The village was on the other side of Nanshan. Because the terrain wasn’t suited for farming, few people had settled there.

Scattered thatched huts stood here and there, most of them dark and empty, with no one living inside.

The closer they got to the cliff, the sparser the population became, until finally there was no light at all.

They continued along the rugged path for about a quarter of an hour, then rounded a bend, and firelight appeared ahead.

After passing through a patch of forest, they finally reached their destination.

At a glance, in the trampled-down forest, a number of large tents had been set up.

The one in the middle was especially eye-catching.

A woman stood at the entrance of the path, glancing repeatedly toward the trail they were coming in from.

When she saw a carriage approaching, the woman’s face immediately lit up with joy, and she turned and ran outside.

It wasn’t really a road—just grass trampled flat by the group passing through, which had come to resemble a path.

As the woman ran, the man behind her also quickened his pace to keep up.

“Jiu’er, you’ve finally arrived.”

Xiao Yingtao was so happy that she ran and skipped, disappearing from sight in an instant.

Jian Yi, who was driving the carriage, didn’t slow down just because someone had come to greet them.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

After several more beats, the carriage passed right by Xiao Yingtao.

It left only her, and Xing Zizhou following behind her.

Xiao Yingtao watched the direction the carriage had gone, pouted, and slowly turned back.

“Jian Yi actually ignored me, that jerk!”

Xing Zizhou came over, took her small hand, and walked with her beneath the moonlight.

“It’s fine, just the two of us—that’s nice!”

“It’s not nice at all.”

Xiao Yingtao’s pink lips pouted even higher. “Do you know how long it’s been since I saw Jiu’er?”

“Isn’t that exactly why I chased after you—because I missed her?

Hmph! Jian Yi is so annoying.”

“Right, Jian Yi is the most annoying!”

Xing Zizhou held Xiao Yingtao’s small hand with one hand, and with the other, gently pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist.

“How about I get you some lamb leg later, hmm?”

He leaned close to his girl and coaxed her softly.

“Mm.”

Xiao Yingtao pursed her lips and nodded.

The two walked together for a while before she finally looked up at Xing Zizhou.

“Is the lamb leg roasted yet?

Did Jiu’er have someone send it over today?

I want to eat the lamb Jiu’er caught.”

“Yes, it’ll be ready soon.”

Xing Zizhou smiled faintly, lowered his head, and kissed Xiao Yingtao’s forehead.

“That lamb—we agreed it’s yours to divide up. No one dares touch it.”

“Mm-hm.”

Xiao Yingtao looked up at the bright moon, her expression seeming to ease a little.

“I want to save some for Jiu’er and Qiao Mu to eat together. Jian Yi can eat pork instead—Jian Yi is a pig, he couldn’t even see me.”

“Right, he’s a pig!”

Xing Zizhou said indulgently.

When the two returned to the central camp, Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, and the others were already sitting together with the brothers.

“The meat’s all roasted.”

Someone called out, though no one knew who.

Many of the brothers stood up and went to get some meat.

Xiao Yingtao quietly walked over and sat down across from Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu.

Everyone sat right on the ground, the soft grass beneath their feet not only unobtrusive but quite comfortable to sit on.

The brother who had been reporting the situation to Feng Jiu’er also left to get some meat, and the area grew quiet.

When Feng Jiu’er set down the map in her hand and looked up, she met Xiao Yingtao’s gaze, which carried a hint of resentment.

“What’s wrong?

Haven’t seen you in a while, and you’ve become so quiet?”

Qiao Mu also looked up, watching Xiao Yingtao.

“Xiao Yingtao, does someone owe you money?”

She raised an eyebrow too.

It seemed neither of them could accept Xiao Yingtao being this quiet.

Xiao Yingtao blinked, looked around at everyone, and nodded.

“Yes, it’s Jian Yi.”

Several pairs of eyes turned to Jian Yi at once.

Jian Yi furrowed his brow and looked up at Xiao Yingtao.

Xiao Yingtao met his gaze, her pink lips pouting even higher.

“I went to greet you all just now, don’t you dare say you didn’t see me!”

She pointed at Jian Yi, then pointed her slender finger toward the single path they’d come in on.

“Didn’t see you.”

Jian Yi shook his head.

“How is that possible?”

Xiao Yingtao’s brow furrowed so tightly it could have crushed a fly.

“I ran all the way over there, and even jumped up and down—how could you not see me?”

“Maybe you’re too short.”

Jian Yi raised an eyebrow.

“You—” Xiao Yingtao couldn’t hold back any longer and stormed forward angrily.

But by the time she reached Feng Jiu’er, her anger had vanished, and she sat down looking wronged instead.

Once seated, Xiao Yingtao didn’t turn back. She looped her arm through Feng Jiu’er’s and kept squeezing backward.

She successfully wedged herself into a spot between Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu, practically draping her whole body over Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, I missed you so much, waaah. Didn’t you say you were just going to take a look around the town?

You were gone for so long!”

“Without you around, I couldn’t eat or sleep properly, and I couldn’t get anything done either.”

“Jiu’er, I can’t be without you!”

“More like slacking off.”

Qiao Mu glanced sideways at the person next to her and reached over to pinch her small arm.

“You’ve gotten fatter, who’d believe that?”

“When have I gotten fatter?”

Xiao Yingtao immediately sat up straight and looked at Qiao Mu.

She touched her own face, then touched her own arm, then turned and rested her chin in her hand, looking at Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, have I gotten fat?

Take a good look and tell me honestly, have I really gotten fat?”

“Just exercise a bit more from now on and you’ll be fine.”

Feng Jiu’er said with a faint smile.

Which meant, she was tacitly agreeing.

“Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, Qiao Mu, this roasted lamb leg was set aside especially for you.”

Xing Zizhou came before the three of them, holding a large platter.

“And Xinyue too—this is…” Xing Zizhou’s gaze landed on Gong Xing’er.

“She’s my younger sister, Gong Xing’er.”

Gong Xinyue introduced her.

“Xing’er, hello! I’m Xing Zizhou, you can also call me Brother Xing.”

Xing Zizhou greeted Gong Xing’er politely.

“Bro—Brother Xing, hello!”

Gong Xing’er murmured softly.

“Xing’er, don’t be nervous! We’re all one big family here.”

Long Shiyi bent his legs and leaned forward.

He took a piece of roasted meat from the platter in Xing Zizhou’s hands, tore off a piece, and handed it to Gong Xing’er.

“Thank you.”

Gong Xing’er took the meat and glanced at Xing Zizhou again.

“Long Shiyi is right, you’re Xinyue’s sister, we’re all family here.”

Xing Zizhou offered a reassuring word, then immediately turned his gaze back to Xiao Yingtao.

He held the platter out in front of Xiao Yingtao, saying with a smile, “Eat up, haven’t you been waiting long enough?”

“Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, Xinyue, you all eat too—this is the wild goat you all sent over today.”

“Xiao Yingtao said this goat was the fattest, and wanted to wait until you all arrived to eat it.”

Qiao Mu, Feng Jiu’er, and Gong Xinyue each took another piece of meat.

When the platter reached Xiao Yingtao, she not only didn’t take any meat, but covered her mouth with both hands.

Seeing this, Xing Zizhou immediately frowned. “What’s wrong?”

He handed the platter to Jian Yi and came to Xiao Yingtao’s side.

“Where does it hurt?

Where?

Is it your appetite?

Could it be…” “It’s not that!”

Xiao Yingtao lunged at him, knocking Xing Zizhou over.

She lay on top of him, clamping her hands firmly over his mouth.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”