Why help me?

Luo Yang’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down several times, but he didn’t know what to say. After pausing for a moment, he averted his gaze slightly and said, “I took pity on you—a woman searching everywhere for a man, even risking her life to find him. No matter what, I, Luo Yang, am still an upstanding man who has always had a sense of justice, so… so that’s why I’m helping you. Besides, when Xiao Ba and I were bitten by poisonous snakes, it was you who saved us. These two lives should be repaid somehow. Otherwise, if word got out, wouldn’t I, Luo Yang, become an ungrateful person? If my reputation is ruined, how could I continue on?”

He seemed somewhat lacking in confidence as he spoke, but he still said all this without showing emotion.

After listening, Ji Yunshu was half-believing and half-doubting, but she didn’t probe deeper. “Saving you was just a simple effort. When I was ill, you also rushed me to the medical clinic, so we’re even. You don’t need to help me find anyone.”

“Are you so eager to distance yourself from me?”

“It’s not about distancing myself, but rather there are some matters I don’t want you involved in.”

“Enough, what distancing! Don’t carry everything by yourself. You seem cold on the surface, but actually your heart is warmer than anyone’s. I, Luo Yang, am most loyal. You helped me, so I will definitely help you. Stop pushing people away. We’ve been traveling together day and night along this journey—surely there’s at least a tiny bit of feeling between us, right? We may not be friends, but we’re not enemies either! I don’t have thorns on me—you don’t need to avoid me like this.” Luo Yang seemed rather aggrieved.

On the surface, Ji Yunshu appeared very indifferent, but in truth she had already taken these words to heart.

To be honest, she indeed no longer felt as annoyed with Luo Yang as before. Instead, she felt that if this young man didn’t chatter in her ear a few times, she would feel somewhat unaccustomed to it.

So—

She uttered a phrase: “Suit yourself.”

Then she sat to one side, lifting the carriage curtain to look outside.

The sunlight was just right, spilling down and falling on her delicate profile. Her long, thick eyelashes fluttered gently in the breeze, full of life.

For a moment, Luo Yang was mesmerized by the sight. That woman wasn’t some heavenly fairy descended to earth, but her beauty was pure and clean—the kind that, with just one glance, would be forever remembered in one’s heart, never to be forgotten. The more he looked, the more entranced he became, and a smile couldn’t help but spread across his lips. When his gaze gradually fell upon the corner of Ji Yunshu’s eye, he saw a fine scar there. If one didn’t look carefully, it was normally impossible to notice.

That scar dated back five years to when she was in Jinjiang Prison, inflicted by Ji Yunshu’s third brother.

The subtle scar at the corner of her eye had never been removed all these years!

Luo Yang didn’t know the significance of that scar. In his view, it didn’t affect Ji Yunshu’s clean appearance at all. Instead, his heart felt as if something had viciously plucked at it, beating intensely…

All the changes in his expression were seen by Xiao Ba at his side.

“Brother?” Xiao Ba leaned close to his ear and called out softly.

But Luo Yang was staring in a daze, his ears as if stuffed with cotton.

No reaction at all.

Xiao Ba followed his line of sight and it landed right on Ji Yunshu’s face. He secretly chuckled to himself, then waved his hand in front of Luo Yang’s eyes and called again, “Brother.”

Luo Yang immediately snapped back to attention, quickly withdrawing his entranced gaze, then glanced at him. “What?”

With a hint of anger at having his leisurely mood interrupted.

Xiao Ba covered his mouth and laughed, his eyes curving with mirth!

“You… what are you laughing at?” Luo Yang knocked hard on his head.

The sound of bone was audible.

Xiao Ba wrinkled his brow, clutching his head aggrieved. “I… I’m not laughing at anything, just watching you keep staring at Miss Ji…”

Before the rest of his words could come out, Luo Yang covered his mouth.

Luo Yang glared fiercely at him, warning, “Don’t talk nonsense, or I’ll cut out your tongue.”

Uh!

Xiao Ba’s tongue immediately retracted.

Afraid it would really be cut off.

With his mouth covered and unable to speak, he could only nod, blinking his eyes.

Only then did Luo Yang release him.

He gasped for air in large gulps, then secretly laughed again. After recovering, he leaned close to Luo Yang’s ear and whispered, “Brother, have you fallen for Miss Ji?”

This kid was usually slow-witted, but today his brain had somehow become enlightened.

Luo Yang trembled all over as if someone had grabbed his weak spot.

He furrowed his brow deeply!

His expression was dazed.

Himself… fallen for Ji Yunshu?

Impossible!

How could he… have fallen for her?

His heart was in turmoil, his gaze wandering, his face flustered, his hands finding nowhere to rest.

This feeling was truly too strange!

Coming to his senses, he immediately glared at Xiao Ba, lowering his voice to warn, “You better shut your mouth and stop talking nonsense, understand?”

Xiao Ba had always respected and feared him, so of course he obediently nodded, not daring to say more.

Subsequently, Luo Yang’s gaze unconsciously fell on Ji Yunshu again.

Xiao Ba’s earlier words were running wild in his heart…

Impossible, he absolutely could not have fallen for a strange person like Ji Yunshu!

He kept giving himself this suggestion.

The next moment, he quickly withdrew his gaze.

Pretending nothing had happened.

Ji Yunshu hadn’t heard their conversation just now, only assuming those two brothers were having another small squabble.

At present, her only hope and yearning in her heart was Jingrong.

Countless voices in her heart were telling her over and over that she must find Jingrong, find that person called Lichuan.

…

In the carriage ahead, Wen Che was reading. Ever since he contracted his prison illness and switched to being a civil official, his only hobby now was reading.

Of course, aside from this hobby, he didn’t know what else to do.

Horseback riding and archery—he couldn’t do any of it!

Sometimes when he thought about it, it was quite pitiful!

Wen Yu’s injuries had improved considerably. He sat beside him and pulled open the front curtain to look, seeing Yi Wei’an riding a horse up ahead. The convoy had already entered the capital area—by evening they would likely be able to enter the city.

“Brother, this Yi Wei’an is probably not a good character. You need to be careful.” Wen Yu lowered the curtain and reminded him.

Wen Che closed the book in his hands, his voice somber. “I’m well aware. This time when you had your incident, it gave him the opportunity to return to the capital. His Majesty will certainly reward him heavily then. Perhaps he really will stay.”

“Then we need to make preparations early. No matter what, Yi Wei’an is a great general with people under him. If he’s later utilized by the Wen family’s people, that would be major trouble! So we must guard against it.”

“I’ve thought of everything you’re saying.”

“Then what do you plan to do?” Wen Yu asked.