Fang Yusheng stopped talking, and Qiao Jiusheng focused on sculpting again.

  A moment passed, and Fang Yusheng was unwilling to be left out. He could not hold it in anymore and asked her again, “Ah Sheng, are you close to Ji Qing?” When Fang Yusheng mentioned Ji Qing, his tone was careful as if he was afraid that it would agitate something and he would make it worse.

  Qiao Jiusheng did not notice the change in Fang Yusheng’s tone. She nodded and bluntly said, “Sister-in-law was very good to me. We were not only sisters-in-law but also best friends.” At the thought of Ji Qing, Qiao Jiusheng put down the carvings again. She smiled and missed those times. “Sister-in-law was very considerate and cared about me. She talked to me every now and then. Her behavior made me feel like a mental hospital patient.”


  “However, I knew that she was doing it for my own good. I wasn’t as sensible and obedient as Qiao Jiuyin. I often created troubles for my Eldest Brother. Eldest Brother would get a headache and couldn’t do anything to me. Later on, Sister-in-law took care of me, and Eldest Brother was relieved. When I was young, Eldest Brother often reprimanded me. However, when I grew up, he became especially good to me. I remember that on my fifteenth birthday, that unromantic melon gave me a music ball and said that listening to music helped one sleep. It made me so happy.”


  When Qiao Jiusheng said these things, she maintained a faint smile.

  Her smile was warm and happy.

  If Fang Yusheng did not know about her experience in the Fierce Sea, he would’ve listened to her experience with a smile.

  Since he knew that, Fang Yusheng could not laugh.

  Her brother gave her the music ball probably before she completely recovered. At that time, Qiao Jiusheng used to have nightmares every night.

  Qiao Jiusheng was still smiling, her eyes bright.

  A gentle sentence suddenly flashed across Fang Yusheng’s mind!

  She was so beautiful that one could not bear to look away.

  Fang Yusheng’s heart ached for Qiao Jiusheng’s experience. He subconsciously held her hand, wanting to give her his warmth.

  Qiao Jiusheng shook his hand in disdain. “It’s so hot. Don’t hold my hand.”


  Fang Yusheng: “…”


  Good intentions were treated as ill intentions.

  After that, Fang Yusheng did not dare to ask her any further, afraid that asking too much would make Qiao Jiusheng recall what happened in the Meng Hai. Since that part of her past was so painful, it was better to not recall that.

  “Oh right! Why are you asking this?”


  Fang Yusheng said, “I’m just a little curious.” It was a little difficult for Qiao Jiusheng to crown the set of jewelry for love.

  The relationship between the Fang family and the Qiao family was very complicated. If he asked to borrow that piece of jewelry, the Qiao family would not agree. After thinking about it, Fang Yusheng felt that perhaps he could start from Ji Qing.

  According to Ah Nuo, if Ji Qing had really cured Qiao Jiusheng, she should be the person who understood Qiao Jiusheng the most in the world. The last time she came to Binjiang City on Thanksgiving, Ji Qing had constantly tested Qiao Jiusheng. Perhaps, she had already sensed Ah Sheng’s abnormality. Yet, for some reason, Ji Qing did not expose Qiao Jiusheng.

  There might be hope for him if he started with her.

  ***

  After carving for more than half an hour, Qiao Jiusheng felt like vomiting again.

  She put away the unfinished carvings and went to squeeze a cup of fresh orange juice. She still ate very little at night and vomited everything after eating. After vomiting, she felt tired again, so she went upstairs to rest.

  Qiao Jiusheng woke up from her sleep and habitually reached out to touch Fang Yusheng beside her. However, her hands didn’t touch anything but the cold blanket. Qiao Jiusheng opened her eyes and looked over. She saw a man sitting by the window, motionless in the moonlight.

  Fang Yusheng had worn black silk embroidered pajamas. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his back leaned against the window. His left leg diagonally rested on the ground, and his right leg was on his left leg, leaving Qiao Jiusheng with a side profile that could not be picked out.

  That person’s figure was like a drunken mountain. The cold and clear silver moon landed on his light brown hair and nose, plating his body with a layer of silver. It made his handsome and noble face look unreasonable and cold.

  Fang Yusheng was more beautiful and colder than the moon.

  The silver moonlight that fell on him was like a layer of ice, wrapping the real person under the moonlight, making him feel unfamiliar.

