Wen Ningxuan still felt a lingering fear recalling yesterday's events. Those people seemed to be targeting He'er; had the arrow struck her, she likely wouldn't have survived. He, who practiced martial arts, barely escaped with his life. If Yin Ruoxuan's people had targeted him, he might have understood, but attacking He'er was unforgivable under any circumstance.

Lin He listened to Wen Ningxuan’s words, then asked back with some surprise, "Yin Ruoxuan? Zeng Weiliang?"

"That remains unclear. Yin Ruoxuan seems to be managed by Zeng Weiliang, but the real proprietors are the Zeng family father and daughter. Our Cai Die Xuan opened here a few months ago and siphoned off a significant portion of Yin Ruoxuan's business, leading to several past altercations. I simply hadn't expected them to finally aim their malice at you." Wen Ningxuan explained.

"But I've only been in Qinghe County for a few days. Besides, what would be the point of killing me, a mere woman?" Lin He remained somewhat confused.

"Do you remember the Yazhi Cosmetic Shop in Tianxin Town? That is also their establishment. I suspect they realized it was you long ago. The products you create now have become Cai Die Xuan's most lucrative line, attracting numerous customers and naturally cutting deeply into their shop's trade. They tried to hire someone to kidnap you years ago to steal your formulas but failed. My father has kept a close watch on matters in Tianxin Town these past few years, so they probably never found an opportunity to strike until now."

"Was it Zeng Weiliang who did this?" Lin He asked, finding it hard to believe. After all, she was his relative; if Zeng Weiliang truly committed such a heinous act for money, the repercussions would be endless.

"That is uncertain for now, but in my estimation, the likelihood of it being Zeng Weiliang is small. Setting aside his relationship with your family, based on what I know of him, Zeng Weiliang shouldn't be so utterly ruthless. However, those Zeng father and daughter duo are certainly capable of it; they built their enterprise on this. Over the years, wherever Cai Die Xuan sprung up, their rouge shops followed, always locking horns with us. Previously, the prestige of both shops was roughly equal, but in the last two years, Cai Die Xuan has taken away a substantial amount of their business. I imagine they have harbored deep resentment for quite some time," Wen Ningxuan analyzed for Lin He.

"So what do we do now? We might guard against it once, but we can't guard against it a second time," Lin He said, feeling a pang of dread as she looked at Wen Ningxuan's injury.

"It’s alright. This time it was due to our own carelessness that they succeeded. In the future, if you go out, just call for Ling Xiao or Ling Xiang, and there won't be any major issues." Wen Ningxuan tried to sound relaxed to ease Lin He’s worries, yet he knew the matter was far from simple.

Lin He nodded and asked, "After all that commotion, you must be hungry. I asked Zi Yu to prepare some congee; I'll have her bring it over."

Wen Ningxuan realized he was indeed quite hungry when Lin He mentioned it, and he nodded.

In the days that followed, Wen Ningxuan was confined to bed to recuperate. Ling Xiang had warned him against unnecessary movement before the injury healed; if the wound reopened, it would be far more troublesome. During this period, as per Wen Ningxuan’s request, Lin He came every day to care for him, sometimes bringing embroidery work to occupy her time.

Wen Ningxuan, however, did not find it tedious. He could read books, review the account ledgers for Cai Die Xuan, and discuss Arabic numerals with Lin He. For the remainder of the time, Lin He would occasionally work on her needlepoint in the room, while he simply watched from the side. He genuinely didn't mind staying put and doing nothing, just watching Lin He was not boring to him. It was Lin He who became a bit shy; being stared at constantly by such an exquisite man made her slightly overwhelmed. Eventually, when she had nothing else to do, she started bringing Zi Yu along daily, knowing that with the maid present, the rogue would restrain himself somewhat. But Zi Yu also had her own duties and could not stay by them constantly.

One day, Zi Yu was unavailable. Lin He sat by the window, diligently working on her stitching. Wen Ningxuan leaned against the large bolster pillow on the bed. Watching Lin He focus intently on her embroidery, her fair cheeks tinged with rose, her large eyes remarkably clear, and a faint smile gracing her lips, she appeared serene yet composed. His gaze fixed on her for a moment, a profound sense of peace and stability washed over him—this felt precisely like the life he had always longed for.

After observing her for a while, Wen Ningxuan suddenly asked, "He'er, your birthday is in the sixth month, correct?"

"Yes," Lin He nodded.

"How about celebrating your birthday earlier?"

Lin He glanced sidelong at Wen Ningxuan. What was wrong with this fellow? Shot with an arrow and his mind had gone astray? A birthday wasn't something one could simply decide to celebrate early just because they wished; what was the point of having a birthday then?

"If you celebrate your birthday earlier, you will come of age sooner next year," Wen Ningxuan murmured thoughtfully.

Only then did Lin He finally understand the drift of his words. She said nothing more, only giving Wen Ningxuan a meaningful look filled with subtle amusement. After this incident, Lin He became even more certain of her feelings and ceased struggling with these matters internally.

However, Wen Ningxuan was growing increasingly unrestrained, often dropping such remarks as if he couldn't wait. But no matter what he said, it was useless; this was not something a person could control, and even if someone could influence it, the ultimate authority rested with her parents.

As someone who regularly trained, Wen Ningxuan possessed a fundamentally strong constitution. In about half a month, the surface of his wound began to heal slowly. Although he still couldn't move extensively, at least he no longer needed to lie in bed all day. Lin He finally breathed a sigh of relief, no longer needing to stay by his side constantly, and returned to her own small courtyard to attend to her affairs.

Another half month passed, and Wen Ningxuan’s injuries were about sixty to seventy percent healed. Since the toxins in his system hadn't been completely cleared, he couldn't yet go out and do much. He spent his days reviewing account books in the courtyard. Lin He, however, started growing bored in her own small compound. With Wen Ningxuan still unwell, no one could escort her out. She wanted to check on the progress of the factory construction over there, wondering if it would be finished before the New Year.

A few days prior, Lin He had received a letter from Da Bao at home. Her parents were very pleased with Da Bao’s prospective marriage arrangement, and if timing allowed, the engagement date might be set soon. They urged Lin He to return as early as possible, as everyone at home was waiting for her. Lin He recalled promising Chen'er that she would invite them over to visit for a few days. But if the factory wasn't finished yet, and with so many things happening now, there would be no one to accompany them. Without supervision, Wen Ningxuan certainly wouldn't let her go out alone. She was pondering how best to explain this to Chen'er and the others.

Furthermore, Lin He often wondered about the person who would become her future sister-in-law; she remained completely ignorant of her character. Lin He also worried about whether her mother had managed certain matters at home properly. With this new sister-in-law joining the family so soon, it would be awkward for Lin He to bring up such things if she wasn't clear on the details. After all, she hadn't expected things to move this quickly, and she hadn't discussed these matters thoroughly with her parents before leaving.