“Yes, elder brother went to seek medical treatment.”

Qiao Wan examined Qiao Mo’s left face and said carefully: “But it looks the same as before.”

“Is that so?” Qiao Mo asked rather sadly.

Seeing her brother upset, the little girl quickly covered her mouth and shook her head: “Elder brother, I was mistaken. It’s much better already!”

Qiao Mo reached out and ruffled Qiao Wan’s hair: “Really?”

When Qiao Zhao followed Shao Mingyuan inside, this was the scene she witnessed.

Under the leafy tree in the courtyard, a white-robed man gently stroked the head of a plainly dressed girl, his eyes full of tender affection, while the plainly dressed girl looked up at her elder brother with equal dependence.

Qiao Zhao’s steps paused.

Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but glance at her, then spoke: “Brother-in-law, Miss Li has arrived.”

The smile at the corner of Qiao Mo’s mouth stiffened.

Qiao Wan immediately turned her head, and seeing it was Shao Mingyuan, hurried over to pull at his sleeve and call out: “Brother-in-law.”

Shao Mingyuan smiled and patted her: “Happy to see elder brother?”

“Happy.” Qiao Wan nodded, then glanced at Qiao Zhao standing beside Shao Mingyuan and reluctantly greeted her: “Sister Li.”

Why was this person here again? Whenever she saw her come, she felt somewhat unhappy.

“Sister Qiao.” Qiao Zhao smiled warmly at Qiao Wan and asked in a low voice: “Did you receive the little foal?”

Qiao Wan lifted her chin: “I’ll receive it very soon. Brother-in-law never breaks his promises.”

Qiao Zhao didn’t dare look at Qiao Mo’s expression at this moment, and in her nervousness, continued talking to Qiao Wan: “It seems having a brother-in-law is quite nice.”

“Of course.” After Qiao Wan spoke, she showed a wary expression.

She knew Miss Li had designs on her brother-in-law—she must be envious, seeing how well her brother-in-law treated her.

The little girl protectively grasped Shao Mingyuan’s hand as if declaring her sovereignty.

Though Qiao Zhao felt somewhat uncomfortable, she naturally wouldn’t argue with a child and simply smiled.

“Miss Li—”

A familiar voice came from beside her, and Qiao Zhao immediately stiffened all over, not turning her head for a long time.

Qiao Mo stood about ten feet away and didn’t speak again either.

Though Qiao Wan was young, she also sensed something was wrong. Looking at Qiao Mo, then at Qiao Zhao, she finally shook Shao Mingyuan’s hand and asked: “Brother-in-law, what’s wrong with elder brother and Sister Li?”

“Uh—” Shao Mingyuan opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

He also wanted to know what was wrong with these two—why was the atmosphere between them so strange?

Shao Mingyuan simply crouched down halfway: “Wan Wan, shall brother-in-law take you to pick out a little foal?”

Qiao Wan’s eyes lit up: “Yes!”

Shao Mingyuan stood up and said to Qiao Mo: “Brother-in-law, I’ll take Wan Wan out first. If you and Miss Li have matters to discuss, take your time.”

Only then did Qiao Mo come back to his senses and nod lightly.

Soon, only Qiao Zhao and Qiao Mo remained in the courtyard.

After a long silence, Qiao Zhao curved her lips in a smile: “Elder Brother Qiao—”

“Come with me.” Qiao Mo looked at her deeply, then turned and walked away.

He had never been in good health, and now his retreating figure looked thin and frail, causing a sharp pain in Qiao Zhao’s heart as she watched.

Her former elder brother had been elegant as orchid and jade, graceful and refined—when had he ever looked so dejected?

She lifted her feet and silently followed.

Qiao Mo stopped at an open area—such places were safer for conversation, without fear of interested parties hiding in dark corners to eavesdrop.

Qiao Zhao stood behind Qiao Mo.

Qiao Mo slowly turned around and extended his hand, holding the very pouch that Qiao Zhao had given him when she visited the prison.

Qiao Zhao pressed her lips together, finally waiting for Qiao Mo to speak.

