Xiao Ba was very sincere.

He could deceive heaven and earth, but he would never deceive Luo Yang.

Luo Yang knew he wouldn’t lie.

Xiao Ba’s eyes widened as he furrowed his brow, scratched his head, and asked: “Brother, why are you asking this? Is it about Miss Ji?”

“Miss Ji said she had matters to attend to and left early. I don’t know where she went either.”

“But Miss Ji really hasn’t come back. Could something have happened to her?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Xiao Ba immediately shut his mouth and said nothing more. He turned his head and noticed the unfamiliar man who had come in with Luo Yang. That person exuded an extraordinary aura—jade-like features, a crowned head, splendid clothing, his entire being radiating nobility. Clearly not an ordinary person. Standing in this dilapidated courtyard, he seemed completely out of place, giving a sense of having wandered into the wrong location!

After sizing him up and down several times, Xiao Ba shifted his steps and moved beside Li Shiyan, asking curiously: “You… who are you? Why are you here? Did you… come to the wrong place?”

He asked cautiously.

His voice like a mosquito’s bite.

Hearing this question, Luo Yang immediately reached out to pull him to his side, then introduced: “Don’t be rude! This person is our distinguished guest, the Young Master of Yanjing City, the son of a marquis.”

Hm?

Xiao Ba didn’t understand: “What’s a Young Master?”

Can you eat it?

They had lived in the remote areas of Huyi until now, with limited horizons. They didn’t know many official positions. The biggest personage they knew was the county magistrate. How would they know what a Young Master was? What a marquis was? Luo Yang still knew some things, but Xiao Ba’s brain didn’t turn fast enough, so naturally he didn’t know!

Luo Yang didn’t know how to explain: “Don’t ask so many questions. The Young Master is visiting us. Hurry and bring out the good food to properly entertain him.”

“Is he even more noble than that Young Master Wen?”

“Of course! Go quickly!”

“Oh!”

Xiao Ba looked completely bewildered but could only nod and go get the good food—

Li Shiyan, who hadn’t spoken all this while, called out to stop him: “No need, I’m not here to eat.”

After speaking, he turned to Luo Yang: “Which room does Miss Ji stay in?”

Luo Yang paused slightly, then pointed at a tightly closed door in the courtyard: “That one!”

“Many thanks!” Li Shiyan stepped forward.

But after just two steps, Luo Yang quickly moved to block his path, saying: “Young Master, you also heard that Miss Ji hasn’t arrived yet. Why don’t you sit in my room? Miss Ji doesn’t like others going into her room. You’re a grown man going into a woman’s room—I’m afraid that wouldn’t be proper.”

“I’m not an outsider!”

“…”

Li Shiyan didn’t care about all those messy rules or whether they were reasonable. He went straight around Luo Yang, crossed the courtyard, and in a few steps reached Ji Yunshu’s door. He put both hands together and pushed it open forcefully.

As the door opened, a faint fragrance drifted from inside the room, refreshing to the heart and mind. Just smelling it was very comfortable, as if it could instantly lift one’s troubled mood, making the heart feel extraordinarily peaceful. The moment Li Shiyan pushed open the door, he was certain—Ji Yunshu had indeed lived in this room!

The furnishings in the room were very simple.

Also very crude!

Even because it had been built so long ago, the walls and corners everywhere showed some deterioration. But the room had been tidied up clean and neat, clearly the dwelling place of a young lady.

Upon entering, Li Shiyan looked around the room in a circle, finally settling his gaze on the sandalwood box by the bedside.

Although the box had been crafted many years ago, some of the red lacquer on it had flaked off, and several corners had been worn smooth, this didn’t affect the sandalwood box’s beauty. The patterns carved on it and that small lock remained just as exquisite.

He recognized it—this was the treasure Ji Yunshu carried with her!

No matter where she was, she would keep this item with her.

At that moment, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but slowly curved into a smile.

“Shu’er.” He softly called out between his lips and teeth.

These two words were clearly heard by Luo Yang, who was leaning against the doorframe. Obviously seeing through everything, he asked in a low tone: “Actually, you’ve known each other all along, right?”

Although his tone posed a question.

The meaning between the words was an affirmation.

