weren’t saying anything—just sharing tips on folding paper flying horses.”

Ye Zema picked up one of the finished paper horses, examined it closely, and exclaimed, “It’s so lifelike—your skill surpasses Aunt Rong’s.”

With that, he shook the paper horse, deliberately bringing it close to Lu Yao’s face.

Lu Yao dodged backward and nearly fell, but Ye Zema was quick enough to steady her by the waist.

Their shoulders brushed, and their faces were so close they could feel each other’s breath. The air between them grew charged with ambiguity.

At that moment—

Yang Lan returned from Hongfa Temple and witnessed the scene. Her fingers, wrapped around prayer beads, turned pale from the pressure, her gaze instantly hardening with fury.

Qiao Wan’er, raising her voice deliberately, laughed. “The noonday sunlight shines upon Third Brother and Miss Lu—they look quite the pair, don’t they?”

Yang Lan’s brows drew together, her face darkening as she hissed, “A girl like her?”

She continued to roll the beads in her hand, stepping forward. “Miss Lu, Wan’er invited you here to fold paper flying horses, not to give you a chance to throw yourself at my son!”

“Madam Ye, I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean?” Lu Yao stood, taking a step back to put proper distance between herself and Ye Zema, feigning innocence in the face of Yang Lan’s impending anger.

Qiao Wan’er, seeing her provocation succeed, wore a sly, malicious smile.

Lu Yao understood at once—Qiao Wan’er must have revealed what happened last night.

“I thought you were a clever woman, Miss Lu.” The anger on Yang Lan’s face was obvious. “You’re a powerless little lawyer, so it’s only natural you’d covet a wealthy, influential, and handsome young master. But with your looks, do you really think you stand a chance of making Zema forsake everything to marry you?”