“‘The wise man, being enlightened himself, enlightens others.’ I don’t understand the meaning of this phrase. Could Miss Li explain it to me?”

Qiao Mo’s tone was very calm, making it impossible for Qiao Zhao to see through his thoughts.

However, Qiao Zhao no longer had any way to retreat, and said, “This phrase is the origin of my name.”

“I wonder which elder gave Miss Li her name?”

“Grandfather. Because my grandfather hoped I would become such a person.” Qiao Zhao’s voice was already trembling slightly.

Qiao Mo looked at her deeply: “Then what about A’Chu?”

Qiao Zhao closed her eyes, her voice very soft: “Grandmother. Because grandmother joked with grandfather, insisting that my ‘Zhao’ should be interpreted as ‘the sun and moon shining bright,’ and gave me the pet name A’Chu.”

“Miss Li, the green pills are very bitter.” Qiao Mo said slowly.

Qiao Zhao’s eyes grew teary, but she held back from crying and instead showed a mischievous smile, saying word by word: “Elder Brother Qiao’s luck was really bad—the green ones had bitter orange peel added.”

As her words fell, Qiao Mo couldn’t help but step forward half a pace, staring intently at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao’s heart was extremely tense.

Elder brother had a good memory like her—he certainly wouldn’t forget this conversation between siblings from over ten years ago.

If her elder brother still didn’t believe her after this, then she truly had no other options.

Seeing Qiao Mo remain silent for a long time, Qiao Zhao simply steeled her heart and took the initiative to break the suffocating silence: “I made the pills in rainbow colors, thinking Elder Brother Qiao wouldn’t dare eat them.”

Qiao Mo stared at her fixedly, finally sending a voice as light as a whisper to Qiao Zhao’s ear: “Others wouldn’t dare eat them, but elder brother dares—as long as little sister made them.”

Qiao Zhao’s heart shook, and she involuntarily stepped forward: “Elder brother?”

Qiao Mo opened his arms: “Zhaozhao.”

In this moment, all the anxiety, pain, and torment found their outlet. Qiao Zhao threw herself into Qiao Mo’s embrace, hugged him tightly, and wept aloud.

Qiao Mo embraced Qiao Zhao, as if carefully cradling a lost and regained treasure, letting her cry to her heart’s content.

“Elder brother, I thought you still wouldn’t believe me—”

“Silly girl, you silly girl.” Qiao Mo repeatedly stroked Qiao Zhao’s beautiful hair, speaking incoherently.

His younger sister was crying uncontrollably, but wasn’t his own heart equally in turmoil?

He had too many questions to ask her, and too many things to tell her, yet now, except for calling her “silly girl,” he found himself unable to say anything else.

The siblings embraced for a long time before Qiao Zhao bashfully broke free from Qiao Mo’s arms. Seeing his eyes full of tenderness and indulgence, she couldn’t help but remember those earlier cold words and said aggrievedly: “Elder brother isn’t as perceptive as Grandfather Li—Grandfather Li recognized me long ago.”

She knew she shouldn’t complain, but she couldn’t help it. Who told him he was her elder brother?

“It’s the elder brother who was foolish, only recognizing little sister now.” Qiao Mo was filled with joy at this moment and didn’t mind this small complaint at all.

The siblings stared at each other intently, then both broke into foolish smiles.

After a long while, both spoke at the same time.

“What exactly happened with that fire at home?”

“How did little sister become like this?”

Both were startled, then said in unison again: “You speak first.”

Qiao Zhao felt she hadn’t been this happy since her rebirth and couldn’t help but laugh: “Then let me speak first.”

She told Qiao Mo in detail about everything that happened after she was shot and killed by Shao Mingyuan, then opened her eyes again as the young girl Li Zhao.

After an unknown amount of time, Qiao Zhao finally finished speaking. Qiao Mo couldn’t help but reach out to gently stroke her hair: “Thank goodness Heaven has eyes—”

A girl’s cry of alarm came from the distance: “Elder brother!”