Fafa: [Master, stay away from that lunatic Luo Xuan! How did you manage to offend her so thoroughly?!]

Yan Yuning rubbed her numb hand, [Don’t panic. We’ll just find Xuan Yanyu.]

Fafa: […] 

“Brother Qingchen.” Luo Xuan clenched her teeth, her trembling hand covering her face.  

“Elder Sister, didn’t you say earlier that you wanted to leave? We can go now.” As soon as the words fell, Yan Yuning grabbed Yan Shiyao’s wrist and bolted.  

Qi Qingchen’s temple twitched—she caused trouble and then dumped the mess on him!  

“Elder Sister, you go find Xuan Yanyu. I’ll go find A’Ci. Let’s get out of here quickly.” Yan Yuning stopped running.  

Yan Shiyao pulled her hand free. “Ningning, I’ll wait for Brother Qi to leave together.”  

Yan Yuning frowned. “Why wait for him?”  

“Ningning, I won’t leave until Brother Qi does.” Yan Shiyao lowered her eyes.  

After a moment of silence, Yan Yuning pouted angrily. “Fine, suit yourself.”  

With that, she turned and walked away.  

Yan Shiyao pressed her lips together, watching Yan Yuning’s retreating figure, her lips parting slightly as if wanting to say something.  

Yan Yuning irritably kicked a pebble on the ground. If Elder Sister wouldn’t leave, Xuan Yanyu wouldn’t leave either. And now that she’d just slapped Luo Xuan… Yan Yuning shook her head and stopped in front of her room, raising her hand to knock.  

“A’Ci.”  

“Little Lemon.” A’Ci opened the door, his eyes and brows brimming with laughter.  

“A’Ci, let me take you home, okay?” Yan Yuning coaxed.  

A’Ci pouted, his eyes faintly glistening with grievance. “Is Little Lemon going to abandon A’Ci again?”  

“I’m not abandoning you. Be good and wait for me at home, alright?” Yan Yuning softened her voice.  

A’Ci’s nose turned red as he said pitifully, “I don’t want to.”  

“A’Ci, be obedient.”  

A’Ci bit his lip, looking miserable. “Then let’s go back together.”  

“A’Ci, once Elder Sister’s wedding is over, I’ll come back.” Yan Yuning ruffled A’Ci’s hair.  

After Elder Sister’s wedding—if she was still alive, if she hadn’t transmigrated back—she would return to accompany her grandparents.  

She didn’t like the Prime Minister’s residence.  

“Then let’s have Sister Yaoyao get married tomorrow.” A’Ci sniffled.  

Yan Yuning burst into laughter. “Tomorrow won’t do~”  

“Then how about today?” A’Ci tugged at Yan Yuning’s sleeve, gazing at her pleadingly.  

“A’Ci, you’ve been away for so many days. Grandpa and Grandma will worry about you.” Yan Yuning’s tone was gentle.  

A’Ci tilted his head, struggling to organize his words. “Little Lemon, Grandpa and Grandma worry about you too. A’Ci saw it—Grandma cried in secret.”  

Yan Yuning’s nose suddenly stung. Her grandparents truly treated her so well.  

“Did A’Ci say something wrong? Don’t cry.” A’Ci panicked, flustered, his own eyes reddening.  

Yan Yuning lifted her head, holding back tears.  

“A’Ci will listen. A’Ci will go home. After Sister Yaoyao’s wedding, Little Lemon must come home, okay? A’Ci will wait for you.” Carefully, A’Ci used his sleeve to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes.  

Yan Yuning’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Mm. Once Elder Sister’s wedding is over, I’ll come home.”  

A’Ci nodded vigorously, his lips curling into a bright smile.  

The young man looked down at her, his eyes clear. Yan Yuning curved her lips. “A’Ci, your smile is so beautiful.”  

A’Ci blinked, then smiled even brighter.  

…

Luo Xuan’s Chamber.

Yan Shiyao spoke with sincere apology, “Miss Luo, I apologize on Ningning’s behalf.”  

Luo Xuan covered her lips with a faint smile. “You flatter me, Miss Yan. As Brother Qi said, Ningning is still young. I won’t hold it against her.”  

Yan Shiyao was slightly surprised.  

Luo Xuan remained composed. “I heard from Nuonuo that a new friend has arrived? How careless of me—I forgot to prepare a room for him.”  

