She thought about so many things…

How she hoped she hadn’t guessed wrong, how she hoped the face beneath the mask was the familiar face she had longed for, but she was also so afraid—afraid that all her hopes would completely vanish the moment she removed the mask!

Jingrong, it must be you, right!

It must be!

Her eyes lowered slightly as she took a deep breath. Her fingertips tightly gripped the cold, water-dampened mask, lifting it up bit by bit. The air seemed to suddenly condense in this moment, everything becoming cautious and careful. When the mask was half removed, Ji Yunshu gathered her courage and looked up. Li Chuan’s face, hidden beneath the mask, was revealed little by little.

It was an incomparably familiar face—excellent skin, sharply defined features, handsome and distinguished, with three-dimensional contours. Even though he was unconscious at this moment, appearing somewhat weary, his brows still revealed the innate cold, proud temperament he was born with, like a celestial being!

Every inch of his appearance had always been deeply branded upon her heart, never forgotten day or night.

“Jingrong.” She couldn’t help but cry out, and the cold mask in her hand was immediately flung to the ground. She reached out to caress his face, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

Yes, Li Chuan was Jingrong!

Even though the scars on his body were gone, his appearance remained the same, as did his habit of poking the fire with a wooden stick.

At this moment, after waiting for who knew how long, she had finally reached this day of reunion. All the searching and waiting of the past had become worthwhile in this instant.

She stroked Jingrong’s face and said, “What exactly happened to you all these years? Why don’t you even recognize me? But it doesn’t matter—I’ll never let you leave again. No matter what happened in the past, it’s all over now. Whether you recognize me or not, I believe that one day you’ll remember. Jingrong, once you’re better, I’ll take you home.”

Jingrong, once you’re better, I’ll take you home!

That night, she didn’t sleep at all.

Before dawn broke, the sound of firecrackers came from outside, one after another in an endless stream, echoing throughout the manor for a long time. Today was Lord Li’s birthday, so naturally it was lively and festive.

But Ji Yunshu paid no attention at all. She kept watch by the bedside, waiting for Jingrong to wake up so she could take him away from here and return to Da Lin!

Just then—

Someone came knocking at the door. “Miss Ji, are you awake?”

It was a maid responsible for serving in the manor.

She sat by the bed, both hands tightly gripping Jingrong’s hand, her gaze continuously watching him with devotion. She didn’t care at all about the knocking outside, completely ignoring it as if she couldn’t hear it.

The maid knocked a few more times, worried that something might have happened inside, and called out while knocking, “Miss Ji? Miss Ji?”

She called several times.

The young ladies who had already left their rooms heard this and began gossiping among themselves. Especially Qiu Shu—her eyes rolled upward as if they had needle holes in them. Yesterday’s incident with the insect and the matter with Luo Yang had left her thoroughly displeased, with anger burning in her heart and nowhere to vent it. She huffed and walked over, roughly pushing aside the maid at the door.

She scolded, “Useless thing! Is calling someone really this troublesome?”

“Miss Qiu, this servant…”

Before she could finish speaking, Qiu Shu cut her off, “Get out of the way, I’ll do it!”

“Yes!”

Qiu Shu was originally a daughter of a noble family and should have been graceful and dignified in her every movement, but after several incidents in succession, she simply couldn’t maintain the demeanor of a noble family’s daughter. She was single-mindedly focused on retaliating against Ji Yunshu to vent the hatred in her heart!

She immediately raised her head and fiercely slapped the door several times with a crackling sound, then said in an affected tone, “Is the person inside deaf? Or already dead? Today is Lord Li’s birthday! Don’t think that just because you’re General Wen’s honored guest you can do as you please here. We’ve all gotten up and are preparing to go over, but you’re still hiding in your room refusing to come out!”

These words were extremely sarcastic and cutting!

Anyone hearing them would want to punch her.

But after she finished speaking, there was still no response from inside.

Zhu Yao, not far away, also emerged from her room and happened upon this scene. The hand holding her handkerchief tightened severely. She was about to go over, but Cai’er held her back.

Cai’er whispered advice in her ear, “Miss, you’d better not go, lest later…”

“What are you saying? Miss Ji has helped me several times before—how can I not go now?”

“But…”

“There are no buts!”

Zhu Yao didn’t think twice and strode toward that direction. Just as Qiu Shu raised her hand to pound on the door again, she stopped her in time, saying, “Miss Qiu, please stop knocking.”

Oh my, has this little white rabbit also learned to be a cat with claws?

All the onlookers wore expressions of watching a good show!

Qiu Shu’s expression immediately turned stern. She looked Zhu Yao up and down, her brows furrowing tightly as she asked, “What did you just say? Say it again.”

In her impression, Zhu Yao was a rabbit that couldn’t bark—only fit to be slaughtered, and the type who would never fight back. But now she seemed like a different person, with a tone of voice that even carried some confidence.

For a moment, Qiu Shu thought she had heard wrong!

Zhu Yao was actually afraid in her heart, but thinking about how Ji Yunshu had helped her before, if she didn’t stand up now, it would seem too heartless. What would make her different from these people? So, though she was usually timid and conflict-averse, she had to muster her courage at this moment.

She pressed her lips together and said, “Miss Qiu, Miss Ji may not be feeling well, which is why she’s rising late. Your knocking like this really isn’t appropriate.”

“Not appropriate? How is it not appropriate? Why don’t you tell me!”

“…”

Qiu Shu took two steps closer to Zhu Yao, her lips curling into an extremely sinister smile as she said, “You’d better mind your own business instead of getting ideas about caring for others. Besides, I’m also worried about that young lady inside. Tell me, if something happened to her and she died in there, wouldn’t no one care?”

Zhu Yao wasn’t good at arguing with people to begin with, and it had to be said that Qiu Shu’s words actually made some sense.

What if Ji Yunshu really had something happen to her inside? What would they do then?

Thinking of this, her face showed concern as she glanced inside.

Qiu Shu laughed coldly. Seeing that she had taken her words to heart, she asked, “Well then, should I continue knocking? Or will you?”

Zhu Yao took a deep breath, then stood at the doorway and gently called out, “Miss Ji, are you inside?”

No response!

Qiu Shu hated her gentle and soft nature the most. She immediately pushed her aside and said, “Really annoying! Knocking like that, you wouldn’t get a response even if you knocked until evening.”

So—

Qiu Shu clenched her fist and pounded hard on the door.

On the third strike, the door suddenly opened!