Upon hearing Eddie still refer to her as "Inan brother," Inan felt a mix of frustration and amusement.
She longed to correct him but knew it wasn't the right time.
Instead, she decided to probe into a sensitive topic, asking Eddie about the reason behind his broken engagement with Miss Xue.
Eddie, who wasn't the original person involved in the engagement, found himself baffled by the question.
The situation was a mystery to him, as he had taken over the identity of someone else and was unaware of the specifics leading to the broken engagement and the subsequent suicide.
He knew that the Yue family, including his mother, were under the impression that Miss Xue had initiated the breakup, but the truth was still shrouded in mystery.
When Inan inquired about the matter, Eddie, not wanting to reveal his true identity or his lack of knowledge on the subject, playfully evaded the question.
He jokingly embraced Inan, still treating her as a brother, and teased her about being interested in his sister, Sophia.
He then diverted the conversation to a more lighthearted topic, talking about going out and having fun after the New Year, much to Inan's chagrin.
Inan, overwhelmed by Eddie's over-familiarity and the masculine aura he exuded, struggled to maintain her composure.
She was caught between the roles of a confidant brother and her true identity as a woman, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions but determined to keep her disguise.
Eddie's response, while avoiding the serious question, showed his playful side and his intention to maintain a jovial atmosphere with Inan, whom he still believed to be a close male friend.
Inan felt both annoyed and amused by Eddie's response.
Despite knowing that Eddie saw her only as a brother and not as a woman, she couldn't help feeling uncomfortable with his overly friendly gesture.
The distinct masculine scent and warmth from Eddie made her heart flutter and her body feel weak.
She had to exert great self-control to maintain her composure and continue playing the role of his brother.
Internally, Inan was torn between frustration at Eddie's obliviousness to her true gender and amusement at his playful, carefree attitude.
Despite her irritation, she found it hard to be truly angry with him, as his cheerful and uninhibited nature was part of his charm.
As for Eddie, he remained clueless about Inan's true feelings and identity. His casual and friendly demeanor reflected his perception of Inan as a close male friend.
His lighthearted approach to the situation, discussing plans for future fun and adventures, showcased his typical jovial and carefree personality, always looking to enjoy life and share good times with his friends.
Inan felt a mix of annoyance and humor at Eddie's obliviousness to her true gender.
Although she was frustrated that Eddie saw her only as a "brother" and was blind to her femininity, part of her enjoyed hearing his unfiltered thoughts and preferences, which he would never share if he knew she was a woman.
However, she couldn't help feeling a bit disheartened by his preference for women with larger busts and rounder hips, knowing she didn't fit that description.
Despite her irritation, Inan found it hard to stay mad at Eddie, whose playful and uninhibited nature was part of his charm.
She was determined to maintain her disguise as his "brother," even though it meant enduring his jokes about dating and women.
When Inan asked Eddie about his plans for finding a new partner after the broken engagement, Eddie's response was predictably lighthearted.
He joked about being open to women approaching him and even welcomed the idea of an arranged marriage with a princess.
Inan, however, was concerned about the implications of such arrangements and the intentions behind them, fearing they might be attempts to manipulate or
take advantage of Eddie.
She felt a sudden pang of jealousy at the thought of other women being sent to him, realizing she couldn't bear the idea of Eddie being surrounded by other women.
Inan's internal conflict was evident.
On one hand, she wanted to protect Eddie from potential schemes and ulterior motives, and on the other hand, she harbored feelings for him that she couldn't express due to her disguise.
She was caught between her role as a confidant "brother" and her true feelings as a woman.
Eddie, meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware of Inan's inner turmoil. He continued to treat her as a close male friend, joking and speaking candidly about his thoughts on relationships and women.
His casual attitude and playful banter underscored his lack of awareness of Inan's true identity and the complexity of her emotions.
As Inan navigated this challenging situation, she was torn between revealing her true identity and maintaining her disguise, all while grappling with her growing affection for Eddie and her desire to protect him from any harm.