As she spoke, she took a key from Nuonuo and handed it to Yan Shiyao. “Miss Yan, would you mind delivering this key to A’Ci?”  

Yan Shiyao accepted the key and thanked her softly before leaving the chamber.  

“Clan Leader, why would you prepare a room for Yan Yuning’s friend?” Nuonuo frowned.  

Luo Xuan traced her reddened cheek, her lips curling into a seductive smile. “Nuonuo, the show is about to begin.”

This injury, this slap—she would make sure it was repaid. She would never swallow this humiliation.  

…

Yan Shiyao held the key and wandered through the winding paths of the courtyard until she found A’Ci in a secluded corner.  

A’Ci was crouched on the ground, clutching a dry twig as he scribbled aimlessly in the dirt. Yan Shiyao stepped closer and saw the crooked, haphazard characters scrawled in the soil: “Little Lemon.”  

The strokes were messy and chaotic, lacking any semblance of order.  

“A’Ci.” Yan Shiyao couldn’t help but smile.  

A’Ci looked up, his eyes brightening at the sight of her. “Sister Yaoyao, when will you get married? How about tomorrow?”

Yan Shiyao was taken aback. “Why do you ask so suddenly?”

A’Ci tilted his head, resting his cheek on his palm, and answered innocently, “Little Lemon said that once you’re married, she’ll come home with me.” 

Yan Shiyao couldn’t help but laugh and patted his head. “Silly boy.”

Ningning would have to marry too—their mother was already arranging matches for her. How could she possibly go home with him?  

“A’Ci isn’t silly! Little Lemon said A’Ci isn’t silly!” A’Ci pouted, gripping the twig tightly as he angrily scratched crosses into the dirt.  

Yan Shiyao’s heart twinged, and she instinctively bit her lip. “I’m sorry, A’Ci. That was careless of me.”

A’Ci silently turned his back to her.  

Regretful, Yan Shiyao softened her voice. “A’Ci, how about Sister Yaoyao buys you some sweets to make it up to you?”

A’Ci blinked, muttering under his breath, “Then buy a lot.”

Little Lemon loved sweets the most.  

“Alright, a lot.” Yan Shiyao’s eyes crinkled with amusement.  

A breeze swept through the courtyard, scattering petals in the air. A few landed in A’Ci’s hair, and he glanced upward before plucking one out and sniffing it.  

Then—faint, almost imperceptible footsteps.  

Yan Shiyao sensed something amiss and turned sharply to see two black-clad figures approaching.  

She instinctively stepped in front of A’Ci, shielding him.  

The lead assassin let out a cold laugh. “No need to protect him. Neither of you are leaving today.”

Yan Shiyao’s heart seized with fear. “Sir, you must have the wrong person.”

The assassin smirked, twirling a dagger in his hand before hurling it straight at her.  

The blade struck Yan Shiyao’s body.  

Her vision blurred with a sudden, searing pain. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.  

“Blood… Sister Yaoyao, don’t sleep! You still have to get married… Little Lemon still has to come home with me…” A’Ci’s eyes widened, his lips trembling.  

Yan Shiyao gritted her teeth against the agony. “A’Ci, run.”

“Can’t leave… can’t abandon you.” A’Ci’s eyes glistened with tears.  

The assassin let out a deranged laugh. “Of course you can’t leave.”  

A’Ci stood protectively in front of Yan Shiyao, his voice shaking but defiant. “Don’t hurt Sister Yaoyao!”

Little Lemon had told him to run if he saw bad people—but Sister Yaoyao couldn’t run. He couldn’t leave her behind.  

“Why waste time talking to an idiot?” The other assassin sneered, unsheathing his sword and thrusting it toward A’Ci.  

A’Ci had no time to react.  

The blade pierced his chest.  

“A’CI!” Yan Shiyao screamed, her voice raw with horror.  

The assassin’s face twisted with cruelty as he yanked the sword free. Warm blood splattered across A’Ci’s pale face.  

The boy coughed up a mouthful of blood, swayed unsteadily, and then crumpled to the ground. His lips moved weakly.  

“It hurts… Little Lemon…”

The assassin smirked in satisfaction, glancing at the two fallen figures before vanishing swiftly into the shadows.  

“A’Ci… A’Ci…” Yan Shiyao lay on the ground, her robes soaked in blood, tears falling like rain.