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Cough cough, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but cough as soon as Xia Zheng finished speaking. To think she was so nervous she didn’t dare to swallow her saliva, it was all for such a "big deal"!

When it came to someone’s jealousy, Lin Yuan readily admitted defeat.

Although the sudden snow disrupted many people’s plans, fortunately, the following days were all clear and sunny.

Xia Zheng was busy running around everywhere, and of course, he also took the time to meet with Ma Junying and Master Ma.

Although he hadn’t yet gotten the printing assignment from the Emperor, Xia Zheng knew the Emperor well enough to be certain that as soon as he asked, the old man would definitely hand over the hot potato without hesitation.

To Lin Yuan’s surprise, Master Ma was nothing like she had imagined. She thought he would either be a refined middle-aged man like his son Ma Junying or a doting father like Lin Jiaxin. But who would have thought that this guy was a total clown!

The moment they met, he ignored the main guest Xia Zheng and headed straight for Lin Yuan at the back, babbling on and on.

Lin Yuan listened in shock and, when Master Ma asked "Do you understand, miss?", she could only nod her head blankly.

Well then, it turns out Master Ma was here to request the latest batch of pastries for his daughter. No wonder Ma Xiaonan was such a carefree young lady; with a father who spoiled her to the skies, how could she not be innocent and adorable?

After taking care of his daughter’s requests, Ma Bowen then returned to Xia Zheng to discuss their collaboration.

It wasn’t until their conversation started on that end that Ma Junying, with an amused smile, walked up to Lin Yuan, coughed into his fist to hide his embarrassment, and said, "Are you okay? Really, I’m so sorry, my father, he... he really dotes too much on my little sister."

It took Lin Yuan a while to gather her wits, and she waved her hand: "Oh, no, no, your father, he’s quite good."

After thinking for a while, that was the best adjective Lin Yuan could come up with.

Ma Junying’s gaze followed his father’s. Although he acts like a child when it comes to his offspring, when it comes to serious matters, he’s absolutely meticulous.

"Yes, indeed quite good."

Although it was just a single line, Lin Yuan could hear the respect Ma Junying had for his father.

Just when she was about to say more, Xia Zheng’s voice suddenly rang in her ears: "Yuanyuan, come sit beside me."

Lin Yuan hadn’t even spoken when Xia Zheng’s words caught in her throat. Looking over, although there was a smile on his lips, his eyes were dark, especially when they landed on someone.

Lin Yuan pouted. Was it really necessary to look so sour just because she had exchanged a few words with Ma Junying?

Although she was quite dissatisfied in her heart, Lin Yuan obediently walked over and sat down next to Xia Zheng. It wasn’t because she was afraid of him being angry; on the contrary, there was actually a trace of joy in her heart.

Ma Junying raised an eyebrow at Xia Zheng, who was glaring at him as if ready to devour him, and sent a big, bright smile his way.

Xia Zheng was clearly infuriated by that provoking smile: Good fellow, flirting with my woman right in front of me, and even daring to look at me so boldly. It seems he hasn’t had his fill of those cakes from last time!

Ma Junying’s gaze swept suggestively over Lin Yuan before fearlessly meeting Xia Zheng’s, raising an eyebrow: Your woman? As long as you’re not wed, she’s not your woman for even a day, and I still have a chance.

Xia Zheng was furious, his fists clenched tightly. Although he knew that this kind of matter couldn’t be resolved with brute force, he still wanted to rush over and give a certain thick-skinned guy a sound thrashing!

Sensing the shift in Xia Zheng’s mood, Lin Yuan swept her gaze between him and Ma Junying, pressing down on Xia Zheng’s nearly bulging veins, and whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Punching someone!"

Lin Yuan could almost hear the sound of Xia Zheng grinding his teeth.

"Go ahead, punch him then. If you do, I’ll think you’re a short-tempered and impulsive guy.

I’d scold you severely and then tenderly tend to his injuries feeling very sympathetic.

You’d probably even massage here and there for him.

Oh right, you should aim for his chest and stomach so that later, when checking for injuries, he can justifiably take his shirt off and let me rub his chest or stomach, or maybe even. .."