“Xiao Yingtao, your man is really good-looking!”

Shen Rong’er pursed her lips and said softly.

Xiao Yingtao glanced at Shen Rong’er again, her small face turning even redder.

“Rong’er, don’t talk about her. She’s the type with a thief’s heart but not the guts for it.”

Qiao Mu had just finished arranging things and returned.

She sat down across from Xiao Yingtao and looked up.

“Don’t lump us together — you’re you, we’re we, understood?”

She was still fuming with anger; no matter what was said, she wouldn’t easily forgive him! Fortunately, her temper had improved recently, otherwise she would have beaten that man until he couldn’t find his teeth on the ground! A few flowers and a ring, and he thought that would appease her — impossible!

“Qiao Mu, are you still angry?”

Xiao Yingtao looked up at her.

Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow, picked up some meat, and ignored her.

“Xiao Yingtao, what’s wrong with Qiao Mu?”

Shen Rong’er liked these women more and more.

She truly hoped she could become friends with them, could go out and conquer the world together with them.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have that ability.

“She’s angry, that’s what.”

Yue Qinchun said carelessly, without thinking twice.

“On the day of their wedding, her husband went out to handle some business and nearly lost his life.”

Qiao Mu still said nothing, and Feng Jiu’er didn’t know what to say either, so she just kept eating.

Xiao Yingtao looked at Yue Qinchun and kept shaking her head.

Yue Qinchun didn’t look at her though, focused on eating.

Their little Qinchun was just this adorable — not many thoughts, no scheming either.

Being with Yinan suited her perfectly.

Shen Rong’er seemed to sense something was off, and didn’t ask further.

“Qinchun, now that Lord Yue and Sister Hua have agreed to let you and Yinan be together, what are your plans?”

Xiao Yingtao asked with a smile.

“Yinan said to wait until I grow up.”

Yue Qinchun looked utterly blissful.

“When I turn eighteen, he’ll marry me, and he’s also promised he’ll give me a stable life.”

“Qinchun, I really envy you!”

Duan Liuyang curved her lips slightly.

In this lifetime, she probably wouldn’t find happiness either.

Even though it was all in the past, those fragments still surfaced in her dreams from time to time — too terrifying.

Duan Liuyang bit down on her chopsticks, staring at the food, and said nothing more.

“Liuyang, don’t be unhappy!”

Yue Qinchun handed her a steamed bun.

“You’ll definitely find your own destined man too. You will.”

Duan Liuyang took the bun and smiled faintly.

“I’m not thinking about that right now. Being able to follow Jiu’er and all of you is enough to satisfy me.”

“Miss Jiu’er, something’s wrong — Zhao Yusheng was bitten by a snake.”

Suddenly, a brother came running over.

Zhao Yusheng had been working with Xing Zizhou all day; when Xing Zizhou came over, hearing the news, he had followed as well.

Hearing the brother’s words, Duan Liuyang was the first to stand.

Feng Jiu’er also stood up immediately.

Several of them set down what was in their hands and followed the brother off.

This cliffside was very large; dozens of brothers had split into three areas to dig. Zhao Yusheng had gone to the rightmost position.

“Miss Jiu’er, the young master got bitten by a snake.”

Another brother rushed over urgently, running into people along the way.

Feng Jiu’er quickened her pace, but before she knew it, Duan Liuyang had already run ahead.

She was deeply grateful to Zhao Yusheng, yet had never had the chance to properly thank him.

If Zhao Yusheng hadn’t arrived in time back then, once things had happened, she wouldn’t have even had the courage to keep living.

In other words, Brother Zhao was her lifesaver — Duan Liuyang wished she could take Zhao Yusheng’s injury upon herself.

“It’s a venomous snake.”

“Young master, it’s really a venomous snake.”

“Young master, don’t move! Let me handle it.”

Several brothers surrounded the person in the middle; a dead snake lay not far away.

“It’s nothing.”

Zhao Yusheng’s voice came from within the crowd.

“It’s fine, keep going.”

“Young master, this isn’t nothing.”

A brother stopped him.

Two brothers, still not listening, directly pressed down the man who was trying to stand up.

“A brother’s gone to call Miss Jiu’er, Young master, this snake really is venomous.”

A brother rolled up Zhao Yusheng’s pant leg again.

He looked at the wound and was stunned.

“Young master, the wound has turned black!”

The brothers who’d entered the mountain had brought plenty of oil lamps.

With all the oil lamps lit, the whole valley wasn’t dark at all — everything around could be seen clearly.

Duan Liuyang was very thin and small; she gently pushed past the two brothers and came before Zhao Yusheng.

She saw the wound too.

Without another word, Duan Liuyang crouched down, held Zhao Yusheng’s leg, lowered her head, and put her mouth to it.

“Liuyang.”

Zhao Yusheng frowned and held her thin shoulders.

“Liuyang, I’m fine, you don’t need—” Duan Liuyang slightly raised her head, spat out a mouthful of black blood, then lowered her head again.

Soon, Feng Jiu’er arrived.

The brothers immediately made way, and Feng Jiu’er strode in.

Duan Liuyang raised her head again and spat out another mouthful of black blood.

“Miss Jiu’er, it’s snake venom, it bit the young master’s leg.”

A brother said.

“Liuyang, I’m fine.”

Zhao Yusheng held Duan Liuyang’s arms and pressed down slightly.

“Liuyang, get up.”

Duan Liuyang spat out another mouthful of black blood and shook her head. “Brother Zhao, I can’t let something happen to you.”

“Nothing will happen to me.”

Zhao Yusheng kept applying pressure.

But the force with which she held onto his leg only grew stronger.

“Liuyang, get up.”

Feng Jiu’er was at a loss.

This girl was truly overflowing with gratitude toward Zhao Yusheng.

Zhao Yusheng had recounted what happened when he came back, so Feng Jiu’er had a rough idea.

But apart from Liuyang herself, no one knew whether she had actually been mistreated back then.

Such things weren’t easy to ask about — if it had really happened, wouldn’t asking be like tearing open Liuyang’s old wound?

Feng Jiu’er asked nothing at all; she only wanted to treat this kind-hearted girl, who had lost her family, well.

“Jiu’er.”

When Duan Liuyang lifted her head, the corners of her mouth were black.

Xiao Yingtao immediately pulled out the antidote, giving one pill to Zhao Yusheng first, then one to Duan Liuyang.

After Duan Liuyang took the pill, Xiao Yingtao pulled her straight up.

“Liuyang, do you not care about your life!”

She frowned. “What you did is very dangerous, do you understand?”

“With Jiu’er here, it’ll be fine!”

After standing up, Duan Liuyang realized she felt a bit dizzy and unconsciously steadied herself, touching her forehead.

“Take her to rest to the side.”

Feng Jiu’er said softly.

As soon as she finished speaking, she crouched down in front of Zhao Yusheng.

“Jiu’er, I already took the antidote just now, I’m fine.”

Zhao Yusheng glanced at Duan Liuyang, then his gaze returned to Feng Jiu’er.

“Our antidote is good, but it can’t cure every poison. Take one more, and let me check on your condition.”

“Liuyang, are you alright, sit down first.”

Xiao Yingtao supported Duan Liuyang and sat her down to the side.

“I’m sorry!”

Duan Liuyang looked at Feng Jiu’er, her face pale. “I didn’t know — I thought this would help Brother Zhao.”

“You did help Zhao Yusheng, but do you not care about your own life?”

Xiao Yingtao pulled out another bottle of medicine.

“Quick, take this.”

Duan Liuyang took a deep breath, took the medicine, and swallowed it.

—