Dragon Bird and River of Stars both got the answers they sought. Zhao Changhe, with Dragon Bird across his back and hand-in-hand with River of Stars, returned in high spirits to drink the night away.0

Ling Ruoyu peeked at their interlocked fingers as they walked and kept her head lowered, feeling oddly out of sorts.0

This was not, in fact, because they harbored some kind of romantic thoughts. Zhao Changhe saw nothing unusual in holding his child’s hand, whether as a father or her master’s husband. It felt natural, even affectionate. Meanwhile, in Ling Ruoyu’s mind, all she could think was that he was holding River of Stars.0

Her imagination kept spiraling. What if he uses me in a fight like a sword? Would he grab me by my ankles and swing me headfirst into enemies? I mean, there’s all kinds of weapons in the jianghu… Isn’t there that one weapon called one-legged bronze man[1] or something? But if something like that actually happens, what do I even do with my hands? Protect my head? Tuck them by my thighs? Stretch them out so I am longer?2

What is even going on with my head? Why am I thinking about all this nonsense?0

Still lost in her musings, she followed Zhao Changhe back to the marquis’s estate, only to bump into Tang Buqi, who had stepped outside to relieve himself. Slightly tipsy, he cracked a grin when he saw Zhao Changhe. “Still alive?”0

Zhao Changhe: “…”0

Ling Ruoyu subtly slipped her hand out of his and gave a polite bow. “Hello, senior.”0

“What senior?” Zhao Changhe interjected. “He’s your big brother.”0

Tang Buqi: “…”0

Ling Ruoyu glanced at the gray-haired Tang Buqi and knew there was no way she could call him big brother. In all fairness, River of Stars had barely interacted with Tang Buqi, and there was no trace of him in her memories from that year. Now, as Ling Ruoyu, all she knew was that this so-called “Marquis of Wu” used to insult her master’s husband as impotent and brain-damaged.0

Zhao Changhe seemed to remember that, too. He shot Tang Buqi a cold smile....0