Qi Yue was first stunned, then she laughed. Wang Qian was surprised by her reaction.

The women, hearing such a thing, ought to have been shy or flustered, but he shook his head and laughed too; this woman was naturally different from the others. “Is this time for real, or are you just trying to give me face again?” Qi Yue asked with a smile.

Wang Qian looked at her. “It’s always real.

Who wastes time trying to give face over something like this?” he replied. Fine, kid.

A master pick-up artist at the bar, so direct. I like it.

Qi Yue laughed again. This is too… Chang Yuncheng was picking at the bark of a tree from behind it.

“Seeing you smile so happily, I’m truly heartbroken,” Wang Qian said, shaking his head and turning away. Qi Yue laughed even harder, casually picking up a small stick nearby and tapping Wang Qian on the shoulder.

“Ah, the fish got away,” Wang Qian hissed at her, carefully steadying his fishing rod. “Stop pretending.

I already said you’re not here to fish,” Qi Yue chuckled. Hearing Qi Yue’s crisp laughter, Chang Yuncheng pressed his head against the tree trunk, digging his fingernails tightly into the bark.

“Looks like I can’t pretend anymore; I actually have to fish now,” Wang Qian said, letting out a slight sigh. “Hey, hey, why?

Tell me, why? How come you just know what I’m thinking without even asking?” Qi Yue asked, tapping his shoulder again with the small stick.

“The poem says, ‘Closer to home, the more timid the heart grows; great affection seems always heartless, so shyly I flee…’” Wang Qian said with a smile. Before he could finish, Qi Yue raised her hand and lightly smacked the top of his head.

“Reading too much will make you stupid,” she laughed. “Speak properly.” Is this… flirting?

Chang Yuncheng pressed his forehead against the trunk, feeling pain with every breath he didn't take. What was he still doing here?

What was he still doing here? Perhaps because things had been spoken aloud, Wang Qian felt an instant closeness with the woman, a casual ease akin to that of long-time friends, unlike the polite familiarity of before, but this also brought with it a faint sense of regret.

“Now, is it too late?” he looked up and asked. Qi Yue smiled, twirling the small stick in her hand, watching him without speaking.

“Never mind, no need to answer,” Wang Qian quickly added. “Hey, when did you start thinking that way?” Qi Yue asked with a touch of curiosity.

Wang Qian couldn't help but reach up and rub his brow. “You woman, how can you even ask such a thing?” he said, seeming rather troubled.

“That’s just how I am,” Qi Yue said with a smile. What is this?

The environment I grew up in has long forgotten what subtlety means. Everyone is busy, everyone is rushing.

Confessing love is simple, direct, and fast. Breaking up is also simple, direct, and fast.

If you like someone, you say it quickly. If you don't like someone anymore, you say that quickly too.

Nobody should waste anyone else's time. She looked out over the lake, gently swinging the small stick, letting out a soft sigh.

“Of course, it was after you divorced your husband,” Wang Qian said earnestly, shaking his robes slightly. “My lady, please don't ruin my reputation.” Qi Yue was amused by him again and burst out laughing.

“Hey, I really didn't expect it; you are quite an interesting person,” she laughed. Chang Yuncheng closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and turned away.

At that moment, a cart loaded with a large batch of wooden frames and porcelain bottles rumbled in, attracting the attention of those nearby and drowning out Chang Yuncheng’s footsteps. The cart passed, and both Qi Yue and Wang Qian looked away.

“Now that you see it, is it still too late?” Wang Qian smiled. “No, thank you.

I’m the sort of person who shouldn't harm anyone else,” Qi Yue laughed, sighing and tossing the small stick she held into the water. “Harming the Marquis is enough of a burden,” Wang Qian replied.

Qi Yue smiled, watching the ripples spread across the water. “That time, I felt quite guilty,” Wang Qian suddenly said.

“Which time?” Qi Yue asked, sounding surprised. “Hey, you’re too much of a perfectionist!

I already owe your family so much favor, what more do you want?” Wang Qian was amused by her retort. “Those things are nothing; they weren't what you truly needed,” he said, looking at the lake, gently lifting his hand, and a fish leaped out with a splash.

Qi Yue happily stood up, eagerly reaching out to catch it. “We’ll have something for lunch,” she exclaimed.

Wang Qian joined her in placing the fish into the nearby creel. “I wanted to apologize to you, and my grandfather wanted to say this too.

That time, we didn't step forward like the Marquis did,” he continued. Qi Yue suddenly stood up straight.

“Wang Da, if you put it that way, then you are the ones in the wrong,” she said with a serious expression. Wang Da?

In all his years, this was the first time someone had called Wang Qian that. His expression flickered with surprise, but he also thought it didn't sound bad.

“No, no, I’m not being pretentious,” he shook his head. “It’s not that we were being overly sensitive; it’s a fact.

You don't really need anything; no matter what you encounter, you can overcome it by yourself, without relying on anyone. But what you needed was just a sliver of warmth.” He looked at Qi Yue.

“I’m truly sorry we couldn’t give you that at the time,” he said earnestly. Qi Yue looked at him and smiled.

“Stop talking, if you keep going like this, I might actually regret it,” she told him. Wang Qian feigned surprise.

“That would be wonderful! I’ll keep talking then,” he quickly responded.

“Fine, talk more, talk more! Being fawned over feels amazing,” Qi Yue laughed, sitting down and adopting an air of eager attention.