Eddie was taken aback by Inan's sudden gesture of giving him her sister's jade pendant as a token.
He looked at her with a mix of surprise and amusement, slightly puzzled by her insistence on him keeping it safe.
Inan, realizing her impulsive action might have revealed too much, quickly covered up her emotions with a flustered explanation about it being for her sister.
She was careful to maintain her disguise, despite the growing difficulty of hiding her true feelings from Eddie.
Eddie, still clueless about Inan's true identity, accepted the jade pendant with a chuckle. He playfully teased her about being too serious and promised to take good care of it, unaware of the depth of meaning behind her actions.
Inan watched Eddie with a mixture of relief and frustration, wishing he could see through her disguise. She found herself caught in the dilemma of wanting to reveal her true self to him, yet fearing the consequences of such a revelation.
The moment was filled with unspoken emotions and misunderstandings, as Inan struggled to balance her feelings for Eddie with the need to maintain her disguise.
Eddie, on the other hand, remained blissfully unaware of the turmoil brewing within his "brother."
"Are you serious? That's just a story. What man would be buried in the same grave as another man? Only a fool would believe that!" Eddie chuckled.
"You're the fool!" Innan rolled her eyes at him, her voice tinged with irritation. If Julia was a man, then so was she!
Concerned Eddie might discover her true identity, Innan quickly wrapped her black veil around her face. She stole a glance at Eddie, who still seemed oblivious to her true gender, and couldn't help but feel a mix of resentment and frustration.
"I'm leaving. Aren't you going to say anything? Oh, and what did Lumiao say to Julia when he escorted her home?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
Eddie, feigning ignorance, replied, "He escorted her eighteen times. There were so many things said, I can't remember them all. It's a famous part of the story, the 'Eighteen Farewells.' You must know the music piece 'Butterfly Lovers.' It's full of classic pieces like 'Meeting at School,' 'Reading Together,' 'Eighteen Farewells,' 'Forced Marriage,' 'Reunion at the Pavilion,' 'Crying at the Tomb,' and 'Transforming into Butterflies.'"
Innan, intrigued, said, "Butterfly Lovers? What's that about?"
Eddie, seizing the opportunity to tease her, responded, "You've never heard of it? It's about a brilliant student named Lumiao and his good friend Julia. They became as close as brothers, just like us studying the art of love together. Eventually, Julia introduced Lumiao to his sister, just like you're introducing me to your sister. So, I'm really touched!"
"And then what happened?" Innan pressed, sensing there was more to the story.
Eddie continued, "Well, it's a tragic tale.
Lumiao went to Zhu's house, but without a token of recognition, he couldn't meet Julia's sister. The Zhu family married the sister off to someone else. Heartbroken, like me with the Snow family's breakup, Lumiao fell ill and died. In the story, Julia regrets her actions, cries at his grave, and eventually jumps into his tomb. Their souls merge and become butterflies. That's why you see butterflies always in pairs. You're crying? It's just a story!"
Innan, brushing away tears, quickly wrapped her face with her black veil, not wanting Eddie to see her true identity. She then hurriedly asked, "Aren't you going to escort me like Lumiao did for Julia?"
Eddie flatly refused, "No way. Lumiao escorted Julia for eighteen journeys. I'm not about to do that. I can maybe walk you eighteen meters."
Frustrated, Innan attempted to kick Eddie, missed, and then bit his arm in a fit of rage before storming off.
Watching from the sidelines,Yehken and the others were puzzled by the sudden change in mood. After Innan left, Eddie shrugged innocently, "I guess Innan's hometown has some strange customs. I was just trying to be friendly."
After escorting Innan, Eddie returned with Yue Bing to the White Stone City. Upon arrival, a city official congratulated them on some unknown "happy event" in the Yue family. Confused, Eddie and Yue Bing wondered what this celebration could be.