As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yunyao slid across the ice as if his feet were on ice.

Li Shiyue couldn't help but laugh out loud. Compared to her cousins ​​from the Xu family, this fifth cousin was really quite interesting.

Xu Yunci was surprised. In just a few days, his little cousin's complexion had improved considerably since she first entered the manor. He couldn't help but look over. Xu Yunyao and the others, along with their younger half-brothers, were setting up positions around the firework tubes, and then leading the others to set up the remaining firework tubes.

“That’s just how Wulang is,” Xu Yunci chuckled. His younger brothers were all quite individualistic. Wulang and Qilang listened to him and were able to discover their talents in both literary and martial arts, but some of them just gave him, their older brother, a headache.

The Xu family can afford to support them, and they can start their own families and careers. However, the young man's reliance on his ancestors' legacy will only give others cause for gossip.

"Fifth Cousin is quite good like this, so free and easy. Every time I see him, he's always smiling." Li Shiyue looked away. In the end, Xu Yunyao's personality wouldn't cause any trouble for anyone.

Xu Yunci noticed the change in her expression and assumed she was worried about the past few days: "Sanlang hasn't bothered you these past few days, has he?"

Li Shiyue shook her head: "No."

Looking up, she met Xu Yunci's gaze. Though the night sky was starless, his eyes held a vast galaxy of stars. Li Shiyue looked away, the fur on her cloak just covering her reddened earlobes.

"That day I went to find my maternal grandmother without thinking because I was afraid that my sixth cousin would worry about me and that it would cause a rift between her and my third cousin. I hope my cousin didn't blame me for acting on my own."

Under the bright moonlight, Li Shiyue's gaze fell on the shadows on the ground, one tall and one short, with different shapes.

She traced her petite figure with her eyes as she spoke to Xu Yunci about what happened that day, feeling somewhat guilty.

After all, Xu Yunci had experienced far more than she had. If coincidences were too many, they wouldn't be coincidences anymore. She was actually worried that if Xu Yunci really figured something out, he might expose her.

"No." Xu Yunci stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the night sky, his voice steady and powerful.

Xu Yunci turned to look at her profile: "I remember saying that no matter what happens to you, you should have someone come to me. If Sanlang doesn't make it so obvious, are you still going to keep it to yourself?"

Li Shiyue lowered her eyes. The feeling that had been suppressed in her heart for several days had not yet dissipated when Xu Yunci's words left her bewildered.

The confusion on his little cousin's face was genuine. Xu Yunci sighed inwardly. He had thought a lot these past few days. His elder sister's words were still ringing in his ears. Perhaps he really had just experienced his little cousin's grievances and felt sorry for her, which was why he paid so much attention to her.

But what he said was true; if she needed anything, she could come to him. However, if it weren't for Liu Niang and him bumping into her, his little cousin would probably have kept quiet for a long time. This was the first time he had ever felt distrusted.

“What I mean is, you should have told me directly when you first felt troubled by Sanlang’s actions, instead of dragging it out for several days. If I hadn’t gone to Chengyu Pavilion to look for you and Liu Niang that day, and Liu Niang hadn’t thought things through more, wouldn’t you have had to solve it yourself?”

"Li Yanyan, what's going on in your head?" Xu Yunci felt a little annoyed when he saw her blank expression.

If Xu Yunyang had the same character as Meng Zhuo, wouldn't she be putting herself in danger again? If she were to suffer any harm, she would have to put her anger aside.

Xu Yunci stood with his hands behind his back, but the seriousness in his eyes seemed to overflow: "Now you are a daughter of the Xu family. You have a grandmother, you have us. You are not alone, understand?"

"You are not alone"—this is what Xu Yunci said to her after her rebirth.

Li Shiyue couldn't help but clench her sleeves, smiled gently, and looked up with a smile: "Then aren't you afraid that I'll cause you a lot of trouble, cousin?"

Xu Yunci raised an eyebrow, his silence speaking volumes.

After more than ten days of snow following New Year's Eve, it was said that a good snowfall foretells a bumper harvest. Finally, the snow stopped before the Lantern Festival.

Li Shiyue went to Shousong Hall every day. When the snowstorm hit, she simply stayed in the Bisha Pavilion of Shousong Hall for more than ten days. With nothing to bother her, Old Madam Xu had people make sweet pastries in various ways. By the Lantern Festival, Li Shiyue's face had finally gained a little weight.

The dark clouds dispersed early in the morning, revealing the azure sky.

"Keep this booklet safe, you'll need it later." Li Shiyue turned into the corridor, paused, looked at her husband who was coming towards her, and clutched the hand warmer in her hand with some helplessness.

In just half a month, Xu Yunbo had transformed from a fair-skinned young man into a rough man with skin so dry it was peeling. He had clearly seen Li Shiyue, but the fervor in his eyes from that day was long gone, and his face, which was gradually turning wheat-colored, showed a hint of embarrassment.

Their eyes met, and Xu Yunbo raised his hand shyly: "Cousin."

Even from a distance of more than ten steps, Xu Yunbo showed no intention of coming over.

Li Shiyue curtsied: "Greetings, Fourth Cousin. I wonder when you arrived home? It just so happens that Grandmother had the kitchen maid cook some glutinous rice balls today. Why don't you come to Shousong Hall with me and have some?"

"I just got back this morning."

Xu Yunbo pursed his lips, seemingly hesitating for a long time. He took two steps forward and solemnly cupped his hands, saying, "I was frivolous before, please forgive me, cousin."

He suddenly laughed: "But I also want to thank my cousin, otherwise I'm afraid I wouldn't realize how much of a scoundrel I used to be."

Li Shiyue stared blankly at Xu Yunbo. It seemed that more than just his face had changed; his behavior was indeed quite gentlemanly.

Watching Xu Yunbo's retreating figure, Chunling followed behind Li Shiyue, her face full of surprise: "Fourth Prince has changed so much. It's only been a few days, and the young master has such good taste."

Li Shiyue glanced at Chunling: "It's a good thing that Fourth Cousin has become better; Grandmother will be very happy too."

"My cousin is so magnanimous."

Xu Lingwan arrived at some unknown time, and judging from her tone, she had probably heard everything.

"As soon as my fourth cousin returned, he told my third aunt that he would give money to dismiss all the maids he had previously worked with, leaving only two of them to do ordinary cleaning and sweeping work, just like the maids who worked for my second cousin."

Li Shiyue raised an eyebrow: "What are you trying to say?"

Xu Lingwan raised her chin: "I heard that Fourth Brother's personality has changed drastically, and Third Aunt was quite surprised. But seeing Fourth Brother's appearance, she felt very sorry for him."

"After all, it can't be said that sending Fourth Brother to the military camp was entirely unrelated to Cousin, but Cousin was certainly the catalyst. Third Aunt has always been clueless, Cousin, do you think she might blame you for all of this?"

Li Shiyue smiled and reached out to stop Chunling from lashing out: "Yes, thank you for reminding me, cousin."

Xu Lingwan's expression instantly became unnatural, and her voice unconsciously rose a little: "Who reminded you? I hate you so much!"

She turned and left, like a little peacock that had been provoked.