Chapter 40: Explanation in the Future

At this moment, Shi Yan couldn't make up her mind – should she confess or continue covering for Clever Wen?

In the midst of hesitation, Clever Wen walked out of the room carrying two cups of fruit tea.

While walking, he called out, "Yan'er, about this fruit tea of yours..."

Clever Wen paused, as if just noticing Shi Yiliang, and then laughed, "Uncle Shi, are you here to taste Yan'er's newly made fruit tea?"

Shi Yiliang, observing Clever Wen's flushed face, was suspicious and counter-questioned, "Why does Hu'er look so red? Is he running a fever?"

Clever Wen's heart skipped a beat. He had inadvertently revealed a flaw. While he could hide some things, the physical exertion from the sprint couldn't be concealed.

Thinking about how to resolve the situation, Clever Wen heard Shi Yan giggling, "He's not running a fever. I asked Clever Wen to help push the swing, and he got tired, that's all."

Clever Wen, hearing Shi Yan covering for him, couldn't quite express his emotions at the moment. He replied, "Not tired, as long as Yan'er is happy."

Xing'er, standing on the side, realized that the two were hiding something. However, as a servant, she didn't dare to speak up and continued to stand by quietly.

Although Shi Yiliang remained skeptical of their explanations, trusting his daughter who never lied, he decided he might have misunderstood.

He said, "There were thieves tonight. Be cautious. Hu'er, after tasting the tea, go back early. I'll send someone to protect you."

"Thank you, Uncle Shi," Clever Wen calmly replied.

Seeing this, Shi Yiliang didn't linger. Considering the importance of the sealed letter, he swiftly moved towards other parts of the mansion to investigate.

As soon as he left, Shi Yan couldn't hold back her curiosity and was about to ask Clever Wen. However, Clever Wen, sensing that Shi Yiliang might still be nearby, subtly shook his head and, taking advantage of handing her the fruit tea, whispered, "Yan'er, I'll explain everything to you later."

Slightly annoyed, Shi Yan, who had been helping him hide, felt frustrated. Despite her assistance, he insisted on explaining later. When would that be? How much later? Shi Yan didn't ask and, slightly sulking, said, "I'm tired, Clever Wen, go back. I want to sleep."

Without waiting for Clever Wen to respond, she instructed Xing'er to close the door and went straight to her chamber.

After Xing'er escorted Clever Wen back to his room, Shi Yan immediately asked, "Did he say anything else?"

Somewhat puzzled, Xing'er, who had witnessed her mistress abruptly changing her mind, didn't understand what the young lady wanted. She could only reply, "Young Master Clever Wen asked me to tell Miss to rest well."

Seemingly dissatisfied, Shi Yan pursued, "Just that?"

Not grasping Shi Yan's expectations, Xing'er changed the topic, "Miss, why did you keep something from Master today? In the past..."

Shi Yan knew exactly what Xing'er was referring to and gave her a stern look.

She said, "Don't ask about things you shouldn't, and don't speak about things you shouldn't."

With that, she pulled the blanket over herself, turned to the side, and ignored Xing'er.

While lying under the covers, Shi Yan secretly vowed to confront Clever Wen tomorrow. She had never lied to her parents before, and now she felt a sense of guilt and unease.

Meanwhile, lying in his bed, Clever Wen was sorting through his thoughts. He knew he couldn't keep the truth hidden for long. When Shi Yiliang realized and interrogated the servants and Xing'er, the flaws would be exposed.

He feared that he couldn't escape when that happened.

The more Clever Wen thought about it, the more anxious he became. He needed to escape from the Shi mansion, but the sealed letter was currently hidden in Shi Yan's possession. He had to retrieve it quickly.

After organizing his thoughts, Clever Wen stopped dwelling on it. He lay in bed, pretending to sleep, wary of the possibility that Shi Yiliang might burst in at any moment.

He thought to himself that he must leave the Shi mansion as soon as possible. However, with the sealed letter hidden in Shi Yan's place, he needed to act swiftly.

As soon as dawn broke, without bothering to freshen up, Clever Wen hurried towards Shi Yan's courtyard.

At the same time, Shi Yan, still pondering the events of the previous night, had a sleepless night.

Shi Yan rose early to greet her mother and then returned to her courtyard. Just as she was about to call Clever Wen over, she saw him already outside.

She dismissed the other servants, leaving only the two of them standing by the swing.

She asked Clever Wen, "Is Clever Wen here today to explain things to Yan'er?"

Clever Wen didn't know how to respond and lowered his head, deep in thought.

Should he tell Shi Yan the truth now? But he only had a few numbers from the letter as evidence and hadn't yet figured out who was communicating with Shi Yiliang.

Moreover, even if Clever Wen revealed everything, there was no guarantee that Shi Yan would believe him.

He replied, "Today, I'm here to thank my sister, but..."

Before Clever Wen could finish his sentence, an old woman appeared outside.

She interrupted, "Greetings, Miss. Greetings, Young Master Clever Wen. Pardon the intrusion. Madam instructed Xing'er to fetch something; she needs it urgently."

Shi Yan's attention was solely on Clever Wen's explanation, and she didn't care about her mother calling Xing'er for something. She assumed it was just a usual task, like fetching items to replenish her belongings.

However, Clever Wen, listening attentively, was alarmed. This old woman wasn't just any servant; she was the trusted maidservant of Madam Shi.

If it were a simple task of fetching something, why didn't she accompany the old woman earlier? It seemed suspicious.

Clever Wen thought this while maintaining a calm demeanor. As soon as the two left the courtyard, Clever Wen excused himself, without even retrieving the sealed letter. He just wanted to find a reason to leave the mansion.

However, Shi Yan refused to let him go, tearfully shouting, "Clever Wen!"

With just that sentence, she couldn't express more.

Even Shi Yan didn't understand why she was crying. Was it anger? No, she just had a vague feeling that Clever Wen might not come back once he left.

Clever Wen turned around, looking at Shi Yan. They had grown up together, childhood friends with no secrets between them.

He walked up to Shi Yan, gently wiping away her tears, and said, "Yan'er, I will explain everything to you, just not right now."

After saying that, he turned away and left without looking back.

Shi Yan stood there in a daze, watching Clever Wen's departing figure without saying another word.

After leaving the Shi residence, Clever Wen's mind was racing, trying to figure out how to handle the situation.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, a hint of determination hidden within. He walked towards the entrance of the Shi mansion.

"Is Young Master Clever Wen going out? Have you informed the master?" The gatekeeper, having learned a lesson, cautiously asked.

"Of course. Today is my father's seventh-day memorial, and I'm going to pay my respects." Clever Wen replied calmly.

The gatekeeper, hearing this, didn't dare to stop him and asked, "Do you need a carriage?"

"No need. I've already informed the old servant at home; we'll go together."

"Safe travels, Young Master." The gatekeeper opened the mansion gate.

Though Clever Wen's excuse was a fabrication, he had successfully left the Shi mansion safely. After a moment, he headed towards the small courtyard purchased by Zhang, the steward, in secret.