Shen Rong’er nodded at Xiao Yingtao, then turned back to look at Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, I heard from Qinchun that your pharmacy’s rouge line is about to be launched — I wonder if I could…”

Shen Rong’er bit her lip hard and, mustering her courage, said, “I want to join you all — I wonder if there’s a chance for that?”

Feng Jiu’er met the young girl’s gaze, her crescent brows furrowing slightly.

She had actually meant to remind Shen Rong’er not to speak about what happened in the mountain to outsiders for now.

That matter could be made public once things had settled — there was no rush.

“Rong’er, have you really thought this through? Being with us isn’t as good as it looks.” Feng Jiu’er looked at this gentle, endearing girl.

“We eat more dirt than we eat rice, more often than not.” Qiao Mu shook her head. “This kind of hardship isn’t something an ordinary person can endure.”

“I’m not afraid of hard work!” Shen Rong’er leaned forward from beside Yang Sheng, looking at Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu.

“Jiu’er, Sister Qiao, I’m really not afraid of hardship, I…”

“Rong’er, let’s have Yang Sheng take you home first.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head lightly.

“You still have your parents at home, it’s not suitable for you to follow us on long journeys, living with no certainty from one day to the next.”

“You may be able to endure hardship, but your parents wouldn’t be willing to let you, understand?”

“Jiu’er, I’m not my parents’ only child — I also have an older brother and sister-in-law, they took my nephew back to visit family, they’ll be back in a couple of days.”

Shen Rong’er looked excited — she really had spent the whole night thinking before making this decision.

She looked at Feng Jiu’er, leaning forward slightly, almost resting against Yang Sheng.

“Jiu’er, when I go back, I’ll bring over all the rouge and fragrances I’ve made these past few years for you to look at.”

“Once you’ve seen my work, then you can decide, alright?”

Her closeness made Yang Sheng a bit uncomfortable.

But Shen Rong’er, single-mindedly focused on wanting to follow Feng Jiu’er, paid it no mind.

She stared unblinkingly at Feng Jiu’er, her eyes full of anticipation.

Feng Jiu’er met that pair of clear, wide eyes and couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“Alright!” In the end, she nodded. “Your complexion really doesn’t look well, go home and rest first.”

“Mm.” Shen Rong’er, momentarily excited, lost her balance and her body suddenly pitched forward.

“Ah—” she let out a small cry.

A pair of strong, powerful arms caught her.

Shen Rong’er took a deep breath and looked up to meet Yang Sheng’s gaze, her breathing suddenly quickening.

Yang Sheng glanced at her and straightened her posture. “Are you alright?”

Once he saw she was steady, he let go.

“I’m fine.” Shen Rong’er lowered her head, not daring to look at him again.

“Mister Yang, if you have things to attend to, there’s no need to walk me home — I come here often and know the way back.”

“It’s Jiu’er’s order, I must see it through.” Yang Sheng insisted, though he didn’t look at her again, picking up his porridge and gulping it down.

He, once again, blocked out a good deal of her light.

Shen Rong’er steadied her emotions and looked up at the tall figure beside her.

She tugged at the robe draped over her, still holding onto his warmth, and felt her heart grow warm.

From yesterday until now, the warmth these strangers had given her — she’d remembered every bit of it.

She really wanted to earn Jiu’er’s approval, so that she could follow everyone in the future, through life and death together.

Shen Rong’er, who had spent her whole life tending to fragrances, felt for the first time that the sunlight outside could shine this brightly.

Once everyone had eaten, Feng Jiu’er led the group to continue digging — mining the sulfur.

Many of the brothers who’d worked through the whole night had gone back to rest; those who remained were mostly the ones who’d arrived after dawn.

Feng Jiu’er worked a bit longer before being pulled away to head back too.

That was right — if she didn’t go back, someone at home might come looking for her.

And if she didn’t go back, wouldn’t a certain man not even be able to sleep?

Looking at Yu Jingfeng’s state, her own man at home must have been busy the entire night too.

Better head back — going back to wash up would feel good too.

At home, it wasn’t just her Ninth Imperial Uncle — there was also the great hero Jian Yi.

She wondered if the hero’s condition had improved after soaking in the bath.

So busy, so much to do! But a fulfilling life had meaning.

Feng Jiu’er returned to the residence they’d temporarily borrowed and knocked on the door of Di Wu Ya’s chamber.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, I’m back.”

“Come in.”

Just as the word “come” left Di Wu Ya’s mouth, the girl who had been knocking had already, as a matter of course, pushed the door open and walked in.

Di Wu Ya looked up, watching the girl who, despite not having slept all night, was still brimming with energy, and beckoned to her.

“Come here.”

“Wait, let me go wash up first, I feel gross!”

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze didn’t linger on Di Wu Ya at all; she turned and pushed open the door to the inner chamber.

Di Wu Ya, helpless, withdrew the hand he’d raised halfway and shook his head.

He said nothing more, watched the closed door for a moment, then withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and continued reading through the letters.

The reason Feng Jiu’er had chosen this particular room was that it had a natural hot spring.

And the spring water flowed continuously, so she could bathe whenever she wanted.

After tidying her clothes, Feng Jiu’er walked behind the folding screen, shed her sticky garments, and stepped into the hot spring pool.

Nothing felt better than a good bath after a whole day and night of being busy.

The man she’d ignored sat with his back straight and tall behind the writing desk, flipping through letter after letter.

His face, cold as a thousand years of ice, showed not a trace of unnecessary expression.

Those deep eyes were like a fathomless, deep sea, impossible to see to the bottom.

No matter how domineering or cold he was, it couldn’t diminish his handsome beauty.

Sword-like brows, deep-set eyes, a tall straight nose, thin lips pinker than peach blossoms, and skin that would make every woman in the world jealous.

No matter how much wind and rain he’d weathered, Di Wu Ya’s handsome face remained utterly unaffected.

After a good while, Di Wu Ya set down the last letter, his gaze shifting to look at the closed door.

In an instant, the ice-cold aura that could freeze everything dissipated by more than half.

He picked up the two letters on top, crumpled them in his palm, and frowned slightly.

When his slender, well-defined fingers opened, the letters had turned to dust.

Di Wu Ya’s gaze locked onto that tightly shut door once more, the corner of his mouth curving up as he strode over.

Feng Jiu’er, enjoying her own moment of happiness in the spring water, leaned comfortably against a large, warm, round cobblestone, and had long since fallen fast asleep.

Di Wu Ya entered silently and soundlessly, his clothes falling from his body piece by piece.

The pleasant sound of trickling spring water rang out; the girl leaning against the cobblestone, hugging a blanket, had no idea danger was approaching.

To be precise, it was because Di Wu Ya was guarding outside that Feng Jiu’er could sleep so soundly and securely.

Yet who would have thought — sometimes, the safest person could turn into a wolf.

The pool wasn’t large; when someone entered, the spring water rippled in an unusual way.

Feng Jiu’er seemed to sense something and suddenly opened her eyes.

What met her eyes was a handsome face so devastatingly attractive it seemed to defy the heavens, along with his… utterly flawless body.

Feng Jiu’er’s bright, watery eyes went wide to the extreme.

She let out a small cry, both hands clamped over her mouth, refusing to let herself scream.

—