Qi Yue was first stunned, then burst into laughter.

Wang Qian was surprised by her reaction.

When women heard such words, shouldn’t they be shy or flustered? However, he shook his head and smiled too – this woman was naturally different from other women.

“Is this for real this time, or are you again deliberately trying to give me face?” Qi Yue asked with a smile.

Wang Qian looked at her.

“It’s always been real. Who would have nothing better to do than use this to give face?” he said.

Alright, boy, a master at picking up girls at bars, direct enough – I like that.

Qi Yue laughed again.

This was really too… Chang Yuncheng scraped at the bark behind the tree.

“Seeing you laugh so happily, I’m truly heartbroken.” Wang Qian shook his head and turned away.

Qi Yue laughed even harder, casually picking up a small stick nearby to tap Wang Qian’s shoulder.

“Oh my, the fish escaped.” Wang Qian shushed her, carefully steadying his fishing rod.

“Stop pretending – you already said you’re not here to fish.” Qi Yue laughed.

Chang Yuncheng heard Qi Yue’s clear laughter from over there, pressed his head against the tree trunk, and gripped the bark tightly.

“Looks like I don’t need to keep up the act anymore – I’ll have to actually fish now.” Wang Qian said, sighing softly.

“Hey, hey, why why – tell me, how do you know what I’m thinking without even asking?” Qi Yue asked with a smile, continuing to tap his shoulder with the stick.

“As the poem says, ‘Near home, emotions grow more timid; much feeling seems like no feeling at all, and fleeing in shame…'” Wang Qian said with a smile.

Before he finished, Qi Yue directly raised her hand to knock his head.

“Reading too much makes you stupid.” she laughed, “Speak properly.”

Was this… flirting… Chang Yuncheng pressed his head closer to the tree trunk, feeling that every breath hurt.

What was he still doing here? What was he still doing here?

Perhaps because things were out in the open, Wang Qian also felt he’d suddenly become more familiar with this woman. Compared to the previous courteous familiarity, this had more of the casualness of old friends, but along with it came a faint regret.

“Now, is it still not too late?” he looked up and asked.

Qi Yue smiled, twirling the small stick in her hands, looking at him without speaking.

“Alright, no need to answer.” Wang Qian quickly said.

“Hey, when did you start having these thoughts?” Qi Yue asked with some curiosity.

Wang Qian couldn’t help but reach up to touch his brow.

“You woman, how can you have the nerve to ask such a thing?” he said, seeming somewhat troubled.

“I’m just that kind of woman.” Qi Yue laughed.

What was this? The environment I lived in long ago didn’t know what subtlety meant. Everyone was busy and in a hurry – confessions were simple, direct, and quick, and breakups were equally simple, direct, and quick.

If you liked someone, you liked them. If you liked them, say so quickly. If you didn’t like them anymore, you didn’t, and you had to say so quickly too. No one should waste anyone else’s time.

She looked at the lake surface, swaying the small stick, and sighed softly.

“Of course it was after your separation.” Wang Qian quickly said righteously, while shaking out his clothes, “Please don’t ruin my reputation.”

Qi Yue was again amused by him.

“Hey, I really didn’t see it before – you’re quite interesting.” she laughed.

Chang Yuncheng closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, turned and walked away.

At the same time, carts loaded with wooden frames, porcelain bottles and other supplies rumbled in, attracting the attention of people here and covering the sound of Chang Yuncheng’s footsteps.

After the carts passed, both Qi Yue and Wang Qian looked back.

“Now that you see it, is it still not too late?” Wang Qian smiled.

“No thanks. I appreciate it, but someone like me shouldn’t go around harming people.” Qi Yue smiled and sighed, throwing the stick in her hand into the water.

“Harming the Young Master alone is enough.” Wang Qian said.

Qi Yue smiled, watching the ripples spread across the water.

“That time, I felt somewhat guilty.” Wang Qian suddenly said.

“Which time?” Qi Yue asked in surprise, “Hey, you’re too much of a perfectionist. I already owe your family so many favors – what more do you want?”

Wang Qian was amused by her.

“Those don’t count as anything – they weren’t what you needed.” he said, looking at the lake surface, gently lifting his rod as a fish leaped up with splashing water.

Qi Yue happily stood up, reaching out to catch it busily.

“We’ll have something to eat for lunch.” she laughed.

Wang Qian helped her put the fish in the basket nearby.

“I want to apologize to you, and this is what my grandfather wants to say to you too. That time, we didn’t stand up like the Young Master did.” he continued.

Qi Yue suddenly stood up.

“Wang Da, if you’re going to say that, then you’re in the wrong.” she said seriously.

Wang Da?

In all his years, this was the first time anyone had addressed Wang Qian this way. His expression showed slight bewilderment, but he also thought it wasn’t bad.

“No, no, I’m not being hypocritical.” he shook his head, “We’re not being pretentious – this is fact. You actually don’t need anything. No matter what you encounter, you can get through it yourself without depending on anyone. You just need… a little warmth.”

He looked at Qi Yue.

“I’m very sorry that at the time, we couldn’t give you that.” he said seriously.

Qi Yue looked at him and smiled.

“Don’t say any more. If you keep this up, I’ll really regret it.” she said.

Wang Qian feigned delight.

“That’s wonderful – I’ll keep talking then.” he said quickly.

