Sometimes, even knowing the unpredictable dangers in love, one still falls helplessly, simultaneously anxious and savoring the experience.

This is likely the common mindset of women, especially those who have been hurt before.

An Jiu had heard her mother speak of the passionate love she once shared with her father. However, in the end, all of her father’s passion was poured into his career, while her mother continued to love deeply.

The cruelest love isn’t mutual destruction, nor is it separation by life and death, nor even gradually drifting apart. It’s when one person withdraws while the other continues to fall deeper.

An Jiu hadn’t experienced this personally, but as an observer, she saw it more clearly. This was why she feared following in her mother’s footsteps.

And yet… the more she struggled, the faster she seemed to fall!

Chu Dingjiang sat by the bed, watching An Jiu’s slightly trembling eyelashes, unable to guess her thoughts or offer comfort.

After sitting for over two hours, the others in the room had finished their meditations. Chu Dingjiang checked An Jiu’s pulse, confirming her injuries were slowly healing, and prepared to leave.

During these two hours, everything in Bianjing might have been settled, but he still needed to see for himself the results of his efforts.

Before rushing to Meihua Lane, Chu Dingjiang had been struggling internally. This was the only time in both his lives that he had agonized so painfully over a decision. In his previous life, he had many successes, but also many failures and regrets. Just as he was about to remedy those regrets, he was being asked to give it all up!

Sitting on the roof of the Second Prince’s residence, Chu Dingjiang thought deeply. If he truly abandoned his feelings for the sake of ideals or family responsibility, how would that differ from his previous life? After half a lifetime of wandering, he had tasted the world’s loneliness. Now that he had found love, shouldn’t he cherish it?

“Ah Jiu,” Chu Dingjiang caressed her hand, speaking softly, “Look how peaceful this moment is. I wish time could freeze right here. I don’t dare hope for forever, but perhaps in our next life. Don’t think too much about the future. At least in this moment, everything is real.”

The others standing in the outer room heard this whisper and had various reactions.

Sui Yunzhu, Li Qingzhi, Lou Xiaowu, and others weren’t particularly moved, but Ling Ziyue suddenly felt a bitterness in his heart. If there was one person he had let down the most in this life, it was undoubtedly his wife! She lived for him, bore his children, managed his household affairs, and died for him. Yet he couldn’t even see her one last time before her death.

Whenever Ling Ziyue thought of this, he was filled with anguish.

Chu Dingjiang’s casual remark not only touched Ling Ziyue but also addressed An Jiu’s earlier concerns.

“I understand,” An Jiu opened her eyes, seeing his face buried in his beard. “This look suits you better.”

“Are you saying I have to cover my face to be presentable?” Chu Dingjiang feigned anger.

An Jiu lazily replied, “It’s rare to meet someone so self-aware.”

Chu Dingjiang reached out and messed up her hair, pulling her hood over her face in the process. The shadow instantly covered half her face, leaving only her bearded chin visible. “I’m leaving now.”

“Bring back some chestnuts when you return,” An Jiu said, not wanting to say things like “be careful” or “come back safely.” She preferred this casual approach as if whatever earth-shattering events he might encounter were as simple as drinking a cup of tea.

“Mm,” Chu Dingjiang smiled and turned to leave.

Their parting seemed effortless, but as Chu Dingjiang reached the outer door, he sensed An Jiu’s spiritual energy extending. He called out sternly, “Behave yourself!”

His voice carried a touch of inner force, making everyone shudder.

An Jiu wiggled her toes and turned her face to the wall, scoffing, “What’s he so proud of?”

Lou Xiaowu huddled in the corner with her blanket. “So scary. He frightened us all.”

“Please don’t speak for others. I wasn’t scared at all,” the medicine boy said defiantly.

Lou Xiaowu blinked, her eyes going from watery to playful in an instant as she made a face at him and roared like a tiger, “Roar!”

The medicine boy instinctively shrank back.

Lou Xiaowu hummed triumphantly, then noticed Ling Ziyue’s gloomy face. Sensing the low mood, she quietly inched towards the inner room with her blanket. Just before entering, she stopped and crouched down beside Ling Ziyue, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket with only her face visible, pretending to be invisible.

After sitting quietly for a long while, waiting for the others to leave the room, Lou Xiaowu finally mustered up the courage to speak. “Would you like some candy?”

Ling Ziyue didn’t look at her, just shaking his head.

Lou Xiaowu rummaged around for a while before finally pulling out a piece of candy from her pocket and offering it to him. “Big sister says eating candy makes you feel better.”

“Lou Mingyue?” Ling Ziyue had heard the name “Lou Mingyue” most often from Lou Xiaowu during their time together.

“No, my real big sister. She fell from a cliff during the trial at Konghe Academy,” Lou Xiaowu’s expression darkened. “We are sisters; we’re both terrible at martial arts!”

Not knowing what to say, Ling Ziyue took the candy from her palm and put it in his mouth.

The dried fruit wrapped in maltose was sweet with a tart kick, stimulating his taste buds and seemingly driving away some of his bitterness.

“It works, doesn’t it?” Lou Xiaowu sensed the change in his mood, her smile instantly brightening.

“Mm, no wonder you like candy so much,” Ling Ziyue patted her head. “Got any cavities yet?”

Lou Xiaowu quickly covered her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise, as if saying: How did you know?!

Ling Ziyue then revealed something even more shocking to her, “I have keen hearing, and my quarters aren’t far from yours. Every night, I hear a crunching sound. At first, I thought it was mice, but once I followed the sound and saw you crouching in the corner, stuffing candy into your mouth.”

Ling Ziyue wasn’t entirely truthful. He hadn’t been drawn by the crunching sound but by Lou Xiaowu’s crying. She had had a nightmare and woke up tearfully, sobbing while frantically eating candy. Through a hole in the window paper, Ling Ziyue saw this girl, who seemed so carefree during the day, huddled in a corner like a stealing mouse or an abandoned child.

Since then, Ling Ziyue had grown closer to her, wanting to look after her more.

Lou Xiaowu leaned in nervously, lowering her voice, “You haven’t told anyone else, have you?”

Ling Ziyue bit the candy, raising an eyebrow. “Why can’t I tell others?”

“You know, I’m the Lou family head now. I need to maintain the dignity of a leader,” Lou Xiaowu looked at him seriously and nervously. “You won’t tell, will you?”

Ling Ziyue was silent for a moment, then asked instead of answering, “Do you resent the second Miss Lou?”

Lou Mingyue had left to seek revenge, leaving such a childish Lou Xiaowu with this heavy burden.

Lou Xiaowu popped another piece of candy into her mouth. “Aunt is handling family affairs. I’m just a figurehead. My martial arts are poor, so I can’t avenge the family. What’s there to resent about hiding here?”