Xiao Siyu pursed her red lips, still unwilling to part, holding onto Lanyin’s arm. “Sister, you have to keep your word.”
Lanyin smiled at her. “When have I ever not kept my word?”
Xiao Siyu thought about it and realized… she truly hadn’t.
Ever since they had known each other, everything Sister Gu had said and done had always been in perfect alignment. That was why, when she first learned that Lanyin had asked her brother for a divorce, she had been so worried.
Thinking of her brother, Xiao Siyu couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. She held Lanyin’s hand, wanting to apologize. “I…”
But before she could get the words out, Lanyin smiled and cut her off. “There’s no need to apologize—it’s all in the past.”
Saying this, Lanyin even comforted Xiao Siyu. “But look at you. It’s only been a short time since I last saw you, and you’ve lost so much weight. You have to take better care of yourself.”
Hearing this, Xiao Siyu’s eyes turned red.
Lanyin gently consoled her a little more.
When they reached the entrance, Shi Yu had already gone ahead to stand by the carriage. Before getting on, Lanyin turned to Xiao Siyu again and said, “In a few days, my new shop will be opening. If you have time, come and join in the excitement.”
With reddened eyes, Xiao Siyu choked up and said, “I’ll definitely come!”
Lanyin smiled but didn’t say anything more. With Shi Yu’s assistance, she climbed into the carriage. Once seated, she bid farewell to the Tu family couple. Before the curtain fell, she caught a glimpse of Qi Yubai also heading toward his carriage.
Just like when they had arrived, the two carriages left the alley one after the other.
Tu Yici and Xiao Siyu watched the carriages disappear into the distance. They didn’t immediately return to the residence, instead standing at the gate, watching until the carriages were out of sight. Only then did Tu Yici lower his gaze. Seeing his wife looking melancholic, he reached for her hand and said softly, “Shall we go in?”
Xiao Siyu nodded listlessly.
The couple turned and walked back into the estate.
But not long after they entered, another familiar guest arrived at the Duke Manor—one who hadn’t stepped foot there in a long time.
It was none other than Xiao Ye.
The young servant guarding the gate saw Xiao Ye dismount, carrying two oil-paper bags in his hands. For a moment, he was too stunned to react. Some even thought they were dreaming. It wasn’t until Xiao Ye approached that the two gatekeepers confirmed it was truly him, their eyes widening in shock.
“Y-Young Master…?”
The Xiao and Tu families were not only in-laws but had also been close family friends for generations. Xiao Ye and the eldest young master of the Tu family had grown up together as childhood friends. He had always been a frequent visitor to the Duke Lu Manor. Today, he was here to visit his sister and nephew, so naturally, he didn’t need an invitation. He strode inside as he always had, paying no attention to the odd expressions of the gatekeepers—until he caught snippets of a hushed conversation behind him.
“This timing is unbelievable. That Miss Gu was just here today, and now Young Master Xiao arrives too.”
“Good thing Miss Gu already left, or else… how awkward would that have been?”
Even though they had spoken in hushed tones, Xiao Ye, as a martial artist, had keener senses than most. The moment he heard “Miss Gu,” his previously steady steps came to a complete halt.
“Who are you talking about?” He abruptly turned around and questioned the servants.
Caught off guard, the two gatekeepers went pale. They dared not answer, but Xiao Ye’s expression darkened as he demanded in a low, icy voice, “Speak!”
“Are you talking about Gu Lanyin?” He spoke as he started walking back toward them.
Is it her?
To get a definite answer, Xiao Ye questioned them repeatedly. His voice grew colder and sharper, even carrying a trace of urgency.
He couldn’t even explain why he was so desperate to know.
He just wanted to know—was it her?
Xiao Ye’s tall figure was like a towering mountain. Under the weight of his oppressive aura and piercing gaze, how could the two young servants dare to lie? Trembling under his deep, abyss-like eyes, they hesitated for a brief moment before nodding their heads in terror.
“Yes, yes… it was Miss Gu.”
