Before long, Jiang Rao also learned from the maid that the lockdown on Ye City had been lifted.

That day, after returning from searching for medicine outside the city, she had a dream—her family leaving Ye City in early spring. However, she didn’t know the exact date, so she had instructed the maids to keep an ear out for any news about the reopening.

She glanced out the window. The once bare branches of the forsythia and willow trees had taken on the colors of spring—tender green and soft yellow. It was a beautiful sight, truly. Yet, resting her chin on her hand, Jiang Rao found herself feeling a little down.

Ming Shao noticed and asked, “Miss, do you not want to leave? Weren’t you looking forward to seeing the old lord?”

The old lord, who had been in Jinling all this time, had always favored the fourth household, especially cherishing her lady and young master.

Back when Fourth Master decided to take the family out of the capital, the old lord had been furious for years. Yet, after some time, he finally set aside his pride and took the initiative to write, hoping for reconciliation—eagerly awaiting the return of his grandchildren.

Jiang Rao tapped her fingers on the table hesitantly. Even she was a little confused now. “I do still look forward to seeing Grandfather.”

Her parents loved her dearly, but they were also reasonable. If she made a mistake, they would get upset and punish her.

But Grandfather was different. No matter what she did, he would always say, ‘Rao Rao is always right’. A little unreasonable, perhaps, but without a doubt, Jiang Rao adored her grandfather.

Yet, deep down, she felt like there was something unfinished.

“I don’t want to leave so soon.”

She wanted to stay until the young man’s leg had fully healed.

It wasn’t the same as reading a story and not reaching the ending.

When a book left her hanging, she would just feel restless and frustrated. But his injury—if she really thought about it—had taken far too long to heal, and part of that was her fault. If she left without seeing him recover with her own eyes, she felt like she wouldn’t be able to eat or sleep in peace.

She was caught in a dilemma.

Just then, a maid lifted the curtain and hurried in from outside. “Miss, outside, Young Master—”

Jiang Rao’s heart skipped a beat the moment she heard the maid’s familiar, breathless tone.

Jiang Jinxing had been behaving himself for months. And now… was he causing trouble again?

“The Young Master is outside, wiping his tears, looking terribly wronged.”

Not causing trouble? He was the one being wronged?

Jiang Rao hurried outside.

It was only when she reached the entrance that she finally understood what was going on.

Jiang Jinxing—the little troublemaker who usually disregarded house rules, climbed rooftops, and crawled through dog holes—was crying over a few smoked plums.

He wanted the bag of smoked plums from Miaoshige that Rong Ting was holding, but Rong Ting refused. Forced to quench his longing by merely gazing at the plums, Jiang Jinxing felt so wronged that his eyes welled up with tears.

“That belongs to someone else,” Jiang Rao softened her voice to comfort him. “Besides, you just lost a tooth. Father and Mother already said no sweets for now, so you shouldn’t eat them anyway.”

Jiang Jinxing conveniently ignored the second half of her sentence. With his gap-toothed smile, he stubbornly declared, “Candy… He wants to give them to sister. And if it’s sister’s, then it’s Jinxing’s too.”

Surprised, Jiang Rao lifted her gaze to Rong Ting.

She hadn’t seen him in days—not since the assassin had been taken back to his estate.

Noticing her looking at him, Rong Ting hesitated before slowly bringing his hand from behind his back.

“…They’re for you.”

The bag of smoked plums came into view. Jiang Jinxing, upon spotting them, grew even more restless.

He buried his head in Jiang Rao’s arms, rubbing back and forth. “This big brother wouldn’t give it to me—and he even scolded me.”

If he didn’t want to share, fine. But not only did he refuse, he even snapped at him! Jiang Jinxing had never met someone with such a bad temper.

Scolded?

Jiang Rao glanced at Rong Ting.

His face was expressionless, but his brows were slightly furrowed. His eyes, dark and shadowed, carried a weary heaviness—like he hadn’t slept well for days.

Back when she went outside the city for medicine, the miracle doctor had warned her: That medicine is potent. Whoever takes it will suffer some hardship.

Of course, hardship was a small price to pay compared to losing the use of both legs. But still, he had to endure what most people took for granted—ordinary health, simple peace.

Looking at him now, his complexion was still pale and sickly. Meanwhile, the little bundle clinging to her, Jiang Jinxing, was so rosy-cheeked he looked like he had snuck into someone’s rouge box.

And knowing her little brother’s natural-born tendency to throw his weight around—

She pinched his chubby cheeks. “Don’t try to fool your sister. You probably just imagined it.”

The young man before her had naturally sharp, narrow eyes and thin eyelids. When he wasn’t smiling, his gaze was cold, carrying an inexplicable edge of ruthlessness.

Though the version of him she had seen in her dream had indeed grown into someone ruthless, that was clearly because no one had been around to guide him, letting him stray off course. But now? Now, he was under her watch, and she was keeping him in check just fine.

Looking at him now—his gaze calm, his silence steady—he seemed obedient.

Jiang Rao turned and ruffled Jiang Jinxing’s hair.

At that moment, with her back turned, she missed the way Rong Ting’s slightly furrowed brows suddenly knitted tighter.

His sharp gaze swept over the round-faced little troublemaker clinging to Jiang Rao, his arms wrapped around her like a koala.

A deep sense of bewilderment was plainly written across his face.

Jiang Jinxing reacted as if he had just been stabbed, his mouth pouting so high it could hang a lantern. He pointed at Rong Ting and stomped his foot. “He’s glaring at me again!”

“Alright, alright,” Jiang Rao sighed, finally noticing the gap in his teeth from his recently lost baby tooth. “Even if you keep fussing, you’re still not getting any sweets.”

