Yan Shiyao lowered her gaze, hiding the disappointment in her eyes. “Is that so?”  

[Fafa, I… Did I make a mistake?] Yan Yuning frowned deeply.  

Fafa: [Master, you didn’t! Blame Xuan Yanyu! Why blame yourself? If he didn’t like the female lead, none of this would’ve happened! It’s all his fault!]

Yan Yuning’s eyes flickered slightly.  

“Ningning, Brother Yu… I don’t have much of an appetite tonight. You two go ahead and eat.” Yan Shiyao forced a smile.  

“Elder Sister, you should at least eat a little,” Yan Yuning urged.  

Yan Shiyao didn’t respond, nearly fleeing the scene.  

“Where do you think you’re going? You’re not leaving.” Seeing Xuan Yanyu about to walk away, Yan Yuning tugged at his sleeve with her fingertips.  

Thankfully, the author of this book didn’t stick to overly rigid tropes.  

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes and coldly spat out two words: “Let go.”  

“No. Didn’t you hear what my sister said? She told us to eat.” The young girl tilted her head up, her eyes curved into crescents as she stubbornly held onto his sleeve, refusing to let him leave.  

She looked every bit the spoiled, willful young lady.  

The man glanced at the slender, pale fingers gripping his sleeve and spoke in an icy tone, “Do you not want that hand anymore?”  

Suppressing the fear in her heart, Yan Yuning blinked at him innocently, her voice laced with laughter and a touch of playfulness. “Of course I do.”  

“If you do, then let go. Otherwise, I’ll—”  

Without thinking, Yan Yuning raised her hand and covered the man’s mouth.  

Xuan Yanyu stiffened, his expression darkening. No one had ever dared to disrespect him like this before.  

Yan Yuning’s scalp prickled, her heart clenching violently. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “I… don’t like what you were about to say.”  

As soon as the words left her mouth, she bit her lip. What am I even saying?

She peeked up at Xuan Yanyu—sure enough, his expression had turned even uglier.  

Fafa: [Master, what are you trying to do?]

[Didn’t I say I didn’t want my sister to be sad anymore? So I’m changing targets.] Yan Yuning pressed her lips together.  

Fafa: [Changing targets? To Xuan Yanyu??]

[Isn’t it obvious?]

Fafa: [Master, then… good luck!]

Xuan Yanyu leaned down slightly, his gaze boring into her eyes as he spoke in a low, deliberate tone. “Second Miss Yan, aren’t you afraid your Ah Chen might see this and misunderstand?”  

Before Yan Yuning could retort, he added another line, his voice laced with mockery. “Weren’t you the one who told me to stay away from you and that you never wanted to see me again? Has Second Miss already forgotten?”  

Yan Yuning rolled her eyes internally. Why does he have to remember everything so clearly?!

The man hooked a finger around his sleeve and slowly pulled it free.  

He gave her a cold glance before striding toward the door. Just as he was about to step over the threshold, he paused. “Second Miss Yan, I’m not Qi Qingchen. I have no interest in playing games with you. Don’t bother me again.”  

Yan Yuning shook her fist at his retreating figure, a flash of irritation in her eyes. [‘Don’t bother me again’—as if I even want to bother him!!!] 

Fafa: [Master, this is so hard. The male lead loves the female lead, and the second male lead is so cold-hearted.]

Yan Yuning exhaled sharply. [Fafa, just watch—I’ll have him wrapped around my finger sooner or later.]

Fafa: [??? Master, you still want to provoke him?] 

[What else can I do? I can’t just watch my sister starve herself every day, can I?]

Fafa: [……]

For the next two days, Yan Yuning spent almost all her time at the Magistrate’s residence.  

Yan Shiyao locked herself in her room, not stepping out even once in two whole days.  

“Elder Sister, it’s me. I’m coming in~” Yan Yuning pushed the door open with a smile.  

“Ningning.” Yan Shiyao lifted her head and responded weakly.  

“Elder Sister, look—I brought you osmanthus cakes. Try one, they’re so good.” Yan Yuning crouched beside Yan Shiyao, unwrapping the oiled paper and holding out a piece of osmanthus cake to her.

Yan Shiyao stared blankly out the window and murmured, “Ningning, I’m going back to the Prime Minister’s residence.”  

