“I won’t deny that Gu Qing was once in my heart. But after I married Lanyin, I never thought about being with Gu Qing again.”
“Perhaps my past actions led to misunderstandings. That was my mistake. But from now on, I will uphold my duty. I will regard her as nothing more than my savior and Lanyin’s younger sister—nothing beyond that.”
His voice was calm and steady, devoid of the frustration and madness he had displayed in the past days. Instead, there was a trace of the composure and decisiveness he once had.
Mother Xiao was momentarily taken aback.
She paused her movements, and when she once again looked at his back, a slight frown appeared on her face. She could sense that he was serious this time. She wanted to say something more, but Xiao Ye had already resumed walking toward the door.
“Ye’er—”
She wanted to call out to him, but then she saw him stop once more at the doorway.
Standing just outside the green silk curtain was a slender figure dressed in plain robes—Gu Qing.
She held a black wooden tray in her hands, upon which rested a bowl of steaming sweet soup.
She had made it herself.
Gu Qing had heard that Mother Xiao had been coughing frequently as of late, so she had been sending a bowl of soothing sweet soup each day. In the past, she never dared to deliver it herself, fearing Mother Xiao’s cold sarcasm. But today, she came in person because she had heard that Xiao Ye was there.
She wanted to see Xiao Ye.
And with Xiao Ye present, she wouldn’t have to worry about being reprimanded by Mother Xiao.
But as excited and happy as she had been on the way here, the sorrow, helplessness, and confusion on her face at this moment were just as overwhelming.
In the golden glow of the setting sun, she looked up at the man before her—the man she had deeply loved since she was thirteen. His face was still the same, tall and handsome, yet she could no longer find the warmth she once knew in his expression. Recalling the words he had spoken earlier, her eyes gradually filled with mist. Her long lashes trembled, and with a single blink, tears rolled down her cheeks.
A beauty shedding tears—such a heart-stirring sight.
But Xiao Ye, looking at her now, felt none of the emotions he once had. He only frowned and asked, “Why are you here?” Without waiting for her response, he turned to Jinglan and ordered, “Escort Miss Gu back to her room.”
With that, he no longer paid her any attention and strode away.
He still couldn’t help but hold some resentment toward Gu Qing. If not for her, none of this would have happened—at least, not so soon. But Lanyin was right. The one truly responsible for their current situation wasn’t Gu Qing—it was him. Everything had unfolded because of his own choices.
So, this was how it would be. He would provide for her with food and shelter, and once Gu Mother had settled the matters with the Fang family, he would send her back.
As for Lanyin, he would pursue her again, no matter the cost.
The thought of Lanyin softened the harsh lines of his face, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
The movement tugged at his cheek, making him belatedly realize the lingering pain from the slap. But he ignored it. With that same bruised face, he strode forward. He wanted to find Lanyin, to tell her clearly—he had never planned to marry anyone else. Not then, not now.
His wife had always been her. Could only be her.
But before he could take another step, his arm was suddenly grasped.
He was taken aback—he hadn’t expected Gu Qing to have such strength. A person who normally couldn’t even lift a heavy object was now gripping his arm so tightly that he couldn’t immediately shake her off.
Frowning, he turned back, only to see a tear-streaked, heartbreakingly beautiful face.
In the past, this would have been enough. She wouldn’t even need to say anything—just one tear, and he would be at a loss. But now, Xiao Ye knew exactly what he wanted. He also knew what he had done wrong before.
Looking at Gu Qing, he didn’t hesitate. He simply pulled his arm free from her grasp.
He ignored the anguish and disbelief in her eyes and spoke in a calm, composed tone—clear and resolute, yet distant. “You heard what I told my mother just now.”
“If my actions in the past led to misunderstandings, I sincerely apologize. From now on, I will conduct myself properly. I won’t let anyone misinterpret my intentions again.”
“You’re not in good health—just stay home and recover. Once there’s news from Lin’an, I’ll have Zhou An escort you back.”
“No…” Gu Qing’s face was covered in tears. She shook her head desperately, reaching for his hand as if trying to hold on to something, to tell him it wasn’t true. He didn’t mean those words. He loved her. He must love her.
