Zhi Qiu was a few years older than Meng Jun and had heard and seen many things over the years. He gently pinched Meng Jun’s slightly swollen calf and said in a low voice, “Young master, you’re joking again. I’ll give you a simple example. Before, when the bird you kept was accidentally released, did you feel heartbroken?”

“If it’s just feeling empty, as if a piece of your heart is missing, it means you have developed feelings and are reluctant to part. However, if there is also unbearable heartache and sadness, I think this is true love.”

“…Impossible!” The young gentleman subconsciously refuted him. How could he, how could he have developed true feelings for Li Ruantang?

He was attached to her because Li Ruantang had a pleasant scent on her body. Of course, he couldn’t help wanting to touch her or poke her, wanting to be close to her.

And he didn’t miss her at all!

Although he said he didn’t miss her, the longing in his heart was evident and had nowhere to hide. In his ears, he suddenly heard the question Ah Ning had asked him before.

“Tell me, what does it feel like to like someone?”

At that time, he only answered that seeing her made him very happy and delighted. But now, the young gentleman had realized that liking someone also meant losing appetite when not seeing them.

Climbing windows to find her, searching the long mountain valley at night. Every single thing was his fondness for Li Ruantang.

Those indescribable feelings had quietly grown in the days when he was not yet aware of them.

Even the kiss for detoxification, he was willing and enjoyed it.

Meng Jun’s cheeks still had a faint pink hue from the hot bath. When Zhi Qiu turned around to get some snacks, that handsome face had already turned completely red. The young gentleman, who had a sudden realization, stammered and covered his face, “How, how is this possible?!”

Wasn’t he always fond of Sister Wei?!

Meng Jun was troubled and curled up in the quilt. Before he could come up with another idea, Zhi Qiu knelt down respectfully with the brocade box and said, “Young master, do you want to return this jade—”

He had just started, but the young gentleman, who was depressed a moment ago, suddenly lifted the brocade quilt upon hearing this. Those beautiful phoenix eyes were still red, and he carefully took the white jade from the brocade box, shaking his head and refusing, “It’s mine.”

Li Ruantang had given it to him, so it was his.

He wouldn’t foolishly return the white jade. If she didn’t remember the kiss, couldn’t he at least keep a memento? And his little red flowers, they were also picked as a pair.

The young gentleman carefully hung the jade back around his neck and instructed Zhi Qiu to bring over his small bundle. Inside the light cotton cloth, there was nothing of value, but Meng Jun cherished it dearly.

First, he took out the flower wreath that was about to break, and then he picked out the little red flowers.

Eh? Why was there only one little red flower left?!

The young gentleman’s face turned pale, and he sat up straight. He carefully flipped through the small bundle again. Let alone the little red flowers, there weren’t even any extra petals.

The grievance pressed on his heart, along with the belated realization, surged up at this moment. Meng Jun only felt his eyes sour, and the teardrops fell more joyfully than before he returned to the mansion.

Woo, his little red flowers were gone.

The young gentleman cried sadly, not knowing if it was for the little red flower that had once been tenderly cared for or for this belated realization of his feelings.

Even though they were only separated by a wall, he felt that this wall was far wider than thousands of mountains and rivers.

“Yo-young master?” Zhi Qiu was startled and hurriedly brought over a napkin, not yet asking in detail why he suddenly became so aggrieved and sad.

The door curtain was lifted, and it was Zhi Dong who came in, still shouting happily, “Young master, young master, just now Han Fushi was so angry that even his nose was crooked by Young Master Qi. It serves him right for not wholeheartedly sending someone to search for you. Look, this immediate retribution has come knocking on the door.”

“Zhi Dong!” Zhi Qiu blinked at him hard. Meng Jun had a pure nature, and he was already sad at the moment. If he heard that when he fell off the cliff, the family did not make every effort to find him, he would probably become even more sad.

Originally, Master Meng seldom came to the capital. Some things were dirty, and the young gentleman didn’t understand, but they knew it clearly.