It was really her…
The tension in Xiao Ye’s face suddenly loosened.
He couldn’t tell what he was feeling at that moment, but he could clearly sense that his heart, which had been lifeless for so many days, was finally beating again.
Thump, thump, thump.
The steady and powerful rhythm echoed in his chest. He clenched the oil-paper package in his hand tightly while pressing his other hand against his heart, as if confirming that it was truly beating once more.
He didn’t know how much time had passed before he finally spoke again, his voice hoarse.
“Which direction did she go?”
“What?”
His voice was too soft, and the two servants didn’t hear him clearly. “What did you say?” But what truly made them worried was Xiao Ye’s condition. The two exchanged glances before hesitantly asking, “Young Master, your face looks a bit pale. Are you alright?”
Xiao Ye didn’t answer.
He simply straightened his posture, raised his head, and repeated his question.
“Which direction did she go?”
No one noticed that his voice, usually cold and sharp, had unconsciously softened when he spoke this time.
There was even a trace of gentleness, almost imperceptible.
The two young servants hesitated, pursing their lips nervously, fearing something might go wrong. But Xiao Ye’s oppressive aura was too terrifying, and under his ice-cold gaze, they simply couldn’t endure it for long. In the end, they could only lift their hands and point in a direction.
Almost the instant they raised their hands, the man standing before them turned and left.
By the time they snapped out of their daze, he had already mounted his horse and galloped away. Dust rose lightly in the distance, and in just a few short moments, Xiao Ye’s figure had disappeared entirely.
“…We’re doomed.”
“Hurry, go report this to Second Young Master and Second Madam!” One of the servants shouted before stumbling inside in a panic.
—
By the time Xiao Siyu received the news, she and Tu Yici had already returned to their room. She was wiping her hands with a silk handkerchief when Cuirong rushed in from outside. Seeing her so flustered—something rare for the usually composed maid—Xiao Siyu immediately frowned.
“What happened?”
“It’s the Heir! The Heir is here!”
Cuirong was genuinely panicked. She was always steady, yet at this moment, she even forgot to pay proper respects. Her face was pale as she hurriedly reported, “He found out that Miss Gu was here, and now he’s already gone after her!”
“What?!”
Xiao Siyu’s expression changed drastically, and the handkerchief in her hand fell to the ground.
“Hurry!”
She immediately commanded, “Prepare the carriage!”
Cuirong responded in haste and was just about to rush out when Tu Yici stopped her.
“What are you doing?!”
Xiao Siyu was anxious.
Though Tu Yici was usually carefree, he was remarkably rational in moments of crisis. He sent Cuirong away first, dismissed the other servants, then held Xiao Siyu’s hand and asked seriously,
“Are you going there to help your brother, or to help your Sister Gu?”
Xiao Siyu didn’t hesitate before replying, “Of course, I’m helping Sister Gu!”
“She’s all alone and has no one to rely on. If Brother bullies her, what will she do?” In the past, she would never have doubted Xiao Ye like this. But now… she no longer knew what kind of person her brother truly was.
Afraid that she’d be too late and Lanyin would suffer, she struggled to break free from Tu Yici’s grasp. “Let go of me!”
“Calm down first.”
Tu Yici’s expression wasn’t good either, but he still prioritized comforting Xiao Siyu before continuing, “But have you thought about your mother? If she finds out that you sided with Gu Lanyin instead of your brother, what will she think? And what will outsiders say?”
Seeing Xiao Siyu’s stunned expression, he sighed and pulled her into his arms, murmuring reassuringly, “Don’t worry. With Senior Brother there, your Sister Gu won’t suffer any grievances.”
Xiao Siyu’s eyes turned red. After a long silence, she finally spoke, both angry and frustrated. “What exactly is Brother trying to do?!”
—
Xiao Ye himself didn’t know what he was trying to do.
Even as he galloped forward on horseback, his mind was blank. He had no idea what he would say or do when he finally saw Gu Lanyin.
Today, he had heard many things and seen many more.
