"No problem." Qin Yuanfeng grinned, "We are already married, this is your home now." He mumbled, "You can’t go back either."

Ruan Jingliu was taken aback and questioned, "What do you mean?" Qin Yuanfeng slowly stood up and answered naturally, "The things from Four Symbols Alley... have already been moved."

"You!" This time, Ruan Jingliu was truly at a loss for words, angered by this rogue who secretly moved her belongings and forced her into marriage, "Shameless!" Just as she was about to leave, she noticed a dark red stain seeping from his brightly colored wedding robe over his waist and abdomen. Frowning, she walked over, "Are you really hurt?"

"It’s nothing, really!" Seizing the opportunity, Qin Yuanfeng hugged her as she tended to his injury. She had initially thought it was a mere excuse to trick her, but then realized he was indeed injured. As she loosened his outer garment to reveal the inner layers, Qin Yuanfeng awkwardly tried to adjust his clothes. However, Ruan Jingliu was focused solely on examining the wound—a knife cut about the length of a finger, very deep and neat, showing signs of inflammation with swelling and slight festering around the edges.

"How did you get hurt?" It was clearly a knife wound and had been there for quite some time.

Casually, Qin Yuanfeng replied, "Ran into some ruffians while sailing and got injured accidentally." He grabbed her hand again, "I’m fine!"

Ruan Jingliu is a doctor and naturally wouldn’t believe he was fine after seeing such a wound. She let go of him, opened the door, and instructed the maid outside, "Fetch some water." Then she brought in the medicine box from the main hall.

Qin Yuanfeng leisurely leaned back in his chair, enjoying the presence of the person he longed for so dearly. Being this close, he felt a happiness he had never experienced before.

The next day, Xiqiu looked at Ruan Jingliu in surprise, "What did he say?" Then she glanced at the young man standing behind her, who appeared around twenty, with refined and handsome features, tall and upright, not too different from her imagined Qin Second Master. She looked at Qin Yuanfeng and then over to Fourth Master Xiao, who showed no surprise and simply said, "Mr. Qin, please have a seat."

"Thank you." Qin Yuanfeng clasped his fists in thanks and sat down beside Fourth Master Xiao, engaging him in a conversation quite naturally.

Xiqiu got up and pulled Ruan Jingliu to sit by her side. Ruan Jingliu’s face still looked unpleasant, showing some embarrassment. Xiqiu asked, "Mr. Qin said you two are married, is it true?"

"It’s true!" Before Ruan Jingliu could speak, Qin Yuanfeng, who was animatedly chatting with Fourth Master Xiao, answered with a smile, "So, I’m here today to acknowledge the relationship."

Xiqiu withdrew her gaze to look at Ruan Jingliu, who gave her an exasperated look, amazed by Qin Second Master’s multitasking skills.

"Let’s talk elsewhere." Ruan Jingliu stood up, taking Xiqiu with her. Xiqiu nodded slightly at Fourth Master Xiao and followed Ruan Jingliu next door. Once seated, she asked, "What happened exactly?"

Ruan Jingliu recounted the events of the previous day, "His condition was serious, with a high fever throughout the night, only waking up this morning." She watched over him all night, not by choice but by necessity—she couldn’t bear to leave him. Surprisingly, even in a feverish sleep, the strength of his grip was so strong that it clutched her hand all night without letting go.

Xiqiu burst into laughter, leaning on Ruan Jingliu and laughing for a long time. Wiping her tears, she noticed Ruan Jingliu’s stiff expression. Suddenly, it seemed that only someone as unreasonable as Qin Yuanfeng could subdue her. If it were an ordinary man, even slightly distant or courteous, Ruan Jingliu would never give him a chance. This half-pushed situation left her no choice, resulting in an unexpected outcome.

"Since you’re married, should I start calling you Second Madam Qin?" Xiqiu teased.

Ruan Jingliu glared and scolded, "You’re joining his nonsense." She had a headache, knowing Qin Yuanfeng too well. Although he appeared carefree and unserious, once he decided on something, he would achieve it without compromise—there was no room for negotiation.

Now, even she didn’t know how to handle it. She wanted to shake him off, but unless she could vanish instantly, never to reappear, he would never give up.

"Though it may seem chaotic, it shows his feelings for you," Xiqiu smiled, "Six years is neither short nor long, but his unwavering determination is proof... Why not give him a chance, and also give yourself a chance to start anew?"

Ruan Jingliu still found it hard to accept. Xiqiu continued, "You’ve never cared about others’ opinions; otherwise, you wouldn’t have sought marriage into Zhang Mansion back then. You also disregard social conventions, or else you wouldn’t have traveled across Great Zhou practicing medicine alone. As for the age difference between you, that’s trivial at best. Where there is love, those should not be obstacles..." She looked at Ruan Jingliu and said word by word, "If none of these are issues, what are you hesitating for?"

Ruan Jingliu was stunned; she had never felt so confused. Since coming into this world, she knew she lacked the power to defy everything but had been striving not to conform. She had only ever been herself, a belief she never wavered from. But now, she felt lost... She looked at Xiqiu, asking, "The back house is like the bottom of a well, can you be happy crouched inside?"

Xiqiu laughed and nodded heavily, "Yes, I am very happy. Perhaps it’s not what I initially envisioned, but this life has given me things I never anticipated, so I am very happy."

Ruan Jingliu fell silent, looking down at her fingers crossed over her chest, lingering in her thoughts without speaking.

The conversation outside also ceased. A look of loss appeared on Qin Yuanfeng’s face unused to showing such expression. He sipped his tea absentmindedly, a hint of nervousness even noticeable.

Simultaneously, Fourth Master Xiao appeared perplexed. Despite Xiqiu’s soft tone, he heard her clearly...

She said her life now was different from what she initially envisioned.

What did she initially want?