Li Shiyan didn’t answer his words. He walked to the bedside, extending his slender-jointed fingers to slowly touch the sandalwood box at the head of the bed. His fingers slid over the copper-plated handle—cold and icy, yet he still felt it was warm, as if in an instant he had touched Ji Yunshu’s hand.

So familiar.

The surging excitement in his heart was about to burst out.

He truly hated that at Ning’an Manor he hadn’t broken through that door, hadn’t properly looked at Ji Yunshu, hadn’t properly embraced her.

So that at the time he could only see Ji Yunshu’s slender silhouette!

Regret!

After a long while, he turned back to ask Luo Yang: “Has she mentioned to you what she did before?”

Luo Yang shook his head blankly: “She hasn’t said.”

Li Shiyan smiled slightly: “That’s right, she’s such a cautious person.”

“You two actually…”

“She’s my friend, also an old acquaintance.” Li Shiyan said this, then looked at Luo Yang. “I know you’ve long guessed the relationship between her and me, otherwise you wouldn’t have been so generous in bringing me here.”

“Worthy of being the Young Master!” Luo Yang raised his chin. “That’s right, I know you’re acquainted. Otherwise… she wouldn’t have expended so much effort and taken such risks to help you, even dragging me along, having me secretly come forward to find that Lord Huang, doing everything possible to save you. Clearly, she cares about you quite a bit. So when you wanted to find her, I brought you here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have that kind of spare time.”

“Then do you know why she came to Qujiang?”

“To find someone.”

“Who?” Li Shiyan’s eyes tightened.

He wondered—was she here to find Su Ziluo?

But the next moment, he immediately rejected this thought, because that night when Ji Yunshu came to see him, she had said not to tell Su Ziluo about her being in Qujiang. So she definitely wasn’t here to find Su Ziluo.

Even if not, then who was she looking for?

Luo Yang’s body left the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest as he told him with complete certainty: “Anyway, the person she’s looking for is not you.”

“Why?”

“Because the person in the portrait isn’t you!”

“Portrait?” Li Shiyan was confused. He walked toward him while asking: “What portrait?”

Luo Yang realized he’d said too much. He closed his mouth, shaking his head, making a sound like a mosquito: “Miss Ji told me not to say.”

He had promised!

Li Shiyan spoke in a kind and gentle voice: “I already said I’m friends with Miss Ji, also an old acquaintance! If she wants to find someone, I’ll definitely help. If you’re doing this for her good, tell me.”

“Then aren’t you putting me in a difficult position?”

“Why are you being so wishy-washy? Hurry up and say it!”

“Still can’t!” Luo Yang turned his body.

Won’t say, just won’t say!

A true man keeps his word!

Li Shiyan grew anxious and could only say this: “Right now we don’t even know where she is. What if there’s real danger? You must tell me—who exactly is she looking for? Only then can I think of a way to find her! If you still don’t say, and if something happens to Miss Ji, I won’t let you off either. You know who I am—the Young Master of Yanjing!”

He laid out his identity.

Hearing him say this, Luo Yang thought it made some sense.

What if something really happened to Ji Yunshu?

Moreover, Li Shiyan was obviously using his identity as Young Master to pressure him.

Seeing him still hesitating, Li Shiyan continued: “As long as you tell me, from now on whatever matter you have, I can help you. And I said, if you help me find Miss Ji, as long as I, Li Shiyan, have something, just ask and I’ll give it to you.”

To find Ji Yunshu, he could spare no effort.

He’d already missed five years—he didn’t want to miss again!

Luo Yang turned in a circle on the spot, his heart feeling like ants were drilling through it. Finally—

He gritted his teeth and said: “Fine, I’ll tell you. But I’m not doing this to get anything from you. I’m worried that something really has happened to Miss Ji.”

“Speak.”

“She’s carrying a portrait with her. The portrait shows the person she came to Qujiang to find. That person looks quite handsome, doesn’t seem like an ordinary person either, and wearing splendid clothes. Anyway, dressed like… from a wealthy family, even more presentable than what you’re wearing. Anyway, all I know is she’s been looking for that person for three years. I’ve actually seen that person, only he was wearing half a mask, so I couldn’t see his full face. Miss Ji knew he’d come to Yanjing, so she followed all the way here. And… that person is very important to her, more important than her own life.”