Feng Guang was taken aback by this answer, and she chuckled, "You think I'm pretty, so you're hiding here watching me?"

"Hmm..." The boy's nervous gaze darted around, but he didn't dare to look at her.

She found it amusing, but of course, she still praised him, "You have good taste. Don't sit on the ground, get up."

The boy looked at her outstretched hand, which was clean and fair. He then looked down at his own hand, which was covered in dust and looked dirty. He hesitated, not daring to reach out and hold it.

Feng Guang blinked. Since he refused to get up, she simply squatted down and looked at him. "What's your name?"

"My name is Wu Qi..."

She rested her chin on her hand, looking at him with amusement. "Wuqi, my name is Fengguang."

“I know you…you are a young lady from the Xia family.” He cautiously looked up at her. “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not following you. I saw you by Master Xia’s side when he was inspecting the shops before.”

The Xia family is the wealthiest in Tong County. Xia Chao is a well-known figure in the county, and even the county magistrate sometimes has to be careful around him when dealing with him.

Feng Guang smiled and said, "I have no misunderstanding. It's normal for you to know me in Tong County. But... it's getting late. Aren't you going home?"

It's sunset now, and there are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street. It would be too dangerous for a child to be out alone, especially given the recent spate of missing children.

“I’m going back…” Wu Qi got up from the ground and looked at Feng Guang awkwardly. “Miss Xia… goodbye.”

After saying that, he fled in a panic.

Feng Guang suddenly had the illusion that she was some kind of monster. She stood up, holding the little embroidered ball, and watched the boy's figure quickly disappear. Just then, she heard the voice of a little maid behind her.

"Miss, so you've been here!" A girl of about ten years old ran over. Her name was Lianzi, and she was Fengguang's personal maid.

Feng Guang glanced back at Lian Zi and walked back home. "Why are you so excited? I won't get lost."

“Miss, I was very worried when you suddenly disappeared.” Lianzi handed the candied hawthorn to Fengguang. She had gone to buy the candied hawthorn on Fengguang’s orders, which was why she found Fengguang was gone when she turned around.

Feng Guang took a bite of the candied hawthorn and said slowly, "It's all because Little Embroidered Ball ran away. I ran to the riverbank to chase it, and then I forgot the way back."

She was telling the truth. It was indeed because the little embroidered ball had run far away that she followed it out. And she rarely had the chance to come out to play in the street. Once she got far away, she forgot the way back.

Lianzi patted her chest with lingering fear, "Luckily we found Miss. If Miss had gone missing, Master would have been frantic with worry."

“My father?” Feng Guang curled his lip. “He’s probably still in his study thinking about his business.”

"Miss……"

"Alright, you don't need to speak up for him anymore." Feng Guang forced a smile. "Come on, tell me, what news have you found out this time?"

Lianzi is timid and fearful, but she has one great advantage: her speed in gathering information is comparable to that of an intelligence broker.

“I’ve actually found out some information,” Lianzi said smugly. “The most exciting thing lately is that murder case, isn’t it? I heard that the authorities have made some progress in their investigation.”