Tang Xiaohua did not disbelieve what Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu had said. They had both said Feng Yinan was a good person — and there was no doubt about that.

But matters of the heart could not be forced. She truly did not want to see her daughter hurt.

The most important thing was that no one knew how long the campaign would last, and she could not keep asking others to look after her daughter indefinitely.

“Mother, I…”

Before Yue Qinchun could finish, Tang Xiaohua had already taken her by the hand and walked out.

“Come along. I’ll have someone pack your things and send them over.”

“Anything else, go tell your father.”

“Mother.” No matter how reluctant Yue Qinchun was, she was still led out through the door.

Outside the door, Feng Yinan was standing there.

The moment the two of them stepped out, they saw him and both stopped.

“Madam Yue.” Feng Yinan looked at Tang Xiaohua and called out softly.

“I apologize. I didn’t come here intentionally to eavesdrop. I only saw someone go toward Miss Yue’s room and was worried, so I followed.”

“Don’t worry — I kept my ears covered the whole time. I heard nothing.”

Tang Xiaohua looked at this tall young man, imagined him standing there with his hands pressed over his ears, and felt her mood lighten a little.

Were there still young men like this nowadays? Covering his ears rather than listen?

Still, looking at the sincerity in Feng Yinan’s eyes, she found it hard to doubt his word.

“Madam Yue, where are the two of you headed?” Not seeing Tang Xiaohua reply, Feng Yinan asked gently.

“Feng-gege, my mother says she’s taking me back.” Yue Qinchun shot Feng Yinan a pleading look.

Feng Yinan met her gaze, his brow creasing faintly.

“Since Madam Yue has made this decision, she has her reasons.”

“It’s not entirely safe here. Miss Yue would be better off returning to Yue City.”

Yue Qinchun felt terribly wronged. These past few days, whenever she needed help with anything, she had gone to Feng Yinan — she had grown used to it.

So her intention in seeking him out was that she hoped he might persuade her mother to let her stay.

Though even Yue Qinchun herself wasn’t entirely sure Feng Yinan could change her mother’s mind, for now he was the only one she could turn to.

Yet the last thing she expected was that his response would be this.

“Feng-gege, I don’t want to go back. I still want to learn the language of small animals from you. I can help Jiu’er.”

“And I can go with you and Xiao Yingtao to help care for the injured brothers. I don’t want to leave.”

Tang Xiaohua and Feng Yinan stood facing each other, and she suddenly found there was no rush.

After all, the discussion on the other side wouldn’t wrap up so quickly.

And besides, she had been wanting to get a proper read on the young man her daughter was so fond of. Now that he was right here, it was the perfect opportunity.

Feng Yinan glanced at Yue Qinchun, then at Tang Xiaohua — who he found completely unreadable — and found himself at a loss for words.

Yue Qinchun was anxious, her eyes fixed on him without blinking.

Tang Xiaohua was unhurried, but her gaze was equally steady and unblinking.

This only made Feng Yinan even less sure what to say.

In his own mind, he felt it would be better for Yue Qinchun to return to Yue City. Only then would she be safer.

But Qinchun didn’t want to go. She seemed very much to want to stay, and something in him softened — he didn’t want to see her downcast.

As for Madam Yue’s gaze — what did it mean? Feng Yinan truly could not read it.

And so the three of them remained in this standoff for nearly the time it takes an incense stick to burn halfway, before someone finally spoke.

“Madam Yue, if Qinchun doesn’t want to leave, she could actually stay—”

“Didn’t you just call her ‘Miss Yue’?” Tang Xiaohua fixed her eyes on Feng Yinan, a slight frown forming.

“Mother.” Yue Qinchun hooked her arm through Tang Xiaohua’s.

She seemed rather worried that Feng-gege might find himself on the losing end. Compared to Feng Yinan, her mother did seem a little formidable.

“What is it?” Tang Xiaohua turned to look at Yue Qinchun.

Yue Qinchun met her mother’s gaze and shook her head quickly.

“No, no, nothing. Feng-gege and I are friends — and he’s my life-saver. He usually calls me by my name. He probably switched to ‘Miss Yue’ because he was worried you’d disapprove. He didn’t mean anything by it.”

“My apologies, Madam Yue.” Feng Yinan had unconsciously reached up to scratch the back of his head.

Tang Xiaohua noticed that little gesture.

“No need to apologize. Since you are Qinchun’s savior, you are a friend of mine.”

“You should be able to understand how I feel, shouldn’t you? We are at war right now — lives are being wagered. Taking Qinchun away is for her own good.”

“Mother, I…” Yue Qinchun started to object.

Tang Xiaohua patted the back of her hand, cutting her off.

Feng Yinan gave a small nod and replied quietly, “Madam Yue is right. This is not the kind of life Qinchun should be leading. She…”

“But she doesn’t want to come away with me right now.” Tang Xiaohua cut Feng Yinan off as well.

“So tell me — what should I do?”

This left even Yue Qinchun puzzled about her own mother.

Why was she asking Feng-gege a question like that?

Tang Xiaohua was not without her helplessness. Her own daughter’s behavior — was it because Qinchun was afraid she might bully her Feng-gege?

A daughter grown is a daughter gone. Such is a mother’s helplessness.

She could sense the tension in Yue Qinchun’s breathing, but her gaze remained fixed on Feng Yinan.

Feng Yinan looked at her for a long moment, unable to withstand the pressure, and finally spoke.

“Madam Yue, you have your reasons, and Qinchun has her own thoughts. How about the two of you discuss it a little further?”

“And, well…if Qinchun truly wants to stay, as long as I have no other duties assigned to me, I will be by her side at all times.”

“Madam Yue, what do you think of that arrangement?”

“What arrangement?” came Tang Xiaohua’s noncommittal reply.

“If you’ve decided that Qinchun should stay, then you must guarantee her safety. Can you guarantee that?”

“I…” Feng Yinan glanced at Yue Qinchun and drew in a slow breath.

His gaze returned to Tang Xiaohua and he continued, “Qinchun says we are all family. I will look after her as I would my own younger sister.”

“Madam Yue, you may set your mind at ease. If Qinchun is my sister, I would sooner risk my own life than let any harm come to her.”

“It’s just that the assault is coming soon, and once the battle begins, I would still worry about Qinchun suffering hardship. I…”

“So — should she stay or not?” Tang Xiaohua’s voice dropped a shade lower.

Feng Yinan touched the tip of his nose and drew in another slow breath.

“Madam Yue, do you think my answer could change your mind?”

“That depends on my mood.” Tang Xiaohua replied, raising an eyebrow.

“Mother.” Yue Qinchun tugged at Tang Xiaohua’s arm again. “I want to stay. Feng-gege will take care of me.”

“Take care of you how?” Tang Xiaohua looked at the girl who had come to stand before her. “As a younger sister? Or as a future wife?”

“Madam Yue, you’ve misunderstood,” Feng Yinan said, a trace of urgency entering his voice. “I only think of Qinchun as a younger sister.”

“I have no improper intentions toward Qinchun whatsoever. I can assure you of that.”

“And if you still aren’t at ease, and Qinchun truly wishes to stay, I can ask Jiu’er to arrange for someone else to look after her.”

“I only see how hard Qinchun works to learn, and I don’t want her to give it all up just like that. It would be such a waste.”