Gou Sheng buried his head in his hands, his expression twisted with agony: “My mind was clouded by hatred at the time. I never stopped to think about how he had treated me over all these years. All I knew was that if he hadn’t stood by and done nothing, my sister wouldn’t have died. It was such a simple thing — just one shout — so why didn’t he do it? Why didn’t he?”

That question could only be answered by Fan Dabao himself.

Some people are so accustomed to self-interest that their indifference toward matters that don’t concern them borders on cold-bloodedness. In their view, the less trouble the better — sweep clean the snow before your own door, and never mind the frost on your neighbor’s roof.

Sometimes, all it takes is a single word, a single simple gesture, to save a life — to pave a path toward the light.

May this world hold more warmth and less indifference. Where bitter cold reigns, there is only suffering — but where spring flowers bloom, there is humanity.

~

In early November, the weather in Shun Cheng grew steadily colder, and the last days of autumn had arrived.

Many people, eager to hold onto the final threads of the season, chose to venture out on fair-weather days. Along Liao He, there was a stretch of low-lying land where the river ran calm and slow. On the water floated several pleasure boats decorated like floating palaces, available for sightseers to rent and drift along the scenery.

The Shi Family and the Yan Family had already set a wedding date for the following May, so it was entirely proper for Shi Ting and Yan Qing to go out together in public.

The pleasure boat carrying Shi Ting and Yan Qing had drifted to the middle of the river. On both banks, the mountains rose in layered ridges, the maple leaves blazed red, and the scenery was breathtaking.

“Murong, look at that maple grove — it’s absolutely stunning.” Jing Zhi sat by the window, pointing toward the riverbank.

“It really is lovely.” The reply came not from Murong, but from Jin Shan, who wore a broad, cheerful grin.

“Why is it you? Where’s Murong?” Jing Zhi let out a small huff when she saw him.

Jin Shan scratched his head a little sheepishly. “Elder Sister Murong went to prepare lunch.”

“Elder Sister Murong? How old are you, calling her that?”

“I — I’m twenty.”

“Hmph. Murong is only eighteen.”

Jin Shan’s face turned a deep red. He stammered, “Then how old are you?”

“Why should I tell you?” Jing Zhi said, pouting.

Jin Shan thought she looked utterly adorable with her round, pudgy cheeks, and broke into a dopey grin.

“Is your Jin Shan interested in Jing Zhi?” Yan Qing, seated at the stern of the boat, glanced in the direction of the two with a smile in her eyes.

Shi Ting took a look, then bent back over the apple he was peeling. His knuckles were slender, and the hand holding the knife moved with deft precision, sending a single unbroken ribbon of apple skin curling neatly from his fingers. “You’d never guess — Jin Shan was a foundling.”

Yan Qing was visibly surprised, and found herself glancing at Jin Shan again.

“He had no breath in him when he was born. His family left him beside a drainage ditch. By chance, a passing physician found him and managed to revive him after much effort — but the physician already had sons and daughters of his own and couldn’t raise the child. Once Jin Shan had fully recovered, the physician placed him at the entrance of the Shi Family Mansion. The Shi family’s steward took him in and raised him under his own name.” Shi Ting’s voice was quiet and steady, flowing like a gentle current.

“And then? How did he come to be your attendant?”

“Jin Shan was exceptionally perceptive from a young age — sharp-eyed, quick-eared. My mother had her eye on him and chose him to serve in my quarters. He’s been with me all these years and has handled a great deal on my behalf.”

Yan Qing couldn’t help but reflect: “Other households have maids and attendants in droves, yet Director Shi has only one person — master and servant together, two solitary figures. That seems rather sparse.”

“It won’t be just one person much longer.” Shi Ting looked up at her, his deep gaze reflecting the endless shimmer of the water, soft with tenderness.

A flush rose to Yan Qing’s cheeks. “Is the apple done yet?”

“It’s done.” Shi Ting placed the peeled apple in her hand.

Too flustered to meet his eyes, Yan Qing bit into the apple and stared at the water — yet the corners of her mouth curved upward without her even realizing it.

She had visited his courtyard once before — elegant, serene, filled with birdsong and flowers. She could never have imagined, back then, that one day she would become the mistress of that very courtyard.

“Director Shi, Miss — lunch is ready!” Murong called out from the bow of the boat.

A round table had been set up in the middle of the pleasure boat, surrounded by circular wooden stools. The boat’s owner, in order to attract customers, offered not only scenic views of Liao He but also freshly caught river seafood.

The hostess brought out the freshly prepared lunch and laid it on the table — river clams with garlic paste, deep-fried drumstick shrimp, pan-seared yellow croaker…

“Please enjoy, everyone. Everything was caught fresh from the river this morning — guaranteed fresh.” Still smiling, the hostess pressed a small pearl into Yan Qing’s palm. “Miss, you’re in luck. This was found inside your clam. River clams do sometimes produce pearls, but one this large and perfectly round is quite rare.”

Yan Qing accepted it with delight and held it up to examine it closely. The pearl had a bright, lustrous sheen and a beautifully round shape. It wasn’t of the very finest grade, but its quality was nonetheless impressive.

She set the pearl aside with a slight sigh of regret. “It’s a beautiful pearl — but having only one, there’s not much you can do with it.”

Shi Ting glanced at the pearl, then signaled Jin Shan to put it away for now.

“Come, sit with us and eat — all of you. No need to stand.” Yan Qing looked warmly at the attendants standing nearby.

“Sit and eat together,” Shi Ting added, seeing that everyone remained stiff and reserved.

Murong pulled Jing Zhi down into a seat. Jin Shan promptly settled himself beside Jing Zhi.

