When the valley was fully lit, Song Ning decided to find his way. Before he could even set off, he saw the people who had come looking for Xie Linzhou.

Zhang Ping suddenly appeared from some hidden corner and immediately threw himself at Xie Linzhou, looking like he was about to cry.

"Young Master, are you still alive? Did you break your leg? Did you hurt your head?"

Song Ning stood helplessly to the side, truly wishing no good thing for his young master.

"Don't worry, your young master is perfectly healthy, there's nothing wrong with him."

Zhang Ping wiped away his tears and smiled: "That's good, that's good."

"Alright, he's still injured, let's carry him back quickly."

The people below carefully placed Xie Linzhou on a stretcher, with Song Ning following beside him, and they descended the mountain.

Reaching the foot of the mountain, Song Ning suddenly remembered, "By the way, where did the Mu family's daughter go?"

"Don't worry, Miss Song, it's already been sent home, but..."

"What happened? Is she injured?"

"It's just a scrape, nothing serious, but... she's been crying ever since she got back, insisting that you're dead. Miss Song, I think you should go and see her."

Could Mu Xueyun have thought that she fell down while trying to save her?

You're overthinking it.

She's a burden; she can only get things done without her.

"Okay, let's go back first."

Three days had passed since they were taken to the mountain and brought back to the capital.

Upon reaching the city gate, Zhang Ping spoke to the guards and quickly let them in.

Upon entering, one could immediately sense a different atmosphere in the city; it was heavily guarded, with people stationed everywhere.

"General Zhang, you should take your young master home first. I can go back by myself."

Zhang Ping was eager to send Xie Linzhou back, so he didn't object.

"I'll send someone to take you back."

Song Ning did not refuse, as taking a carriage would be faster.

Tell your young master that I will visit him another day.

"yes."

Her house is probably in complete chaos right now.

Upon hearing that Song Ning had returned, Liu Yuelan was the first to come out of the house, her eyes swollen from crying. She hugged Song Ning and burst into tears.

Song Dahai held the mother and son and secretly wiped away his tears. Xiao Cui stood beside Grandma Liu, her eyes red.

Yunniang stood not far away, bursting into laughter through her tears, then turned around and wiped them away.

Zhou Ling'an and Zhou Cheng, upon hearing that Song Ning had returned, rushed back in a hurry.

Zhou Cheng's eyes also reddened: "Good, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Zhou Ling'an's expression was gentle, his eyes were lowered, and his tightly clenched hands loosened slightly.

Liu Yuelan held onto Song Ning tightly, and he wisely refrained from disturbing her.

"Alright, everyone stop crying. I'm perfectly fine, Mom. I'm hungry. Let's eat first."

"Okay, okay, let's eat first, let's eat first."

"Uncle Zhou, why don't you stay and have dinner together?"

Zhou Ling'an has rented a small courtyard not far from Song Ning's house. It's not big, and it's said to be a vacant house belonging to a classmate. The rent isn't too expensive, and the two of them can afford it.

The two families live close by and visit each other frequently, so they're practically family.

While Liu Yuelan and Yunniang were busy cooking, Zhou Ling'an finally had a chance to talk to Song Ning.

"Er Ya, are you alright?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine, I'm perfectly okay."

The thought that Song Ning would never come back caused him a sharp pain in his heart; he had not yet confessed his feelings to Song Ning.

Seeing Song Ning standing in front of him, he couldn't help but go up and take her hand.

"Thank goodness you're back..."

Song Ning was a little taken aback by the sudden hand-holding.

This week, Ling'an won't be...

My lips twitched. No way...

Have you forgotten about being harassed by Song Erya so quickly?

Now that you like her, aren't you afraid she'll still be the same as before?

She quickly pulled her hand away, gave an awkward laugh, and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine, just a little tired."

Zhou Ling'an suddenly realized what he had done and blushed instantly.

"I'm sorry, Er Ya, I didn't mean to be disrespectful to you, I..."

"Okay, I know you didn't mean it. Don't worry, I didn't take it to heart."

Compared to holding hands, Xie Linzhou went too far last night.

"Alright, come inside, it's cold outside."

Zhou Ling'an smiled and said, "Okay."

After eating, Song Ning didn't care about anything else and went back to her room to take a nap.

She slept soundly until the next morning, when Liu Yuelan got up early to make breakfast and brought it in for her.

"Song Ning is back? Song Ning, Song Ning?"

Just as the porridge entered my mouth, shouts rang out from outside.

It's obviously that crazy Mu Xueyun.

The Song family quickly invited her into the house. As soon as Mu Xueyun entered and saw Song Ning's appearance, her eyes reddened and her lips trembled; she looked like she was about to cry.

"Stop, don't cry!"

When I first met Mu Xueyun, I thought she was some kind of shrewd young lady from a prestigious family, but now I realize that she's just a simpleton.

Despite his shrewd appearance, he is actually someone who wears his heart on his sleeve.

"I'm back safely now, not that I'm never coming back, so why are you crying?"

"I...I just...I'm afraid you'll die..."

Song Ning glanced at her: "Let's make this clear first, I'm not here to save you, I'm here to save my own life."

Mu Xueyun, unusually, did not refute, and stepped forward to sit opposite her: "No matter what, you saved me."

If she were alone, she would have been terrified long ago.

Forget about running away, they can't even get out of that little shabby courtyard.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!