By nightfall, Luoyan even wanted to take Third Sister back to her room, saying she was afraid the cat would catch a chill.
Zhuyun firmly refused, quoting Jia Yufang’s words: “Wild cats are hard to tame.
Even if you keep it locked up, it will still try to escape. It’s better to leave it in the shelter.”
She hesitated, “What if it doesn’t come back?”
The words sounded strangely familiar.
Zhuyun frowned and thought for a moment, recalling how Luoyan often asked him, “Are you leaving?” or “Will you come back?”—just like how she treated the wild cat.
His expression darkened immediately, and he strode away.
But with the oil lamp in his hand, the shelter instantly plunged into darkness.
Luoyan hurriedly grabbed his pant leg, looking up at him pitifully: “A Yun.”
He held back, then sat back down on the bench, his tone softening unconsciously: “If it runs off, lure it back with some food.”
“Oh, right.”
Luoyan was cheered by the coaxing and put Third Sister back onto the simple wooden bed.
The rain gradually eased, cicadas chirped in turns, and the evening mountain breeze was cool and pleasant, making her close her eyes in contentment.
Seeing her so comfortable, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhuyun’s mouth.
Inside the house, Jia Yufang finished packing the embroidered goods to take to town tomorrow, then rummaged out a measuring tape and called the children in to take their measurements.
In just a few months, they had grown quite a bit.
Actually, the previous clothes had deliberately left the sleeves and other parts longer, so the sizes were just right now.
But soon they would be too short—it was time to buy some cloth to make new clothes.
With Luoyan keeping records, it was much easier than before.
Looking at the round, neat patterns on the paper, Jia Yufang found them fairly recognizable and laughed: “Once I finish this batch, I’ll learn to read and write from Sister Yan.”
Recently, farm work had become even busier, and Luoyan’s clientele was dwindling sharply.
Hearing this, she immediately and attentively gave Jia Yufang a shoulder rub: “Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not,” Jia Yufang said wistfully, “Your muqin was a Shujiaxiaojie; all her maids could read and write. Managing the household was truly ‘’well-organized”
“Orderly and neat.”
“Yes, orderly and neat.”
The original muqin came from the Ye Family in Jingcheng, but having married into a merchant family and severed ties with her own, she only maintained contact with her QinshenJiejie, who was the male lead’s mother.
The Luo family and the Ye family were mere background, not even secondary characters—mentioned only briefly.
But given how grateful Jia Yufang and Doctor Liu were, Luoyan thought the original parents must have been exceptionally good people.
Though curious, she did not ask in detail, fearing she might inadvertently reveal the differences between herself and the original person. Instead, she shifted her focus elsewhere.
“Got it.” She ran outside and waved at Zhuyun. “Quick, help me make a mark.”
He didn’t know what Luoyan was up to, but cooperated by taking out a dagger and carving a horizontal line close to the top of her head: “Done.”
“You should come stand there too.”
Luoyan stretched up on tiptoes and explained, “We can carve a horizontal line every year and compare how much we’ve grown.”
After finishing, she put the dagger away and picked up the kitten, which was sleeping soundly: “Let’s mark Third Sister too.”
Zhuyun clicked his tongue lightly, thinking, Is this ever going to end? but honestly did the same.
Luoyan borrowed the measuring tape again and, after some thought, finally converted the data—she was about 1.55 meters, and Zhuyun 1.70 meters.
Could she potentially grow into a tall, beautiful woman?
She tugged at her hair, trying to recall the biology knowledge she had learned, glancing at Zhuyun from time to time, then sighed deeply.
Zhuyun: “?”
After a moment of self-pity, she raised her hand to indicate a height: “Will I ever grow this tall?”
He couldn’t answer, but recalling the height of that couple, he guessed he wasn’t that short himself and said, “If your parents are tall, you won’t be short.”
She had never met the original parents, but Long Aotian’s attributes were all top-tier hardware. Being his cousin, there was no way she could be short.
Luoyan thought this made sense and covered her face, quietly laughing.
Zhuyun watched the sudden change in expression: “……”
The next morning when she woke, Jia Yufang had already gone down the mountain, leaving some food in the steamer, still slightly warm.
Luoyan first peeked to look for the kitten—sure enough, it was gone.
She felt a pang of unease and, with heavy steps, entered Zhuyun’s room.
He had just finished his morning exercise and was washing with cold water.
Hearing the door open didn’t surprise him; behind the screen, he stood and began dressing.
“Third Sister’s gone,” Luoyan stood by the bookshelf, muttering while picking up a storybook, “The meat Grandma left is still in the bowl. Maybe she’s not coming back.”
Zhuyun came out, drying his hair.
Seeing her hair loose as well, he guessed that without Grandma around, some people wouldn’t bother combing.
“Did you have breakfast?”
She shook her head, twirling a damp strand of hair with her finger and sighed, “Inner strength is real. It even works like a hairdryer.”
His hair was jet black, making his red lips and white teeth stand out even more.
If not for the whip scars on his back, Luoyan would think he was a young master from a wealthy family.
“Your parents must be very good-looking,” she said confidently.
Zhuyun considered her words, “Indeed.”
“Hmm?” She was shocked and bluntly said, “I thought you were an orphan from birth, but you’ve actually met your birth parents?”
Such words would be offensive if asked by most, but Luoyan’s entire family had been wiped out and her past was no longer tragic—there were no taboos.
Zhuyun didn’t mind and answered truthfully, “I saw them once, from afar.”
