Xuan Yanyu pinched Yan Yunning’s little face, swayed it left and right, and said slowly, “It’s because of you.”

“……” Yan Yunning glared at him. “You…you’re just deliberately bullying me.”

Why didn’t he go find her A’Jie instead!

It was clearly because he was shielding A’Jie that he got hurt!!!

Xuan Yanyu’s throat bobbed, and warmth surfaced in the depths of his eyes. “Mm.”

“You’re actually admitting it?” Yan Yunning was slightly surprised.

At least pretend a little!

The man’s fingers traced across her cheek, his voice carrying a smile at the end. “Mm.”

Yan Yunning: “……”

Mm! Mm! Mm!

Had she known, she never would have come to see him!!!

……

Chuyue Pavilion.

Mu Shiqing and Wen Wanyu kept watch at the bedside.

Xie Yan leaned weakly against the bed, his expression somewhat dazed. “Elder Brother, Sister-in-Law, let her go down the mountain.”

“Let her go down the mountain? Second Brother, she nearly killed you, and you still want to let her off?” Mu Shiqing was so angry his teeth itched.

“Elder Brother, let her go down the mountain.” Xie Yan forced the corners of his mouth into a difficult curve.

Wen Wanyu bit the inside of her cheek. “Second Brother, do you love her that much?”

“I dare not love her anymore.” Xie Yan lowered his head, his eyes brimming with aggrieved light.

Wen Wanyu was taken aback. He hadn’t said he no longer loved her — he said he dared not love her anymore.

“Elder Brother, Sister-in-Law, let her leave.” Xie Yan’s shoulders trembled slightly, carrying a suppressed anguish.

“You……” Mu Shiqing’s teeth ground together audibly.

“El…Elder Brother.” Xie Yan pressed a hand to his chest, his lips black-purple, his body shaking uncontrollably. “Elder Brother……”

He breathed with great effort, accompanied by violent coughing.

“Second Brother.” Wen Wanyu quietly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

“Second Brother.” Mu Shiqing’s heart was wrenched. He stepped forward to support Xie Yan.

“Elder Brother……” Xie Yan’s gaze gradually scattered. He gripped Mu Shiqing’s hand and murmured softly, “What a pity — I won’t be able to see my nephew born……”

Mu Shiqing opened his mouth, his throat so blocked it was painfully tight.

Xie Yan’s face wore a peaceful smile. His breathing grew shallow and ever more faint, the rise and fall of his chest growing smaller and smaller.

“Second Brother.” Mu Shiqing held him, his throat dry and raw.

Wen Wanyu tilted her head back to look at the roof beam, her jaw trembling faintly, holding back her tears.

Three years had passed. It was Nan Chu’s first time descending the mountain, and she felt that even the air below the mountain was far fresher. The warm breeze blew against her body, and the corners of Nan Chu’s mouth involuntarily curved upward.

She could not wait a moment longer. She lifted her skirts and ran eagerly to find Wenjing.

Catching sight of the familiar wooden door, she could not help but feel her eyes grow moist.

The wooden door was pushed open from within. Wenjing looked at Nan Chu, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

He had assumed that since she had drugged Xie Yan, Mu Shiqing’s temperament would never let her go. He had not expected them to actually let her down the mountain.

“Wenjing, Elder Brother.” Nan Chu, filled with longing, threw herself into his arms.

Wenjing panicked and pushed her away.

“Wenjing, Elder Brother……” Nan Chu felt an inexplicable tightening in her heart.

Wenjing, Elder Brother was disgusted with her……

“A’Chu, why did you suddenly leave me back then?” Wenjing pulled her into a corner, his gaze full of wounded accusation. “Three whole years.”

Nan Chu’s palms broke into a cold sweat. She suppressed the sobs rising in her chest. “Wenjing, Elder Brother, no — it was Xie Yan who took me away. I never wanted to leave you.”

“It is too late, A’Chu. I am already married.” Wenjing closed his eyes briefly.

Nan Chu’s eyes trembled. Her mind fell into chaos. After calming herself for a while, she finally spoke. “Wenjing, Elder Brother, I don’t blame you.”

“A’Chu.” Wenjing suddenly embraced her.