In the city, the rumors about him and Gu Qing had become more elaborate, more outrageous. At first, he had been furious whenever he heard them. But over time, he grew numb. He had walked through the streets under the gaze of the curious and judgmental, even stopping by Lanyin’s restaurant.
Just as his mother had said—
Lanyin’s restaurant had completely transformed. Gone was the desolation of the past. It had become one of the most popular establishments in Bianjing, not just because of the notoriety her divorce had brought but because of her inventive dishes.
He had always known how intelligent she was.
But he had never expected that after leaving him, she would live even better than before.
She showed no sign of defeat.
On the contrary, she shone brighter than ever.
Was he angry?
Of course, he was.
Standing before the bustling restaurant, listening to the murmured gossip, he was furious. But it wasn’t because she had made money after leaving him, nor because she hadn’t used those ideas to benefit the Xiao family.
It was because—
He finally understood that he truly meant nothing to her.
While he had wasted away in grief at home, unable to pick himself back up, she had already embraced a new life.
Xiao Ye was furious, resentful, even aggrieved.
His thoughts spun wildly in that moment. He told himself that he had to rise above this, that he had to make himself stronger, more successful, until the day came when Gu Lanyin would regret leaving him!
Until—
He heard that she had gone to the Duke Lu Manor.
All his anger and resentment vanished in an instant. He didn’t even know what he was thinking at that moment.
All he felt was a spark of hope.
Maybe she hadn’t completely severed ties with him.
Maybe…
She still had him in her heart.
Xiao Ye knew that thinking this way was pathetic. He had already been abandoned by her, yet he still foolishly hoped that she cared. And because of that tiny sliver of hope, he had lost all patience and immediately rushed out to find her.
Xiao Ye let out a self-deprecating laugh, but in the next instant, he snapped the reins and spurred his horse forward at full speed.
The streets were packed with people.
His galloping horse startled pedestrians, causing a wave of gasps and complaints.
“Running that fast—what, are you rushing to reincarnate? What kind of upbringing is that?!” someone cursed behind him.
Xiao Ye knew that if the city patrols saw him riding like this, they would undoubtedly drag him away for a stern lecture. But he no longer cared.
He only wanted to see her as soon as possible.
He wanted to tell her—
That he still missed her.
That he still loved her.
That he—
Lanyin’s carriage!
Xiao Ye’s eyes locked onto a familiar carriage in the distance. His breath hitched. Without hesitation, he lifted his whip, ready to chase after it.
But then, he remembered that this was still the main street, crowded with people. Lanyin had always disliked drawing attention to herself. If he were to make a scene now, she would only be angered.
So he suppressed his overwhelming emotions.
And followed silently behind.
It was the first time he had done something so foolish, so meaningless.
And yet, he felt strangely content.
Happy, even.
—
The carriage turned into a quiet alleyway and eventually stopped in front of a grand estate.
Xiao Ye held his breath.
He watched as Lanyin stepped down from the carriage.
Just as he was about to call out to her—
She suddenly turned.
And walked toward another carriage.
A carriage he had ignored this entire time.
Then—
Qi Yubai stepped down.
Xiao Ye’s mind went completely blank.
His heart skipped a beat—then pounded uncontrollably, as if a thousand war drums were raging inside his chest.
He couldn’t breathe.
He couldn’t even think.
All he could do was watch.
Watch as she stood beside Qi Yubai.
Watch as she smiled up at him.
That smile—
So bright.
So dazzling.
So unfamiliar to him.
She had never—never—smiled like that in front of him before.
A deafening roar filled his ears, drowning out everything else.
He didn’t even realize it himself.
Didn’t realize when his hands clenched into fists so tight that his nails dug into his palms.
Didn’t realize when his entire body trembled with rage, with pain, with something he didn’t want to name.
Didn’t realize when the raw, violent emotion erupted from his throat.
“Gu Lanyin!”
The name tore from his lips—furious, desperate, hoarse.
A cry.
A demand.
A plea.