Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In my third year in Wu County, I opened a little bookshop.

People came and went every day. I did not earn much, but at least it was lively. Children who loved to read were always slipping into my shop.

That day, I was sorting through some old books when I suddenly heard someone behind me say, “Shopkeeper, this book seems to be damaged.”

“Coming! Let me take a look.”

As I spoke, I rose from behind the desk.

But the instant I saw who it was, I froze.

I had not seen Liang Xi in three years. Seeing him so suddenly, the first thing I felt was not the joy of reunion after a long separation, but a flustered panic that left me at a loss.

I stood rooted to the spot, not daring to take another step forward.

He probably had not expected the owner of the bookshop to be me, either. He remained there with the book raised in his hand, dazed, and did not speak for a long while.

Compared with three years ago, he was thinner, and there was a sickly cast to his face.

My eyes stung with tears.

I was scared.

Back then, not only had I deceived him, I had also made off with a great deal of his silver. While he knew nothing of it, I had vanished without a trace.

My crimes were too many to count.

Now that we had met again, I did not dare imagine how much he must hate me.

He might very well want to swallow me whole.

In the end, he was the one who lifted his foot and walked toward me, step by step.

Perhaps he saw the tiny tear that had fallen to the floor, because he raised his hand and wiped my cheek.

His voice was soft, carrying a little helplessness and a little disappointment.

“You really don’t want to see me that badly… You’re crying.”

I sniffled and apologized honestly. “I’m sorry. What happened before was my fault. I didn’t mean to.”

The moment I said it, I despised myself a little.

Pretending to be his benefactor and deceiving him. Using that supposed kindness to force him to marry me. Running off with his money after I was exposed.

Every single thing had been deliberate.

“…All right, I did mean to. I’m awful. Arrest me if you want. Hit me, scold me-whatever you want.”

Liang Xi’s voice was a little hoarse, as if he had just suffered a serious illness and had recklessly run out into the wind before fully recovering.

“I never thought of arresting you, and I didn’t know you were here,” he said.

“Really?”

“Mm.” He lowered his lashes, his expression dim. “I only came here to recuperate for a while.”

Recuperate?

I studied him. “What happened to you? Are you… ill?”

Liang Xi shook his head. “I was poisoned.”

“The poison has been purged, but it damaged my body. I need to nurse myself back to health.”

I looked at his pale face. I wanted to touch him, but held myself back.

“How did you get poisoned? Did it hurt very much?”

“It didn’t hurt.”

That was what he said, but his brows were furrowed. Clearly, he was not feeling well.

I knew Liang Xi. He was terribly proud. Even if he was hurt and bleeding badly, he would only stubbornly insist it was nothing, that it did not matter.

How could it not matter?

His face was so pale, and he looked exhausted, nothing like his usual vibrant self.

I pressed my lips together. In the end, worry won out, and I asked, “Where are you staying now? Is anyone taking care of you?”

Liang Xi said, “I’m staying on Ping’an Lane. I have a personal eunuch attending to me.”

“Only one eunuch?”

Liang Xi said quietly, “I don’t like too many people following me.”

“Then… may I come to Ping’an Lane to see you in the future? Or if you’re short of anything, you can send someone to find me.”

He visibly brightened a little.

“May I? I’m unfamiliar with this place, after all.”

I nodded hard. “Of course!”