Rong Qian’s emotions came and went quickly. A thought struck her, and she suddenly went calm.

Steward Fu’s appearance meant she wouldn’t be here much longer before she was sent back. She already knew she couldn’t stay and watch Shen Yi grow up — but even so, Rong Qian felt she shouldn’t be looking quite this happy about it.

If he knew, how hurt would he be?

So Rong Qian quickly composed herself. She didn’t hide her identity from Steward Fu — she explained it in the same way she had explained it to Shen Yi, with the same words.

Fu Bozhong initially didn’t believe her. A time traveler? That was absurd!

But with Shen Yi there to vouch for her, Fu Bozhong found himself half-convinced despite himself — and ultimately believed her.

Rong Qian was eager to find out if he had a camera. She casually mentioned it, as if in passing. Fu Bozhong looked mildly surprised. “How did you know I bought a camera?”

“Really? Where is it? Do you know how to use it? Shall we take a photo? No, no, never mind — another time. It’s not the right moment yet!” Rong Qian spoke quickly and then, before anyone could answer, answered her own questions.

This thoroughly confused Fu Bozhong.

“Miss Rong, I do have a camera, though I haven’t quite figured it out yet — I’m still learning. When there’s an opportunity later, I’ll take a photo of you.” Fu Bozhong said this politely and cordially.

Rong Qian was delighted. She made him promise — absolutely, without fail — that he would take that photo for her. He was not to break his word.

Fu Bozhong cooperated fully, assuring her he absolutely would.

Shen Yi found this a little strange. He asked Rong Qian: “Why are you so insistent on him taking a photo of you?”

“Because I love photos!” Rong Qian had expected the question and had her excuse ready.

Shen Yi gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment and didn’t think much of it.

And so, one more person came to know Rong Qian’s secret in this world.

Fortunately, Fu Bozhong treated Shen Yi very well — like his own child — and Rong Qian could see that Shen Yi thought of him as family, too.

That much was clear from the fact that Shen Yi voluntarily told Fu Bozhong about his role in helping Xu Zhiwei. Fu Bozhong was astonished to hear it, but could understand.

He simply felt a deep, aching tenderness for this child.

This child he had watched grow up from infancy — his life was too bitter. He had barely known a single day of happiness. Fu Bozhong had genuinely feared that the boy would grow up crooked, that his character would be twisted, his mind shadowed and dark.

But that worry faded away the moment Fu Bozhong saw a smile on Shen Yi’s face.

Fu Bozhong had never seen Shen Yi look so relaxed before — as though he had found freedom. And all of it was thanks to Rong Qian. Because only in her presence did Shen Yi seem truly, fully alive.

Fu Bozhong realized: this Miss Rong was his light.

If that light ever went out, he would fall back into endless darkness.

That night, when the world was deep and still, Rong Qian came fully awake and stepped out of the wardrobe.

She stood at the bedside, watching Shen Yi — who knew nothing of what was happening that evening — sleeping soundly as always. Rong Qian was silent for a long moment before she let out a barely perceptible sigh.

She turned to look out the window. The moonlight tonight was clear and pale, and it should have been a peaceful night — but it was destined to be a night of turbulence beneath the surface.

Yan Qingyao slipped through the darkness. She carried no luggage at all. Only the letter, tucked against her chest — her one and only treasure.

As far as she was concerned, there was nothing in this place worth looking back on.

She could almost taste the escape — from this estate, from Shen Chi’s imprisonment. She was jubilant, barely able to contain her elation. Even her footsteps quickened.

Almost there. Almost. She was going to make it out…

“Madam, it’s so late — where are you going, alone?”

A voice rang out from behind her. Yan Qingyao’s face went white in an instant. Footsteps approached from behind, growing closer. She wanted to run, but her legs felt as though they had been filled with molten iron — she could not lift them no matter how she tried.

Yan Qingyao’s body trembled uncontrollably. The memory flashed through her mind — of the last time she had tried to flee and failed, of Shen Chi locking her away and beating her for three days. She had wanted nothing more than to die.

She was so afraid. The terror shattered her composure. She even thought — maybe she should just slam her head into a wall and end it, so she wouldn’t have to endure any more suffering.

“Ugh—”

The footsteps halted, abruptly, just a short distance away from her. There came a muffled grunt from a man, followed by the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground. Yan Qingyao’s entire body locked up.

“What are you standing there for? Come with me.”

