Although Qingyan quickly comforted A’Li, Yun Changge still woke up and called for him from inside the room. Qingyan, feeling helpless, shot a resentful glance at Beiming Jing before carrying A’Li inside.

Yun Yi followed as well. Yun Changge was sitting on the bed, hair loose and disheveled, yet exuding a unique beauty. Taking A’Li from Qingyan’s arms, he noticed the lingering tears at the corners of the child’s eyes.

“Why is he suddenly crying?” Yun Changge asked gently while soothing A’Li, his fingers delicately wiping away the tears.

“Beiming Jing scared him,” Qingyan answered honestly.

“Beiming Jing? Why did he come here just to scare A’Li?” Yun Changge frowned slightly, his displeasure evident as he continued to comfort A’Li. “A’Li, be good. Don’t cry, don’t cry. Godfather is here.”

“He’s still outside. Do you want to see him?” Yun Yi asked.

“No.”

With that, Yun Changge lay back down with A’Li in his arms, resuming his nap after being woken by A’Li’s cries. Yun Yi, momentarily stunned, thought he might have misheard. But Yun Changge was already resting again as Qingyan adjusted the red bed curtains.

Both Yun Yi and Qingyan left the room. Outside, Beiming Jing was still waiting. Yun Yi, now in a great mood, walked up to him.

“Changge says he doesn’t want to see you. Your Highness, please leave,” Yun Yi said bluntly.

Beiming Jing furrowed his brows but, seeing the firm stance of both Yun Yi and Qingyan, could only suppress his anger. Masking his frustration, he replied respectfully, “Then I’ll visit another time.”

As he turned to leave, he happened to run into Yaoguang. The momentary anger on his face disappeared entirely.

“Yaoguang!” Beiming Jing called out, excitement in his voice.

“Third Prince,” Yaoguang responded with polite indifference, his tone distant.

It felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped over Beiming Jing’s enthusiasm. Though he wanted to say more, he held back.

“Allow me to escort Your Highness out,” Yaoguang said as he turned and walked ahead.

Following behind, Beiming Jing gazed at Yaoguang’s back, feeling as if he could only ever watch from a distance, forever unable to catch up.

[Yaoguang, what must I do for you to understand my feelings?]

Because of the incident at noon, Yun Yi’s mood remained exceptionally good for the rest of the day, even finding certain people a bit more tolerable than usual.

“Xiao Yi’er! It’s the Qixi Festival today—let’s go out together!” Chao Ya suddenly pounced toward Yun Yi with enthusiasm.

Yun Yi immediately slapped Chao Ya’s face to create distance between them, looking at him with utter disdain.

Yet somehow, Yun Yi still ended up going out with Chao Ya. To prevent any “funny business” from happening, Yun Yi even insisted on taking over Qingyan’s role for the outing.

However, Yun Yi severely underestimated Chao Ya’s shamelessness. The man dared to get handsy even in front of his younger brother! Furious, Yun Yi repeatedly kicked Chao Ya away, but Chao Ya stubbornly clung to the wheelchair, refusing to let go.

Walking behind and watching the playful banter (which wasn’t really playful) between the two, Qingyan withdrew his helpless gaze and looked down at A’Li, who was innocently staring at him with wide eyes.

“Today is the Qixi Festival, but your godfather has been taken away by someone else. It’s just you and me now. Come, little godfather will take you to play. Don’t mind them.” With that, Qingyan took A’Li in his arms and walked in the opposite direction of the group ahead.

Yun Changge’s mind wasn’t on the lantern festival at all. In his past life, he had never known there was such a person by his elder brother’s side, and this person clearly liked his brother.

In his past life, he had been so focused on that person, and he knew so little about his brother’s affairs. It wasn’t until his brother passed away and Yun Changge succeeded him as the head of the Yun Sect that he helped that person ascend to the throne. Only then did he understand everything. But why didn’t that person appear to save his brother at the time?

Yun Changge was deep in thought, and didn’t even hear when Yun Yi called him.

“Changge? Changge!”

“Huh? What’s wrong, Ge?” Yun Changge snapped back to reality and asked.

“What are you thinking? You seemed so absorbed. Do you want to release a floating lantern?” Yun Yi asked.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go,” Yun Changge replied.

The group arrived at the river lantern releasing area, where many couples were gathered. The wishes written on the lanterns were all about hoping to be together forever. Yun Changge thought for a moment and then wrote something down.

May my A’Li, my closest friend, and my brother live without worry for a hundred years, and enjoy peace for a lifetime.

This was Yun Changge’s only wish in this life. As long as they were all well, that was enough. As for him, it didn’t matter.