Though her little brother was young now, he would grow up year by year. And as he did, there were things he needed to be taught properly. After all, the entire Jiang estate would one day be in his hands.

Jiang Jinxing drooped his head in defeat, sulking. “Sister is playing favorites.”

Jiang Rao remained patient. “You just lost a tooth. If you keep eating sweets, your teeth will rot. When the day comes that you can’t chew anything, you’ll regret it.”

She ruffled his hair and added, “If you hadn’t just lost a tooth, this big brother would’ve given them to you. He’s only looking out for you.”

Rong Ting frowned.

No, I wouldn’t.

Tooth or no tooth, he had never intended to share.

He had never once considered this little chubby troublemaker in any of his decisions. The things he bought—he only ever meant for her.

Why was her little brother even inserting himself into this?

A few stray tears, and he got his head patted?

Irritating.

Suppressing the growing annoyance and frustration in his chest, Rong Ting watched as the little brat—blessed beyond measure yet still throwing a tantrum—stormed off in a huff.

His brows furrowed even deeper.

Jiang Rao watched as Jiang Jinxing ran off, then called over two maids. “Go tell Father and Mother about what happened today. And find someone to follow the young master—keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t get into trouble.”

Jiang Jinxing, when upset, was much more reckless than when he was in a good mood. That worried her.

While she was busy giving instructions, she failed to notice a few onlooking maids whispering among themselves.

“Miss still dotes on the young master. I wonder when he’ll finally understand her good intentions.”

“For a child his age, the young master is already quite sensible. It’s that one over there—the one in the wheelchair—his expression is too dark, like he’s always in a foul mood. He looks terrifying. Kids need to be coaxed, and the young master is still small—it’s only natural he’d be scared. Couldn’t he at least try smiling? Now that the young master is upset, the miss will definitely be upset too. Just watch—she’s bound to find a way to comfort him later.”

Rong Ting’s expression darkened, his icy gaze cutting sharply in their direction.

The maids immediately fell silent.

Jiang Rao, only vaguely aware of the chatter around her, hadn’t caught any of it. By the time she finished speaking, the noise had already faded.

She paid it no mind and walked toward Rong Ting at a leisurely pace.

Seeing him still seated in his wheelchair, that feeling of not wanting to leave grew even stronger.

She wanted to stay—until the day she could see him rise from that chair and stand on his own.

As she stepped closer, she realized he had been watching her the entire time.

His gaze was deep and unwavering.

His eyes were strikingly beautiful—soft yet intense, so profoundly focused that one could drown in them.

Truly, beautiful people are treasures of the world.

Her mother had been absolutely right.

One shouldn’t judge a person by their looks, of course—but getting to admire a beautiful face for a little longer? That was genuinely refreshing, good for the soul, and perhaps even life-extending.

Meanwhile, Rong Ting’s palms were already slightly damp with sweat.

Following the old physician’s advice, he resisted the urge to blink, keeping his eyes on her with all the tenderness he could muster.

His entire focus was on her.

As long as she blushed…

Suddenly, Rong Ting turned his gaze away.

A flush of red crept up his face, spreading all the way to his neck. His expression—unexpectedly flustered, almost shy—held a trace of helplessness as he clenched his palm in a tight grip.

…

Wait.

He was the one blushing?

…

His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his mind still replaying the image of her face and expression.

Her cheeks—soft, fair, and pristine.

Her gaze—clear, strikingly so.

Almost too clear.

There wasn’t even a hint of wandering thoughts or hidden meaning behind it.

The only one reading too much into this… was him.

Rong Ting wasn’t sure if he had expected this or if a part of him was disappointed. His fingers curled into a fist, and the heat lingering on his face and neck slowly faded.

Jiang Rao, watching his face alternate between shades of red and white, grew concerned. “You’re not coming down with a cold, are you? Your face was so red just now.”

Rong Ting choked slightly, then stiffly replied, “It’s not a cold.”

“That’s good,” Jiang Rao sighed in relief.

He always looked so frail, as if he could fall ill at any moment.

Rong Ting extended the oil-paper bag toward her, intending to give her the plums he had bought from Miaoshige. But before he could speak, she said, “I have something to tell you.”

Her brows furrowed. “The lockdown in Ye City has been lifted. My father said that once it was over, our family would return to Jinling for a visit. Once we leave… we won’t be coming back.”

Rong Ting’s hand froze mid-air.

He couldn’t return to Jinling right now.

If he did, he’d be walking straight into the enemy’s blade.

But she was leaving…

Jiang Rao’s gaze swept over his legs, resting on the ones still propped up on the wheelchair. She didn’t hide anything from him. “But I can’t stop worrying about your legs. How’s your recovery? Can you walk a few steps yet?”

There was a trace of hope in her voice as she added, “If you’ve improved, then I’ll have nothing to worry about. I’ll be able to leave with peace of mind.”

Rong Ting remained silent for a long time.

After a while, he finally spoke—slowly, deliberately.

“My legs… haven’t shown any improvement.”

As he spoke, Rong Ting shifted slightly, using his body to hide the medicinal pouch the old physician had prescribed behind him.

Jiang Rao’s eyes darkened with a hint of regret.

But more than that, there was a deep sense of sympathy.

His leg was healing so slowly, and the only one suffering was him.

“Then you should focus on healing properly. I’ll talk to my father—maybe we don’t have to rush back to Jinling.”

Jiang Rao stayed with him for a while, but her thoughts were still on her brother, who had clearly run off in a huff earlier. After Rong Ting turned to leave, she said to Ming Shao, “Take me to find Jinxing. I’m afraid he’s still upset.”

She sighed lightly as she spoke, feeling a slight headache coming on.

Rong Ting heard that sigh from behind him.

…

^_^