No one knew that this glance was astonishing.
On it were the letters she had once mailed to Ruo Feng.
The envelopes were completely unmarked.
The paper was slightly yellowed but well-preserved.
She was only in high school back then, her handwriting neat and youthful. Although many years had passed, she would never forget.
Jiang Shiyu picked up the letters, her hands trembling.
Her vision blurred, and she could barely make out the handwriting on the letters.
Si Han, it was truly Ruo Feng.
A gust of wind blew, and the green bamboo in the courtyard rustled in the breeze.
When the servant boy arrived, the letters were pressed under the inkstone, undisturbed by the wind.
The other paper products on the table had all been scattered by the wind.
By the time the servant boy had tidied up and returned to the main hall, Jiang Shiyu had already left.
Si Han propped his head on his hand, half-asleep, the room still filled with the bitter scent of strong herbal medicine.
"Sir, Miss Jiang just entered Mr. Murong's study."
"Let her be. Perhaps she wants to find some letters about Murong Cheng here."
Si Han paid it no mind.
He never expected that in the following days, Jiang Shiyu would return, even more enthusiastic, pestering him with conversation all day. He was weary but could not politely ask her to leave.
She even stayed there for two days.
When Murong Cheng returned from his business trip, he didn't see Jiang Shiyu at Jingyuan.
He drove directly to Changning's villa.
Before he even entered the house, he heard the girl's bursts of laughter.
He had never heard Jiang Shiyu laugh so clearly, like tinkling bells.
He slowly walked in. In the courtyard, Si Han sat in his wheelchair, Jiang Shiyu cradling a small, snow-white puppy, playing with it. The puppy was endearingly clumsy, amusing everyone.
Even Si Han, who always maintained a poker face, had a faint smile on his lips.
Seeing this scene, Murong Cheng felt as if he had been pricked.
First, Si Han noticed Murong Cheng, "You're back..."
Only then did Jiang Shiyu realize that Murong Cheng was standing not far away.
She suddenly remembered.
Murong Cheng had been away on a business trip for a week, and today was the day he was supposed to return.
"Aren't you going to call me? I could have picked you up at the airport..."
Before Jiang Shiyu could finish speaking, Murong Cheng glanced coldly at them and moved his lips stiffly, "Call you? I was afraid of disturbing such a harmonious scene!"
Hearing the man's words, Jiang Shiyu's heart sank.
Murong Cheng had misunderstood.
"No... I just..."
Jiang Shiyu wanted to tell Murong Cheng that Si Han was Ruo Feng, to tell him the significance of Ruo Feng to her.
But the man gave her no opportunity.
He left behind a sarcastic, cold remark and turned to leave.
The man was tall and walked quickly, so Jiang Shiyu couldn't catch up. She almost tripped over the threshold.
She let out a soft cry.
She looked up in the direction of the man.
At this time of day, the man would usually stop, help her up, and ask about her health.
But today, he only paused for a moment.
Then he continued forward, got into his car without looking back.
The car sped away, kicking up dust.
Jiang Shiyu coughed, choked by the dust, her eyes slightly reddening.
"Explain it to him properly. Ah Cheng is not an unreasonable person... It's just that I've never seen him so irrational."
Si Han smiled faintly, thinking of Murong Cheng's reaction just now.
He had known Murong Cheng for so many years, and this was the first time he had seen him like this.
Although Murong Cheng had never mentioned Jiang Shiyu to him, the look in a person's eyes when they love someone cannot be hidden.
Jiang Shiyu bit her lip and nodded.
When she returned to Jingyuan, only the aunt greeted her.
"Where is Mr. Murong?" Jiang Shiyu, without even changing her shoes, looked around for Murong Cheng.
The aunt said, confused, "Mr. Murong returned this morning. Didn't he go to see Madam? Didn't Mr. Murong come back with you?"
It seemed Murong Cheng had not returned home after coming back from the Changning suburbs.
Jiang Shiyu wanted to call, but the man seemed unwilling to answer.
Several calls went unanswered.
On the last call, a polite notification of the phone being turned off came from the other end.
Jiang Shiyu felt a pang of disappointment.
After a while, she pondered for a moment and then went out.
She went to Cheche's maternal grandmother's house. Standing at the door, she could still hear Cheche's voice from inside.
But when she knocked, no one responded for a long time, and no one opened the door.
Jiang Shiyu stopped knocking, her fingers slightly red and swollen.
The voice-activated light in the corridor went out, and her heart sank.
She had been visiting too frequently these past few days. No matter what, she was Murong Cheng's wife, and she should maintain a distance from other men. But the man seemed unwilling to listen to her explanation, blocking her out completely, even Cheche.
Ruo Feng held extraordinary significance for her.
Jiang Shiyu stood for a while. Unable to get the door open, she had to leave for the time being.
Sitting in the car, a wave of melancholy and vexation washed over her, with nowhere to vent. She could only call Zhao Shuyao.
When Zhao Shuyao received Jiang Shiyu's call, she had already been locked in Qin Yusheng's residence.
Having learned from the previous incident, the doors and windows were now nailed shut.
The signal was also very poor.
After finally managing to connect, Zhao Shuyao heard Jiang Shiyu sobbing and was extremely anxious, but she couldn't hear what Jiang Shiyu was saying clearly, it was intermittent.
Zhao Shuyao lifted her leg and kicked the door, "Qin Yusheng, let me out!"
The only response was silence.
Zhao Shuyao was furious, but after a few kicks, there was still no response.
Her sole hurt, she had to give up.
On Jiang Shiyu's end, she could only send a text message to comfort her.
It took a long time for the text message to be sent.
This man not only restricted her freedom but also her internet speed!
Zhao Shuyao was so angry that she didn't even want to eat.
She simply lay there for two days.
On the third day, Zhao Shuyao was so hungry that she barely had the strength to stand up.
The door was opened from the outside.
Qin Yusheng frowned, glanced at Zhao Shuyao, who was lying on the bed, and a flicker of disgust crossed his brow. "Look at yourself, do you still look like a human? Get up, wash up, change your clothes! Come back to the Qin family with me!"
Zhao Shuyao thought Qin Yusheng had a change of heart, but it turned out it was because the old man wanted to see her.
Zhao Shuyao washed up and changed her clothes, walking downstairs with her last bit of strength.
Having starved for two days, she looked dehydrated and gaunt.
She was already slender, and now she looked even more frail.
Aunt Wu stewed some chicken soup for Zhao Shuyao.
Zhao Shuyao drank two bowls before she managed to regain some strength.
Qin Yusheng wasn't in a hurry either. He patiently waited for her to finish the chicken soup. "Drink up. Don't complain to Grandpa again that I'm abusing you!"
Zhao Shuyao was amused by the man's words, and the chicken soup in her mouth didn't taste as good. She put down her bowl, wiped her mouth, "Thank you, Aunt Wu, for the chicken soup."
Then she stood up directly, ignoring Qin Yusheng, and walked out.
Qin Yusheng didn't get angry either. He raised an eyebrow, picked up his jacket, and followed Zhao Shuyao out.
In early autumn, Haicheng was still a bit chilly at night.