“Miss Ru Feng,” the door opened gently as Situ Qiwu entered with a tray. “I made porridge and side dishes. Have some; you’ve been hungry all day.”
The dishes were delicate, and Ru Feng smiled. “It smells good.”
“You’re hungry, so everything seems delicious.” He placed the items on the table, checking the temperature before handing her a bowl. “Eat slowly.”
“Did you make this?” Ru Feng asked.
“Yes, because I know your taste.”
Ru Feng looked at him, and his face turned slightly red. “Everyone tells me what you like to eat.”
She lowered her eyes. “Living for someone else, don’t you think that’s worthless?”
“No, Miss Ru Feng. I’m happy that I can do this for you.”
“His voice was low.
Ru Feng remained silent, focused on eating. Strangely, no matter how much she ate, she still felt hungry. Even after finishing her meal, this sense of hunger did not diminish.
Situ Qiwu observed her unsatisfied appearance and smiled, “You’ve been hungry for too long; you can’t eat too much at once. After eating, go for a walk!”
Her mind was chaotic, her second brother’s words spinning in her thoughts. Ru Feng nodded; she did need to walk and clear her mind.
The setting sun draped a pale red veil over the landscape, casting a soft haze. While walking in the bamboo forest, she froze upon seeing her second brother and Qi Feng talking on a small slope. They weren’t particularly intimate, but the smile on her second brother’s face was gentle, reserved only for her.
Qi Feng shared interesting childhood stories, and her second brother listened intently, occasionally interjecting.
“Second Brother!” she called out.
They turned, and her second brother smiled, waving, “Feng’er, come down and join our chat.”
As she approached, her second brother said to Qi Feng with a smile, “My sister loves listening to stories.”
Qi Feng smiled brightly, “Then when you tell stories to your children, you can let your sister listen too.”
“
Qi Feng replied, “So I want to find a wife who can tell stories, to satisfy both my sister and my children.”
A blush crossed Qi Feng’s face as she glanced at him, “It sounds like you’ll be a good brother and father.”
He smiled, adding, “Of course, I’ll also be a good husband.”
As their conversation grew more engaging, Ru Feng’s heart grew anxious. Her second brother still saw her as his beloved sister, yet her heart ached.
Seeing him laugh with other women, receiving their flirtatious glances, was painful. Ru Feng imagined a day when he would walk with another woman, introducing her as “my sister,” while someone else would hear his heartbeat and share his embrace.
Just thinking about this made her heart ache.
“Miss Ru Feng!” A shadow fell beside her; it was Situ Qiwu. “Shall we go somewhere else?”
Her second brother glanced at them and habitually patted her head, “Go, play with Qiwu.”
Before she could respond, Situ Qiwu pulled her away. Ru Feng looked back at her second brother, but his gaze quickly returned to Qi Feng, leaving her with an indescribable feeling as she followed Situ Qiwu in a daze.
Suddenly feeling warmth on her face, she came to her senses and realized they were standing extremely close, close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Situ Qiwu’s lips had just moved from her face, his eyes sparkling, “Ru Feng, I like you!”
She quickly stepped back, angry and annoyed, “What are you doing?”
Situ Qiwu repeated, “I like you,” as he took a step closer. His face, like white jade with a slight blush, and his eyes filled with light, drew her in.
He leaned in, his thin lips slightly parted, “I belong to you.”
These words seemed to have endless magical power, full of temptation. The heat drew closer…
Her legs felt frozen, yet her mind cleared.
Not him, not him!
Ru Feng pushed out with both hands but encountered only air.
The surrounding scenery vanished, leaving her at the edge of the family mansion’s garden.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned around. Four elders emerged, their expressions complex.
Ru Feng realized, “Was that just an illusion?”
Cang Hai nodded slightly, “Yes, that was an illusion.”
“You probed my thoughts?” Ru Feng’s tone turned cold.
“No, this is the Situ family’s mirror of illusion.”
Everyone who wants to become the family head must pass this test, overcoming inner fears and unraveling their deepest knots,” Cang Hai said. “Your heart’s knot has been untied, hasn’t it?”
Ru Feng was stunned, but her expression softened, revealing a hint of joy.
Indeed, without this experience, she wouldn’t have realized that her feelings for her second brother were not mere acceptance. Despite other options, she still wanted to spend her life with him. This was her greatest gain.
Cang Hai seemed to perceive her thoughts, “Everything inside was fake, but Qiwu was real.”
Heroes struggle with love, and women are often more entangled in worldly emotions. The Situ family heads are paired with a companion chosen from childhood, known as Qiwu. After marriage, they regain their original names, and the elders select the next Qiwu.
“Qiwu exists solely for the family head, raised with this purpose from childhood.”
Ru Feng clenched her fist, “Was my eldest brother’s mother the companion chosen for my father?”
A heavy melancholy crossed Cang Hai’s face, “Yes. Her persistence and my father’s refusal led to her despair. We now focus on cultivating Qiwu to be pure and unquestioning, deferring to your wishes even to the point of self-sacrifice.”
Ru Feng shook her head, thinking of Situ Qiwu, “This is too cruel! I’ve never even met him. Even if you sculpted him according to my preferences, I wouldn’t fall in love just because he’s suitable. My heart already belongs to another.”
Feeling panic, Qi Wu stepped forward to grab her hand but instead grasped her clothing. “Tonight, I’ll trigger the mechanisms in the main house. You can sneak into the study hall during the chaos. I’ve never been inside, but I think what you want is on the top floor.”
He pulled out a paper and stuffed it into her hand. “I only have a map to the study hall. Once you’re inside, you’ll have to rely on yourself.”
Ru Feng looked at the map in her palm, silent for a long moment. Qi Wu grew anxious, “Don’t worry, there won’t be much danger. Only insiders can reach the study hall, so it shouldn’t be life-threatening. Just be careful.”
Ru Feng asked, “What punishment will you face?”
Realizing she was worried about him, Qi Wu smiled brightly, “The elders won’t do anything to me.”
At most, I’ll kneel and take two lashes. It’s nothing.”
“Why are you helping me like this?” They had known each other for less than a week, and she truly couldn’t understand such outright trust and sacrifice.
Si Tu Qi Wu laughed, “I wanted to help, so I helped.”
Ru Feng smiled back, “Those people have taught you well. Your future lover will definitely be very happy. I wish you well.”
Taking a deep breath, she handed the item back to him. “Although I care for my second brother, I cannot ensure his safety by sacrificing another person.”
She wasn’t foolish. Those old men were rigid, and if Si Tu Qi Wu truly did this for her, it wouldn’t be simple.
He had already lived many years for her. If she couldn’t accept it, how could she add more debt?
“I…” Si Tu Qi Wu wanted to say something more but couldn’t, as she had already walked away, leaving only her silhouette.
His belief had once been just a shadow, a name. But when the owner of that name appeared, it became clear and bright.
He covered his heart, feeling a dull pain that wasn’t sharp.
Perhaps this was his reaction to something he had persisted in for years suddenly vanishing.
