Chang Yuncheng didn’t return for dinner. A maid came to report that he was staying with Madam Xie. Even when night fell deep, he still hadn’t returned. Qi Yue figured Chang Yuncheng was sleeping in the outer study.

Qi Yue couldn’t sleep soundly either. In the middle of the night, half-asleep and half-awake, she heard maids talking outside and the sound of doors opening, causing her to sit up involuntarily.

Chang Yuncheng came in.

The room had no lamps lit, so she couldn’t see the man’s expression clearly. Just as Qi Yue was about to say something, he walked straight over and lay down on the bed.

A luohan bed was spacious for one person to sleep on, but became rather cramped with two people, especially with a robust man like Chang Yuncheng.

Qi Yue was immediately squeezed to the inside. She found it both amusing and exasperating.

This man…

Chang Yuncheng lay on his side facing outward, seemingly asleep.

The room fell into silence.

“Hey.” Qi Yue reached out and poked him.

Chang Yuncheng didn’t move at all.

Even in this situation, still being stubborn as a dead duck!

Qi Yue couldn’t help but smile slightly, reaching out to embrace his waist.

Chang Yuncheng’s body stiffened, and he grabbed Qi Yue’s hand resting on his waist, wanting to fling it away, but ultimately couldn’t bear to do so.

The woman behind him pressed closer, soft and gentle, tightly against his solid, broad back. Chang Yuncheng’s body gradually relaxed.

The room remained quiet, but the atmosphere clearly softened.

Chang Yuncheng let Qi Yue hold him quietly like this for a moment.

“Yueniang, I’ll be leaving soon. With you and mother like this, I’m not at ease.”

After a moment, Chang Yuncheng slowly said in a low voice.

“Before…” he continued, not giving Qi Yue a chance to interject, “Before, I didn’t care about you, I won’t deny that, but now…”

He paused here, turned over, and his large hand caressed Qi Yue’s face, gently stroking.

“Now… I’m extremely reluctant to leave you behind.” He said in a low voice.

Qi Yue looked at him, seeing only the man’s faintly gleaming eyes in the darkness. Her heart felt soft and tingly.

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

“Of course, I can’t stay home forever.” Chang Yuncheng said, his hand caressing her delicate skin.

“For a long time?” Qi Yue asked.

“I don’t know, at least half a year.” Chang Yuncheng answered, pulling the woman’s head into his arms, gently stroking her smooth hair.

Half a year… thinking of this, Chang Yuncheng suddenly felt very suffocated. He wouldn’t see this woman for half a year…

“I want to go too.” Qi Yue suddenly lifted her head and said.

Because of the sudden movement, Chang Yuncheng wasn’t prepared and got bumped on the chin, almost biting his tongue.

This woman was always so rough and reckless!

“What nonsense are you talking about? What would you go for?” Chang Yuncheng pressed her head down, laughing.

But having such reluctant feelings expressed so directly really made his heart feel… so comfortable.

He couldn’t help but hold this woman tighter in his arms, nuzzling her head.

“Of course I should go.” Qi Yue struggled to lift her head again, “Long-distance relationships are marriage killers!”

What nonsense, Chang Yuncheng frowned.

“Stop fooling around. Even if father spoils you, it’s impossible for you to come with me.” He said.

“What do you mean father spoils me? I’m being reasonable, alright.” Qi Yue said.

“Yes, you’re always reasonable.” Chang Yuncheng laughed.

This usually rigid man suddenly speaking so gently with her made Qi Yue feel very uncomfortable.

Was it because they were talking about parting?

Just when they were getting familiar, just when they had a little intimacy, they had to separate…

“I don’t care, I have to go anyway. Even if I don’t live there permanently, I should have visitation rights.” Qi Yue pressed her head close to his and said.

Chang Yuncheng smiled without saying anything.

The two embraced quietly for a moment.

He wanted to speak again, but Qi Yue spoke first.

“Alright, I’ll work hard to make you feel at ease.” She said, reaching out to embrace his neck, “I won’t talk about the past anymore either. Let’s both look to the future.”

Chang Yuncheng reached out to hold her face and kissed her heavily. It was a long time before they separated.

Qi Yue lay gasping against his chest.

“Mother has a bad temper, you… you should be patient with her… If she knew your feelings, she wouldn’t act like this.” Chang Yuncheng said.

Qi Yue laughed dryly to herself.

Hopefully.

But well, since she decided to live with this man, the relationship with Madam Xie would have to be faced sooner or later. It had to be resolved.

She reached out to embrace Chang Yuncheng’s neck again.

In the darkness, Chang Yuncheng saw this woman’s eyes bright as she leaned close.

“That felt pretty good just now.” Qi Yue said with a low laugh, “How about once more?”

Chang Yuncheng was stunned, then burst into laughter.

The laughter suddenly rang out in the room, filling the entire space.

“Why are you laughing so loud?” Qi Yue quickly patted him, “There are people eavesdropping outside!”

Chang Yuncheng laughed even louder, reaching out to hold this woman tightly.

This rough woman, this annoying woman, he loved her so much!

When the laughter suddenly erupted, A’Ru and Qiu Xiang outside were startled, then heard Qi Yue’s words. The two exchanged embarrassed glances, then low, enticing gasps began to sound.

A’Ru quickly pulled Qiu Xiang away.

Entering their room, both looked at each other’s flushed faces and giggled.

“I told you not to worry.” Qiu Xiang said with a low laugh, “Married couples fight at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of it.”