“Miss, once you marry Director Shi, you’ll certainly never go hungry,” Jing Zhi teased.

Indeed, Yan Qing’s bowl was already piled high — Shi Ting had placed a portion of every dish on the table into her bowl with his chopsticks. Whenever Shi Ting was present, Yan Qing never had to lift her own chopsticks. She only needed to open her mouth.

Jin Shan grinned at Jing Zhi. “I follow the Seventh Young Master’s example every day — I could learn to do all of this too.”

Jing Zhi shot him a look. “Learn all you like — what are you telling me for?”

“I thought you might like it.”

Yan Qing laughed despite herself. When she glanced at Shi Ting, he appeared not to have heard any of it and was busy peeling a hairy crab for her with full concentration.

“You eat too.” She picked up a piece of fish and held it to his lips. Shi Ting opened his mouth without hesitation, accepting it with perfect ease.

The others across the table all hid their smiles behind their hands.

After the meal, the pleasure boat turned to head back. Yan Qing wanted to go up the hillside to see the red leaves.

The boat had barely come around when another pleasure boat appeared heading toward them. As the two vessels drew alongside each other, someone on the other boat suddenly called out Yan Qing’s name.

Murong craned her head out to look, and there stood a young man in white shirt and white trousers at the bow, waving toward them with great enthusiasm.

“Miss, it’s that detective.”

Yan Qing looked out the window and saw Long Yue.

“Miss Yan!” Long Yue hollered at the top of his voice. “It’s me — Long Yue! Do you remember me?”

Yan Qing had only met Long Yue twice, and it had been a long while since, but he had left a strong impression on her — it was impossible not to remember him.

Shi Ting raised an eyebrow slightly. “That fellow is rather enthusiastic.”

Once Long Yue had his boat stopped, the pleasure boat on Yan Qing’s side also gradually slowed to a halt. Shi Ting wheeled Yan Qing out onto the deck — since the young man had already called out to them, it would have been rude to ignore him entirely.

“Miss Yan, Director Shi — I knew it was you!” Long Yue said happily. “What a coincidence.”

“Young Master Long is in fine spirits today,” Yan Qing said with a small smile.

“I never expected to run into Miss Yan here.” Long Yue rubbed his hands together lightly. “Oh — I came with my elder brother.”

With that, he called back toward the cabin: “Brother! Brother, come out — let me introduce you to a friend.”

Shortly after, a man walked out of the cabin. Before Yan Qing could even see his face clearly, she felt an overwhelming pressure radiating from him. Her instincts told her at once — this was no ordinary man.

“Long Yunxiao.” The low, measured voice beside her was Shi Ting’s, and his brow furrowed ever so slightly as he spoke the name.

The man standing beside Long Yue was tall and broad, with sharply defined features. He wore a black Mandarin-collar tunic suit. Unlike Shi Ting’s severe reserve, this man’s lips were always curved in a faint half-smile — though on his face, that smile held not a trace of warmth.

“Director Shi. A pleasure to meet you.” Long Yunxiao spoke in an unhurried, neutral tone.

“Mr. Long’s taste for leisure is admirable.” Shi Ting gave a slight nod.

Long Yunxiao said: “This younger brother of mine can never sit still. He insisted on dragging me out for a river cruise. Though I must say, the river is wide and the scenery on both banks is beautiful — not a bad place to unwind.”

“Brother.” Long Yue quickly made the introduction: “This is Miss Yan Qing, the one I told you about.”

At those words, a shadow passed through Shi Ting’s eyes.

“Miss Yan. How do you do.” Long Yunxiao offered a polite greeting.

“How do you do.” Yan Qing had no particular feeling toward this Long Yunxiao. She had little acquaintance with Long Yue to begin with, and Long Yunxiao was even more of a stranger.

“Director Shi, we’ll take our leave first.” Long Yunxiao gave a slight bow.

Long Yue said hastily: “Miss Yan, let’s get tea together sometime!”

Long Yunxiao fixed him with a deep, wordless look. “Get back inside.”

Back in the cabin, Long Yue pressed himself against the window and watched the boat carrying Yan Qing drift away into the distance. He let out a reluctant sigh.

“She is Shi Ting’s woman. You had best put that thought out of your head.”

“Brother, what are you talking about? What thought?”

“Everything you’re thinking is written plainly on your face.”

Long Yunxiao crossed his legs and lit a cigarette.

Long Yue sat down across from him, looking somewhat aggrieved. “I only admire Miss Yan’s talent — nothing more. Don’t read things into it.”

“Right or wrong aside, the sooner you give up, the better. Shi Ting’s woman is not someone you can carelessly touch.”

“All right, all right, I understand.” Long Yue sounded a little impatient.

“By the way, Brother — do you know how remarkable Yan Qing really is?”

“You told me about the incident at the market, didn’t you?” Long Yunxiao replied, his tone indifferent.

Long Yue picked up his water cup and took a sip. “That was nothing. I’ve looked into her since then. She truly is an extraordinary woman. Look — these are the cases she helped crack. I’ve compiled notes on them all.”

He pulled a notebook quickly from his bag. “Her knowledge and expertise in forensic medicine surpass anything I encountered during my years abroad. In many areas of academic research, she could be called a pioneer.”

“Is she really as remarkable as you say?”

“Absolutely. Don’t forget — I am a detective.”

Long Yunxiao gave a slight twitch of his lips. He had never quite managed to associate the word “detective” with his own younger brother.

“Brother, if you don’t believe me, read it yourself. Would I make this up?”

Long Yunxiao took the notebook and flipped through it idly. But the further he read, the more his expression darkened, until at last something unreadable settled at the corners of his mouth.

—