Street stalls in the east of the city.

Jiang Zhenlin wore out six of his ten fingers, and after several trips, he finally finished making the product.

Gao Peng sighed, "This little thing is really a pain."

Jiang Zhenlin was deeply moved and asked the vendor, "Are you sure it's exactly the same? If you're trying to fool me, you know what will happen."

The vendor trembled. "I-I'm sure."

"Although it was already broken when the young lady brought it over, I saw it very clearly."

Jiang Zhenlin was relieved and carefully put the items into a box.

Gao Peng was also surprised to see this side of him, and teased, "I heard you've been holding back your temper for several days, that's really rare."

Jiang Zhenlin raised an eyebrow. "I have a bad temper, but I'm not mentally ill. Before, it was because she spoke rudely."

"Now you're speaking so nicely?" Gao Peng cut to the chase.

Jiang Zhenlin glared at him, "Are you asking for a beating?"

Gao Peng smiled and said, "Ah Lin, the Crown Prince is pressing hard on my family's case, and I'm afraid it won't last past fifteen. My eldest brother probably can't escape, but we illegitimate children might be able to save our lives."

"From now on, I won't be able to play around with you in the capital anymore."

Jiang Zhenlin choked up. He and Gao Peng were kindred spirits and grew up together. No matter how angry he was, he could always tolerate it.

The Jiang family and the Gao family have always been secretly at odds, but this has had no effect on the two of them.

Jiang Zhenlin knew that his father had saved the Prime Minister's mansion this time only because of Lin Qingwan's life, and he was even less likely to speak up for Gao Peng.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Sooner or later I'll be cooking for the Jingbei Army too. But I'm still the young master of the Prime Minister's mansion, no matter where you're punished, I won't let you go hungry or thirsty."

Gao Peng's eyes were slightly red, but he forced a smile and said, "I've been waiting for you to say that. It wasn't a waste of the two days I spent making this little thing with you."

"I hope Miss Qingwan can forgive you."

Jiang Zhenlin couldn't stand the word "forgiveness," but he scratched at it twice without getting angry.

Jiang Zhenlin had never known what disappointment or regret was since he was a child. Now, he realized his bad temper through Lin Qingwan, and he was listless and dispirited when Gao Peng left.

Back at the Prime Minister's residence, on his way to Ningsi Garden, he imagined countless ways to start the conversation, and the little box in his hands grew warm from being held so tightly.

Qiu Hong tensed up the moment she saw him, but she still came after all.

Jiang Zhenlin retorted, "What are you so nervous about? Do you think I'm a devil?"

Qiu Hong shook her head, "This servant dares not. Miss, please leave."

Jiang Zhenlin's face darkened. Why did he go out again?

"Where have you been?"

Qiu Hong lowered her head and said, "I'm looking for Manager Tao."

He spoke those four words haltingly.

Jiang Zhenlin frowned. "Then I'll come back later."

Qiu Hong reminded him, "Young Master, watch out for the trash can at your feet."

She ran over to move the basket, explaining, "I put it here while cleaning the courtyard, I didn't know young master wanted it..."

"Wait." Jiang Zhenlin's eyes narrowed. One corner of the torn letter inside had the character "Ruan" written on it.

*

Teahouse.

Ruan Tinghuai looked much better than he had on the street that day.

He prepared several of Lin Qingwan's favorite snacks, and his eyes shone as he looked at her.

They were sitting by the window on the second floor. After eating two pieces of pastry, Lin Qingwan saw Jiang Yanwan's sedan chair stop at the embroidery room diagonally opposite, but no one got out of the sedan chair.

"Qingwan, are you really not considering leaving with me?" Ruan Tinghuai looked at her with a hint of infatuation. "I know you don't like it here, and you yearn for freedom."

Lin Qingwan rarely looked directly at him like that. When she was in Shuiyuan Town, she admired him as if he were a blue sky she had never seen before. Later, she would blush and feel shy. The innocent feelings of a young girl kept Ruan Tinghuai tossing and turning many nights.

He liked the girl, but he couldn't stay in town.

He's a man, and a man should make his own way in the world. Lin Qingwan is wonderful, and he wants her, but he can't just spend his whole life with her in this remote and impoverished town.

At that time, he believed that once a man had status and fame, he could have any kind of woman.

Therefore, he finally gave up on Lin Qingwan and resolutely left.

Over the years, he carved out his own niche and met women who were better and more special than Lin Qingwan, but without exception, they all preferred his money.

Once, he encountered robbers on the road, and the woman he loved betrayed him in order to save her own life.

When Ruan Tinghuai finally woke up, he realized that although he had countless women, only Lin Qingwan was willing to risk her life for him.

He didn't regret leaving Shuiyuan Town; he regretted not making thorough preparations before deciding to take Lin Qingwan with him.

Lin Qingwan smiled and said, "I do yearn for freedom, but I now understand that freedom is not given by others, but earned by oneself."

"Sir, you did not do anything wrong back then. If it were me, I would also choose to leave regardless of everything."

No one is obligated to choose her.

Ruan Tinghuai's heart tightened. "No, if I could go back to the beginning, I wouldn't leave." Ruan Tinghuai was somewhat agitated.

Lin Qingwan's face remained expressionless. The master now has everything, so he is fixated on what he didn't have before.

Moreover, she had been here for so long today and hadn't seen any sadness or reluctance on his face; instead, she saw an irrepressible sense of anticipation.

This is so different from his previous mood.

"There's no going back," she said softly.

Ruan Tinghuai's face darkened, and he pushed a cup of tea at the perfect temperature to her.

Lin Qingwan picked up the teacup, paused at her lips, and asked, "Sir, aren't you going to drink?"

Ruan Tinghuai's face stiffened, his fingers felt as if they were bound with stones, so heavy that he couldn't lift them.

Lin Qingwan remained calm and composed. "I've caused you so much trouble during your trip to the capital, sir. I'm afraid you really resent me, as you won't even drink your last cup of tea."

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