She imagined the story of little Zhuyun being sold off, then meeting his parents like strangers.
It matched his personality well.
“If they knew how powerful you’ve become, they’d definitely regret it.”
He said nothing, but asked back, “What about your parents?”
“What?”
“Would they regret knowing you?”
Luoyan pondered, then eyes wide with delight: “You want to compliment me, don’t you? Say I’ve grown up beautiful, kind, and smart.”
She was so proud that Zhuyun chuckled and softly replied, “Mm.”
Seeing he didn’t deny it, Luoyan felt no melancholy. She said lightly, “My parents are great, my brother is great, they probably wouldn’t regret it.”
After crossing over, she sometimes thought back to the past.
From her perspective, she only saw a father in a suit and a mother with elegant manners.
But from their perspective?
Their daughter’s cheeks grew thinner day by day; she was a creature hooked up to tubes—a silent countdown to death.
Luoyan sniffled and turned to watch Zhuyun comb his hair.
His large hands and slender knuckles easily gathered the thick hair.
So it wasn’t her skill that was lacking, just that she was too young, with too much hair and hands too short to make the complex ancient styles.
Being stared at for so long, Zhuyun slowed down and his ears turned slightly red. He pretended nonchalance: “What, want me to comb your hair too?”
“Can you?”
“Maybe.”
Luoyan took that as a “no problem,” turned her back: “Then do a simple double bun.”
Zhuyun had only observed before and found it difficult to get the tension right.
He accidentally pulled out a few strands, making her grit her teeth in pain: “You just want to get back at me.”
“……”
Fortunately, the result was pleasing.
Luoyan checked herself in the bronze mirror, satisfied, and went to the kitchen.
By the time she set the table, Zhuyun returned from outside, holding Third Sister with some weeds in her mouth: “Here you go.”
The kitten recognized her scent, lay down, and purred softly.
The weather was clear today. Luoyan suggested, “Let’s build a small shelter so the cat mom can stay too.”
So the two of them and the cat took axes and went to the south-facing bamboo grove.
On the way, they met Father and Daughter Qingcao, also carrying axes.
Hearing they planned to build a small wooden house, Qingcao’s father enthusiastically offered to do the work.
Qingcao deliberately slowed her pace to tell her, “I’ll be able to continue my studies tomorrow.”
Originally, Qingcao’s father was reluctant, but Cui Yi persuaded him by mentioning her sister working for a wealthy family.
Without any profits, he might call Qingcao and Qinglian back at any time.
Luoyan felt sorry: “If there’s anything I can do, just say the word.”
Hearing this, Qingcao smiled, eyes curved: “Little Ancestor, I wouldn’t dare trouble you.”
The two chatted happily, leaving Zhuyun all alone at the back.
He pinched the back of the cat’s neck to force a meow.
Luoyan quickly ran back to him and asked concernedly, “What’s wrong with Third Sister? Is she hungry?”
Qingcao was very afraid of Zhuyun and didn’t dare come closer.
From a distance, she said, “I’ll help you chop bamboo.”
“No need,” he coldly refused.
Luoyan was stuck with the kitten, so she said goodbye to her friend.
Zhuyun found a shady spot for her to rest, then went to watch Qingcao’s father at work. Mimicking him, he chopped a large pile of bamboo.
He tied them tightly with hemp rope he had prepared in advance.
Hearing Luoyan happily humming, he suddenly felt something was off—why did he feel like he’d become her personal servant?
But then he glanced at her two slender arms.
Never mind, it wasn’t a big deal.
After delivering the bamboo to Qingcao’s house, he ran into Yapo. Recognizing Luoyan, she called her over: “Sister Jia’s messenger has found some prospects.”
Luoyan was puzzled: “What prospects?”
“Of course, maids chosen for the young lady,” Yapo said warmly and respectfully, treating her as a patron. “They must be pure, nimble, and not treacherous—a real headache for this old woman.”
Buying and selling slaves was common in ancient times, but Luoyan’s modern soul made her nervous listening to Yapo’s endless chatter. She tugged at Zhuyun’s sleeve.
One Qingcao was annoying enough, now another.
Zhuyun was equally fed up, weighing his axe and scaring Yapo into silence.
He said briefly, “No need.”
Yapo smiled awkwardly, hugged her bundle, and ran off.
…
Jia Yufang had returned to the village, bringing many things this time.
The table in the courtyard was nearly piled into a small mountain.
The most eye-catching were a pair of pink-and-white embroidered shoes and a pair of black-and-gold leather boots.
“Try them on.”
Luoyan hurriedly slipped hers on—it was a perfect fit.
She glanced at Zhuyun, whose boots fit just as well.
Seeing them satisfied, Jia Yufang felt sweeter than honey and joked, “Though I’m old, my eyesight hasn’t failed me.”
“Grandma’s not old at all.” Unwilling to dirty the new shoes, Luoyan lifted her legs high, “Are they pretty? Pretty, right?”
Zhuyun glanced at the similar Flying Crane embroidery and smiled, “Pretty.”
Luoyan knelt down to rummage through other packages, a bit dissatisfied: “Grandma, you only bought for us.”
“Everyone gets some.” Jia Yufang took out some fabric. “I can make shoes myself, but I don’t know the latest styles. Wearing these will give you a little more spirit.”
She reluctantly accepted this excuse but saw a conflicted expression on Grandma’s face.
After some hesitation, she said, “Sister Yan, that person asked me to pass along a message.”
That person?
Long Aotian, right!