Refuse to agree, and don't even think about leaving.

Lin Yuejiao looked surprised. "Aunt, you are very perceptive. There are absolutely no thieves here. I have been reading all along and didn’t see anyone."

“Just because you say no one is here, doesn’t mean that’s true. Search!” Qian Yaoxian snorted coldly.

“Please be gentle! Aren’t you deliberately breaking things?” Yuanwei said angrily, but it was too late to stop them.

Lin Yuejiao stopped her and said, “It’s nothing, just some worthless things. Let them break.”

Although Qian Yaoxian came to cause trouble, she was also measured. The room was a mess, but nothing valuable was broken.

Afterwards, she turned back to apologize to the Grand Madam, saying she accidentally bumped into things and would replace Lin Yuejiao’s belongings with new ones, which only cost a few taels of silver.

The Grand Madam only praised her for being fair and just, and Lin Yuejiao was grateful to her.

Lin Qingliu was also examining the room. The shabby place hadn’t changed much from before. She couldn’t understand how Lin Yuejiao suddenly mastered double-sided embroidery and made a stunning impression.

Suddenly, Lin Qingliu’s gaze stopped at the bed canopy. She leaned toward Qian Yaoxian’s ear and whispered, “Mother, look at her bed—isn’t that a silhouette of a person?”

“It does look like one,” Qian Yaoxian’s eyes brightened.

Lin Qingliu murmured, “I heard Lin Yuejiao has been shutting herself in to study early these days, with only Yuanwei guarding the door. The other maids have been sent away. Could she be daring enough to secretly meet a man...?”

“Impossible,” Qian Yaoxian said, surprised but inwardly pleased.

Lin Yuejiao hurriedly stepped forward to block them. “Aunt, you can search anywhere else, but a woman’s bed is not for outsiders to look at casually. Besides, there are some precious items on my bed...”

“Heh, precious items? I want to see what valuable things you place on your bed,” Qian Yaoxian sneered and reached to grab the canopy.

Lin Yuejiao quickly said, “Aunt, please wait. There are servants here now. If you want to search my bed, you have to send the men out first.”

“Lin Yuejiao, what are you hiding on your bed that’s so shameful? Is there a man hidden there?” Qian Yaoxian stared intently at the shadow, increasingly convinced it was a person.

Lin Yuejiao’s face turned pale as if hit on the mark. Flustered, she said, “Aunt, you can’t slander my innocence. How could I hide a man?”

“Whether you do or not, I’ll see for myself!” Qian Yaoxian said forcefully, tearing down the bed canopy.

“Aunt, you can break the other things in my room, but you’ve smashed all the items my grandmother gifted me. I will surely tell grandmother,” Lin Yuejiao said indignantly, clearly upset.

Lin Qingliu’s eyes darkened. The thing mistaken for a person was actually a rolled-up quilt, while a jewelry box was deliberately placed on the bed by Lin Yuejiao.

“Who told you to put these things on the bed?” Qian Yaoxian was furious and humiliated, not expecting to fail in catching an illicit affair and break the Grand Madam’s gifts.

Lin Yuejiao looked sorrowful. “I reminded you before that there were precious things on the bed, yet you tore my canopy like this—it was deliberate. I will tell grandmother!”

As she spoke, her body suddenly went limp, and she pretended to faint.

Yuanwei immediately burst into tears. “Someone, quickly! Miss has fainted from anger!”

“Liu’er, what do we do now?” Qian Yaoxian was taken aback and somewhat flustered.

Lin Qingliu’s expression was calm. “Ignore her. Mother, continue the search elsewhere. I’ll go inform Grand Madam.”

“All right,” Qian Yaoxian said, and the group retreated.

——

After Qian Yaoxian and the others left, Lin Yuejiao regained consciousness. Only Yuanwei remained guarding her; no other maids were allowed in without her orders.

Yuanwei’s eyes were brimming with tears. “Miss, you’ve finally woken up. You scared me to death just now. I’ll fetch a doctor for you.”

“I’m fine. It’s late at night; we can’t get a doctor here at Leisure Garden. You go down and guard the door. No one is allowed in,” Lin Yuejiao instructed.

Yuanwei didn’t understand what Lin Yuejiao was planning but knew her mistress was decisive. She left and closed the door.

The room was a mess. Lin Yuejiao rose from the floor and glanced toward the doorway.

Because Yuanwei had closed the door, the area beyond was now empty—no sign of the man in black.