At the sound of a woman’s voice, the terror and panic Yan Qingyao had felt just a moment ago strangely quieted. She turned her head. In the soft, hazy moonlight, the woman’s eyes were still clear and bright.

Rong Qian walked forward first. Yan Qingyao hesitated for less than two seconds, then hurried after her.

Rong Qian was well aware that Yan Qingyao had been watching her back the whole time, but she truly wasn’t in the mood to talk to her.

She led Yan Qingyao to the meeting point Xu Zhiwei had specified in his letter, then finally spoke: “Wait here. Xu Zhiwei’s car will arrive shortly.”

“Who are you? Why are you helping me?” Yan Qingyao asked quickly.

Rong Qian looked at her with a slight frown. It wasn’t that she refused to give her a warm expression — it was simply that Rong Qian couldn’t manage a smile right now.

From Shen Yi’s perspective, this woman had truly been heartless. Rong Qian understood that people were selfish — and selfishness wasn’t always wrong; sometimes it was even necessary. But only when it didn’t hurt others.

If Yan Qingyao had asked even a single question about Shen Yi, Rong Qian’s manner toward her would not have been this cold. But she hadn’t.

“Who I am doesn’t matter,” Rong Qian said, her tone indifferent as she met her eyes. “And besides, it isn’t you I’m helping. Someone wants you to be free. I’m only fulfilling that wish for him.”

Yan Qingyao’s expression shifted slightly. She may have understood who that someone was — but she said nothing.

Rong Qian shook her head, turned around without looking back, and walked away.

When Rong Qian returned to the room and turned around, she found that Shen Yi had woken at some point and was now sitting on the edge of the bed. His slight, thin figure was shadowed with loneliness. He looked up at her when she came in.

Rong Qian paused. For just an instant, she thought she was looking at the adult Shen Yi.

“Did she leave?” he asked.

Rong Qian nodded. “Yes. She’s gone.”

They looked at each other in silence. Shen Yi asked nothing more. He lay back down — but Rong Qian could tell he wasn’t sleeping.

Rong Qian had no desire for sleep either. She dropped onto the sofa, propped her chin in one hand, and let her thoughts unravel in disarray. Without quite knowing why, a quiet, uneasy premonition crept over her.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Yan Qingyao’s escape wouldn’t go smoothly.

As she sat there thinking, she gradually drifted off to sleep — until a commotion from outside jolted her awake. Shen Yi was startled awake at the same moment. He shot upright in bed, looking at Rong Qian with panic in his eyes.

Rong Qian’s heart dropped. Her first instinct: Yan Qingyao hadn’t made it. She’d been caught and dragged back by Shen Chi.

Fu Bozhong’s arrival confirmed their fears. Yan Qingyao had been brought back by Shen Chi.

“Something’s wrong — how could he have known?” Rong Qian couldn’t figure it out. Why had Shen Chi come back? He should have had no idea that Yan Qingyao was planning to escape.

Shen Yi suddenly thought of something, his face going pale. “Was it that night?”

“What night? What are you thinking?” Rong Qian pressed.

Shen Yi’s color drained further. “The night of the banquet — he already knew I’d met with Xu Zhiwei.”

“What!” Rong Qian was stunned. Of course. Now it all made sense.

If she had known that Shen Chi had already discovered Xu Zhiwei’s contact with Shen Yi, Rong Qian would never have let Yan Qingyao go. But she also knew this wasn’t the time for that kind of thinking.

Shen Yi, however, believed it was his fault that Yan Qingyao’s escape had failed. “It’s all me — I’m the one who ruined it for her…”

“What nonsense are you talking? This has absolutely nothing to do with you. Stop thinking like that!” Rong Qian walked over and rapped him on the head. Shen Yi looked up at her, eyes reddening. “Is it really not my fault?”

“Of course not. Don’t you trust what I say?” Rong Qian’s voice was firm.

Shen Yi stopped blaming himself, but his expression was still grim.

Rong Qian was sick with worry herself. Going by what had happened the previous times Yan Qingyao’s escape attempts had failed, this time wasn’t likely to end any better.

No — she couldn’t just sit here and do nothing.

Rong Qian clenched her fists, eyes hardening with resolve. But before she could act, the sound of an ambulance reached them. In that moment, half the feeling drained right out of her.

An ambulance. They’d called an ambulance.

That could only mean one thing — Yan Qingyao’s life was in danger.