She climbed the ladder and shook it, noting it seemed not yet deteriorated. She whispered softly, “If I’m destined, then I’m surely not meant to die, right?”
No one answered. After a moment, she jumped back down.
A few minutes later, the ladder retracted, everything returning to its original state.
Feng stood there, “Second Brother, would you scold me if I take this adventure?”
Of course, no one would answer. She laughed softly, “Since you’re not responding, I’ll take that as your permission.”
Early one morning, before dawn, Qi Wu rose as he did daily. Approaching the kitchen, he noticed a light. Had he forgotten to turn it off last night?
Opening the door, he froze. “Feng?”
In the dim light, Feng was lifting the pot lid and stirring. Rising steam brushed her face. Hearing his voice, she turned, flashing a charming smile.
“You’re here.”
He rushed over for the spatula. “I’ll do this. Be careful not to burn yourself. Are you hungry, is that why you’re up so early?”
Feng dodged his hand, smiling, “Today I’ll cook. Let me show you my skills.”
Qi Wu blocked her, “Let me do it. You can wait outside.”
“Qi Wu,” she looked up, her eyes bright, “Except for my father and brothers, you’ll be the second man to taste my cooking. Don’t you want to try?”
Qi Wu’s hand remained suspended.
Feng confidently moved past him, stirring the porridge and covering the pot.
Qi Wu stood aside, watching her knead dough, make steam buns, wash, and chop vegetables, all with practiced ease.
After cooking, she picked up a cucumber and, sensing his gaze, offered it to him, “Want to taste if it’s seasoned right?”
The food was hot. After putting it in his mouth, Feng blew on her hand, and Qi Wu also sucked in air, causing them both to laugh.
“Just right.”
After laughing, Qi Wu quietly stepped back, his eyes never leaving her. This moment of happiness enveloped him, making him feel warm and wishing it would last forever.
Later, recalling the moment, Si Tu Qi Wu finally understood the nuance of her earlier words.
“Who was the first man?” he asked.
“My ex-boyfriend,” Feng replied without turning.
“Can you tell me why?” he pressed after a long silence.
Feng smiled, unwilling to elaborate, “We just didn’t have fate.”
“I want to know,” he insisted.
Feng looked at him strangely, surprised by his assertiveness. “This has nothing to do with you.”
“How can it not? At least I won’t make the same mistakes,” he argued.
Feng’s hands paused before she said, “You won’t.”
Si Tu Qi Wu’s smile widened, “So, you believe in me that much?”
“I broke up with him because of his mother’s hatred. But you don’t have such a mother.”
Si Tu Qi Wu stared at her, then curved his lips, “Even if I had such a mother, I’d make her understand that no amount of hatred compares to having a daughter-in-law like you.” He leaned close, whispering, “My love can only be mine.”
Feng slipped past him as she lifted the lid, steam blurring her eyes. She said, “Yes, that’s why I said you won’t make the same mistake.”
With the meal served, Qi Wu dramatically inhaled, “Smells amazing!” Feng handed him chopsticks, “Stop pretending. It’s not as good as your cooking.”
Qi Wu drank some porridge, a deep smile on her face, and said, “But I feel this is the most delicious breakfast I’ve ever had.” Ru Feng tapped the bowl, “Eat quickly, stop being pedantic.”
During the meal, Ru Feng focused on eating while Qi Wu savored it with affection, her heart surging with sweetness, as if the porridge were sugared, causing a smile to linger on her lips.
“By the way, you don’t need to bring me lunch today,” Ru Feng said while cleaning bowls. Qi Wu helped wipe the table and stopped when she heard this, “No, not eating on time is bad for your health.” Ru Feng showed the prepared steamed buns and water, “I’ve already prepared everything. Today I need to concentrate, so I won’t come out to eat. I promise I’ll eat lunch.”
“But…
Qi Wu wanted to say more, but Ru Feng interrupted her, “Just this one day!”
Qi Wu laughed, “Okay!” Her tone was playful, and she secretly pinched her leg to remind herself of the reality.
With everything prepared, Ru Feng went to the book pavilion and headed straight to the second floor. A turtle shell was drawn on the table, accompanied by a ladder. Ru Feng pulled herself up with one hand.
The third floor was pitch black. Ru Feng shone her phone around but couldn’t make out anything. “This must be the Si Tu family’s main house. Did the ancestors set traps for their own family?” she thought. After some reflection, she realized the book pavilion was heavily protected, so it wouldn’t have lethal mechanisms.
Feeling more at ease, she moved forward. However, after a while, she noticed something was off. The book pavilion wasn’t large. Having explored the first two floors, the third should be the same size, yet she had been walking for quite some time without reaching an end.
Setting her phone to flashlight mode, she crouched down to observe her surroundings carefully.
Due to limited visibility, she lay on the ground and moved side to side before rubbing her forehead. “Is this necessary? Setting up a Tai Chi Bagua formation here?”
Sweat dripped onto the ground as Ru Feng rubbed her cramping legs. “Are those people really sure the destined family head is me, not my second brother?”
If her second brother were here, these arrangements would be trivial.
She stood up, put her phone back in her bag, and closed her eyes to calm her breathing before stepping out according to the formation.
She was neither anxious nor impatient, listening and thinking before taking a step. What her second brother had taught her was something she had sketched during her illness, which sparked her interest. Over the years, she diligently researched related books she found in her father’s study and became quite proficient.
Though Qi Feng was also skilled, he lacked the focus that Ru Feng had in this formation. In her heart, she viewed Si Tu Qi Feng as omnipotent, attributing her skills to his teachings. Yet, she recognized that any skill ultimately depends on individual effort and talent.
After walking in the darkness for an unknown time, a light appeared.
Ru Feng opened her eyes and found herself on the third floor. She felt relieved, but before she could smile, she sensed a wind behind her. Almost instinctively, she bent down and stepped sideways. As she regained her balance, another gust shot toward her. She rolled several times, hearing arrows fall to the ground.
Wiping her sweat, she couldn’t suppress her fear and anger. “What era is this, still using such…” Before she could finish, she felt movement under her feet. Jumping up, she saw three more arrows shooting at her in a triangular formation.
She turned to meet them, grabbing one arrow in each hand. The third arrow “pierced” her calf, and she fell to her knees. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as she bit her teeth, enduring the pain before pulling out the arrow. Fortunately, it had only struck her calf. She tore the inner lining of her coat to bind the wound and managed to stand.
Originally just wanting to take a look, this incident sparked her determination. If they didn’t want her to see, she would definitely see. The room was bright, with windows on all four sides, arranged almost too neatly, resembling a bedroom.
In the corner, there was a bed.
Ru Feng had just walked two steps when she heard something shooting from above. She jumped and lunged forward, narrowly avoiding two descending blades. “Still playing?” she muttered, her teeth nearly gnashing.
From the stairway to the middle of the room was only ten steps, but Ru Feng had rolled and dodged several times, looking quite disheveled.
