Wu Caiwei slept soundly and felt refreshed.
While she was having breakfast and then strolling in the garden, a strange woman suddenly burst in and hugged her.
The dampness around her neck reminded her that the woman was crying.
In an instant, she guessed that the visitor was her twin sister, Zhou Hanxiao.
Wu Caiwei stood there, quietly appreciating her performance. After an unknown amount of time, the other woman finally stopped.
Her eyes were slightly red, and she tightly clasped Wu Caiwei's hand, saying with remorse, "When you returned to the manor yesterday, I only learned that I had another twin sister. I couldn't wait to see you this morning. You've suffered so much these years."
Wu Caiwei couldn't help but marvel at how skilled her sister was.
Seeing Wu Caiwei's lack of reaction for a long time, Zhou Hanxiao looked at her cautiously, "Does my sister resent me? I truly didn't know about your existence. If I had known, I would have begged Father to bring you back."
"What is Sister thinking? When we left, we were both infants. These matters were beyond our control. I've only just returned to the manor and am unfamiliar with everything," Wu Caiwei sighed inwardly. "It's just acting, who can't do that? I'll play along."
"That's good. Now that you're back, we'll have more time to spend together and get to know each other," Zhou Hanxiao said happily, as if relieved.
After that, she chattered on and on, while Wu Caiwei occasionally responded with a "mm" or a nod.
After seeing Zhou Hanxiao off, Wu Caiwei's good mood for the morning vanished, leaving her feeling disgusted, as if she had eaten a fly.
What bothered her even more was that from then on, Zhou Hanxiao visited her courtyard every day.
Sometimes, Wu Caiwei had to admire her. Despite hating her to the core, Zhou Hanxiao acted as if nothing was wrong, staging a play of sisterly affection every day.
This continued for a month, after which Zhou Hanxiao invited her out to sightsee. Wu Caiwei knew that what was coming had arrived.
Early in the morning, Zhou Hanxiao was already waiting in her courtyard, urging her to hurry.
Along the way, Zhou Hanxiao chattered about the streets and alleys of the capital, while Wu Caiwei looked around like a country bumpkin.
The carriage stopped in front of the largest embroidery shop in the capital. Maids and servants quickly stepped forward to help them alight.
As they walked, Zhou Hanxiao smiled and said, "Mother gave me plenty of money to have a few outfits made for us to wear when we go out."
Wu Caiwei nodded absentmindedly.
Seeing her lack of interest, Zhou Hanxiao assumed she was unfamiliar with the embroidery shop and quietly introduced, "This is the largest embroidery shop in our capital. Each outfit here is worth a thousand pieces of gold."
Wu Caiwei glanced at it dismissively. After a moment's thought, she looked again more carefully. As she observed, she felt that even the largest embroidery shop in the capital was nothing special. She decided that once she had money, she would open one and let them see what real craftsmanship was.
Zhou Hanxiao watched her surveying the shop with a triumphant expression, a sense of superiority rising within her. She curled her lips disdainfully, thinking that she would certainly fool this country bumpkin later.
The shopkeeper greeted them warmly and led them to a VIP room on the second floor.
Looking at the dazzling array of dresses, Zhou Hanxiao was infatuated. Unfortunately, the clothes here were too expensive, and her mother only allowed her to buy one each time.
Today was an exception, just to appease Zhou Hanyu. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so generous.
Soon, the embroiderers presented various fabrics.
Zhou Hanxiao spotted the fuchsia and deep yellow fabrics. She grabbed them and showed them to Wu Caiwei. "Sister, look how vibrant these two colors are and how they suit your complexion. If you wear them, you'll surely stand out in any crowd."
Wu Caiwei said timidly, "But I'm not used to being stared at. I prefer goose yellow and pale green." As she spoke, she grabbed two fabrics from another embroiderer's hand.
Zhou Hanxiao's mouth twitched. Was this fool doing this on purpose? She had picked out the two most expensive fabrics in the shop, even more expensive than what Zhou Hanxiao herself could afford and had only one outfit made from them so far.
To avoid overspending, she spent the next while actively promoting other fabrics and downplaying these two. But Wu Caiwei was stubborn and refused to budge, no matter how eloquently Zhou Hanxiao tried to persuade her.
Seeing her exasperated expression, Wu Caiwei secretly rejoiced. She thought to herself, "You want to fob me off with inferior goods? Today, I'll make you pay."
Zhou Hanxiao had originally planned to visit a jewelry store, but with her money dwindling, she simply took Wu Caiwei to a restaurant for a meal.
They sat by the window in a private room on the second floor, chatting idly. Zhou Hanxiao inadvertently glanced outside, then abruptly stood up, her gaze fixed on a person in the middle of the street. She covered her mouth to stifle a cry.
After venting her emotions, she looked at Wu Caiwei's indifferent expression and felt a surge of annoyance. Things were not unfolding as she had anticipated. Normally, encountering such a situation would prompt concern and a question about what happened, wouldn't it?
"Actually, it's quite good that my sister grew up outside. Unlike me, who has no control over her own life," Zhou Hanxiao said after some thought, trying to smile, but her attempt looked more like a grimace.
"Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Since Sister enjoys the fine clothes and food of the manor, she should be prepared to contribute to the manor," Wu Caiwei said expressionlessly.
Zhou Hanxiao choked. She felt that her sister was specifically there to thwart her. Ever since meeting her, nothing had gone smoothly.
"That's true, but one's feelings are not entirely controllable. I had already prepared to forget about him, but then I saw him again just now," Zhou Hanxiao said, tears welling up.
"My parents' decree, the words of a matchmaker. Sister, as a young lady of the inner chambers, you should be cautious with your words. Fortunately, you are speaking to me. I will let it go in one ear and out the other to protect the reputation of our Zhou family. If others were to overhear, your damaged reputation would be the least of it; people would say our Zhou family does not know how to raise a daughter," Wu Caiwei said sternly, looking at her.
Zhou Hanxiao was annoyed. This bumpkin was lecturing her. Did she not understand these principles? How could she be so cold-blooded, showing no sympathy?
Suppressing the anger that was rising within her, Zhou Hanxiao said pitifully, "It's precisely because I'm speaking to you, Sister, that I'm saying this. I understand propriety and shame. It's just that in my heart, I can't help but feel wronged. We met first, our hearts were in sync, yet Father is marrying me off to someone I've never met."
"Sister, you need to relax. What woman isn't like this? Don't speak of hearts being in sync again, it sounds too clandestine. Don't make me look down on you," Wu Caiwei said righteously.
Zhou Hanxiao took a few deep breaths, adjusting her respiration. She felt she was about to be choked to death by her. If her wedding date wasn't so close, she wouldn't have to endure this indignity.
"Since Sister cares so much about the Zhou family's reputation, to prevent me from marrying and doing anything that might harm the Zhou family's reputation, I will give this marriage to you. We look exactly alike anyway," Zhou Hanxiao said bluntly. If she continued to beat around the bush, this blockhead wouldn't understand.