Wen Ningxuan had departed, and Da Bao entered, asking, "He'er, why did Second Young Master leave? I wanted him to wait so he could take some pastries back for Xiao Mo. Why didn't you give them to him?" "Oh, he said he didn't need them, that he'd come back in a few days to collect them," Lin He replied.

Da Bao nodded and returned to the shop. Lin He, alone on the rocking chair, felt a knot of worry. Should she send the gift or not? She wrestled with the decision. After much deliberation, Lin He decided she would send it—if only as a return gift for what Wen Ningxuan had given her. However, the birthday gift Second Young Master requested presented a genuine challenge. A cake was easy; she could simply use a different fruit to make one for him.

But the handmade gift was difficult. It needed to be made by her own hands, something entirely unprecedented. Lin He knew how to make many things herself, such as sachets and clothing, but items like those were certainly not to be given casually to a man who was not family at this time.

Lin He fretted for a while, unable to settle on a suitable gift. Growing frustrated, she even began to blame Wen Ningxuan. Why did he insist she send something just because he wanted it, even though she hadn't agreed? He gave her things without anyone asking him to; it was his own choice. Why did she have to reciprocate? Truly, having to prepare a gift was turning into such a nuisance, it was exhausting her.

When Ziyu emerged from the kitchen, she saw Lin He sitting in the chair with a furrowed brow. Ziyu asked, "Miss, is something troubling you? Tell me, and perhaps I can help ease your worries?"

Seeing Ziyu, Lin He recalled that Ziyu had served Wen Ningxuan before and asked, "When you used to serve Second Young Master, did you know what he particularly liked?"

"Second Young Master? His disposition is rather cold and distant; he usually speaks very little, appearing quite aloof. But he wasn't harsh with us servants. Back then, several of the senior maids in our courtyard were quite fond of Second Young Master. He was different from the usual young masters in wealthy families," Ziyu replied, skirting the direct question.

Lin He rolled her eyes. What was wrong with this girl? Usually so quick-witted, why was she rambling today? Who asked about Second Young Master's preferences? But Ziyu continued to chatter: "Miss, actually, Second Young Master has a pitiful background. His mother passed away when he was very young. His current mother is the biological mother of the Third and First Young Masters. Don't let the appearance of his favor fool you; he has suffered a great deal. I also heard that while the current Madam acts very kindly toward him in front of Master, her deepest affection is certainly reserved for her own sons. You know Third Young Master is still young, and First Young Master is only a few months older than Second Young Master, often indulging in debauchery outside. Word is, the Madam feared Master would favor Second Young Master, so she secretly plotted many things. The reason Second Young Master dislikes speaking much is probably because very few people spoke to him when he was little, which shaped his current personality."

Lin He had no idea about these matters within the Wen household. She had met Madam Wen once; while she wasn't intimately familiar, she didn't seem like a cruel person. It seemed one truly needed long-term acquaintance to know people. Lin He asked, "Then how did Second Young Master's mother pass away?"

"I was quite young when I was at the Wen Residence, so much of what I know comes from murmurs among others. They said Second Young Master's mother died of illness, and I think they even mentioned that his mother was some sort of cousin to Madam Wen."

"Then, by your account, Second Young Master's mother must have been older than Madam Wen. How is it possible she married into the Wen Residence later than Madam Wen?" Lin He inquired with curiosity.

Ziyu pondered for a moment. "I don't know about that, Miss. When I was at the Wen Residence, I never heard anyone else mention it."

"Then, how many concubines does Uncle Wen actually have?"

"It seems there are four or five concubines alone. The Wen Residence has many young masters and mistresses. However, Master Wen truly dotes on Second Young Master and Third Young Master. There is also Miss Qingmo, born to Madam Wen, whom Master favors greatly. As for the others, Master mostly pays them no mind," Ziyu stated.

Lin He found this peculiar. Having dealt with Uncle Wen for so long, she hadn't thought him such a philanderer. So many concubines, not counting those outside the estate—Uncle Wen was truly a man of romantic adventure.

"Miss, I observe that Second Young Master treats you very specially. Did you know? Second Young Master is beautiful enough to be an immortal; I have never seen anyone so handsome. He usually doesn't speak to people, even in the manor. Even when Master speaks to him, he replies minimally. But he enjoys speaking with you, and he pays you a great deal of attention?" Ziyu said with a sly smile.

Lin He tapped Ziyu's head lightly. "You little maid, don't speak nonsense if you don't understand. Perhaps Second Young Master has always lived within the manor and hasn't seen country girls like us before, so he finds it novel and pays extra attention."

Ziyu rubbed her forehead, looking aggrieved. "Miss, I am a few months older than you. How could I not understand? When I was in the manor, many maids my age were already assigned as personal maids to the young masters."

"Then Second Young Master has personal maids?" Lin He teased her deliberately.

"No, definitely not. Though I wasn't his personal attendant, I know this much. Second Young Master doesn't even speak to the maids; how could he have a personal maid? He has his own young eunuch for personal service. He generally doesn't let us handle things in his room, and he rarely speaks to the maids," Ziyu insisted, staunchly defending Second Young Master.

It seemed Ziyu was a die-hard fan of Wen Ningxuan. Lin He smiled and remarked, "With you constantly referring to Second Young Master, anyone would think you were his maid. Whose maid are you, really?"

"Of course, I am your maid, Miss. But if you and Second Young Master end up together in the future, I'll be your maid then too. What difference does it make?" Ziyu mumbled.

"What 'end up together'? Don't speak carelessly. Second Young Master and I are just ordinary friends. You little girl, don't ruin my reputation! What will people say if they overhear?" Lin He cautioned.

"I know, Miss. I only said it because no one else was around. Truly, Second Young Master is very good. Miss, I think a person like that would make a good husband," Ziyu stated with the air of an elder.

Looking at Ziyu's demeanor, Lin He couldn't help but laugh. "You little thing, do you have some ulterior motive? You praise Second Young Master so highly and now actively encourage me. Do you have some goal? Perhaps you want to follow him as a personal maid?"

Ziyu had been with Lin He long enough, and her nature was always cheerful. Knowing Lin He was joking, she wasn't flustered but replied earnestly, "Miss, I'm being serious with you. Second Young Master is excellent, and only someone like our Miss is worthy of him. As for us maids, setting aside whether we are worthy, I wouldn't want to be a personal maid myself. My older sister said that if Miss decides to marry us off later, we would rather marry into a simple family than ever become a concubine or a personal maid."