  Compared to this Fang Yusheng, Qiao Jiusheng preferred the Fang Yusheng who was usually funny, made retorts, and even had a sharp tongue. Fang Yusheng was alive like that, but now, he was cold and boring.

  Qiao Jiusheng looked at the electronic watch and saw that it was already one o’clock in the night. She rolled around in bed, her upper body lying on Fang Yusheng’s pillow and her chin propped up with her hands. She looked at Fang Yusheng’s back and said, breaking the silence of the night, “Why aren’t you sleeping in the middle of the night? What are you doing? Looking at the moon alone?”


  Upon hearing Qiao Jiusheng’s voice, the handsome figure swayed before turning his head to look at Qiao Jiusheng. At this moment, there was not a hint of coldness on Fang Yusheng’s handsome face. His lips suddenly curled up, and he still smiled warmly as if the coldness Qiao Jiusheng had sensed previously was an illusion.

  “You’re awake?”


  “Yeah.”


  Qiao Jiusheng patted the empty spot under her and said in a low voice, “Come here and sleep with me.”


  After staring at her for a while, Fang Yusheng opened his legs and landed on the ground. He stood up as well.

  “Okay.”


  Fang Yusheng walked to the bed with his long legs.

  He then turned on a small bedside lamp and lay down beside Qiao Jiusheng.

  Qiao Jiusheng threw away the pillow and rushed into Fang Yusheng’s arms.

  Fang Yusheng half hugged her and leaned back against the soft pillow. He looked down at her and aimlessly played with her ears. He asked, “Without me accompanying you, you couldn’t sleep because of insomnia, right?” His voice was very warm, like a bottle of aged wine, mellow and moving.

  It was inexplicably seductive.

  Qiao Jiusheng rubbed her head on his legs and did not admit or deny his words.

  Her head moved around Fang Yusheng’s thigh and inevitably brushed against his sensitive spot. Fang Yusheng gradually reacted. However, he did not push Qiao Jiusheng away. He only slowed down his breathing. He liked Qiao Jiusheng and could not bear to push her away.

  Qiao Jiusheng sensed Fang Yusheng’s reaction, and her heart skipped a beat. She deliberately rubbed her body between his legs and smiled shamelessly.

  Fang Yusheng was helpless against her.

  “Stop moving.” Fang Yusheng’s voice was low as he warned her. He could not hide his feelings and desires.

  Qiao Jiusheng knew that she would be the one losing out if she continued to play, so she became obedient. She ran out of his arms and obediently slept on her pillow. Closing her eyes, she pretended to sleep. Since she knew that Fang Yusheng was looking at her, Qiao Jiusheng could not be bothered to look at him. She instead asked, “Is there something on your mind?”


  Fang Yusheng was not surprised that she could sense it.

  “No, I’m waiting for a phone call.” Fang Yusheng leaned over as well. His right hand crawled under Qiao Jiusheng’s waist, hugging it. His left hand wrapped around a strand of Qiao Jiusheng’s hair on his chin and gently twirled it.

  Qiao Jiusheng opened her eyes a little and looked puzzled.

  “Who’s calling?”


  Qiao Jiusheng had just asked this question when Fang Yusheng’s phone rang.

  The piercing sound of his ringtone woke up the quiet night.

  A calm that had seemed to last for years tore open the buttons and opened its bloody mouth.

  The night was awakened, and a battle between life and death officially began.

  Fang Yusheng let go of Qiao Jiusheng and turned around. His long arms took the phone on the bedside table.

  He maintained his posture as he answered the phone. He did not avoid Qiao Jiusheng, but he did not turn on the loudspeaker either.

  After answering the call, Fang Yusheng did not say anything.

  The person on the other end said something. The voice was not loud but wasn’t low either.

  Qiao Jiusheng could hear the voice, but she could make out what the conversation was.

  She turned over and leaned on Fang Yusheng’s shoulder. Pricking up her ears, she heard a sentence—


  “We have brought out that person.”


  The voice was Qi Bufan’s.

  Fang Yusheng nodded and hung up.

  He turned his head and met Qiao Jiusheng’s narrowed eyes. Qiao Jiusheng sized up Fang Yusheng with a sharp and thoughtful gaze.?

  ?These words could mean two things. One, Qi Bufan had saved a certain person; Two, Qi Bufan had kidnapped a certain person.

  “Fang Yusheng, who did you kidnap?”


  The Fang Yusheng Qiao Jiusheng knew was not a good man.

  He did not know how to save people. Even if he wanted to save someone, it was under the premise that this person would be good to him.