“Why?” Yan Yuning’s hand paused mid-motion.  

Wasn’t she supposed to stay by Qi Qingchen’s side in the book?

“Ningning, will you come back with me?” Yan Shiyao turned her head, her gaze settling on Yan Yuning’s face.  

Originally, she had come here for Ah Chen’s sake. But Ningning adored him—her heart and eyes were full of him. How could she bear to make Ningning sad?  

Yan Yuning took a bite of the osmanthus cake and asked vaguely, “Elder Sister, why do you want to go back?”  

Yan Shiyao’s eyes reddened slightly, tinged with sorrow. “After being away for so long, it’s only natural to miss home.”  

Yan Yuning blinked. “But we’ve only been gone for a few days?”  

Fafa: [Master, do you really need her to spell it out? It’s because you’re trying to steal the male lead from her. She likes him but doesn’t want to hurt you, so she’s trying to run away.]  

Yan Yuning swallowed the last bite of the cake and brushed the crumbs off her hands. “Elder Sister, when I told you the other day that I liked Qi Qingchen, I was just joking.”  

Yan Shiyao’s mind went blank for a moment, taking a long while to process the words.  

“Elder Sister, I don’t like Qi Qingchen, so please don’t go back to the Prime Minister’s residence, okay?” Yan Yuning’s expression was serious.  

Yan Shiyao’s eyes flickered slightly. “Ningning… are you telling the truth?”  

“Of course I am.” Yan Yuning curved her lips into a smile. “Elder Sister, you eat the cakes. I’m going to see Sister Bai now.”  

Yan Shiyao’s gaze fell on the osmanthus cake in her hand. A soft chuckle escaped her lips.  

She picked up the cake and took a small bite. The sweet flavor spread across her taste buds. “So sweet.”  

….

Magistrate’s Residence 

Bai Yue leaned weakly against the bed, her body noticeably thinner.  

“Sister Bai, I brought you some medicine and your favorite cakes.” Yan Yuning sat down beside the bed, deliberately softening her voice.  

Fafa: [Master, she doesn’t have much time left.]

Yan Yuning pressed her lips together. [Fafa, is there any way we can save her?]

Fafa: [Master, I can’t save others, but in the book, there’s a royal physician in the Xuanzhao Kingdom—one of the best. Maybe he has a way.]

[Xuanzhao Kingdom?]

Fafa: [Master, even if Xuan Yanyu were willing to reveal his identity now—which he isn’t—he still wouldn’t help you.] 

Yan Yuning lowered her eyes. [What if my sister asks him?]  

Fafa: [That… he might agree to.]

“Ningning, thank you.” Bai Yue braced herself against the bed, her face twisted in pain.  

“Sister Bai, don’t worry. A’Li will grow up well.” Yan Yuning forced a smile.  

Bai Yue clutched the blanket, tears streaming down her cheeks.  

“Sister Bai, you’ll be fine. I’ll find a doctor for you.” Yan Yuning reached out to wipe her tears away.  

“There’s no need, Ningning.” Bai Yue’s voice was faint, almost resigned.  

Yan Yuning’s lashes fluttered downward. She noticed the bloodstains on the handkerchief in Bai Yue’s hand.  

“Sister Bai, there is a need.”  

“Miss Yan, it’s best not to meddle in other people’s affairs.” Liu Sisi pushed the door open, waving a handkerchief in front of her face.  

“Ningning, you should go back first.” Bai Yue mustered a weak smile.  

Liu Sisi pursed her red lips. “Miss Yan, if you have nothing else to do, please refrain from visiting the Magistrate’s residence again.”  

Yan Yuning raised an eyebrow, her tone neither humble nor overbearing. “Concubine Liu, since when do you decide what happens in the Magistrate’s residence?”  

Liu Sisi’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smirk playing on her lips. “Miss Yan, this is my final warning—don’t interfere. Not even the Third Prince’s backing will help you here.”  

Just as Yan Yuning was about to retort, Bai Yue suddenly spoke up. “Xiao Yu, escort Ningning out.”  

“Miss Yan, let me see you out.” Xiao Yu stepped forward, bowing slightly as she gently guided her out of the room.  

Yan Yuning opened her mouth to speak, but Xiao Yu shook her head at her.