Feng Jiu’er found that she truly had nothing more to say. If she kept going, it would only loop back to talk of marrying, having children, and growing old together.

The truth was, she wasn’t even sure what she felt for Mu Mu herself. Part of her felt she ought to be with him, and yet another part of her felt that being friends was the right arrangement after all.

Being around Mu Mu felt like being with a deeply familiar family member — yet when it came to matters of the heart between a man and a woman? She had no idea what that even meant.

To her, Mu Mu was more like an elder brother. And who could feel romantic attachment toward their own brother?

“Jiu’er.” They had just passed through the rear gate of the academy, and from a distance, sure enough, there they were — everyone gathered around the bonfire, singing and dancing. But the distance was too great to make out what they were singing.

Mu Mu suddenly stopped. He looked down at Feng Jiu’er walking beside him, and his gaze carried an earnestness that was difficult to put into words.

Feng Jiu’er was startled by the intensity of his gaze and, instinctively, felt the urge to flee. “Um — what is it? Your eyes are a little alarming right now.”

She genuinely instinctively wanted to back away, but Mu Mu caught her arm and pulled her back, and she stumbled straight into him.

Feng Jiu’er stiffened. Her spine went rigid in an instant, and she hurriedly stepped back half a pace, putting a small distance between them.

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Standing this close felt strange; she still wanted to run.

Mu Mu gave her no chance to escape. His steady gaze bore down on that peach-blossom-pretty, tender face of hers, and his voice — not particularly soft — landed in her heart like an evening breeze.

“I know you have no interest in matters between men and women just yet, and I have no wish to force you. But if someday you do want someone to spend your life with — I am certain I will be the right person for you.”

His large hand moved lightly across her wrist. The gesture was faintly tender, yet entirely free of any impropriety.

“I will cherish you — more than anyone else ever could.”

Feng Jiu’er felt completely without words. Meeting those bright, blazing eyes of his — eyes like fire — she didn’t know whether to nod or to refuse.

Perhaps she had simply forgotten, in that moment, how one was even supposed to respond.

“Don’t suddenly become so… serious.” Yet that white hair stirred gently in the wind — so striking, so impossible to look away from. How could she find it in herself to refuse?

Besides, she hadn’t truly given any of this any thought. Every time it seemed she was about to seriously consider it, Mu Mu would always take a step back and stop pressing her.

Just as he was doing now.

He released her. At the sight of her blank, dazed expression, a hint of warmth entered his eyes. “I don’t mean to frighten you. I only wanted to let you know how I feel. I… will certainly cherish you.”

“…Oh.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. Her face was faintly warm, yet she still wore that dazed, uncomprehending look.

“It seems that after dying once, even your feelings have grown slower to respond.” Before Jiu’er could speak again, he smiled and said, “Come on — everyone must be waiting for you.”

…And indeed, everyone was waiting for Feng Jiu’er.

This barbecue gathering had been her idea to begin with, yet without anyone realizing it, she had slipped away before the fun was over.

No one knew why Feng Jiu’er had disappeared — but seeing her return now with Mu Mu, the students of the Fourth Dragon Army were especially delighted.

“Mu Mu, there’s plenty of meat already grilled here — come try some.” Xiao Yingtao could hardly contain her excitement. Seeing Mu Mu safely released from the Martial Training Tower, the anxiety she had held for so long finally eased.

She brought over a platter of meat and, afraid that Mu Mu might decline, quickly explained, “It’s all made using the method Jiu’er taught us — she came up with it herself. Give it a taste?”

Mu Mu had not particularly been interested — but hearing it was a method Jiu’er had taught everyone, he suddenly found himself genuinely looking forward to it.

Xiao Yingtao winked at Jiu’er, clearly pleased with herself.

She had known all along that anything connected to Jiu’er would never be refused by Mu Mu.

Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, feeling suddenly helpless.

Xiao Yingtao liked Mu Mu so very much — so why was it that Mu Mu always had thoughts of marrying and having children with her? If only Mu Mu could come to like Xiao Yingtao instead…

Well — who could compel matters of the heart?

As for why Mu Mu had fixed his heart on her from the very start, Feng Jiu’er still couldn’t make sense of it even now.

Love at first sight? Ridiculous. The Feng Jiu’er of those days had been as ugly as a toad. Who in the world could have fallen for her at first sight?

And yet Mu Mu had truly given her this chain — back when she had still been thoroughly, deeply unattractive — and said that he would marry no one but her.

It was practically as if he had taken leave of his senses entirely.

“How is it?” Seeing Mu Mu take a bite of the grilled meat, Feng Jiu’er found herself genuinely curious — there was something instinctive in her about wanting to see him happy.

Xiao Yingtao was also watching Mu Mu closely. She had never dared ask how that white hair had come to be — but it never failed to make her heart ache. So right now, she needed to see his eyes light up with happiness before she would feel even the slightest relief.

Who could know that every time she looked at Mu Mu’s silver hair, tears had already gathered behind her eyes — and she had, all this time, been trying so hard to hold them back?

Mu Mu’s gaze, however, remained on Feng Jiu’er alone. He gave a small nod and said evenly, “Not bad.”

Jiu’er let out a quiet breath of relief. Xiao Yingtao did the same. And it wasn’t only Xiao Yingtao — even Feng Jiu’er felt it instinctively: someone like Mu Mu deserved to be cherished by everyone around him.

“Eat more — being locked up in the Martial Training Tower for so long, the food there must not have been good.”

Jiu’er offered him another skewer. Mu Mu didn’t refuse. Whatever Jiu’er gave him to eat, he accepted with contentment.

“You sent me a meal at noon — how can you say the food wasn’t good?” he replied.

Xiao Yingtao’s eyes went wide. “Jiu’er, you brought him a meal at noon?”

Hadn’t she looked entirely unconcerned, as though none of it had anything to do with her — not even knowing how to feel for Mu Mu? She had even been quietly complaining about her at the time.

Who would have thought that the moment she turned around, she had quietly gone to check on Mu Mu herself.

Xiao Yingtao pouted a little, a trace of grievance in her expression — but as soon as she imagined how happy Mu Mu must have been when Feng Jiu’er came, any resentment faded away.

Whatever happened, as long as Mu Mu was happy.

“All right, eat a little more, and then let’s go dance.” Feng Jiu’er didn’t want to linger on the topic. She offered Mu Mu another skewer.

As always, Mu Mu — given anything by Jiu’er — accepted without objection, without question.

It was as though, even if Feng Jiu’er fed him poison, he would swallow it down without a word of complaint.

After the platter was finished, Feng Jiu’er took Xiao Yingtao’s hand — and took Mu Mu’s hand as well — and headed toward the crowd gathered around the bonfire.

Xiao Yingtao’s mood lifted at once. She was a simple girl; as long as everyone was together and happy, she was happy too.

But what no one expected was that just as the three of them joined hands and were about to follow everyone in singing and dancing — from within the bonfire, something suddenly flashed — and then, all at once, there came a sharp crack and a loud pop—