She looked Qin Xiaolin up and down again and found that he had a more mature and weathered air about him than she had known before.

All of this left her utterly bewildered, and she was filled with curiosity and a desire to explore this unfamiliar place.

Is this the scenario that Song Yi once predicted ten years from now? He once said that in ten years, Jingyuan would be devastated, families would be broken, and the country would be in ruins.

Just how much pressure did the original owner bear? And what does this have to do with her?

Her mind was in turmoil, and Qin Xiaolin in front of her seemed to be becoming more and more unfamiliar.

Li Xi had been pondering a question: Who exactly was she?

Why is she here? Why is she so familiar with this place?

Li Xi's heart sank; she felt as if she were falling into a bottomless abyss. She wanted to escape, but her body seemed to be bound by an invisible force, rendering her unable to move.

Just then, a voice rang in her ear:

Do you want to know the truth?

Li Xi turned her head and found a stranger standing in front of her. This stranger looked very young, with delicate features and a mysterious power in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Li Xi asked.

The young man said calmly, "Who I am is not important. What's important is that you know who you are. You are you, and that has never changed. It's just that due to certain coincidences, things went a little astray, but now everything is back on track."

"I am who I am?" Li Xi was about to ask the person what this meant when she realized that she was in complete darkness and Qin Xiaolin and the young man were nowhere to be seen.

Li Xi was filled with doubt and curiosity; she wanted to know the truth.

Feng Monian sat beside her, his eyes full of tenderness as he gazed intently at her. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, as if searching for a rhythm.

He noticed her brows were furrowed and she seemed to be muttering something to herself. He tried to get closer to hear her words, but found her forehead covered in cold sweat.

"Oh no!" Feng Monian's heart tightened. He quickly stood up from his seat, took out a bamboo flute, and gently played a calming melody.

Soon, Li Xi gradually calmed down. In her dream, she felt warm all over and fell into a deep sleep.

The forest rushed past them, each leaf seemingly whispering ancient secrets. The carriage moved through sunlight and shadow, as if carrying them through time to another dimension.

When Li Xi woke up, she found herself lying in her own bed. She remembered falling asleep in Brother Feng's carriage. Why hadn't he woken her up?

She stepped out of the room and found Meng Zhelan sitting in the courtyard turning over herbs.

Upon seeing Li Xi, she exclaimed with delight, "Xi'er, you're awake? It's almost dark. Come on, let's go have dinner." Meng Zhelan pulled her towards the dining hall.

"How did I get back?" Li Xi wondered if Master Feng had carried her back.

"Speaking of which, I have to thank Master Feng. When he carried you in, I was terrified. I thought you were injured, but it turned out you were just sleeping too soundly. So Master Feng simply carried you into the house and let you continue sleeping," Meng Zhelan said with a light laugh as she walked.

Huh? That's true, it's a bit awkward.

When they arrived at the dining hall, they found that Master Feng was also there; it turned out he hadn't left yet.

"Brother, you're awake? Let's have a meal together. I'm sorry to disturb you. I was thinking of cooperating with you, so to make it easier for everyone to discuss matters, I shamelessly decided to stay here some more." Master Feng said solemnly without changing his expression.

"That would be the best, of course. It is our honor that Master Feng is staying at our humble abode," Li Xi said with a smile.

Meng Zhelan chimed in, "Yes, Master Feng, although our place isn't big, it's quiet. We can also enjoy a few fresh dishes on weekdays."

Feng Monian was somewhat surprised upon hearing this, "Oh? Then I'm in for a treat."

The three chatted amiably, discussing everything under the sun. By the time they felt hungry and finished their delicious meal, it was completely dark. Night fell, and the twinkling stars illuminated the tranquil and beautiful night sky.

Li Xi was feeling a bit full after eating, and remembering that she hadn't had night training for a long time, she changed into her training clothes and was about to go for a night run when she noticed that Feng Monian had also left the yard, and they happened to run into each other.

"Brother Feng, are you going out?" Li Xi asked curiously.

"Yes, I'm quite full. Your chef really is..."

He paused for a moment, a sly smile spreading across his face. "I think I should go for a walk to digest my food."

Li Xi's eyes lit up. She was actually a bit full and was planning to go for a night run. "Brother Feng, what a coincidence! I was also planning to go for a walk. Let's go together."

The two strolled along the lakeside. The wind was quite strong, causing their robes to flutter wildly.

"Brother Feng, what do you think is the purpose of a person's life?" Li Xi turned to look at Feng Monian.

Her eyes sparkled with a bright light, like a child exploring the world.

Feng Bei was taken aback by her question. He had never thought about such a question before.

"For what..." Feng Bei pondered, "To survive, I suppose."

"Is that so?" Li Xi's eyes were filled with confusion. "But everyone will die someday, so what is the meaning of living?"

Feng Monian was speechless at her question. He looked at the ripples on the lake, the wind blowing and creating layers of ripples.

“Perhaps, the meaning of life lies not in its length, but in how we live.” Li Xi looked at the lake, her eyes seemingly reflecting the myriad worlds. “Like this lake, it flows, it exists, it exists to flow, for no other reason.”

Feng Monian listened intently, feeling that what Li Xi said seemed to make some sense.

He had always believed that people live simply to survive, but now it seems he had been thinking too simplistically.

"Brother Feng, do you have a dream?" Li Xi suddenly asked.

"Dreams?" Feng Bei was taken aback. "I... I'm just a businessman, I haven't thought that much about it."

“Perhaps you could try to find your own dream.” Li Xi looked at him, her eyes full of encouragement. “What’s the difference between a person without dreams and a salted fish?”

Feng Monian was touched by her words. He looked at Li Xi and suddenly realized that this girl's inner world was far broader than he had imagined.

The wind continued to blow freely, casting long shadows of the two figures along the lake, seemingly blending into the tranquil night. Feng Bei felt his heart sway slightly with the wind.

He gazed at Li Xi and asked softly, "Xiao Xi, have you ever hidden anything important from your closest people?"

He paused slightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, and continued, "Actually, I've been hiding something. I've never revealed my true identity to anyone. Perhaps it's out of consideration for their safety; my existence might not be a good thing for them."