Nan Chu’s face flushed crimson without warning. “Wenjing, Elder Brother.”

“A’Chu, don’t leave me again, all right?” Wenjing said, his eyes red-rimmed, looking directly into hers.

“I won’t. A’Chu will never leave you again.” Nan Chu smiled through her tears.

Never leaving you again.

“A’Chu, first let me put you through a little hardship — come home with me as a maidservant. Is that all right?”

His wife had been making a fuss these past few days about hiring a maidservant. He had no money to pay a maidservant, and Nan Chu showing up was just right.

“All right, Wenjing, Elder Brother.”

“If Xie Yan hadn’t taken you away, I never would have put you through this. It is all my fault — I failed to protect you back then.” Wenjing raised his hand and struck himself hard across the face.

“Wenjing, Elder Brother.” Nan Chu took his hand and tenderly rubbed the reddened cheek.

“A’Chu, stop standing there in a daze — let’s go inside.” Wenjing concealed the flash of contempt that crossed his face.

Nan Chu smiled and nodded.

The two of them entered the wooden house together.

Bai Xiao watched Wenjing walk in with a beautiful woman, and her fury surged up fiercely.

Wenjing instinctively flinched, his legs going weak. “Wife, this is the maidservant I found for you — Nan Chu.”

“Nan Chu?” Bai Xiao looked her up and down.

The Nan Chu who had been exchanged for a hundred silver taels.

“Nan Chu greets Madam.” Even though she was unwilling, Nan Chu still bowed respectfully — she did not want to make things difficult for Wenjing, Elder Brother.

“There are some bowls and chopsticks in the kitchen. Go wash them. And the clothing — wash that too while you’re at it.” Bai Xiao gave her orders from the wooden chair.

Nan Chu bit her lip. “Yes, Madam.”

Ever since Xie Yan had taken her up the mountain, he had never once made her do any of this.

She glanced over at Wenjing. He had slipped around behind Bai Xiao and was carefully kneading her shoulders.

“Aren’t you going to get to it?” Bai Xiao suddenly slammed her palm on the table.

Wenjing flinched.

Nan Chu forced back her tears, found the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and began washing the dishes.

For three full days, Nan Chu was only permitted to eat leftovers. She stood before the stove, looking at the bowls and chopsticks in the basin still flecked with vegetable scraps, and her aggrieved tears fell steadily.

On the other side, Yan Yunning was also utterly aggrieved.

“I’m thirsty.” A roguish smile spread across Xuan Yanyu’s handsome face.

Yan Yunning clenched her teeth, picked up the teapot, and walked up to him. “Open your mouth.”

Xuan Yanyu looked at the teapot before him with distaste and said languidly, “I only drink from teacups.”

“You! Drink it or don’t!” Yan Yunning pursed her lips.

He had gotten hurt shielding her A’Jie — why wasn’t he ordering her A’Jie around instead!

He was just picking on her because he knew he could!

“Yan Yunning, I’m injured.” The man muttered with displeasure.

“Doctor Wen already said that once you apply the painkiller to the wound, it won’t hurt anymore, and the wound has already scabbed over!” Yan Yunning shot back.

The wound wasn’t even that serious to begin with, and yet he had called her the pampered one. It was clearly him being pampered and dramatic!

The smile on Xuan Yanyu’s face deepened. He replied lazily, “What does he know? The wound isn’t on his body. Does it stop hurting just because he says it doesn’t hurt?”

Yan Yunning: “……”

He just wants to order her around, that’s all!

“Get down — go sit in the wooden chair.” Yan Yunning shoved the teapot into his hands.

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow, silently rose, and walked over to sit in the wooden chair.

Yan Yunning threw back the brocade quilt and lay down on the bed.

“?” Xuan Yanyu licked his lips, his voice low and deep. “I am the one who is injured.”

“How many times are you going to say that in a single day?” Yan Yunning rolled her eyes, her tone carrying a thread of impatience.

“Yan Yunning, I’m hungry.”

“Yan Yunning, I’m thirsty.”

“Yan Yunning, fetch me a scroll.”

“Yan Yunning, I’m injured — can’t you even help me with this much?”