Li Zhanlan's gaze shifted to the eaves of a house not far away.
Several dark figures had already taken up position above, waiting for their chance to strike.
"ah--"
In an instant, a woman's heart-wrenching screams came from inside the house.
The dark figure had already jumped back onto the roof, holding a dark, indistinct object in its arms.
Without lingering, they swiftly departed.
Eleven naturally witnessed this scene as well.
His eyes were calm, showing no surprise, as he turned to look at Li Zhanlan.
"Master, when shall we make our move?"
Li Zhanlan remained calm and composed, changing his posture while sitting on the tree branch.
"Heh, it seems he's in a real hurry. We need to speed things up too."
"..."
Shen Yan returned home and silently prepared the dishes.
Everything proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner. As the weather cooled down, they thoughtfully added a thick quilt for Meng Qingluan.
Everything was normal except that I hadn't spoken a single word to her.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Meng Qingluan called out to Shen Yan, who was about to go out to wash up, after finishing her shower.
Are you... angry?
Shen Yan stood at the door, paused for a moment, and calmly replied.
"No."
"..."
Seeing that he didn't want to say more, Meng Qingluan shut her mouth and didn't ask any more questions.
Suppressing her guilt, Meng Qingluan tried her best to remain calm.
I was just having a meal; I wasn't doing anything outrageous.
only……
If Shen Yan is angry with me, I don't feel guilty at all.
But he didn't make a fuss and obediently did everything.
Oh no, now I feel even more guilty...
"Forget it, forget it!"
Meng Qingluan crawled into bed, choosing to sleep to avoid feeling guilty.
When you're asleep, you don't know anything.
Three seconds before falling asleep, Meng Qingluan rolled into Chen Yan's bed again.
If I warm up the bed for him, he probably won't be so angry anymore, right?
When Shen Yan returned, there was only one candle left in the room. The candle was burning brightly by the bed, and wax had solidified on the candle.
Shen Yan casually put down the towel she was using to dry her hair and walked to the bedside.
Meng Qingluan was curled up under the covers, with only her head sticking out; she was already asleep.
Chen Yan reached out, his fingertips touching her chin, then landing on the tip of her nose.
A gentle tap, a whispered accusation.
"You heartless little brat."
He was suffering terribly, while she slept so soundly.
Why is it so hard to show your unhappiness and displeasure?
Shen Yan tucked the blanket around Meng Qingluan again to prevent the cold wind from getting in at night.
My fingers accidentally touched the side of my body where I was sleeping, and I stopped moving and my breathing stopped.
I reached out and touched it in disbelief; it was warm to the touch.
Being as clever as he was, he quickly realized what was going on.
Her starry eyes couldn't help but sparkle, shining brightly even more brilliantly in the dim candlelight.
His eyes were filled with an irrepressible smile, which even dispelled much of the anger in his heart.
Chen Yan pulled a small slip of paper from his sleeve: "Third Sister Meng and Young Master Yu will meet at Yuexiang Tower in three days."
His narrow eyes were full of disdain. He pinched the paper with two fingers and burned it to ashes over the candle flame.
What right does a fool who is infatuated with his brother have to jump around in front of him?
If you want to fight...
Then he will make these fools realize their place.
…
The three days arrived quickly.
These past few days, Shen Yan has remained as calm as ever, neither sulking nor engaging in a cold war with Meng Qingluan.
There was no mention of the preliminary exam.
Even today.
Meng Qingluan delivered the inkstone to the academy, thinking about the recent sudden drop in temperature and the vague signs that it would snow soon.
He called out to Shen Yan and gave him some instructions.
"It's been cold lately. If it's snowing when you come out, don't rush back. Go inside the academy to take shelter from the snow first, understand?"
Shen Yan nodded, looking at her intently.
"And what about you?"
Meng Qingluan said, "I will naturally go to the roadside to buy an umbrella to shield myself from the snow, and I will come to pick you up when the snow stops."
"Chen Yan said softly."
"Don't come to pick me up, Snowy. Find an inn to stay at."
Meng Qingluan felt a surge of joy.
Her best friend still loved her and wasn't angry with her.
"Okay, okay, do your best on the exam."
Meng Qingluan waved to him, offering encouragement.
Shen Yan nodded in response and turned to enter the academy.
Meng Qingluan did not set up a stall today, but instead stayed at a teahouse not far from where she had previously set up a stall.
I ordered a plate of dim sum and a pot of tea, and prepared to listen to audiobooks to pass the time.
After all, these are the only entertainment options available now.
Meng Qingluan was listening to a storyteller while lying on the table when a woman pushed open the door of the teahouse.
Without saying a word, he knelt down on the ground and cried.
"Dear brothers and sisters, I did not mean to spoil your fun today, but my five-month-old baby was stolen from my home yesterday."
"If you see a baby wrapped in red swaddling clothes with a small birthmark under her eye, please tell me! She is my only child, she is my life! Thank you all."
After saying that, the woman kowtowed several times on the ground.
His forehead made a crisp thud when it hit the floor tiles, and his forehead turned red and the skin underneath seeped out.
The people in the teahouse frowned as they listened, and they all agreed, advising the woman to think more positively.
The woman didn't linger; she got up and walked unsteadily out of the teahouse.
Meng Qingluan sighed, feeling a deep sense of sympathy.
She has also seen many news reports in modern times about families being torn apart and people dying because of child trafficking.
I never imagined that such things were unavoidable even in ancient times, or even in the world of novels.
After the commotion at the teahouse, people started discussing it.
"Why would anyone steal a child out of the blue?"
"These days, there are all kinds of people. You should make sure to lock your doors and windows properly when you get home."
"..."
Meng Qingluan stayed in the teahouse all morning and left when it was about time.
As soon as she stepped out of the teahouse, she saw Young Master Yu standing at the door.
It had started snowing outside sometime earlier. Young Master Yu was wearing a white fox fur cloak with a silver fox fur scarf around his neck, and Qingcha was holding an umbrella for him.
Meng Qingluan frowned slightly, suddenly remembering that Shen Yan hadn't brought an umbrella.
Young Master Yu also saw her and walked up to her.
He smiled gently and looked up to brush the snowflakes that had fallen on her hair.
Meng Qingluan was not used to such intimate gestures, and subconsciously turned her head away and moved her body to avoid his hand.
Young Master Yu paused for a moment, but was not annoyed; his smile remained gentle.
He was naturally happy.
Ah? After this incident, I'll be able to see this woman's true colors.
Young Master Yu gave Qingcha a look.
Qingcha understood and handed him the oil-paper umbrella that she had prepared in advance.
Young Master Yu opened the umbrella and held it over Meng Qingluan's head. He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile curving his thin lips.
Let's go.
Meng Qingluan nodded and walked beside him.
I couldn't help but worry about Chen Yan. He should have finished his exams by now and left the exam hall, right?
Did he listen to me? Did he obediently go into the academy to avoid the snow?
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