Chapter 1238: Loyal Dog Receiver Care Guidelines 02

Aunt! Uncle......?

Xu Huaiyu had just entered, preparing to bow, when he saw Jin Chen so frightened he forgot what to say next.

Cousin, why are you up so early today?

Jin Chen took a deep breath, already too lazy to explain.

Just how much did the original owner love to sleep!

Xu Wangyue laughed uncontrollably, then asked, "Yuer, what were you just about to say?"

Ah… I was scolded by my mother and don't want to stay home; I heard Aunt and Uncle are going to South Prefecture Temple to pray for blessings, so why not bring Yuer along?

Xu Huaiyu obediently performed the salute, looking utterly aggrieved.

Jin Chen sipped his porridge, observing this cheap cousin-in-law, secretly thinking Xu Huaiyu must already have the idea of breaking the engagement, otherwise he wouldn't have been scolded.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jin Chen took Xu Huaiyu to sit awhile in the Falling Flowers Pavilion, waiting for the carriage to be ready before departing.

Xu Huaiyu rested his cheeks on his hands, gazing at the fallen flowers, sighing sadly, "Cousin, do you think people always change?"

What's up—did that brat Zhou Zhihong bully you?

Jin Chen leisurely sipped his osmanthus wine; the delicate cloisonné cup sat neatly on the pear‑wood table, exuding a rich fragrance.

"…Not exactly, it's just…" Xu Huaiyu didn't know where to start, so he could only sigh and shake his head.

But the servant beside him couldn't hold back, reporting, "Heir Apparent, Your Highness, you don't know—these days Young Master Zhou has been frequently visiting the Flower Willow Lane, gathering all kinds of red‑ and blue‑faced confidants, soon to be seven or eight."

With only a month left until the wedding, isn't this deliberately making our young master lose face?

The servant said this, stirring Xu Huaiyu's sorrow again, his eyes growing dim.

"And there's this—why don't you go teach him a lesson?" Jin Chen, being spoiled and protective of his own.

Or are you afraid that if you beat him to death you'll have to pay with your life?

Xu Huaiyu raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Isn't Zhihong your close friend, cousin?"

I'd never befriend someone so dirty.

Jin Chen set down his cup and, acting willfully, said, "Zhou Zhihong no longer favors you—why not expose the whole matter? Even if the engagement is broken, the fault wouldn't lie with the Xu family."

In the original plot, Xu Huaiyu was simply too worried about ruining the Xu family's reputation, after all, the marriage was decreed by imperial edict.

"…Then I'll think it over."

Xu Huaiyu still felt miserable; whenever he thought of how his childhood friend had once treated him so well, only to turn into a scoundrel overnight, his heart filled with sour bitterness.

He lay his forehead on the pear‑flower table, secretly tilting his head to wipe his eyes dry with his sleeve, when suddenly he felt warmth above his head.

"Xu Huaiyu, are you an idiot? This is even worth crying over?"

Jin Chen ruffled the cheap cousin‑in‑law's head and added, "Later I'll find someone to give Zhou Zhihong a beating."

As he spoke, he suddenly grew solemn, saying, "But… it seems Zhou Zhihong is also in the same travel party."

After all, he's the son of the Sima clan; if Zhou Guidé is busy with affairs and can't free up time, Zhou Zhihong will certainly have to stand in for his father.

Xu Huaiyu pursed his lips, on the verge of tears again.

——

As expected, Jin Chen hadn't even stepped outside when he saw Zhou Zhihong paying respects to his future father‑in‑law.

"Heir Apparent, Your Highness." Zhou Zhihong again performed the peer salute, delighted, saying, "We haven't traveled together in ages; today's such a fine opportunity—Brother Chen, shall we ride forth?"

Jin Chen stared straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard.

Just as he passed Zhou Zhihong, he gave a casual glance, remarking, "You've got a carriage but you're not sitting—are you just bored?"

Jin Chen unfolded his sleeves and stood straight beside Jin Xuanqi.

Since they were going to the temple, he dressed simply and elegantly: today Jin Chen wore a blue‑green brocade straight robe, a jade hairpin of mutton‑fat jade binding his hair, his proud brows and eyes full of arrogance.

He looked ethereal and handsome, like a secluded green bamboo—except he was dark‑hearted, constantly scheming.

Xu Huaiyu now refused to see Zhou Zhihong, instead closely following his cousin; whenever he passed, he caught a whiff of unfamiliar perfume on Zhou Zhihong, making his heart sink even more.

Zhou Zhihong's face twitched slightly; he furtively glared at Xu Huaiyu's back, convinced he must have said something nonsense, otherwise why would Jin Chen ignore him for no reason?

Usually such close companions, yet suddenly they all ignored Zhou Zhihong; Jin Xuanqi noticed this, found it strange, and silently asked his son with his eyes.

Jin Chen raised a hand to cover his mouth, indicating he wouldn't say a word.

"Mother's here." Jin Chen said.

Jin Xuanqi indeed turned to greet her; as Xu Wangyue stepped onto the stairs, he took her hand.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, Jin Chen couldn't help urging them on.

"Hurry up, what are we waiting for?"

Jin Xuanqi expressed surprise, "Usually we're not this rushed when praying for blessings—what's going on today?"

Because I'm going to look for someone!

Jin Chen certainly couldn't say that.

"I haven't been to South Prefecture Temple in ages; I'm in a hurry to find the prayer‑blessing tree," he offered as an excuse.

Mentioning the prayer‑blessing tree, Jin Xuanqi and his wife inevitably thought of the red silk sash Jin Chen had hung up—mysterious, and nobody was allowed to see what was written on it.

Today's trip must be to retrieve it.

That makes sense.

——

No matter how hesitant he felt inside, the carriage Xu Huaiyu rode in couldn't stray far from Zhou Zhihong—after all, to the outside world they were still fiancés.

Inside the carriage, Xu Huaiyu lifted the curtain to look out; Zhou Zhihong rode his horse just to the left, clearly still bearing that same visage—how…

He gazed at him mournfully for a few moments; as soon as Zhou Zhihong noticed the look, he immediately lowered the curtain, his fingers tangled in worry.

If only he'd known earlier, he could have learned to ride with his cousin and wouldn't have to sit alone in the carriage fretting.

No, it's not that—he just wants to be like his cousin, thinking about nothing at all.

Xu Huaiyu wiped away Tears, annoyed with himself.

In the carriage ahead, Jin Chen, who had nothing to think about, sighed sadly.

No wonder the original owner didn't want to come; it's really too boring.

He considered the days; in the original plot, Yajiu was taken away by Xu Huaiyu on the day of return, and now it's a two-day journey to South Prefecture Temple; after arriving at South Prefecture Temple he would rest a few days, then wait for the return, which would probably be seven days later.

Jin Chen fingered the jade blessing bead on his wrist, thinking, he needed to find some fun.

"Da Hu!"

He lifted the curtain and walked out, saying, "Bring the horse!"