“Huh?” Meng Jun, who was wiping his tears, was stunned. “Young Master Qi?”

Zhi Dong lowered his head and mumbled, “It’s the young master from the Qi Taifu family. He just offended Han Fushi.”

“Where is he now?” The young gentleman was anxious and hurriedly put on his outer garment while wearing his shoes.

“Young master, although Young Master Qi’s actions were indeed inappropriate, it was Han Fushi himself who had to endure it. Why should you get involved in this muddy water?”

Zhi Qiu secretly thought Meng Jun was not worth it. Only the young gentleman was kind-hearted and couldn’t see what kind of creature Han Fushi, who was respectfully dressed in human skin, actually was.

His words were high-sounding, but his actions were even more despicable. Not to mention other things, just the one thing of not allowing the people in the mansion to search for Meng Jun who had fallen off the cliff was enough for him to be kicked out by the master.

However, he was lucky. Master Meng was often not at home, and the young master had a pure nature. If he covered up this matter and threatened the servants, who would dare to tell the master?

Zhi Qiu sighed slightly. Fortunately, the young master had already come of age. When the master returned to the mansion and chose a good marriage for him, staying away from the honey-tongued and dagger-hearted Han Fushi would be the best strategy.

He gestured for Zhi Dong to come and persuade Meng Jun together, but who knew the young gentleman, who was crying sadly just now, had made up his mind and insisted on going out no matter what.

A wall could not block the sounds from the courtyard.

Zhi Qiu, who followed him out, hadn’t even said his words of persuasion when his eyes widened.

It was seen that the young master of his family, who was usually most afraid of Miss Li, had ordered someone to set up a ladder against the wall. He casually cut a lotus leaf with small scissors and placed it upside down on his head. Sneakily climbing on the wall shared by the two families, he used the shade of the trees and the green cover to peek into the Li Mansion, stretching his head and looking around.

It turned out that the young master was not worried about Han Fushi?!

The slow-reacting Zhi Qiu came to his senses and hurriedly went forward with Zhi Dong to hold the ladder steady.

The young gentleman pursed his lips, gloomily watching the man and woman drinking together in the pavilion. He let out a soft snort, nervously staring at Li Ruantang, whose expression was calm.

He admitted that Young Master Qi was a little more handsome than him and had a little more talent than him.

But, but he had already called her wife-master. Even if Li Ruantang didn’t remember…

The young gentleman’s heart tightened, and the sadness that had just arisen was gently suppressed by him shaking his head.

It didn’t matter. It was enough that he remembered.

Moreover, it was often written in storybooks that women went through countless hardships for the men they loved and finally found happiness. Although this time the roles of men and women were reversed, the young gentleman firmly believed that as long as he worked hard, Li Ruantang would still remember the kiss.

Right!

Rather than crying and making a scene, it was better to make some effort. After all, they were only separated by this one wall.

Those beautiful phoenix eyes gradually regained their luster, and the gaze became even more burning as it looked towards the pavilion. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you can win a hundred battles.

The young gentleman carefully observed Qi Yun and secretly nodded. Now he was also a man with a rival in love.

However, he didn’t know what Li Ruantang actually thought of Young Master Qi. Since she could invite him in for tea, she probably didn’t dislike him.

Perhaps because the young gentleman’s gaze was too intense, Qi Yun, who had been observed for a long time, felt a chill down his back and was about to turn his head to look.

Li Ruantang in front of him put down the cup in her hand with a light touch and spoke indifferently, “I wonder what brings Young Master Qi here?”

“Young Master Qi?” Qi Yun was stunned for a moment, but quickly concealed it with a smile. “Ruantang, we’ve known each other for so long. Why do you address me so distantly?”

The fingers placed on the table lightly dug into his palm, pinching his pounding heart.

He carefully observed Li Ruantang’s expression, and there was a hint of anticipation in his tone. “Or do you not remember my name?”