Lin Yuejiao frowned in confusion. Where did he go?

Just then, a black figure jumped down from a beam inside the room. It was the same man in black, landing lightly before Lin Yuejiao.

He glanced at her. He had witnessed everything: the yelling, the fainting of Miss Lin, and how she quickly got up after the others left, her expression calm and composed.

He had seen Lin Yuejiao deliberately trap those people.

She was a scheming and cunning woman.

Unshaken in danger, unfazed by change—she commanded respect.

The man in black turned to leave. Lin Yuejiao, anxious, called out, “Wait!”

“Hm?” He turned. This time he didn’t press the knife to her neck, understanding she was not the type to shout recklessly.

Lin Yuejiao didn’t know how to explain.

Judging by his demeanor wanting to leave immediately, the plum blossom token from their previous life was probably not a token of thanks left by him but something he lost by accident.

But in this life, perhaps because of these unexpected events, the plum blossom token was still with him!

“Sir! Just now, I helped cover for you—a small favor,” Lin Yuejiao bit her lip and straightforwardly said, “Please, in light of this, grant me a request.”

The man in black’s hoarse, disguised voice laughed. “You actually seek help from a mysterious rogue? Such boldness.”

Ordinary young ladies would be frightened senseless upon meeting a knife-wielding stranger. Even if not fainting, they’d tremble with fear. Lin Yuejiao’s calmness was a rarity, and daring to ask a favor from him was unique in all the world.

“I truly meant to cover for you. If I hadn’t wanted to help, I wouldn’t fear even if you threatened me with the knife,” Lin Yuejiao said seriously, facing the imposing figure and the gleaming dagger without flinching.

The man in black smiled. “To take the trouble of setting a trap for others, you are truly fearless, calm, and composed.”

“So, sir, will you owe me this favor?” Lin Yuejiao’s eyes glittered with subtle hope.

The man didn’t answer.

“Hey! Don’t be ungrateful. I helped you just now! As the saying goes, a drop of water shall be returned with a burst of spring. This is a life-saving favor!” Lin Yuejiao pressed.

The man found it amusing, a hint of playfulness in his eyes. “A life-saving favor, hmm?”

“Even if not life-saving, I saved you a lot of trouble. Though you could leave gracefully, since you hid in my courtyard, you clearly don’t want to meet your pursuers, entangle with anyone, or cause trouble, right?” Lin Yuejiao spoke clearly and deliberately, analyzing much of his thoughts.

“So I did you a small favor!” she affirmed, emphasizing her point.

This was the first time the man had met someone who so shamelessly demanded repayment and took credit for helping him.

Most importantly, had this woman forgotten that he just held a knife to her throat, and now she was risking her life like this?

Anyone else would be praying for him to leave quickly by now.

“If you don’t agree, you won’t leave! I won’t let you!” Lin Yuejiao went all out, glaring fiercely.

Given her current status, it was impossible to summon a divine healer for her brother. If she missed this chance, she might never get another.

The man in black’s lips curled slightly beneath his mask. Miss Lin, interesting.

He waved his dagger; a flash of cold light swept past Lin Yuejiao’s cheek, the blade slicing so close to her forehead it chilled the air.

With the blade came a lock of dark hair, falling into the man’s hand.

“Still want me to stay?” The man held the hair before Lin Yuejiao, his eyes teasing.

Lin Yuejiao felt death brush past her in that moment. This man was a million times more dangerous than she imagined.

She was certain now this man feared no one in the Lin family. He would kill his way through without anyone stopping him.

Cutting off her head would be as easy as slicing off that lock of hair.

“Sir, if you won’t help, I warmly invite you to stay as a guest,” Lin Yuejiao bowed and smiled politely.

She was not seeking death.

If he truly wanted to kill her, he could have done so earlier.

He had no murderous intent and was willing to waste time listening to her, showing there was still a chance.

The man studied the woman before him. He disliked trouble most of all, but encountering a unique and intriguing Lin Yuejiao, why not find some trouble?

“What is it?”

Lin Yuejiao finally exhaled. “I want a divine healer! My younger brother has suffered from a congenital illness since childhood. Without a miraculous doctor, he will either die or be crippled.”

“For this?” The man’s eyes flickered.

Risking your life for someone else to seek help from me?

Lin Yuejiao nodded resolutely. “I only seek a divine healer to save my brother’s life. I will forever remember and be grateful for this favor.”