In the past, when Ran Yan worked as a forensic doctor, she sometimes had to rush her work so much that she would eat breakfast while observing corpses, and managing to eat after completing the autopsies was a luxury.
Ran Yan was so starved that after washing her hands and face, she sat back down and quietly began eating, doing so quickly but without losing manners.
Liu Pinrang and Xiao Song watched her with surprise on their faces. While Ran Yan ate, she noticed everyone’s gaze, felt she was behaving too out of the ordinary, and silently put down her chopsticks. With a rushed manner, as though she were about to vomit, she said, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to Yingmei Temple first, excuse me."
Having said this, she bowed slightly and hurriedly left with Wan Lu and Ge Lan.
Xiao Song’s hearty laughter could be heard from the courtyard, causing Ran Yan’s face to burn with embarrassment, and she quickened her pace.
During her return, Ran Yan deliberately avoided the library. Although she felt no affection for Sang Chen and believed rejecting him was not wrong, she somehow felt shaky inside, guilty as if she had harmed a sincere heart, and felt too ashamed to meet him again. Yet, even so, if given another chance, she would reject him again, following her true feelings.
The truth was that Ran Yan had no special someone in her heart. She could marry Sang Chen out of obligation, yet she believed that someone like him deserved a woman who truly cared for him, someone who would share his life through thick and thin, a woman who was attentive and capable, not someone impassive like herself. More importantly, she didn’t understand him, and in turn, Sang Chen likely didn’t grasp her thoughts either.
"Seventeen Niang still can’t disguise herself well." Xiao Song, leaning on the back doorway, watched her with a smile, appearing unexpectedly.
Ran Yan looked around, thinking, how did he get here so quickly, as if he’d flown?
Sensing her confusion, Xiao Song said, "The shortest path is from the library. I guessed you wouldn’t take that way."
He observed her guarded expression, produced a piece of paper from his sleeve, held it up to her, and said, "This is a vow of oath, signed by Inspector Liu."
Ran Yan, having rushed out, had forgotten about this matter. She took the paper, read it thoroughly by the light of the lantern several times, found no traps, and then folded it into her sleeve pocket, uttering, "Thank you."
Xiao Song smiled noncommitally and said, "Let me escort you back. I also have a few things to say."
Ran Yan studied him intently for a couple of seconds but ultimately could not find any flaw in his perfectly veiled countenance. "Alright."
The two walked side by side out of Yuncong Temple.
The moon shone brightly and stars scattered thinly across the sky, fluttering leaves blurred their silhouettes into indistinct shapes. Ge Lan and Wan Lu followed two yards behind them.
Xiao Song caught a glimpse of a fallen leaf landing on her head and then sliding down to her embroidered clothes. He wanted to reach out and remove it but clenched the hand behind his back, resisting the impulse, and watched the faint mist of her breath as he asked, "Are you cold?"
Ran Yan paused, then shook her head.
"Seventeen Niang," Xiao Song’s smile faded slightly, and he spoke earnestly, "You are well acquainted with Su Fu, aren’t you?"
Ran Yan stumbled at his words, but Xiao Song quickly reached out to steady her, his palm lingering imperceptibly on her slender waist for a moment before retreating.
"I stepped on a vine," Ran Yan said as she kicked at a tree root, masking the truth once more.
Xiao Song let out a laugh, and the warm air from his handsome lips spread into the coolness. "You know, you don’t have to try to deceive me with such poor subterfuge. When you want to fool others, you have to first fool yourself. For example, if you pretend you don’t know Su Fu, then in your heart, you have to be convinced you don’t know him, forget his appearance, his identity, his name, as if you’ve never met him. Understand?"
"What are you really trying to say?" Ran Yan felt a rush of embarrassment at being exposed, and a tinge of worry deep inside. Xiao Song had not known Su Fu’s true identity until recently, but now he even knew his name. If Xiao Song wanted to arrest Su Fu, it would be much easier now.
"Just a word of caution. Su Fu is the Court’s most wanted fugitive. The further away you stay from him, the better." Xiao Song’s eyebrows lifted slightly in a self-mocking tone. "I rarely offer goodwill, believe it or not. Sang Chen might be a bit stubborn, but at least he’s a legitimate gentleman from a good family. He’s more suitable for a lady of good standing than Su Fu is..."
"Didn’t you find him quite disagreeable?" Ran Yan felt a sense of relief. Xiao Song, after all, had not revealed Su Fu’s true identity.