A’Ru nodded with a smile, sighing with relief.

“Thank heaven, neither the Prince nor the Young Madam are being stubborn anymore. Each taking a step back means moving forward two steps.” She murmured, then thinking of Madam Xie, her brow furrowed with worry, “But with Madam…”

Madam Xie’s situation was truly difficult to handle.

“However, the Young Madam is so capable. Now all those in the household who originally disliked her have come to like her. As long as she wants to, Madam will surely come to like her too.” Qiu Xiang said with bright eyes, smiling, “I didn’t like the Young Madam at first either, but look now—I’d worship her like a goddess… And surely I’m not the only one in this household who thinks this way.”

A’Ru nodded. Right, exactly. As long as she wanted to, there was nothing she couldn’t accomplish.

Because this woman truly came from the realm of immortals.

Since Qi Yue said she would do it, she immediately acted on it. The next day she accompanied Chang Yuncheng to pay respects to Madam Xie. This time Madam Xie didn’t make her kneel, but wouldn’t let her enter the door. This time Qi Yue didn’t storm off, but waited outside the door until Chang Yuncheng came out. Of course, she still couldn’t bring herself to kneel voluntarily—such self-torment, though kneeling would show more sincerity.

At lunchtime, there was an additional dish on Madam Xie’s table.

“This dish is good.” Madam Xie was pleased to see the new dish, and even happier after tasting it. She pointed at Chang Yuncheng, who had come specially to accompany her meal, “It’s made by the same cook as the late-night snack you sent that evening. Try it.”

Chang Yuncheng didn’t need to taste it to know, but Madam Xie finally showed him a smile, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed Yueniang’s efforts were having an effect.

Exactly—mother just wanted face, nothing more.

Yueniang’s personality was indeed a bit too… mischievous.

It was just like father being annoyed with his own mischievousness—fundamentally it was still caring.

So that evening, and the next day at noon, different new dishes appeared, with late-night snacks in the evening as well. At first Madam Xie wanted to personally reward the cook, but after the kitchen made excuses several times, and seeing Chang Yuncheng’s mysterious smile, Madam Xie understood—this must be her son being filial, specially hiring a cook from outside for her. Seeing that Chang Yuncheng had been by her side morning, noon, and night these past few days, and hadn’t said another word in defense of that woman, her anger finally subsided somewhat.

On this day, the young daughter and son-in-law of Wang Tongye’s family were returning to the capital. Due to their friendship forged through several fights, Chang Yuncheng left early in the morning to see them off.

“Where is that woman? Outside again?” Madam Xie asked.

“No,” Nanny Su replied, “She didn’t come today.”

Madam Xie snorted coldly.

“She’s just putting on an act in front of Yuncheng. With Yuncheng not home, she won’t even bother with the pretense.” She said mockingly, then set down her teacup. Thinking of something, she started, “Don’t tell me she went out with Yuncheng?”

Nanny Su quickly sent someone to inquire, and soon the person returned with news.

“The Young Madam left later than the Prince. She went to Qianjin Hall, not to the Wang family with the Prince.” The maid reported.

Only then did Madam Xie sigh in relief, snorting coldly again.

“Qianjin Hall!” She curled her lip, “It seems she can’t wait to live there permanently.”

At Qianjin Hall, Coffin Boy stood somewhat awkwardly. This was his first time entering a business establishment other than gambling dens, and it felt truly… uncomfortable.

Although Liu Pucheng had personally invited him in, the workers and apprentices in Qianjin Hall still looked at him with complex expressions.

“Hey, you came.” Qi Yue walked in from outside, immediately spotting Coffin Boy. She couldn’t help but notice him—all the apprentices stood far away, leaving only this one person standing alone in the middle of the empty hall, too conspicuous.

Coffin Boy turned around, saw a radiant woman smiling at him, and for a moment his vision seemed to explode with fireworks, flashing and flickering until he couldn’t see anything clearly.

Watching the obviously stunned man, Qi Yue smiled again. Today she hadn’t covered her face, so he couldn’t recognize her.

“Hey, it’s me.” Qi Yue covered her nose and mouth with her hand, showing only her eyes as she spoke to him again.

Coffin Boy wasn’t failing to recognize her—he’d know that voice anywhere—but this was too shocking. How could such a beautiful girl go and do… that kind of thing?

“Master, you came.” Hu San heard the commotion and ran out from the back hall. Seeing Qi Yue, tears nearly came to his eyes, “We were all worried sick…”

“Worried about what? Didn’t I have A’Ru come tell you I was fine?” Qi Yue laughed.

Ever since that night when Chang Yuncheng caught them red-handed, everyone had been scared to death. Liu Pucheng had dispersed the apprentices that very night, fearing they’d be implicated, while he personally guarded Qianjin Hall. He’d already prepared himself—if people came to smash the shop, he’d take full responsibility. He was also worried about Qi Yue, so he sent Hu San to watch the Marquis Dingxi’s mansion, especially the side and back doors, because he knew these high-ranking households would secretly deal with the women in their families. He’d made up his mind that if the Marquis Dingxi’s mansion really intended to dispose of Qi Yue, he’d risk his life to save her.

Even if he couldn’t save her, then he’d die too—a life for a life.

He never expected that after a day and night, nothing happened, and A’Ru actually came to tell them everything was fine.

What did “fine” mean?

Only today, seeing it with their own eyes, did they fully understand.