To avoid suspicion, Zhu Qing visited Sun Ningning once every day.
Each time, she diligently played the role of Sun Wanwan, staying for exactly the time it took to drink a cup of tea before promptly excusing herself under the pretext of preparing medicine.
Today, as usual, she wore a gentle smile on the surface while her heart was tangled in turmoil.
She came to visit her younger sister, carrying freshly made floral dew she had prepared herself.
Xing’er hurried forward to greet her. “Eldest Miss, our young lady isn’t feeling well today. She’s already changed into her sleepwear and retired. Perhaps you could visit again in the evening.”
Xing’er was fuming!
Early in the morning, the young lady had threatened Xiaoyue and sneaked out!
Claiming she’d been lying down too long—that her injury was in the shoulder, not her legs—and saying she wanted to go out for some fresh air?
And now Xing’er had to stall the Grand Secretary and the Eldest Miss here?
How could she possibly manage that!
The smile on Zhu Qing’s lips faded as she asked indifferently, “She’s asleep?”
Xing’er braced herself, keeping her head lowered and not daring to look up. “Yes, she’s asleep.”
This is bad, so bad.
The Grand Secretary wouldn’t return from his duties until after noon. If the young lady hurried back, there might still be time to cover up the lie.
But the Eldest Miss was also a woman. If she insisted on going in to check, how could Xing’er stop her?
Zhu Qing glanced at the bedroom door, her expression cooling in a way she herself didn’t notice.
She recalled how Sun Ningning had been carried back to the residence that day, trembling all over in pain.
She had only just begun to recover, not even half a month, and she was already impatient to see someone again?
Was this girl under some kind of love spell?
After all, Prince Qin was the only one in this world who possessed the bloodline of the Wizard Clan and could perform Great Wizardry.
Hah, never mind.
It’s none of my business.
“Very well, notify me after my younger sister wakes up.”
Hearing this, Xing’er inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed. “Yes, Eldest Miss. Please take care on your way back.”
Zhu Qing walked away at an unusually fast pace, startling her maid who hurried to catch up.
By the moat, at Jade Lake Pavilion.
Sun Ningning walked with small steps, as any larger movement would tug at her wound.
The chill of late autumn grew deeper each day. She leisurely wandered through all three floors of Jade Lake Pavilion.
[Host, you’re being too obvious. You might as well go straight to the fourth floor.]
Sun Ningning tossed a pain-relief pill into her mouth and took a gulp of water from the flask Xiaoyue handed her.
“Tch”
So bitter!
The concentrated pill was ten times more nauseating than traditional medicine.
[Didn’t they say the fourth floor is for VIPs only? Wouldn’t it be too direct if I went up there pretending to run into him?]
The System was speechless. If it had a human form, it would have rolled its eyes.
[The way you’re circling around and occasionally glancing up at the fourth floor—if Bai Ze spots you, he’ll know you’re here to “coincidentally” meet him again.]
Sun Ningning shrugged. [But it’s been ten days since I last saw him. I couldn’t help it.]
I wonder how Xiao Ze is doing?
According to the plot, there’s supposed to be an assassination attempt at Jade Lake Pavilion this time.
But last time at the teahouse, it already… Ugh, how annoying. What kind of messed-up plot is this?
Could it be that my arrival caused a butterfly effect?
Has everything veered off track?
The System, who knew the truth: silently went offline.
Sun Ningning wore a green kesi waist-tied long dress, layered with a snow-white short jacket to ward off the cold.
Her features were naturally striking, and today she had lightly applied pink rouge to conceal her pallor.
Her figure was slender, her demeanor bright and spirited.
Unconsciously, her lively glances had already attracted several young noblemen who wished to approach her.
But her innate nobility and the occasional cold, proud, and impatient looks she cast their way made them hesitate to step forward.
Sun Ningning leaned lightly against the railing, catching her breath slightly, and pressed a hand to her left shoulder.
Xiaoyue immediately stepped forward and asked with concern, “Miss, is your wound hurting again? Should we go back? It’s already noon…”
Why did the young lady come here for no reason?
Sun Ningning took a deep breath to ease the throbbing pain.
“It’s nothing, I’m just tired. We’ll go back in a while.”
She remembered that the assassination attempt was supposed to occur around noon. With the butterfly effect in play, she wondered if it would still happen?
She had to come and try regardless.
Besides, she really missed Xiao Ze.
Even just seeing him once before leaving would help alleviate her longing.
As the breeze brushed past, Sun Ningning leaned against the third-floor deck railing and glanced up once more toward a certain VIP room on the fourth floor.
Upstairs, Bai Ze was also watching Sun Ningning.
Looking down through the window lattice, Bai Ze met Sun Ningning’s distant yet earnest gaze.
Knowing that Sun Ningning couldn’t see him, he scrutinized her freely.
She was here again.
Another coincidence?
It had only been ten days. Despite her obvious discomfort as she clutched her shoulder, she still came here pretending it was a chance encounter?
The first time was an accident. The second time she took a knife for him could be explained as fate. But this third time?
Where did she get the information?
Ling Shuang and Feiyun would never betray him.
No one knew about his outing today, so was it another coincidence?
If it was a coincidence, why did she keep looking toward the fourth floor?
Bai Ze’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.
His gaze fixed on Sun Ningning’s shoulder, and the curve of his lips flattened.
He couldn’t understand what this woman was trying to do.
Bai Ze continued watching Sun Ningning.
He saw her clutching her shoulder and breathing shallowly; he saw her speaking to her maid and, through lip-reading, learned that she would leave soon; he saw her look up again, seemingly unintentionally, toward the room where he was…
When one person becomes curious about another and can’t help but want to uncover their motives, a seed has already been planted.
Bai Ze didn’t realize this yet. He only felt puzzled and somewhat irritated.
Sun Ningning waited for a long time, until the pavilion built on the large ship began serving lunch.
[Host, let’s go back. It seems the butterfly effect has taken hold. Don’t stay here in the cold wind any longer.]
The System advised guiltily.
Sun Ningning’s slightly upturned eyes beneath her lashes seemed to flicker with light. She withdrew her gaze and lowered her head.
“Xiaoyue, let’s go back.”
She didn’t get to see Xiao Ze. What a pity.