"I suspect Uncle Hong sent a letter?" Xiao Liyan looked up at Qin Jue and then extended her hand, palm up, towards Qin Jue.

"Where's the letter, Brother Qin?"

Seeing the expectant look in Xiao Liyan's eyes, Qin Jue took an envelope from his pocket and placed it in Xiao Liyan's hand. Then he sat down by the window and poured himself a cup of tea.

Xiao Liyan received the letter, immediately opened it, and began to read. As she read, a smile appeared on her face.

"Uncle Hong said in the letter that he may have found a lot of information and is going to check it out now."

"That's great! This is the first time in so many years that Uncle Hong has said he has some leads. I think it won't be long before we find Manman."

"I'll have to pay close attention to your letters from now on."

Xiao Liyan couldn't hide her joy as she watched Qin Jue share the news so readily.

"Ayan, what's making you so happy?" Xiao Liyun heard Xiao Liyan's cheerful voice as she reached the door. She walked in and, upon seeing Qin Jue, gave a slight nod.

Years have passed, and Xiao Liyun has become much fairer and more cheerful.

"You're here! Please sit down. I was just so happy to hear there was news about my brother."

"I believe Ah-Yan's younger brother should be found soon."

"You're much better at talking than Brother Qin," Xiao Liyan said, pinching Xiao Liyun's nose.

After Xiao Liyun removed Xiao Liyan's hand, she sighed, "Alas, my godfather's health is not as good as before; recently he's shown signs of being bedridden."

"Ayan, what's wrong with Master Qi's health? It's been getting worse year by year for the past two years."

Xiao Liyan lay on the table, propping her head up with her hand, "I don't know the specifics, I only know that it was fundamentally damaged years ago."

At this moment, Qin Jue, who had been playing a background role, stood up and said, "Yes and no."

"What do you know?" Xiao Liyan asked Qin Jue, frowning.

Qin Jue didn't say anything, but stood up and walked towards the door.

"You'd better not frown. It's ugly."

Hearing herself called ugly, Xiao Liyan was stunned for a moment. Then she reacted angrily, standing up abruptly and shouting at Qin Jue as he walked away, "You're the ugly one! I'm not ugly!"

Xiao Liyun covered her mouth and laughed, then tugged at Xiao Liyan's hand, "Ayan isn't ugly at all. She's very pretty."

"But I don't like Ah Yan frowning either," Xiao Liyun said, gently stroking Xiao Liyan's brow with her hand.

Xiao Liyan had barely sat down when she pulled Xiao Liyun outside.

"Come on, come with me to see my godfather."

Xiao Liyun saw Xiao Liyan holding her hand and smiled in response.

————————

"Cough cough—" Qi Xin couldn't help coughing, and the guard next to him poured a glass of water and handed it to him.

"Master, the weather is gradually getting colder, you should take care of yourself."

Qi Xin took a couple of sips of water to moisten his throat, then put down the cup, wiped the water from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, and asked, "What has Yuanyuan been doing these past few days?"

"Miss was preparing a birthday gift for you a few days ago, and yesterday she brought Miss Xiao to visit you."

"However, you had just taken your medicine and rested, and those two, along with Young Master Gao, waited for you in the living room all afternoon. In the end, I decided to let them go back first."

The guard knelt down after speaking.

Qi Xin glanced at him indifferently, "Get up. You've been with me for so many years, some things don't need to be like this."

"Yes, Master."

"Cough cough cough—"

Qi Xin started coughing again, and the guards quickly helped him into the house.

"Go tell Yuanyuan to come have dinner with me tonight."

"Yes, Master."

——————

"What do you think of this gourd I drew?" Xiao Liyan put down her brush and showed Xiao Liyun the gourd drawing she had made.

"Ah Yan's drawing is excellent; the finished product will surely be exquisite as well."

"Is it to be made as a gift for Master Qi?" Xiao Liyun asked, gazing intently at the gourd in the painting.

"you say……"

Before Xiao Liyan could finish speaking, she heard someone call her name. When she looked up, she saw Gao Yuan.

"Brother Gao, what brings you here?"

"Does Qin Jue have to be the only one coming to see you? Can't I come too?"

"Besides, Miss Xiao is here too."

Xiao Liyan looked at Gao Yuan, then at Xiao Liyun. She nodded, then shook her head. "Brother Gao, this isn't how you pursue a girl. Besides, you've come all the way to me with your pursuit of a girl!"

"What are you saying, Ayan?" Xiao Liyun lowered her eyelids and interrupted Xiao Liyan at the opportune moment.

After hearing this, Gao Yuan glanced at Xiao Liyun and then turned his head away embarrassedly. "I... oh right, Miss, I came here to tell you that Master wants us to have dinner with him tonight."

"OK"

After hearing Xiao Liyan's words, Gao Yuan looked at Xiao Liyun. "Miss Xiao, do you have time tomorrow? It's autumn now, and there's a ginkgo forest outside the city with very beautiful scenery. Would you be willing to...?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gao, I have other matters to attend to tomorrow and cannot accompany you," Xiao Liyun said, putting down the blue temari ball she was holding and looking at Gao Yuan sitting beside her.

Seeing that he had been rejected, Gao Yuan quickly said it was nothing and then made an excuse to leave.