In front of this woman, Wang Qian conceded defeat. “But seriously, it’s not because of that day’s incident,” Qi Yue said, exhaling.

“Besides, for what happened that day, there’s truly nothing for you to be sorry about. Everyone helps in different ways, and that’s not important.

What matters is that you genuinely wanted to help me. Is there any warmth greater than that in the world?” She spoke, let out another breath, looked at the lake, picked up a small twig again, and tapped it rhythmically in her hand.

“Honestly, just thinking about it makes me want to cry,” she murmured. Wang Qian was momentarily stunned.

“I really am too perfect,” Qi Yue continued. Wang Qian couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

Qi Yue remained unmoved. “That’s why Heaven granted me so many people who love me,” she declared.

Wang Qian smiled, shaking his head, then nodding. “You deserve it,” he said.

“You deserve it more,” Qi Yue looked at him and replied. Wang Qian smiled faintly at her, then sighed again.

“Truly cruel,” he shook his head. “You insist on negating my last shred of excuse, leaving someone who has never known failure since childhood utterly bereft of dignity.” Qi Yue solemnly nodded.

“So, remember me. Remember the woman who etched an indelible mark upon your heart,” she said with grave sincerity.

Wang Qian burst into great laughter. This was perhaps the first time this man, accustomed since youth to refined behavior and elegance, had laughed so heartily, so completely, from the depths of his soul, without restraint.

“To have known you, and to be able to face you this freely in this lifetime, whether we become husband and wife no longer matters,” he said. “I am very glad to have met you.” Qi Yue nodded and extended her hand.

Wang Qian was slightly confused, looking at the fair, slender hand held before him, but his comprehension was quick, and he tentatively reached out his own. Qi Yue grasped his hand and shook it gently.

“I am very glad to have met you too,” she said. I thought you were all dull, uninteresting, and different from me, but now I see I was wrong.

Knowing you allows my life to remain as vibrant as before… This hand was no different from any other woman’s—soft and warm. Wang Qian looked down, but realized it was vastly different; this hand could command fate, not just her own, but others’ as well.

If he couldn't hold it, it would truly be regrettable… After a slight pause, Wang Qian let go. “Go on now, go see off my brother-in-law,” he said with a slight smile, withdrawing his hand.

“Your brother-in-law?” Qi Yue blinked in surprise. “Yes, my brother-in-law, the uncle that Qiao'er has just recognized and dotes on,” Wang Qian said, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Qi Yue suddenly understood. “Where is he going?” she asked.

“He delayed his return date due to family distress and has been ordered by the Emperor to be whipped. To save his head, he is setting off back now,” Wang Qian explained.

“Whipped? What is there to whip him for?

That’s completely unreasonable,” Qi Yue exclaimed, her eyes wide. Wang Qian glanced around.

“I didn’t hear anything,” he said. “Then, then I’ll go see him!

Wait for me to come back, and I’ll cook you fish,” Qi Yue said, already turning to leave. Wang Qian nodded, watching the woman lift her skirt and scamper away down the road.

He stood there for a long moment before looking back down at the fish creel at his feet. “Only with regret does life become perfect,” he murmured, turning the creel upside down.

The fish tumbled back into the water, vanished with a flick of a tail. “I have achieved perfection.” The people by the lake were gone, and tranquility returned, but a coarse shout suddenly shattered the silence.

“Who did this! Who stripped the bark off this tree?” A servant looked furiously at the tree, its white inner layer exposed by the peeled bark, and shouted, though naturally, no one answered him.

Chang Yuncheng spurred his horse onward, desperate only to flee this place, to escape this crushing, despairing sorrow. He had finally lost her.

He should have known long ago, from the moment she walked out the door without a backward glance, that she would never belong to him again… The rider and horse soon vanished down the main road. When Qi Yue reached the city gate, the guards informed her that Chang Yuncheng had already left.

“Really…” She looked at the medicine she held in her hand and sighed. “Why didn’t he say anything before leaving?” “Perhaps he was in a great hurry?” Ah Ru guessed.

“In a hurry? Then why did he have time to watch ants for half a day at my place that day…” Qi Yue frowned and snapped, but then stopped, looking at Ah Ru with sudden astonishment.

“Could it be, that day he came to…” “To say goodbye,” Ah Ru finished the thought. Exactly.

Because of the court’s decree, Magistrate Huang’s family had to leave, so Chang Yuncheng must have known he was leaving. Therefore… He hadn't even gotten a simple farewell blessing, nor had he enjoyed a proper meal… Qi Yue looked toward the distant horizon.

That poor, foolish boy! Would it have killed him to speak plainly?

Would it have killed him? Or perhaps he no longer dared to speak?

Qi Yue sighed. “Madam, what… what are you thinking?” Ah Ru suddenly asked.

“Thinking what?” Qi Yue turned around and slowly started walking back. “If you have something you wish to say, you could ask Xiao Qu to send a message to the Marquis,” Ah Ru said quietly.

Xiao Qu? There was a handyman at Qianjin Hall named Xiao Qu who often stayed near Qi Yue.

“He…?” Qi Yue looked at Ah Ru, surprised. “He is someone the Marquis left for you, Madam… ever since that time you were nearly beaten to death by those men…” Ah Ru looked up at her, as if having made a difficult resolution.

“But he was afraid to say anything, fearing it would cause you trouble…” Still feeling indebted, still needing to repay.