"I only know someone named Xu Lanyan, called Xu Lan," Mu Anxiao said expressionlessly, scanning the face of the vine spirit. "I don't know you."
"Gu An... oh.. no," the vine spirit feigned a sorrowful expression. "I should call you Mu Anxiao."
"You came to find me in the middle of the night... I presume it's nothing good?"
"I just wanted to see you."
"See me?"
"Yes."
"If..." Mu Anxiao uttered one word, then suddenly remembered what Xiangnang had asked her when she was in the kitchen.
So, she glanced at Xiangnang, who had sat up groggily, and asked, "Is the man you mentioned him?" She pointed at Xu Lan.
Xiangnang yawned a few times, looked up at the vine spirit's face, and nodded, "Yes, it's him."
"It's him," Mu Anxiao said, looking up at the vine spirit again. "Tell me, why are you here to find me?"
"I also went to find Feng Qishi today."
"You know Feng Qishi?"
"Yes."
"Know," Mu Anxiao repeated, thinking about Feng Qishi's relationship with Xu Lanyan, and asked, "What is your relationship with Xu Lanyan?"
"I am his senior brother."
However, the moment the vine spirit said "senior brother," Mu Anxiao remembered that at some point, Xu Lanyan had told her that his senior brother had long passed away. If she guessed correctly, the senior brother he spoke of must have been Xu Lan.
But this guy in front of her now claimed to be Xu Lan. Based on this alone, she was suspicious.
"..."
The vine spirit observed Mu Anxiao's thoughtful expression, then glanced at Xiangnang who had already fallen back asleep, and said, "You're thinking I'm dead, aren't you."
Mu Anxiao: "....."
Fearing that Mu Anxiao might doubt him because of this, the vine spirit feigned a sad expression and said, "In the past, I did die, but... I was fortunate enough to come here and finally survived." He choked back a sob, "To be honest, it was you... no, it was Gu An who gave me new life."
"Then you know the truth about Gu An's death?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know, yet you say she saved you and gave you new life," Mu Anxiao sneered. "Your lie is too far-fetched."
Feng Qishi, who had memories of his past life, hadn't recognized this stranger. Mu Anxiao thought that it was too unrealistic to confirm his identity based solely on this guy's words.
Therefore, she didn't intend to treat the vine spirit nicely.
"I am not lying."
"Xu Lanyan is a gentleman. You, barging into our room in the middle of the night, this behavior makes it impossible for me to believe you are Xu Lanyan's senior brother. You..."
"I like you, I just want to see you, so..."
"That's not a reason," Mu Anxiao interrupted.
If these words were said to someone else, they might have been effective. But the vine spirit was mistaken. How could someone like Mu Anxiao, who understood neither romance nor the feelings between men and women, be moved by his words?
He was too naive!
"Aren't you moved by me?" the vine spirit asked.
Mu Anxiao said, "You think a few nice words can move me? What do you take me for? Now," she pointed towards the door, "you came in however you came, and you get out however you came."
The vine spirit: "..." He felt bitter.
Outside the house.
Shen Xian, who had intended to stage a heroic rescue to tear open his wound, gain Mu Anxiao's sympathy, and prevent her from meeting Feng Qishi alone, gave up on the idea after clearly hearing the conversation between Mu Anxiao and the vine spirit inside.
At the same time, Feng Qishi, who was passing by after using the latrine, saw Shen Xian. "Senior brother, what are you doing here?" he asked, walking up to Shen Xian's side.
Inside the room, Mu Anxiao heard Feng Qishi's voice.
The vine spirit's eyes widened.
Mu Anxiao said, "It seems I have to escort you out." With that, she turned and walked towards the door.
Due to his identity, the vine spirit had no choice but to comply and followed Mu Anxiao.
Outside the door, Shen Xian feigned a look of just snapping out of it, turned to Feng Qishi, and retorted, "Huh, junior brother, why am I here?"
"Are you sleepwalking?"
"Sleepwalking..." Shen Xian said, faking a yawn. "I think I was indeed sleepwalking."
Feng Qishi had seen Shen Xian's longing for Gu An and understood.
So, he played dumb. "Then is your wound alright?"
Shen Xian said, "It's fine."
"That's good then."
Shen Xian gave a dry laugh.
Inside the room, Mu Anxiao placed the candle on the table, took a step forward, and looked down at the unlatched door, saying, "You're really something else." She glanced at the vine spirit and opened the door.
The next moment, Mu Anxiao grabbed the vine spirit's arm and forcefully pushed him out, asking, "Shen Xian, do you recognize this person?"
Following that, Feng Qishi looked at the vine spirit with surprise and asked, "How did you get in there?"
"I..." The vine spirit cautiously glanced at Shen Xian.
Shen Xian said, "His name is Xu Lan. Before, Gu An, he, and I often spent time together." He then pretended to be confused. "Brother Xu, why are you here?"
"Didn't you say Gu An was reincarnated? I wanted to come and see."
"It's so dark, can you see clearly?" Mu Anxiao hit the vine spirit hard on the back.
The vine spirit flinched his shoulders in fear and said, "I couldn't see clearly."
"....." Mu Anxiao glared at the vine spirit and then at Shen Xian, "How should this be handled?"
"He is my brother."
"You are..." Mu Anxiao said, then suddenly frowned. "Something is not right with you, why are you here?"
Shen Xian's eyes flickered.
Feng Qishi put aside his unfriendliness towards Shen Xian and said, "He was sleepwalking."
"Sleepwalking?"
"Yes, I was sleepwalking," Shen Xian nodded.
"Then you really know how to find a place."
Shen Xian: "...."
Mu Anxiao, too lazy to waste more words with them, took a step back without a word and closed the door.
Shen Xian breathed a sigh of relief.
The vine spirit smiled at Feng Qishi and said, "Thank you."
Feng Qishi: "...." He turned and walked away.
Back in the room, Shen Xian and the vine spirit sat at the table together.
Shen Xian said, "It failed. What's going on with you?"
The vine spirit said, "It was too dark inside, I only heard snoring. I thought it was Mu Anxiao snoring, so I went over. Who knew," he thought of his awkward situation inside just now, unable to raise his head, "I was discovered."
"Fortunately, I was smart, otherwise, we wouldn't be able to continue."
"We can only proceed with the next plan."
"You say it." Shen Xian raised his chin.
Then, the vine spirit stood up, walked around to Shen Xian's side, and then leaned in close to Shen Xian's ear again, whispering secrets!
After listening to the whispered words, the vine spirit stood up and said, "That's it."