  As if he were reflecting on himself, Fang Yusheng said, “Do I look like a bad person who doesn’t abide by the law?”


  Qiao Jiusheng sneered and sarcastically laughed.

  If he was one to abide by the law, Qiao Jiuyin and her two children would not have died on the way to the airport in their previous lives.

  Seeing Qiao Jiusheng’s mocking reaction, Fang Yusheng could not help but touch his nose.

  “No.” When he saw Qiao Jiusheng did not believe him, he explained, “I really saved someone.”


  Qiao Jiusheng still did not believe it.

  “Let me guess. You saved someone because saving that person will greatly benefit you, right?”


  When Fang Yusheng heard this, his eyes lit up as he looked at Qiao Jiusheng. “Ah Sheng, you really understand me.” Fang Yusheng was happy.?

  Fang Yusheng, who had already lost his train of thought, ignored Qiao Jiusheng’s resistance and pressed her under him. His head arched around her neck, and he occasionally used his tongue to sweep across Qiao Jiusheng’s skin.

  Many women’s necks were sensitive areas, and Qiao Jiusheng was one of them.

  She felt numb all over from his provocation as if she had been hit by a light current.

  It felt good and terrible.

  “Ah Sheng.”


  Fang Yusheng’s lips leaned on Qiao Jiusheng’s neck. When he spoke, Qiao Jiusheng’s neck would jump.

  “Yes?”


  Fang Yusheng suddenly propped himself up and looked up. He narrowed his eyes and looked down at Qiao Jiusheng. Qiao Jiusheng’s expression turned serious when he looked at her. “What’s wrong?”


  “Try not to go out too much during this time. Try to bring Bufan along whenever you do.”


  Fang Yusheng’s tone was serious, and there was a rare hint of caution.

  Qiao Jiusheng’s eyes shifted. Thinking about the phone call just now, she more or less guessed something. “Are you going to take the initiative to attack?”


  Fang Yusheng tapped her nose.

  “How smart!”


  Qiao Jiusheng was not as relaxed as he was.

  After knowing how ruthless Fang Mu was toward Fang Yusheng and Fang Pingjue, Qiao Jiusheng had become a little afraid of him. She grabbed Fang Yusheng’s arm and tightly asked, “Will it be very dangerous?”


  Fang Yusheng did not patronize her nor did he plan to hide it from her. Instead, he told her directly, “There will definitely be danger. After a while, something big will happen. Remember, don’t panic no matter what!” He knew that his Ah Sheng was not a useless delicate flower. Even if she was a flower, she was an overlord flower.

  He wanted to tell her in advance that the future would not be peaceful so that she could be mentally prepared.

  Qiao Jiusheng’s reaction was indeed very convincing.

  She nodded and looked determined. She said to Fang Yusheng, “Don’t worry, I’ll try to go out as little as possible. Even if I do, I’ll report my whereabouts and the time to return home. Also, I won’t hold you back. Just do whatever you want.

  “However, you have to remember one thing.” Qiao Jiusheng’s eyes turned sharp. Fang Yusheng revealed a puzzled expression, and Qiao Jiusheng continued, “You have to tell me in advance if you have any dangerous plans. Otherwise, I’ll overthink and worry.”


  “Okay.”


  At the same time, at Fang Mu’s house.

  After Fang Pingjue was hospitalized, all his matters were temporarily handed to Fang Mu. Every day, he had to stay up until past 1 am before he could rest.

  There was still Fang Shan at his home. Fang Mu brought the things home and handled them in the study.

  At eight o’clock in the evening, he went to the nursery to visit Fang Shan. Then, he took a shower and wrapped himself in his pajamas before going to the study room.

  Unknowingly, when Fang Mu finished his urgent matters for the day, it was already 12: 30 pm. The nanny knocked on the door but did not enter.

  “Mr. Fang, are you still awake? I made supper. Do you want some?”


  “It has been hard on you. I’ll be right there.”


  Fang Mu tidied up his things, left the study, and softly went downstairs.

  The nanny had made vegetable tomato noodles. Fang Mu felt a pang of hunger, and when he saw the tomatoes, he immediately had an appetite. He held the noodles and ate alone in the dining room. In the huge house, he was the only one sitting alone in the dining room, eating with the moonlight and the artificial lights.

  The servant was cleaning the cutlery in the kitchen when a soft sound rang out. Fang Mu looked up at the empty house and suddenly felt a long-lost sense of loneliness.