Qiaoqiao looked blank. “I’ve forgotten everything from before I was twelve. Ten years ago there was an accident, and I seem to have lost my memory…”

Seeing Jiu’er’s face visibly turn pale, Qiaoqiao frowned with concern. “Jiu’er, what’s wrong? Didn’t I already tell you about this before? It’s not like you didn’t know.”

Had she known before?

Now that she thought about it, it seemed that somewhere in Zhen Jiu’er’s memory, this matter had indeed come up before.

Ten years ago, Qiaoqiao had been in a traffic accident, fallen unconscious, and been hospitalized — after that, she couldn’t remember anything from before.

Qiaoqiao really did seem to have mentioned it before.

But at the time, Jiu’er must not have paid it any attention.

Ten years ago… why was it ten years ago again?

Two people — perhaps that was a coincidence.

But three people?

Three people could absolutely not be a coincidence.

This matter was strange! Very strange!

That day, Jiu’er stayed by Lu Beicheng’s side, barely speaking the entire day, often lost in thought.

By evening, once Lu Beicheng’s spirits had fully recovered, he reached out and tapped her head with his finger. “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about how you lost your memory ten years ago.”

Jiu’er looked up at his face, so close to hers. “Ninth Master, what does it actually feel like? If you’ve forgotten the past, then those eighteen years before…”

“It’s not that I’ve forgotten completely. It’s more like certain memories have been sealed away, but the things I learned before, I still seem to remember.”

It had all happened so long ago that he couldn’t quite explain it now.

But why would this girl bring it up out of nowhere?

Lu Beicheng lowered his eyes, staring at her face, which still held a hint of paleness.

“You’ve looked strange these past two days. What are you really thinking about? Are you afraid of something?”

Jiu’er couldn’t explain it, so she simply nodded along with his words. “I’m a little… uneasy.”

“Because of what happened with Xia Zi?” Lu Beicheng took her hand in his.

Her small hand was ice-cold.

He wrapped Jiu’er’s hand gently within his palm.

It was so small that, enveloped in his hand, it disappeared completely.

Just like a father cradling his daughter’s small hand.

And yet, hidden within that small hand was boundless strength.

A pair of skillful hands, capable of bringing the dead back to life.

Somewhat miraculous.

“Don’t worry. I’ll deal with those assassins.”

“You…” There were things Jiu’er wanted to say, but she didn’t know where to begin.

In the end, she only asked quietly, “Your relationship with the Lu family’s Third Master… is it good?”

“What did he say to you?” Although Lu Beicheng had spent most of today lying in bed recuperating, that didn’t mean he was unaware of what was happening outside.

“Nothing much, he just asked me how your leg is doing now.”

Jiu’er knew that many things simply couldn’t be hidden — and besides, she didn’t want to hide them.

“I told him your condition is very bad, that your leg hasn’t healed at all, but that to scare off the lurking assassins, you had no choice but to pretend you’d already recovered.”

“Though, I think he probably doesn’t believe it. Third Master seems like a naturally suspicious person.”

“He’s my third brother.” The girl certainly dared to say it.

But there was no trace of displeasure in Lu Beicheng’s eyes — quite the opposite, a hint of amusement showed there instead.

This was truly his girl.

On the outside she looked soft and delicate, but she was calm, steady, and strong enough underneath.

Lu Beicheng’s large hand rubbed against her head. “Then should I play along with you and pretend my leg still hasn’t healed?”