“Good, speak quickly, say more. The feeling of being pursued is really wonderful.” Qi Yue laughed, sitting down with an attentive listening pose.

Before this woman, Wang Qian admitted defeat.

“But I’m serious – it’s not because of that day.” Qi Yue said, exhaling, “Besides, about that day, you really have nothing to apologize for. Everyone has different ways of helping people. That’s not important – what’s important is that you sincerely wanted to help me. In this world, is there anything warmer than that?”

As she spoke, she exhaled again, looking at the lake surface, picking up another small branch to tap in her hands.

“Really, just thinking about it makes me want to cry.” she said.

Wang Qian was stunned.

“I’m really too perfect.” Qi Yue continued.

Wang Qian couldn’t help but chuckle.

Qi Yue remained unmoved.

“So Heaven gave me so many people who love me.” she said.

Wang Qian smiled and shook his head, then nodded.

“You deserve it.” he said.

“You deserve it more.” Qi Yue looked at him and said.

Wang Qian looked at her with a slight smile, then sighed.

“How cruel.” he shook his head, “You have to deny me even my last excuse, leaving someone like me who’s never known what failure means since childhood – how can I bear it?”

Qi Yue nodded solemnly.

“So remember me well – the woman who left an indelible mark on your heart.” she said seriously.

Wang Qian laughed heartily – this was probably the first time this person who’d been taught proper manners and graceful bearing since childhood had laughed so freely. Joyful, heartfelt, and uninhibited.

“Being able to know you and speak so freely with you for life – whether we become husband and wife doesn’t matter anymore.” he said, “I’m very glad to know you.”

Qi Yue nodded and extended her hand.

Wang Qian was somewhat puzzled, looking at the fair, slender hand extended before him. But his comprehension was high, and he soon tentatively reached out his hand.

Qi Yue grasped his and shook it gently.

“I’m also very glad to know you.” she said.

I thought you were all boring, dull, different from me… but now it seems I was wrong. Knowing you all, my life can be as wonderful as before…

This hand wasn’t different from other women’s – soft and warm. Wang Qian looked down, but it was also vastly different. This hand could actually control destiny – not just her own, but others’ too.

If he couldn’t hold onto it, it really was somewhat reluctant to let go…

After a slight hesitation, Wang Qian released it.

“Go quickly, see off my brother-in-law.” he smiled slightly, withdrawing his hand.

“Your brother-in-law?” Qi Yue was stunned.

“Yes, my brother-in-law. Qiao’er’s newly acknowledged uncle whom she thinks about constantly.” Wang Qian said with a meaningful smile.

Qi Yue suddenly understood.

“Where is he going?” she asked.

“Due to family sorrows, he disobeyed orders and delayed his return. The Emperor ordered him whipped, and to keep his head, he’s now setting out to return.” Wang Qian said.

“Whipping? What’s there to whip about? This is too unreasonable.” Qi Yue said with wide eyes.

Wang Qian looked around.

“I didn’t hear anything.” he said.

“Then, then I’ll go check on him. Wait for me to come back and cook fish for you.” Qi Yue said, already lifting her feet to leave as she spoke.

Wang Qian nodded, watching this woman lift her skirt and trot away until she disappeared on the path. He stood for a long moment before looking back down at the fish basket at his feet.

“Life is perfect only with regrets.” he said with feeling, lifting his hand to overturn the basket. The fish fell into the water, flicked its tail and disappeared. “Now I’m perfect.”

The people by the lake disappeared, and quiet returned, when suddenly a rough voice broke the silence.

“Who was it? Who did this? How did they strip off all this bark?”

A servant looked at the tree before him with its white wood exposed, shouting indignantly, though naturally no one answered him.

Chang Yuncheng spurred his horse frantically, wanting only to quickly escape this place, to escape this desperate sadness.

He had finally lost her. He should have known – from the moment she walked out the door without looking back, she would never belong to him again…

Horse and rider quickly disappeared on the main road.

When Qi Yue reached the city gate, the guards told her Chang Yuncheng had already left long ago.

“Really…” she looked at the medicine in her hand and sighed, “How could he leave without saying a word?”

“Maybe he was too urgent?” A’Ru guessed.

“Urgent? Then why did he have time to watch ants for ages at my place that day…” Qi Yue frowned irritably, then stopped, looking at A’Ru in surprise, “Could it be that day he came to…”

“Say farewell.” A’Ru also realized, saying.

Of course – because of the court’s orders, Prefect Huang’s family had to leave, so Chang Yuncheng naturally knew he had to leave too, so…

He didn’t even get to hear a word of parting blessing, and didn’t even eat his meal properly…

Qi Yue looked toward the distant horizon.

That unlucky child – would it kill him to say something straightforwardly? Would it kill him?

Or was he no longer daring to speak?

Qi Yue sighed.

“Mistress, what are you thinking?” A’Ru suddenly asked.

“Thinking about what?” Qi Yue turned around, slowly walking back.

“If you have something to say, you could have Xiao Qu deliver a message to the Young Master.” A’Ru said quietly.

Xiao Qu?

There was a laborer at Qianjin Hall named Xiao Qu who often stayed by Qi Yue’s side.

“Him?” Qi Yue looked at A’Ru in surprise.

“He was left by the Young Master for you… ever since that time you nearly got beaten to death by those people…” A’Ru looked up at her, seeming to have made some decision, “But afraid you’d feel awkward, he told us not to mention it…”