But Xiao Ye, seeing her reaching toward him, only fell silent and took a step back.
Her pale, slender fingers barely caught the edge of his sleeve, but in the next second, even that last shred of connection slipped away.
Her hand lingered in midair, empty.
Xiao Ye, seeing her stunned, broken expression, did not step forward to comfort her as he once might have. Instead, he turned to Jinglan and said, “Take her back.”
Then, without hesitation, he walked away.
Mother Xiao stepped out just in time to see him leaving. Her heart clenched, and she gripped the door curtain as she called out, “Ye’er! You still have that injury on your face—where are you going? Stop right there!”
But Xiao Ye neither looked back nor answered.
He walked away with firm, unyielding strides, quickly disappearing from Mother Xiao’s courtyard.
Mother Xiao had already guessed where Xiao Ye was headed. Thinking of Lanyin’s attitude, she bit her silver teeth in frustration and instructed Jinglan, “Prepare the carriage immediately!”
Jinglan hastily acknowledged and left. Mother Xiao didn’t even take time to collect herself before heading out.
By the time she sat inside the carriage, two quarters of an hour had passed.
Just as she was about to instruct the driver to head toward Sweetwater Alley, someone grasped the carriage curtain from the outside. Gu Qing stood there, panting heavily, her small face flushed from running all the way, but it couldn’t mask the redness of her tear-streaked eyes.
She rarely interacted with Mother Xiao, and now, as their gazes met, she could see the undisguised disdain in the older woman’s eyes. Fear crept into her heart, and she instinctively shrank back, but her hands refused to let go of the curtain. Biting her lip, she spoke in a low, pleading voice, “Please… let me go with you.”
Jinglan knew that Mother Xiao was in a foul mood today—how could she possibly let Gu Qing, whom she had never liked, follow along?
“Lady Fang…” Jinglan was about to dissuade her when a weary, hoarse voice sounded from inside the carriage.
“Forget it. Let her come.”
Jinglan was momentarily stunned but did not argue further. She stepped aside and helped Gu Qing into the carriage.
“Thank you…” Gu Qing let out a sigh of relief, holding onto Jinglan’s arm as she climbed in. But as soon as she settled in her seat, she could feel two piercingly cold gazes land on her.
She knew who was staring at her.
Not daring to lift her head, Gu Qing clutched the hem of her robe tightly and pressed herself against the carriage wall, trying to make herself as small as possible.
Mother Xiao scoffed coldly at the sight. Her headache only worsened.
Because of women like this…
“Do you know how Ye’er got that injury on his face?” Mother Xiao’s voice was frigid as she asked Gu Qing.
Gu Qing continued gripping her robe, not daring to lift her head. After a long silence, she finally whispered, “…It was my sister.”
“Sister?”
Mother Xiao sneered at the word. She wasn’t sure who to be more furious with, so she simply let out a cold, mocking laugh. “You sisters truly are something.”
That was all she said before closing her eyes to rest.
—
Lanyin was unaware of what had transpired at the Xiao residence. She had no idea that Xiao Ye was coming to see her again.
The sky had darkened. She had taken a short rest earlier, and because she had eaten too much at noon, she had no appetite for dinner. So, she didn’t ask anyone to prepare a meal.
At this hour, the servants were having their own meals.
Lanyin sat in the study with a book in her hands, but her restless mind made it impossible to focus.
Her thoughts kept drifting back to what Xiao Ye had said earlier in the evening.
Although Qi Yubai had brushed it off, she still felt guilty.
He had been dragged into unnecessary trouble because of her. Fortunately, they had been standing right at her doorstep, and their neighbors were understanding enough not to spread rumors. If they had been elsewhere, who knew what kind of ugly gossip would have started?
The thought gave her a headache.
For a moment, she hesitated—perhaps she should keep her distance from Qi Yubai in the future. Not just for his sake, but also for his future wife or the person he might want to pursue. Being seen too often in her company would do him no good.
But how exactly should she maintain that distance?
His grandmother had already extended her invitation, and she had agreed. She couldn’t just refuse now.
Besides, she genuinely liked Madam Qi. The elderly woman treated her with the same warmth and sincerity that her maternal grandmother had once given her. The thought of hurting her feelings was unbearable.
