The pageboy nodded, but remained standing there blankly, not offering to lead them upstairs. This made Lin He even more puzzled. Was something amiss with Second Young Master Wen Ningxuan? Lin He said, "Is the Second Young Master indisposed? Perhaps I should step out and come back later?"

The pageboy hurriedly waved his hands, saying, "No, no, the Young Master is upstairs. But it’s fine if the young lady wants to stroll around, or I can inform the Second Young Master later that you came looking for him."

Alas, what Shunzhu was saying was rather strange. One moment he claimed nothing was inconvenient, the next he was advising her not to go up. Was it convenient or not? What exactly were this master and servant up to? Something felt deeply wrong.

Initially, Lin He had planned to go out for a stroll or wait nearby if Wen Ningxuan was occupied. However, Shunzhu’s current behavior had piqued Lin He’s curiosity, making her genuinely want to see who was inside.

Lin He said nothing, deliberately making a motion as if she were turning back. Lin He subtly observed that Shunzhu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Lin He took a few steps back, then suddenly spun around and said, "Forget it, Shunzhu. Since your Young Master is upstairs, I’ll go up and see him. I have something important to discuss with him. Lead the way."

"Ah?" Shunzhu, who had just relaxed, now started sweating nervously.

"I have an urgent matter for your Young Master; it will be too late if I delay. Let’s go." Lin He walked forward without waiting for Shunzhu’s response.

Shunzhu sighed helplessly. He had no choice; since the young lady insisted on going up, he had to comply. With that thought, Shunzhu led Lin He upstairs. Lin He followed him, keeping her expression carefully neutral. As they reached the door, Lin He thought she heard voices inside and asked, "Is the Second Young Master entertaining a guest?"

Shunzhu froze again, then after a moment’s thought, replied, "No, Young Lady, please wait a moment. I will go in and announce you."

Hearing Shunzhu say that, Lin He was now certain the person inside was not a patron of the Silver House; there must be some other business. Lin He nodded, signaling Shunzhu to go in and announce her.

The pageboy Shunzhu immediately broke out in a cold sweat. The Second Young Master had explicitly instructed him that if Miss He’er ever came, he was to bring her up immediately, regardless of what he was doing, without needing to announce her.

But today’s situation was particularly delicate. Shunzhu had just escorted Madam Wen's adopted daughter, Ning Nuo, upstairs. While bringing tea, Shunzhu overheard Miss Ning Nuo weeping heartbrokenly in the Second Young Master's room, apparently confessing her feelings to him. If Miss Lin He found out about this, it would be most inappropriate. Yet, he dared not disobey the Second Young Master's orders. He was terribly anxious, but with Miss He’er standing right there, it seemed impossible not to open the door.

The pageboy tapped on the door and then pushed it open, muttering internally, Young Master, please don't blame your servant; I tried to block her, but I couldn't.

As the pageboy went in to announce her, Lin He and Ziyu stood at the doorway and naturally saw the scene inside. Wen Ningxuan was indeed there, and he was not alone; there was another woman inside. Moreover, from their angle at the door, this woman was clinging to Wen Ningxuan’s embrace, and his hands were resting on her arms. This woman was none other than Ning Nuo, whom Lin He had previously encountered with Wen Ningxuan in Qinghe County.

Wen Ningxuan was facing the door. The instant Shunzhu pushed it open, Wen Ningxuan happened to look up and saw Lin He standing there with Ziyu, staring fixedly at him. Wen Ningxuan violently shoved the person in his arms away and walked toward the door, calling out, "He’er, you've arrived?"

When Lin He saw this scene, her mind went blank. After a brief pause, a surge of rage welled up from within her heart. No wonder Shunzhu had been so peculiar today—it turned out that rascal Wen Ningxuan was entertaining a woman here. What a perfectly matched pair of conspirators: the master hosting a woman while the servant covered for him downstairs—though this cover-up was clearly botched.

However, Lin He was not naturally impulsive. She suppressed the anger churning inside her, nodded with a placid expression, and said, "Yes, I came to discuss a few matters with the Second Young Master. Have I interrupted you? If it’s inconvenient, I can go downstairs and wait?"

Before Wen Ningxuan could speak, Ning Nuo spoke from behind him, "Oh, so it’s sister He’er who has come. My business with Brother Xuan is finished; perhaps I should leave first?" Although she said this, her feet hadn't moved an inch, and her eyes remained fixed on Wen Ningxuan.

Wen Ningxuan did not look at her. His voice was somewhat cold as he stated, "Shunzhu, escort Miss Ning Nuo back. Don't come to the Silver House unless necessary in the future. This is a place of business." The latter remark was clearly directed at Ning Nuo.

Ning Nuo said nothing and was escorted out by the pageboy. Seeing Lin He still standing at the doorway, Wen Ningxuan reached out to take her hand, intending to draw her inside. Lin He stepped back, preventing Wen Ningxuan from touching her, then walked into the room herself and sat directly on a chair, staring at Wen Ningxuan without uttering a word.

Wen Ningxuan closed the door, feeling a flicker of panic. This time, he felt guilty even though he had done nothing wrong. Looking at He’er’s demeanor, she seemed genuinely angry. How could he explain? How could he keep the explanation brief? How could he ensure no lingering doubt formed in He’er’s heart?

While brewing an explanation internally, Wen Ningxuan paced about the room. The man usually so composed in his actions was now genuinely flustered. Lin He watched him pace for a while before saying, "Has the Second Young Master finished formulating an excuse? Do you require more time?"

"What excuse?" Wen Ningxuan, preoccupied with his thoughts, didn't react immediately. A moment later, he realized what Lin He meant. Wen Ningxuan sat down on the chair opposite Lin He and briefly explained the day's events.

Simply put, Ning Nuo had initially come to purchase jewelry. After buying what she needed, she left. Later, for some unknown reason, she returned, rushing in without saying much before bursting into tears. After crying for a few moments, she lost her balance when standing up and threw herself into Wen Ningxuan's arms, supposedly claiming she had twisted her ankle. Just as Wen Ningxuan was about to push her away, Lin He arrived. In truth, the posture Lin He saw at the doorway was Wen Ningxuan in the act of pushing Ning Nuo off.

Although Lin He had indeed been furious upon seeing that scene, after calming down, she knew the situation was likely more complex than it appeared. Lin He deeply trusted Wen Ningxuan. She knew that in matters of the heart, he was absolutely not the frivolous type. Otherwise, given his status as the second son of the Wen family, he could have any number of women he desired. Furthermore, this woman was Ning Nuo, making betrayal even less likely.

Moreover, Lin He had analyzed the entire sequence of events in her mind. If Wen Ningxuan truly intended to keep a woman hidden from her, Shunzhu would never have brought her upstairs. Since she was allowed up, it implied there was nothing truly suspicious.

And Ning Nuo herself was somewhat peculiar. Today, she hadn't even brought a maid. It was impossible for her to venture out without an attendant—where was that maid? Listening to Wen Ningxuan’s explanation, Ning Nuo's actions seemed bizarre, almost staged, as if designed to be misunderstood by her. But how could she have known precisely that Lin He would arrive at this moment? Could someone have tipped her off?