In the darkness before dawn.

A slender figure slipped into a small alley on Pan Lou Street and made two sharp finger snaps.

“Did you bring the items?” A deep male voice came from the shadows.

“I have failed in my duty,” the speaker, however, was a woman.

“How is it that after staying there for so long, you couldn’t even get one memorial?” The man’s voice revealed displeasure, but he didn’t lose his temper with her. “With your skills, why couldn’t you obtain the memorial?”

The woman replied, “Hua Rongjian isn’t as incompetent as rumored. He kept me trapped in the mansion. Even tonight, I barely found a chance to escape.”

She raised her head, and the faint light illuminated half her face, revealing slightly upturned phoenix eyes and red lips. It was Mei Ruyan.

The man was silent for a few breaths before continuing, “Once this matter is done, find an opportunity to leave the Hua mansion. The higher-ups will soon take action against the Hua family. I’m warning you.”

“Understood.” Mei Ruyan’s expression was complex, but it returned to normal in an instant. “I’ll do it as soon as possible.”

“Mm.” The man acknowledged.

In the blink of an eye, only the sound of wind and Mei Ruyan remained in the alley.

She stood motionless with her back to the alley entrance for a long time. Memories and chaotic thoughts surged in her mind. Sometimes she doubted whether she had chosen the right path, whether continuing down this road would lead to a bright future or a point of no return. Until the end, no one knows…

Mei Ruyan let out a sigh, and her figure vanished like a phantom in the alley. The misty flowers dispersed instantly in the air.

Daybreak.

A new day dawned in Meihua Lane. Everyone had their tasks to attend to. Ling Ziyue and Lou Xiaowu were studying handguns and thunderclap bombs. Mei Yanran was busy preparing three meals a day. Sui Yunzhu had cultivated six mu of land. Li Qingzhi was engrossed in studying military strategies. Mo Sigui had locked himself in his room to concoct medicines. Zhu Pianzhang’s abacus clattered away. Sheng Changying was intently watching the ferry crossing, preparing to intercept the Konghe Agency’s carrier pigeons…

Only An Jiu felt the days dragging on, bored out of her mind.

In the pharmacy, steamrolled from the medicine pot on the stove, filling the room with a strong medicinal scent. Mo Sigui crouched in front of a stone mortar, grinding herbs.

After finishing her exercises, An Jiu sat in Mo Sigui’s room, turning the Crouching Dragon Bow over and over as she polished it.

“Sigh.” An Jiu let out a breath.

In the past, she had always longed for a peaceful and leisurely life. But now that she had it, she found it too bland. She and Chu Dingjiang were indeed the same type of person, unable to endure days as calm as still water…

Oh? She was thinking of him again!

An Jiu held her head for a moment, then asked Mo Sigui, “I’ve caught lovesickness. Do you have any medicine for it?”

Without looking up, Mo Sigui replied, “If I had medicine for that, would I be in this state?”

An Jiu calmly pointed out, “You finally admit your insomnia is because of Lou Mingyue.”

“Hmm.” Mo Sigui was deep in thought about his prescription when he heard her words, and his train of thought suddenly broke.

He stared blankly for a long time before slowly furrowing his brow. Then he suddenly sprang up, grabbed An Jiu, and said irritably, “Get out, quickly, get out.”

An Jiu was dragged and pushed out the door.

Looking at the closed door, An Jiu fell silent. Now she was truly bored!

She wandered around, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Chu Dingjiang!

Seeing Mei Yanran cook, she thought Chu Dingjiang’s cooking was even better. Seeing Sui Yunzhu farming, she wondered what Chu Dingjiang would be like farming. Seeing Li Qingzhi studying military strategies, she thought Chu Dingjiang understood these best…

This state continued until the third day. Just as An Jiu was struggling with whether to endure it or go find Chu Dingjiang, he returned.

At that time, An Jiu was at the ferry crossing with Da Jiu and Xiao Yue, watching how Sheng Changying intercepted carrier pigeons. She sat on a bare tree branch, staring motionlessly at the sky.

Da Jiu watched even more intently than her, its huge mouth open, occasionally drooling. Xiao Yue lay on the ground with half-closed eyes, looking as if it had transcended worldly concerns.

It wasn’t until there was a sound of water at the crossing that An Jiu shifted her gaze.

Through the mist, a familiar tall figure gradually became clear. He was still wearing a black cloak that covered most of his face, revealing only his bearded jaw.

In that instant, An Jiu felt as if everything had stopped.

Chu Dingjiang saw the woman in a light cyan jacket and skirt sitting in the tree. When she looked up at the sky, she resembled a bird perched on a withered branch. When she turned to look at him, her clear, bottomless eyes seemed to reflect his figure.

Chu Dingjiang walked to the base of the tree, removed his hood, and looked up with a smile at the person he had been thinking of day and night. “An Jiu.”

An Jiu grinned and jumped directly from the two-zhang-high tree fork.

Chu Dingjiang reached out and caught her steadily.

“What were you watching?” Chu Dingjiang asked.

“Watching Keeper Sheng catch birds.” An Jiu looked up at him. “Did you come back for something?”

Chu Dingjiang nodded. “Mm, there’s a very important matter that must be attended to.”

An Jiu ran through many possibilities in her mind. Could he be after Lou Xiaowu’s thunderclap bombs? Or perhaps recruiting some strong men to serve the Second Prince? All seemed possible, yet unlikely…

“What matter?” She decided to ask directly.

Chu Dingjiang smiled and said, “To see you.”

An Jiu was stunned, her thoughts interrupted. After a long moment, she finally reacted, “Do you also think of me?”