Upon hearing Shen Changji's words, Fang Xing coughed lightly: "If Master wants to know a more accurate answer, why not ask Miss Su in person?"

You don't understand.

He looked at the side dish in his hand with a quiet, thoughtful expression, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

Fang Xing couldn't believe that General Shen, who was fearless and resourceful on the battlefield, was like this when it came to matters of the heart.

A few simple dishes can make him as happy as a child seeing candy.

He savored the dishes Su Miao had ordered, his eyes sparkling with a smile.

She must have feelings for him, otherwise why would she notice that he didn't eat much tonight?

At the very least, Su Miao cares about him.

Thinking about it, Chen Changji's appetite improved considerably.

...

After handing the items over to Shen Changji, Tao'er returned to report.

As soon as she opened the door, she heard Su Miao retching coming from the inner room.

"Miss!"

Tao'er was startled and quickly ran inside.

Su Miao clutched her chest, her face pale, and walked out with the help of someone nearby.

"Miss, what's wrong? I'll go and fetch a doctor for you!"

As Tao'er turned to leave, Su Miao grabbed her wrist.

"No need... I'm fine, I just ate too much and feel uncomfortable. I'll be fine in a bit. Could you get me some hot water?" Su Miao said, her voice a little weak.

"Miss, don't scare me! I'd better go and call a doctor to take a look at you, otherwise I won't feel at ease!" Tao'er frowned, looking at Su Miao with great concern.

"No need, I can treat myself. Do you think I don't know what's wrong with my body? Go get me some hot water, I'll feel better soon."

"Can……"

"It's fine."

Su Miao smiled, trying not to worry Tao'er.

Seeing that Su Miao was so stubborn, Tao'er had no choice but to pour her some hot tea.

After taking a sip of hot tea, Su Miao felt much better, but she could still taste the metallic, bloody flavor in her mouth.

"Prepare some water for me; I'd like to take a quick shower before going to bed."

Tao'er nodded in agreement only after seeing that Su Miao's expression had softened somewhat.

By the time Tao'er had prepared all the water, Su Miao's complexion had almost fully recovered.

It was as if Su Miao had just eaten too much and felt unwell, and that was the cause of her discomfort; it was nothing serious.

After the water was prepared, Su Miao went inside again.

As Tao'er looked at Su Miao's slender back, a phrase inexplicably came to mind: "A doctor cannot heal himself."

But she quickly shook her head.

Impossible... She must be overthinking it. Her young lady would never do that.

After taking a quick bath, Su Miao went to bed to rest.

Even so, Tao'er was still a little worried.

She kept watch in the next room, but nothing unusual came from Su Miao's room during the first half of the night. Tao'er wondered if she was just overthinking things...

Sleepiness quickly overcame her, and she fell asleep without realizing it.

...

As Su Miao drifted off to sleep, she felt a pair of large, dry hands gently caressing her cheeks.

She seemed to have returned to the years she lived in Zhangshui City, and Pei Yu's image appeared before her eyes again.

Sunlight streamed into the courtyard. Pei Yu, dressed in a light gray robe, stood under the crabapple tree, gently pushing her on the swing, looking at her with tender eyes.

"Miao'er, I will definitely do what I promised you."

See? I promised to make you a swing, and I really will. I'll make sure you live happily, without envying other little girls.

Su Miao looked at the swing she was sitting on with a look of great joy, her eyes sparkling.

"In that case, I'll give you a thank-you gift! How about I make you your favorite osmanthus cake tomorrow?"

Pei Yu lowered his gaze and met Su Miao's bright, excited eyes. Her lively appearance made him unconsciously smile and softly reply, "Okay."

The swing slowly rose and then slowly fell.

Pei Yu reached out and stroked the crabapple blossom, gently tucking it behind her ear.

Su Miao turned her head, a hint of shyness appearing on her pretty face.

Their eyes met unexpectedly, each seeing the other's reflection in their own. Without a word, they understood each other's meaning.

Everything around them seemed to become blurry and quiet; they could only hear each other's heartbeats.

This feeling is like a flower that blooms quietly.

Pei Yu's gaze was so intense that Su Miao felt she was the only one in his eyes, the only one.

Just as she was about to touch his face, the scene before her changed again.

She was surprised to see a long silence in her eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.

He pulled her into his arms, cupped her hand in his palm, and began to shower her with soft kisses from her forehead down...

His warm lips brushed against her ear, sending shivers down her spine, but he held her tightly in his arms, making it impossible for her to escape.

The man's long, slender fingers gently stroked the stray hairs on her cheek: "Miao'er, be mine."

An unnatural blush gradually rose on Su Miao's face, and her voice trembled slightly, "Don't do this!"

But the more she struggled, the less willing Shen Changji was to let her go.

The image of Chen Changji and Pei Yu flashed back and forth in front of her, making Su Miao feel her brain buzzing, her head throbbing, and her temples feeling like they were about to explode.

She could vaguely hear Pei Yu's voice.

"Miao'er...you said you wanted to marry me, how come you've fallen for someone else in the blink of an eye?"

"I didn't...I didn't..."

"I can keep all the promises I make to you, but what about the promises you made to me? Didn't you say that I'm your favorite person?"

"You've really fallen for Shen Changji? Then what am I?"

"Miao'er..."

"Miao'er!"

"Miao'er, is Shen Changji really that good? You actually fell in love with him! You're betraying me!"

"Do you know that you two can never be together! Miao'er... I am the one who loves you the most."

One accusation after another, relentlessly blaming and attacking her...

Su Miao felt a surge of suppressed bitterness and discomfort, which overwhelmed her at that moment, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

The repression caused her to lose control and cry out.

ah--

She held her head in her hands, her face streaked with tears, staring blankly at the layout before her.

Was it a dream?

"Have a sip of hot tea; you're having a nightmare."

Shen Changji stood by the bed and handed Su Miao a cup of hot tea.

That familiar voice repeatedly pulled her back into the dream she had just experienced.

When Su Miao saw Shen Changji's face, she instinctively shrank back in fear, her face filled with terror.

"You... what are you doing here?"

“I just finished my work and happened to run into you having a nightmare.”

"Did I say anything? What did you hear?!"

Su Miao's emotions instantly tensed up.

Before Shen Changji could answer, Su Miao felt the nausea she had been suppressing surge up again.

She felt nauseous...