He handed the cooled medicine to her, saying, "I remember you complained that the medicine was too bitter last time, so I specially added extra licorice to your medicine today."

Sun Miao'er smacked the medicine she had licked, looking reluctantly at the bowl. "Master is lying. I tasted it, and it's not sweet at all."

"You don't want to drink?"

He raised an eyebrow and casually stirred the medicine, which had almost cooled down from his stirring.

Sun Miao'er neither spoke nor drank the medicine. She didn't want to choose either. She had always been strong and sensible, but only in front of her master did she want to be willful like this, just for a moment.

The man remained unmoved, looking at the medicine and then at her—suddenly, he looked up sharply and drank the medicine in one gulp.

He suddenly covered her lips with his, trying to transfer the medicine into her mouth. The medicine, which had already cooled down, became warm in her mouth and tasted less bitter.

She was caught off guard and even forgot her instinct to be on guard.

Sun Miao'er suddenly felt as if she were in a blank space, illusory and ethereal.

She wanted to push the medicine out, but that would make her choke.

Rather than choking out of her nose, her already short-circuited brain reacted quickly, choosing to obediently swallow it.

Their lips met, their thoughts lingering.

She swallowed the medicine, and he straightened up.

The flickering candlelight illuminated his face, making it flushed red, like a ripe berry, radiating warmth, and his beautiful peach blossom eyes were filled with desire.

But he stopped there, stopping at just the right moment as if to show that his purpose was pure and without any evil intentions.

But years later, when Fu Yuchi asked himself honestly, did he really have no impure thoughts that night?

He was timid. His lewd thoughts did not arise suddenly, but rather had already begun when he learned that Sun Miao'er and Wei Jingnian were going to Pingnan City together. More precisely, it began when a strange man intruded into their relationship.

His eyes became intolerant of even a speck of dust, and his mind grew narrower day by day.

In short, he didn't want anyone to take away what rightfully belonged to her.

Sun Miao'er couldn't bear to think about her current embarrassed expression, so she closed her eyes without saying a word and pretended to fall asleep. This was the only thing she could do.

Saying anything now would be awkward; running away is the best option.

Fu Yuchi ran her long, slender index finger along the cool rim of the porcelain bowl and said softly, "It's almost dawn, let's rest for a while."

After she finished speaking, Sun Miao'er heard a creaking sound as the partition door opened and closed.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was empty, and it was already broad daylight.

"Is Miss Sun awake? I am Xiaoju, a maid in the manor. Madam instructed me to help you with your washing and dressing."

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and through the window, a figure stood.

Sun Miao'er got up and sat on the bed. After taking the medicine, her symptoms had been relieved by 80-90%. Except for some weakness in her arm, she was much better.

But when she thought of the scene of taking the medicine last night, her ears burned, and she said to the door, "Come in."

Xiaoju was about ten years old and seemed to be a novice. She almost tripped over the half-foot-high threshold when she entered the room, and hurriedly said in a flustered manner, "Miss Sun, please get up... to comb your hair..."

Sun Miao'er looked around the room's layout, wondering who had brought her in. Was it also her master? Oh well, practice makes perfect, why worry about it?

"How is Miss Xue Ru? Has she woken up?"

Sun Miao'er sat in front of the mirror. The Wang family's bronze mirror reflected the girl's face more clearly than the Sun family's water vat. The girl in the mirror was becoming more and more beautiful. Her face, which had been ashen before, was now rosy and radiant.

Xiaoju replied softly, "Miss woke up early this morning and is waiting for Miss Sun to come over in the front hall."

Sun Miao'er stepped into the front hall, where Mr. and Mrs. Wang sat on the east side, smiling at her.

There were about ten different kinds of dishes on the round table, including three or four kinds of porridge: plain porridge, millet porridge, and vegetable porridge, as well as several small dishes. The rest were exquisitely plated pastries: jujube paste pastry, mung bean cake, almond cookies, etc.

"Miao'er, you've finally arrived! Please sit down!"

Wang Xueru didn't wake up until late at night. After taking the medicine, her complexion was normal, and there were no signs of poisoning. She warmly greeted Sun Miao'er, took her wrist, and after yesterday's incident, her trust in Sun Miao'er deepened.

Wei Jingnian sat opposite her. Sun Miao'er glanced at him casually and noticed that he had dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that he had stayed up all night.

But where is my master?

Wang Xueru placed a piece of mung bean cake into Sun Miao'er's bowl, then turned and placed another piece into Wei Jingnian's bowl. "You two should try this. It's a specialty of my kitchen, and you can't buy it anywhere else."

Sun Miao'er was munching on a mung bean cake. She had heard from Aunt Li that Master Wang had increased the rent for her family this year, causing them great suffering. However, after spending time with this family, she felt that there might be some hidden story behind it all.

The cake melted in her mouth, with a slightly sweet and moist taste. Sun Miao'er suddenly remembered that her master had said that pastries were not as good as sesame cakes. Taking the opportunity, she asked, "Why didn't the doctor who treated Miss Xue Ru last night come?"

Wang Xueru smiled and said, "I've already sent someone to invite them."

After a while, the maid hurriedly came over and whispered a few words in Wang Su's ear. Wang Su's face immediately turned cold and her expression became angry.

Seeing that things were not going well, Wang Xueru cautiously asked, "Mother, is something the matter?"

Wang Su scoffed and slammed the sandalwood chopsticks onto the table. "No need to go and invite him! The doctor has been detained by Aunt Qin."

Sun Miao'er was puzzled. Why would Aunt Qin detain the doctor for no reason?

Wang Xueru even refused to eat, her words full of sarcasm, "What, she hasn't had a child all these years, and at this age, what else can she expect?"

"That depends on your father's opinion."

Wang Su said irritably.

Sun Miao'er understood. It was true that Master Wang and his first wife had a deep affection for each other, but Aunt Qin's tenderness over the years had worn away at the stone. Master Wang was, after all, a man, and it was impossible for him not to be moved, especially since men at this age have an increasingly strong desire to have children.

Although his legal wife already had a legitimate son, Master Wang was far from satisfied. One son was something that ordinary families would probably laugh at if word got out.

Furthermore, if this one doesn't amount to much, there's still someone to take over; otherwise, this vast family fortune will be divided up by others a hundred years from now.

Master Wang just smiled evasively, "Madam, what are you saying? You know how much I love Xue Ru and Zi Qian. Qin Shi, hasn't she been complaining about feeling unwell lately? I thought this doctor was very skilled, so I invited him to take a look at her. Who would have thought she would detain him? Sigh, I didn't expect that either."

Wang Su gave her a cold look and specially found a skilled doctor to examine her. She really had a good plan.

Master Wang immediately dared not try to explain further.

Sun Miao'er found the meal tasteless; the atmosphere at the table was thick with tension, and Wang Xueru's anger was plain to see.