She couldn’t think of a good solution.
With a sigh, Lanyin set down the book and stood up.
She pushed open the door and stepped outside.
The night sky stretched out above her, a deep blue gradually blending into inky black. A crescent moon hung overhead, but tonight, the stars were sparse. She glanced up briefly before continuing her slow, aimless walk.
She had simply wanted to clear her mind with a short stroll, but somehow, her feet led her to the kitchen.
The servants had already finished their meals and returned to their posts. The only ones remaining in the kitchen were a few older maids, busy cleaning up.
Upon seeing Lanyin approach, they assumed she had come for food.
Smiling, the steward, Mama Zheng, asked, “Miss, are you hungry?”
Lanyin shook her head.
She had merely been taking a walk and wasn’t hungry. Just as she was about to leave, she remembered something and asked, “What’s being prepared for the Qi residence’s late-night snack today?”
Mama Zheng smiled and answered, “This afternoon, we made some wontons. We were planning to prepare a bowl of shredded chicken wonton soup for Lord Qi, served with pickled cucumbers to whet the appetite, along with some snowflake cakes. What do you think?”
Lanyin nodded.
After a moment of silence, she said, “I’ll make the snowflake cakes.”
She wasn’t sure what else to do at the moment, so she might as well busy herself with cooking—perhaps it would help her calm down.
The maids exchanged glances, noticing that something seemed off about her mood. Not daring to object, they simply nodded. They quickly prepared the necessary ingredients for her and even found a sleeve rope to keep her sleeves in place while she worked.
Lanyin had never made snowflake cakes before, but she had always been a fast learner. Even with just verbal guidance, she managed to make them flawlessly.
Mama Zheng took a bite and immediately praised, “Miss, this is delicious! You’d never guess it was your first time making it.”
Lanyin had already tasted one herself and found the flavor quite good.
She had originally planned that if they didn’t turn out well, she would keep them for herself and have Mama Zheng’s group prepare another batch for Qi Yubai. But since they were satisfactory, there was no need to trouble them further. Setting down the plate of cakes, she washed her hands and instructed, “Send these over together with the wontons.”
Although she still hadn’t figured out a solution to her dilemma, she felt much calmer now.
She should be able to concentrate on her reading again once she returned to her study.
But then, Mama Zheng said, “These snowflake cakes are best eaten warm.”
Lanyin hadn’t known that, but she didn’t argue. “Then send them over first.”
“Aye.”
Mama Zheng responded with a smile. After packing the food box, she went outside to call for a clever young maid to deliver it.
Lanyin didn’t linger.
Once her sleeve rope was removed, she headed back toward the study.
She had no idea that Xiao Ye had arrived—or that the maid delivering the food to Qi Yubai had run into him.
—
“Xiao Hong?”
A young servant at the gate saw the familiar maid stepping out and greeted her with a grin. Noticing the food box in her hands, he chuckled, “Why are you delivering the late-night snack to Lord Qi so early today? It’s barely past dinnertime. Aren’t you afraid he’ll be too full to eat?”
Xiao Hong had a crisp, lively voice. “The pastries were made personally by the Miss, and they’re still warm! Mama said they should be eaten hot for the best taste… Ah, no time to chat, I need to hurry and deliver them to the Lord.”
She spoke with a bright smile, then turned to head toward the Qi residence. But just as she took a step forward, the sound of galloping hooves echoed through the alley.
At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal.
People were always coming and going in the alley, but this time, the horse stopped directly in front of her.
Xiao Hong looked up in surprise.
Under the dim glow of lanterns and the deep hues of the night, she saw Xiao Ye—still dressed in the same clothes from earlier that evening—sitting atop his familiar jade-green horse.
Half-lowered under the interplay of darkness and light, his sharp and handsome features were partially obscured in the shadows.
The alley fell silent.
Xiao Ye’s senses were keener than most, and he had heard every word Xiao Hong had just spoken. Now, his gaze, filled with complex emotions, landed on the food box in her hands.
After a long pause, he suppressed his voice and asked, “Why is Lanyin making food for Qi Yubai?”