How could she not remember?

Even after six years had passed, that man’s familiar handwriting remained etched in her heart.

Never forgotten for a moment.

She held the fan in her hands, her voice choked with emotion. “How could I not remember? Even though day and night I want to forget him, forget everything about him—his writing, his prose, forget it all—but… I simply cannot do it.”

A bitter laugh.

Helplessness.

All these years, she had traveled far and wide to study, wanting nothing more than to avoid staying in this place filled with memories.

She had even gone so far as to burn all of Du Mubai’s poems.

To let everything from the past vanish into smoke and ashes along with the flames!

But now, seeing Du Mubai’s handwriting again, everything had been dredged back up.

That feeling was even more painful than a piercing heart.

Li Cheng looked at her with heartache.

The words in his heart—he didn’t know how to say them.

In the end, he chose silence.

Li Wenshu’s slender fingers gently traced across the fan’s surface, touching those characters blurred by water stains.

She could almost still feel the rises and falls of each stroke and dot imprinted on the whorls of her fingertips.

As her fingers slowly moved—

Her gaze fell upon the poem written there.

“My beloved, come share my pillow in slumber.”

She recited it softly.

Her palm tightened.

This was a love poem.

At the signature, the three characters “Du Mubai” were written prominently.

“This is…” She looked up at Li Cheng. “This fan—where did you get it?”

Li Cheng paused before saying, “From a woman!”

“Who?”

“Su Qiao.”

“Su Qiao?” Li Wenshu searched her mind intensely for information about this person but came up empty. She asked, “Who is she? Why… would she have Mubai’s fan?”

Li Cheng replied, “She’s the victim in the case I’m currently investigating.”

“You mean the person whose head was in the stone?”

“Yes!”

Li Wenshu frowned. “So this poem…”

Before she could finish—

Li Cheng picked up her words. “I think this love poem was written by Du Mubai for Su Qiao.”

Ridiculous!

How could that be possible?

Even if it were a love poem, it should have been written for her, Li Wenshu.

How could it be written for someone else?

Moreover, Du Mubai had only ever loved one woman in his life, and that was Li Wenshu!

“Are you certain?”

“I… I can’t say for sure, but if this was written for you, Elder Sister, why would it be in another woman’s hands? As for who exactly this woman is, I still don’t know, but I’ve already sent people to investigate Du Mubai’s hometown. There should be news soon.”

After hearing this, Li Wenshu felt indescribable emotions within.

She slowly set down the fan.

Her gaze grew somber.

Appearing somewhat distant.

“Elder Sister?”

“…”

“The whole way here, I was debating whether to tell you or not. But I really didn’t want to hide it from you.”

“…”

“Elder Sister?”

Li Wenshu’s eyes flickered. “Whether you tell me or not, what difference does it make?”

The person was already dead!

Li Cheng said, “I know you trust Du Mubai, Elder Sister. I also believe he was devoted. But if this poem truly was written by him for Su Qiao, then he deceived you, and all your suffering these years would have been for nothing.”

His heart ached deeply.

Li Wenshu laughed bitterly, holding back her tears.

Then she pushed the fan on the table toward Li Cheng.

She said, “Take it away.”

“Elder Sister…”

“I’m a bit tired. I want to rest.”

Li Cheng opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but closed it again. Taking the fan, he left.

As soon as he departed, Li Wenshu closed the door and entered her inner chamber.

She sat blankly by the bed for a long time…

Then her hand reached under the pillow and drew out an object.

It was a piece of ivory!

Very exquisite!

The ivory body had been polished very smooth, coated with a layer of white glaze, gleaming with a creamy white luster.

This was what Du Mubai had given her!

She had kept it with her all along.

She remembered…

It was six years ago. That day had weather just like today’s.

Heavy snow fell from the sky, dense snowflakes blanketing the entire city of Gaoding.

She had been embroidering in the courtyard pavilion when a young man walked toward her.

He called to her affectionately, “Miss Li.”

Li Wenshu put down the handkerchief she had only half-embroidered and looked at the young man.

She saw that the young man was extraordinarily handsome, radiating a scholarly air. He wore a clean long robe, his hair in a high topknot secured with a long silver clasp. He held several books in his arms, his entire being emanating a comfortable presence. Having come through the heavy snow, his head and shoulders were covered with white snowflakes.

At that time, she was the cherished pearl of the Marquis of Pingyang, the eldest daughter of the Li Manor.

Du Mubai was merely a student at the manor.

Their statuses were vastly different!

“With such heavy snow falling today, why has Young Master Du come?”

“Didn’t you mention last time that you wanted to read Zhang Wensheng’s ‘Records’? I happened to have a few copies, so I brought them for you.”

“Oh?” Li Wenshu was pleasantly surprised.

Du Mubai placed the books in his hands on the stone table, pushing them toward her.

Li Wenshu picked up one volume and flipped through it. “Yes, this is exactly the ‘Records’ I was looking for.”

“That’s good then. Take them to read.”

“Thank you, Young Master Du. Once I finish reading, I’ll return them to you immediately.”

“No need. Take your time reading.”

Li Wenshu was delighted and accepted the books.

Du Mubai said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

He bowed and turned to depart.

“Wait.” Li Wenshu called out to him.

Du Mubai asked, “Does Miss Li need something else?”

“With such heavy snow, you plan to just walk back like this?”

“It’s fine.”

Li Wenshu stood up, took the umbrella she had set aside, and held it out to him. “Use mine.”

“How could I?”

“Don’t be polite with me. Take it.”

The kindness was hard to refuse!

Du Mubai reached out to take it, but unexpectedly their hands touched unintentionally.

Li Wenshu’s hand was very warm!

Du Mubai’s hand was very cold!

In that moment, both froze, their gazes intertwining, allowing their hands to remain touching.

Until a maid from the Li Manor arrived carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, interrupting their locked gaze.

As Du Mubai took the umbrella, something fell from his sleeve.

“Clink!”

Li Wenshu looked down and immediately picked it up.

She examined it in her hand.

It was a piece of ivory polished to great refinement.

It felt very comfortable to hold!

Clearly she liked it very much!

Du Mubai smiled and said, “Miss Li has given me an umbrella today. If you like this ivory, I’ll give it to you.”

“How could I accept this?”

She moved to return it.

Du Mubai stopped her, saying, “Unless you find it distasteful?”

“Of course not.”

“Then please accept it.”

Li Wenshu’s heart trembled.

She felt embarrassed.

Only later did she learn that the ivory had been left to Du Mubai by his father.

And in the blink of an eye, six years had passed.

…

At this very moment, touching the ivory in her hand, it felt just like the first time she had touched it.

After a long while, she tucked the ivory back under the pillow.

Then she continued sitting on the bed. Not speaking!