Feng Jin sighed helplessly. At this rate, how long would it take to break through that barrier?
After much thought, she decided to help Cai Qing. "There's a tiger carved on your crossbow bolt."
Warned by Feng Jin's reminder, Lu Shi finally noticed the tiger on the crossbow bolt. But was that crooked thing truly a tiger? He had found it strange at first and stared at it for a long time, unable to discern what it was.
"Young Madam, if you hadn't pointed it out, I really wouldn't have seen it as a tiger. But Young General, what do you mean by carving a tiger on the crossbow bolt?"
"It wasn't me who carved it!" Did she have nothing better to do than carve a tiger on his crossbow bolt? If she had, Lu Shi wouldn't dare wear it. If Ling Mohan, that jealous man, saw it, who knew what trouble would ensue.
Lu Shi frowned, scratching the back of his head, suddenly confused about what was happening.
Feng Jin sighed, truly exasperated with Lu Shi's dullness for not understanding such a simple matter. "It was Cai Qing."
Lu Shi's eyes widened abruptly. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, only feeling a buzzing in his head.
"He really is a blockhead. Can't you tell Cai Qing likes you?" Feng Jin, tired of playing coy with the foolish Lu Shi, explained everything directly.
"Ah!" Lu Shi exclaimed in surprise, a blush immediately spreading across his entire face.
Cai Qing liked him? How could that be possible?
With this realization, Lu Shi felt lightheaded, as if his feet weren't touching the ground.
It was the first time he knew a girl liked him, and he involuntarily swallowed.
"What's wrong? Did it scare you into a stupor?"
Seeing his dumbfounded appearance, Feng Jin wondered if he was truly frightened.
"No, I just... I just didn't react in time."
"Then what do you think?"
"Ah?" Lu Shi called out in confusion, asking obliviously, "What... what do you mean what do I think?"
"What do you think about Cai Qing liking you?" Feng Jin patiently asked again, then, worried that Lu Shi's slow brain wouldn't understand, rephrased it in a simpler way: "Do you like Cai Qing?"
This question made Lu Shi even more embarrassed. In his twenty-something years, this was the first time he had encountered such a situation, and he truly didn't know how to answer.
"What's with all the stammering? Hurry up and say it, do you like her or not!"
Feng Jin's patience was wearing thin. Her fingers tapping on the table betrayed her current impatience.
"It's just..." Lu Shi looked utterly conflicted, scratching the back of his head, stammering, not knowing what to say.
"This is too troublesome. If you really don't like her, then consider today's conversation as if it never happened. Besides, Cai Qing is a grown woman, and a girl's youth is fleeting. I can't keep her by my side forever. When we return to the capital, I'll have to arrange a good marriage for Cai Qing, so she doesn't waste her time pining for someone who doesn't reciprocate."
Hearing this, Lu Shi immediately panicked. He quickly said, "No... Young Madam, I... I..."
The words at the tip of his tongue got stuck in his throat. Lu Shi was also annoyed by his own uselessness, unable to even speak clearly.
Seeing his state, Feng Jin understood most of it. But what was wrong with Lu Shi, that he couldn't even speak his mind?
"Forget it, if you truly don't want to, I won't force you. Perhaps then..."
"Young Madam, don't... I... I li... like Cai Qing!"
Lu Shi, worried that Cai Qing might be married off to someone else, forced himself to speak the words.
A smile curved Feng Jin's lips. Finally, he was teachable and not too foolish.
"Bang!" A loud noise startled both of them, and they turned their heads to look.
Cai Qing stood there, her expression slightly dazed, with shattered porcelain pieces scattered at her feet.
"Cai Qing!"
"Cai Qing!"
They both spoke in unison.
Cai Qing snapped back to reality, Lu Shi's words of liking her echoing in her mind. Her face instantly turned completely red.
Without the courage to even look at Lu Shi, Cai Qing quickly turned and ran away.
"Cai Qing!" As Lu Shi was about to chase after her, Feng Jin called out from behind.
"Alright, don't chase her. Let her calm down by herself."
Girls were inherently shy. After what had just happened, she was naturally embarrassed. If Lu Shi chased after her now, wouldn't that be truly mortifying for Cai Qing?
"Young Madam, if I..."
"If what? There's no 'if.' If you still want to get married, then hurry up and go. Do what you need to do. I'll handle things here."
Feng Jin quickly urged Lu Shi to leave. The matter had been explained, and staying any longer would only cause trouble. It was better for him to leave quickly.
After much hesitation, and under Feng Jin's impatient gaze urging him away, Lu Shi was frightened and hurried off.
After they left, Feng Jin got up to check on Cai Qing. She knocked on the door for a while before the person inside slowly opened it.
"Young Madam." Cai Qing lowered her head, her voice tinged with shyness, the blush on her face still lingering.
"Still shy?"
"No, Young Madam, please don't tease your servant."
Cai Qing lowered her head even further, nervously fiddling with her fingers, revealing her current shyness.
Feng Jin chuckled, covering her mouth. "A man should marry, and a woman should wed. What is there to be shy about? Besides, you've always liked Lu Shi. Now that you know his feelings, you should be happy."
It was better than not knowing and having all your efforts be in vain. Feng Jin actually felt fortunate for Cai Qing.
"Young Madam... this servant isn't happy, I was just so embarrassed just now."
Whenever she recalled the scene of her encounter with Lu Shi, her face felt hot, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into. She truly had no face to see anyone.
It was all Lu Shi's fault for saying such things in front of the Young Madam. She was now agonizing over how she would face Lu Shi in the future and what to say when they met again.
"Little girl, you're too thin-skinned. I can only help you this far. The rest of it, you'll have to work for yourself."
This was all she could do. As for what would happen next, it depended on their own destinies.
"However, now that you know Lu Shi's feelings for you, you should play hard to get for a while. This is called 'playing coy to get him interested'..."
Feng Jin then began to impart her wisdom to Cai Qing, which she admitted she had learned from idol dramas.