“Hey, have you heard? The Jiang residence was burgled last night!”
“But it seems nothing was stolen. They say a thief never leaves empty-handed, so I wonder what this thief went through all that trouble for?”
Several elderly women by the street, carrying baskets, chatted and joked with the street vendors while shopping. Their baskets were filled with various odds and ends.
Hong Yao overheard the conversation but lacked her usual mood for banter—Gu Ning had fallen ill since yesterday.
She hurriedly bought what she needed and rushed back. As soon as she entered the backyard, the strong smell of medicine hit her. Hong Yao set down the basket on her arm and was about to enter the room when A Qi tugged at her sleeve. Without a word, A Qi pointed a finger toward the window.
The window was half-open. Chi Yan sat by Gu Ning’s bedside, repeatedly placing a damp towel on her forehead.
“Aren’t you going to persuade him? The young master has been taking care of her all night,” Hong Yao couldn’t help but whisper reproachfully. “Don’t let the young master collapse from exhaustion before Miss recovers.”
If that happened, the clinic might really have to close its doors.
“How could I not have tried?” A Qi pouted, feeling wronged. “Don’t you know the young master’s temperament? He seems gentle and soft, but he’s as stubborn as a mule. I’ve told him countless times, but he simply won’t listen!”
Hong Yao fell silent.
The wind rattled the window, causing the light in the room to flicker. Chi Yan once again placed a warm, damp cloth on Gu Ning’s forehead, his movements as gentle as if he were handling fragile porcelain.
“A Ning, won’t you wake up?”
The back of his hand lightly brushed her cheek, the scalding touch seeming to sear his heart.
Chi Yan’s eyes were red-rimmed as he leaned against the bedside, holding her hand, his fingers resting on her wrist.
Her pulse beat sluggishly—this was no ordinary cold.
Her eyes were tightly shut, the usual liveliness and youthful steadiness gone, leaving only a pale fragility. It was as if… her faint breath might cease forever at any moment.
He slowly lowered his gaze, a cold teardrop spreading on the bedsheet.
“A Ning, I’m sorry.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. Their breaths, body heat, and shadows merged together, like conjoined twins.
“You’ll be fine.”
His voice was soft, but his dark eyes were filled with obsession.
No matter what it took.
And no matter the price he had to pay.
…
“Hey, Third Young Master Liu, you can’t go in!”
“Our Miss is ill. The clinic is closed today!”
The voices of A Qi and Hong Yao echoed one after another.
“What a coincidence! I’m here to visit the patient. If your Miss wakes up, she can even take a look at my fractured bone.”
“Third Young Master Liu, don’t push your luck!”
Liu San raised his head, swaying it with a malicious grin. “I’ll push my luck. What can you do about it?”
With that, he waved his hand. Four servants immediately pulled Hong Yao and A Qi aside, while the rest carried Liu San straight into the backyard.
“Third Young Master Liu.”
Chi Yan stepped over the threshold, gently closing the door behind him and turning slightly. His dark hair was loosely tied with an ivory ribbon. In the cool breeze, his plain white sleeves fluttered lightly, as if he were an immortal descended to earth.
For a moment, the footsteps of the group in the courtyard came to a halt.
The peach blossoms by the window were blown down by the wind, and a few pale pink petals clung to his sleeve. Chi Yan gently brushed them away, smiling warmly. “Since Third Young Master Liu intends to visit A Ning, why didn’t you send a visiting card?”
His voice was like a clear spring, like jade.
Everyone suddenly snapped back to reality.
“Sending a visiting card would be too formal. After all, Doctor Gu did save my life.”
Third Young Master Liu gave a meaningful glance, and the servants carried him over and placed him on a stone stool in the courtyard. Third Young Master Liu pulled out a folding fan from somewhere, flicked it open, and slowly fanned himself. “As the saying goes, when someone saves your life, you should repay them with your own self. In that sense, I could be considered Doctor Gu’s fiancé. Fiancés are practically family, and family doesn’t need to stand on ceremony.”
“Third Young Master Liu, making such presumptuous connections is rather impolite,” Chi Yan continued to smile, but his smile inexplicably carried a chill.
“Even if it’s impolite, it’s nothing compared to Doctor Chi,” Third Young Master Liu closed his fan and tapped it against his chin. “Doctor Chi just came out of Doctor Gu’s private quarters, didn’t you? Since ancient times, men and women have been separated after the age of seven. Even as fellow disciples, you should maintain propriety. Could it be that Doctor Chi…”
“Third Young Master Liu is overstepping,” Chi Yan cut him off, his expression finally turning cold. “If you’re here to visit the patient, I naturally welcome you. But if you’re here to cause trouble… don’t blame Ningchun Hall for not showing mercy.”
Just a few dozen people… Chi Yan lifted his gaze and swept a calm glance over them.
There wasn’t much else here, but there was plenty of poison.
The air grew tense, and within the faint floral fragrance, a slow surge of killing intent began to stir.
“Hahaha…” Third Young Master Liu suddenly burst into laughter. “It was just a joke, and Doctor Chi actually took it seriously? You really have no sense of humor at all.”
Chi Yan remained silent, his dark eyes fixed intently on him.
“Actually, I came today to remind Doctor Gu of a few things,” Third Young Master Liu continued to laugh without a hint of discomfort. “The first is to avoid any dealings with the Zhenyuan General’s Mansion. As for the second…”
Third Young Master Liu paused. He tilted his head, his gaze lingering on Chi Yan with interest before finally smiling. “Please convey to Doctor Gu on my behalf that she must stay away from her senior brother.”
The courtyard fell silent, with only the sound of the cool breeze and breathing.
Nearby, Hong Yao and A Qi exchanged a glance and quietly slipped away.
Just as the two were about to step into the kitchen, they heard Chi Yan say with a smile, “Very well, I’ll remember Third Young Master Liu’s words. If there’s nothing else, A Qi, Hong Yao, see our guest out.”
His voice was like a spring breeze melting the rain, carrying an unprecedented gentleness.
A Qi and Hong Yao’s hearts simultaneously sank. They turned stiffly, forcing awkward smiles. “Then… Third Young Master Liu, this way, please! This way, please!”
“Don’t be in such a hurry, Doctor Chi,” Third Young Master Liu leaned casually against the edge of the stone table, fanning himself lazily as he smiled. “Aren’t you going to ask me why?”
“A Qi, Hong Yao, see our guest out.”
“Wang Shao has feelings for you,” A Qi’s hand was about to touch Third Young Master Liu’s shoulder when he deftly shifted aside, avoiding it, and continued to smile. “Wang Shao has no bottom line. Just because Jiang Yingyue was being considered as a match for her father, she had street thugs harass her every day. What more for Doctor Gu? Also, that day at Zhenxiu Pavilion, it was her who secretly had someone follow Doctor Gu and sent people to lure me over.”
Third Young Master Liu closed his fan and beckoned to the servants. Several of them worked together to lift him onto the sedan chair.
“Doctor Chi, I’m only telling you this because Doctor Gu is my ‘savior’,” Liu San propped his head on his hand, smiling as if watching a show. “Don’t keep it from her just because of your personal feelings!”
With that, he laughed loudly and strode away.
A Qi and Hong Yao quietly glanced up at Chi Yan, only to see him still smiling, yet his phoenix eyes were so dark they seemed capable of dripping water.
He walked over, found a handkerchief, and vigorously wiped the places where Liu San had sat or touched, letting out a cold laugh. “A clueless fool.”
Before the words had fully faded, a shrill scream came from outside the wall, startling the birds in the trees into flapping their wings and scattering in a flurry.