After my luck was stolen, I led my whole family to defy fate and change our destiny.

"Everyone, please leave. I'm going for a walk in the yard."

Su Zihao felt increasingly heartbroken as he looked at the old Duke's increasingly hunched back.

He suddenly rushed out.

Su Zhe shouted, "Where are you going?"

The old Duke said, "Let him be. He's a grown man; it's good for him to have some peace and quiet."

Su Zihao ran straight into the teahouse, where Lin Jie, who was drinking tea, was still a little confused: "Young Master Su, what's wrong with you? You're sweating so much!"

"Come and wipe it."

Su Zihao pushed Lin Jie's hand away and asked, panting, "Where is your young lady?"

"Are they... having tea in a private room inside?"

Su Zihao composed himself and knocked on the door.

"Please come in"

Lin Xiaoxiao was a little surprised to see who it was: "Brother Zihao, what brings you here? Didn't you say you weren't coming today?"

"What, you don't want me to come?"

Lin Xiaoxiao gave him a playful glare: "You know that's not what I meant."

"By the way, did you bring the gold hairpin?"

Su Zihao lowered his head, looking somewhat aggrieved: "I'm sorry, Xiaoxiao, my mother found out, and I got a beating."

A hint of disappointment flashed in Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes, but she quickly hid it.

"It's alright, Brother Zihao. If it's not, it's fine. I'll figure something out myself. Brother Zihao, are you hurt? Do you need to go to the clinic?"

"It's nothing, just a superficial wound. I've already applied medicine."

Lin Xiaoxiao looked at him with concern, her eyes sparkling like a galaxy.

In the past, if Su Zihao had seen her like this, he would have wanted to give her everything he owned. But now he was wondering if Lin Xiaoxiao had ulterior motives.

Lin Xiaoxiao asked the system telepathically, "System, can I extract Su Zihao's luck now?"

In the past, the system would remind her, but this time she was a little impatient. Since absorbing Qi Yue's luck, she had not become lucky, but rather more unlucky.

I don't know what went wrong.

Could it be that they've used up all their energy? And now they're launching a counterattack?

System: "Host, you cannot extract the other party's luck yet. The system detects that their current favorability towards you is only 70%."

Lin Xiaoxiao: "70%? Are you sure you're not mistaken? Last time it was 99%!"

System: "That's the test result; the system won't make a mistake."

Lin Xiaoxiao felt extremely frustrated. She was about to succeed, but her favorability rating had actually dropped.

Could it be because Su Zihao was beaten for stealing the gold hairpin? Is he blaming her for it?

Ha~ That's hilarious. She didn't ask him to steal it, yet he blames her for his own incompetence.

No, she has to win back this favorability.

Su Zihao noticed she seemed distracted: "What's wrong, Xiaoxiao? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Lin Xiaoxiao immediately realized what was going on: "Oh, it's nothing, I was just wondering what to do about the money I'm short."

Su Zihao: "Don't worry, I just didn't know how to do it this time. I'll definitely steal it for you next time."

"This, this isn't good. What if your aunt finds out and hits you again? I'll be heartbroken."

Su Zihao's eyes were full of tenderness: "I will be careful. Your words are enough."

Lin Xiaoxiao lowered her head shyly and tried to take Su Zihao's hand: "Brother Zihao, will you blame me for getting hit?"

Su Zihao was startled by her actions. They had always been very proper, and Lin Xiaoxiao had never been so proactive before.

He remembered Gu Linglong's words: Lin Xiaoxiao might sacrifice herself for the sake of luck.

Su Zihao subtly withdrew his hand, propping his head up with his hand: "Xiaoxiao, do you think I'm stupid? I can't even do this little thing right?"

"How could that be? I'm already very touched that you're willing to take such a risk for me."

Su Zihao: "Sigh... It's a pity that the Duke's mansion will belong to my second uncle in the future. If I could inherit the title, I could give you a better life."

Lin Xiaoxiao gently shook her head: "It's okay, Brother Zihao, I don't care about these things at all. I'm of humble status, and I'm already very content that you like me."

"Xiaoxiao, you're so kind!"

Lin Xiaoxiao seemed to suddenly remember something: "Brother Zihao, I'm currently harvesting grain. Could you sell me your grain at a lower price? It was so expensive when I bought it last time."

Su Zihao's fingertips went numb. He remembered what his father had said about Lin Xiaoxiao wanting to oust him from his position as a royal merchant and seeking revenge.

So... is this the beginning?

"I'm sorry, Xiaoxiao, I can't interfere in my father's business affairs."

Lin Xiaoxiao: "Oh, okay then. I thought you were going to take over your father's business and had already started learning."

Lin Xiaoxiao looked at the sky and said, "Brother Zihao, you should go back first. It's not good for a man and a woman to stay in a room together for too long."

"Okay, I'll be going now?"

Lin Xiaoxiao waved: "Goodbye, Brother Zihao!"

"Um"

Su Zihao walked downstairs and sat down in front of Lin Jie: "I've always felt you looked familiar. I think I've seen you in front of my father before."

"No, I don't think so. He just has a generic face."

Su Zihao shook his head: "No, I'm sure I've seen you before, I have a very good memory."

Lin Jie chuckled awkwardly, "I really don't have any dealings with Lord Su, but since we're both from the Chamber of Commerce, you probably just happened to meet him."

Su Zihao nodded slightly and left.

Lin Jie patted his chest, thank goodness, although he didn't know why Su Zhe suddenly stopped cooperating with them.

But it's always good to be careful.

Su Zihao, standing outside the door, slammed his fist against the wall. Liu Jie was indeed his father's former business partner; his acting skills were far inferior to his master's.

Lin Xiaoxiao, do you know the truth or not?

Not long after Su Zihao left, Gu Minghai entered the private room, and Lin Xiaoxiao poured him a cup of tea.

"How was it, Second Master?"

Gu Minghai nodded: "This batch of grain has been almost harvested, but we're still short of money for the warehouse rent and the payment for the last batch of grain, sigh..."

"Second Master, don't worry, we still have Gu Hanyue."

"Gu Hanyue's in-laws don't have any money. A fourth-rank official isn't even worth mentioning in the capital."

Lin Xiaoxiao covered her mouth and chuckled softly: "Gu Hanyue may not have money, but Su Xiuran does, right?"

Gu Minghai clapped his hands and pulled Lin Xiaoxiao into his arms: "That's right, I remember Su Xiuran gives Gu Hanyue a sum of money every year, let's use that money first."

Gu Minghai pinched Lin Xiaoxiao's chin: "You're truly my capable wife."

"Hate"

After a while, the two walked out of the teahouse.

The two were still flirting in the alley when Lin Xiaoxiao pushed Gu Minghai, saying, "Stop fooling around, someone's coming soon."

Gu Minghai put his arm around Lin Xiaoxiao's shoulder: "It's midday, there's no one around."

After saying that, he patted Lin Xiaoxiao's butt.

Lin Xiaoxiao glared at him and stormed off.

Su Zihao, who was hiding at the entrance of the alley, witnessed everything.

He had always respected Lin Xiaoxiao, fearing he might tarnish her reputation, yet she was having such a wild time outside.

I changed my clothes when I came out of the teahouse.

Su Zihao's eyes blazed with fury, and he clenched his teeth tightly, feeling like he was being robbed of a green meadow.