“Since you’re so determined, I certainly won’t object,” Feng Jiu’er said with a faint smile.

“But I’ll have someone look into your background — you don’t mind that, do you?”

“I don’t mind.” Shen Rong’er shook her head, smiling happily.

“It’s only right that Jiu’er handles things carefully.”

“So you’re saying, if there’s nothing wrong with my background, I’ll be able to follow all of you?”

Feng Jiu’er looked into her sincere eyes and nodded. “For such a hardworking girl, I’d be more than happy to welcome you.”

“Now eat. You’ve gotten thinner these past few days. But even after being out in the sun for so many days, your skin doesn’t show any damage — that’s quite good.”

“Is it your good genes? Or did you use some good rouge to protect your skin?”

“Thank you!” Shen Rong’er stood, bowed to Feng Jiu’er, then bowed to everyone else before sitting back down.

“Jiu’er, I rarely use rouge — maybe it’s because I’m young, so I don’t really need it for now.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “All right, everyone eat, eat well, don’t be shy!”

Feng Jiu’er didn’t sit idle either — even while chatting, she’d already eaten several pieces.

Jian Yi kept picking out the dishes she liked and putting them in her bowl; Feng Jiu’er’s bowl was nearly overflowing.

“There’s my favorite sweet and sour ribs — wonderful!” Xiao Yingtao wasn’t shy either.

“I love sweet and sour ribs too.” Yue Qinchun, unable to reach them, simply stood up.

Her Yinan had been taken away, so she had to fend for herself now.

“Let’s begin,” Qiao Mu said, also picking up her chopsticks.

Everyone dug in, and every face carried at least a hint of a smile.

Jian Yi had survived a brush with death, the sulfur supplies kept growing, the first batch of antidote was almost ready, and there was delicious food on the table besides.

Everything was moving in a good direction — no matter how hard or tiring things got, it was all worth it.

“By the way, why didn’t Xuepiao come?” Feng Jiu’er glanced at Xiao Yingtao and kept eating.

“She said she wasn’t coming — she’s busy,” Xiao Yingtao said, her cheeks puffed out, her words a little muffled.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “I’ll go check on her later.”

“Xiao Yingtao, after lunch, have the brothers go out and find somewhere good to eat. Let’s take everyone out for dinner tonight.”

“Everyone’s been working hard for so long — they deserve to be rewarded, rewarded.”

“Rong’er, you’re a local here — do you know anywhere good to eat nearby?” Xiao Yingtao looked at Shen Rong’er.

Shen Rong’er blinked and nodded. “I do know a few places, but I’m not sure if they’ll suit everyone’s tastes.”

“I’ll find time to go take a look myself,” Yang Sheng said. “I’ve been to Yongshan City many times before, so I know some of the local specialties here.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded.

“Jiu’er, I’ll go with Brother Yang,” Shen Rong’er said, pressing her lips together.

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded again, then turned her head to look at Jian Yi.

“Jian Yi, eat your own food — stop putting food in my bowl all the time. I can reach it myself.”

“By the way, this soup was made especially for you,” she said, lowering her eyes to look at the soup in front of Jian Yi. “No matter what, you must finish it.”

“Mm.” Jian Yi nodded slightly, then put another piece of meat in Feng Jiu’er’s bowl.

“Jiu’er, you’ve gotten thin. Eat more, gain some weight — you’ll look even better.”

Several women stopped what they were doing, chopsticks and mouths both freezing, to stare at him because of that single sentence.

Xiao Yingtao forced down the food in her mouth and said, “Jian Yi, did I hear that right?”

“Was that really… you talking just now?”

“So easily surprised!” Qiao Mu glanced at Xiao Yingtao.

Xiao Yingtao looked at her, stunned, her bright watery eyes full of astonishment.

“Qiao Mu, what do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.” Qiao Mu shrugged and kept eating.

Xiao Yingtao looked at her, then at Jian Yi, and finally her gaze landed on Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, what does Qiao Mu mean? What does Jian Yi mean?”

Feng Jiu’er merely raised an eyebrow and looked away.

“Xiao Yingtao, ask Qiao Mu what she means, ask Jian Yi what he means — how would I know if you ask me?”

“Xiao Yingtao, what did you want to ask?” Jian Yi asked softly, looking at Xiao Yingtao.

A moment ago she’d been staring unblinkingly at Feng Jiu’er with a bit of resentment in her heart, and now, suddenly called out by name, she was genuinely startled.

Her gaze landed on Jian Yi, her eyes widening even further.

“Jian Yi, are you really… Jian Yi?”

Had the old Jian Yi ever called her by name before? Probably, yes — if he couldn’t find Jiu’er, he’d occasionally come looking for her.

But Jian Yi had actually just started a conversation — he’d actually made small talk. How was that possible?

Xiao Yingtao blinked hard and looked toward Feng Jiu’er; seeing that she seemed unbothered, she continued, still not quite understanding.

“Xiao Yingtao, I’m Jian Yi. Is there a problem?” Jian Yi asked, posing another question.

Everyone knew his voice was quite pleasant to listen to — he was already extraordinarily handsome, and his voice seemed almost handpicked to match.

But normally, Jian Yi spoke with such coldness that no one could sense any warmth in it — who would even notice whether his voice sounded nice or not?

Aside from Feng Jiu’er, even Qiao Mu and Xiao Yingtao, who had lived alongside him for so long, rarely got any special consideration from him.

“No!” Xiao Yingtao, finally managing to calm herself somewhat, waved her hand.

“No, what problem could there be? Heh heh…”

Even she found her own laugh awkward.

“Brother Jian Yi, you’re even better now!” Yue Qinchun said, looking at Jian Yi admiringly.

Jian Yi looked back at him and nodded slightly. “Thank you!”

After saying thanks, Jian Yi went back to putting food in Feng Jiu’er’s bowl.

Every gesture, every word — gentle and refined — seemed to have nothing to do with his former cold ruthlessness.

Jian Yi had always been gentle toward Jiu’er, but never quite like today.

More importantly, he seemed to have grown much closer with everyone else too.

This was no small change!

“Everyone, stop just staring,” Qiao Mu said, setting down her chopsticks and sipping her tea.

“He really is Jian Yi, no mistake — but I suspect he’s been overdosing on tonics.”

Qiao Mu pointed at her own temple meaningfully.

Meaning, she suspected something was wrong with Jian Yi’s head.

Everyone looked at Qiao Mu, then at Jian Yi, their gazes carrying a fair share of doubt.

“Qiao Mu, is there something wrong with your head?” Feng Jiu’er turned to look at the person beside her.

“Of course there isn’t,” Qiao Mu said, frowning, looking away.

“There’s nothing wrong with Jian Yi either.” Feng Jiu’er shot her a look and turned back to Jian Yi.

She herself felt that Jian Yi had become better.

Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly and lightly patted Jian Yi’s shoulder.

“Our family’s great hero is an angel who fell to the mortal realm — now that he’s figured things out and wants to be a mortal, isn’t that better?”

“Jian Yi, the way you are now is good. You should smile more often.”

“A handsome man who smiles easily will win the hearts of more girls.”

“Who knows — one day, the person meant for you will show up. Starting now, you should get ready.”

“Opportunity only comes to those who are prepared — do you understand what I’m saying?”