Leaving Yu Xin’s room, Yu Yi said softly: “It’s all my fault. I knew she was sad but didn’t watch over her, leading to this situation.”
Meng Qing consoled her: “If she truly wanted to commit suicide, you and your mother’s prevention would be useless, unless you kept her like a prisoner. But that would be detrimental to her psychological recovery. You should help her process her pain, not constantly watch her. It may sound heartless, but she must face her past herself. Without confronting it, she cannot move forward.”
Yu Yi thought for a moment, then said: “I’ll stay with Xin-mei these days and won’t do any tasks.”
Meng Qing replied: “You should.”
While doing needlework in Yu Xin’s room, Yu Song-shi turned and saw Yu Xin’s eyes open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Joyfully, she said: “Xin-er, you’re awake?”
Yu Xin had been awake for a while but didn’t turn or move her eyes, showing no interest in her surroundings.
Her throat hurt, and her heart felt empty.
Seeing her like this, Yu Song-shi felt heartbroken. After a few attempts to comfort her with no response, she sighed and stopped trying.
For several days, Yu Yi, her mother, and Yu Wan took turns staying with Yu Xin. Apart from eating, Yu Xin remained lying down, not saying a word. No matter what they said, she remained silent, and Yu Yi couldn’t even be sure if she heard her.
At night, Yu Yi dared not fall asleep, always watching Yu Xin. If Yu Xin so much as turned, she would open her eyes to check, only relaxing and dozing off once she confirmed Yu Xin was still asleep.
During the day, she would rest briefly in her room after her mother took over.
One night, Yu Yi heard Yu Xin crying softly. She embraced her and whispered, “Xin-mei, if you have any thoughts, tell your Yi-jie. It’s better to speak than to keep them inside.”
Yu Xin did not speak, only bursting into loud sobs. Yu Yi hugged her tenderly, gently stroking her back and softly comforting her: “Xin, our parents are gone now. Whether it’s our mother or us sisters, we’ve already lost too many loved ones. We can’t bear to lose anyone else. Xin, you must live on, we all must live on.”
Yu Xin cried, “Elder Sister Yi, I don’t want to make you sad, but I don’t know how I’ll live from now on. What will I do? I don’t know…”
Yu Yi spoke softly: “It’s okay if we can’t see clearly what will happen next. As long as we live, things will get better. You must believe your sister. I will definitely take care of all of you.”
Yu Xin nodded in her embrace, gradually stopping her crying, and after sobbing for a while, fell into a deep sleep.
Early that morning, Yu Yi got up and said to Yu Xin: “Xin, the weather is nice today. Let’s go out for a walk together.” Yu Xin’s injuries were fading, and with winter clothing, they were no longer conspicuous. It was time to take her out and help her relax a bit.
Yu Xin nodded silently. Yu Yi felt somewhat relieved seeing her willing to go out.
The sisters walked out of the courtyard, strolling along a small stream.
In winter, the water level was low, smooth pebbles exposed beneath the surface, with only a thin stream trickling between the stones, making a soft murmuring sound.
Yu Yi took out a pink diamond brooch she had bought during her last mission in the time-space realm, showing it to Yu Xin: “Xin, look how beautiful this is.”
Yu Xin took it, quietly examined it in her palm before returning it to Yu Yi, speaking softly: “It’s beautiful.”
Yu Yi smiled: “It’s yours.”
Yu Xin was stunned, slowly withdrawing her hand, lowering her head to play with the brooch. After a moment, she asked: “Where do I wear this?”
Yu Yi replied: “It’s a brooch, you can pin it on your clothes. If you like, I can have a jeweler modify it into a hairpin for you.”
Yu Xin gave a light “Mm.”
Yu Yi thought for a moment: “Why wait? Let’s do it today.”
Yu Xin nodded. Yu Yi then pulled her back to the main courtyard, asked Fu Cheng to prepare the carriage, and told Yu Song that they were going to Long City. Yu Song suggested: “That’s good. Why not let Young Master Meng accompany you?”
Yu Yi declined: “We sisters want to talk privately. We don’t need him to come.”
Yu Song was slightly worried, but Yu Yi had already pulled Yu Xin away.
He looked up and saw Yu Yi and Yu Xin, and couldn’t help but pause, thinking to himself that these two women were beautiful, most likely sisters, with remarkably similar appearances yet distinct differences. The slightly older one had striking features and a fierce gaze, while the younger one was more gentle and soft, but both were attractive in their own way.
Yu Xin laughed softly, already feeling embarrassed, and when she noticed the man looking over, she quickly covered her mouth. Yu Yi pretended not to notice the man in the luxurious robe staring at them and led Yu Xin downstairs.
As they passed by the man in the luxurious robe, Yu Yi noticed he was still staring at them. She avoided his gaze and went straight downstairs. The man in the luxurious robe was not satisfied with just staring and followed them downstairs, asking, “May I know which family you ladies belong to?”
Yu Yi ignored him, leading Yu Xin out of the Yipin Pavilion and urging Fu Cheng to drive them away quickly.
The carriage arrived at the previous jewelry shop.
Yu Yi and Yu Xin got off, and the shopkeeper immediately took out a hairpin from under the counter: “Ladies, is this to your satisfaction?”
Yu Yi examined it. Although it was a rush modification, the craftsmanship was meticulous. The small pink flower was seamlessly attached to the silver hairpin, with delicate silver threads hanging below, looking nothing like a modified piece. She praised, “Shopkeeper, your craftsmanship is truly excellent.”
“You’re too kind, miss,” the shopkeeper replied.
Yu Yi paid for the hairpin and inserted it into Yu Xin’s hair with a smile. “Let’s go.”
Leaving the jewelry shop, Yu Yi’s smile disappeared because another carriage was parked behind theirs, and the curtain of the luxurious robe’s carriage was raised, revealing the man who had rolled down the stairs at Yipin Pavilion now grinning at them.
Yu Yi’s face darkened. She had Yu Xin board the carriage first, then followed and closed the door to block the man’s view. “Brother Fu, let’s return to the manor.”
“Right away, Young Mistress and Third Miss, please sit tight,” Fu Cheng, who had been waiting outside the jewelry shop, noticed the frivolous man behind them and glared at him several times. Now, with Yu Yi’s instruction, he cracked the whip and urged the horses to run.
After a short while, Yu Yi peeked through the carriage door and saw the man’s luxurious carriage still closely following them, causing her to furrow her brow. Yu Yi had wanted to treat Yu Xin to a nice meal during this rare outing, which was why they went to Yipin Pavilion, but now she was beginning to regret it.
Yu Yi had already decided that if this frivolous young master followed them for a while and then turned back, she would let it go. But if he dared to follow them out of the city, she would make him suffer.
The man in the luxurious robe originally intended to follow them to find out where they were going, but saw their carriage heading towards the city gates. He quietly instructed his coachman.
After receiving the order, the coachman whipped the horses painfully, increasing their speed and quickly catching up to Yu Yi’s carriage from the right side.
Fu Cheng also urged his horses to run, but unexpectedly, the luxurious robe’s carriage suddenly swerved, diagonally blocking Yu Yi’s carriage. Fu Cheng couldn’t stop in time and pulled the reins to avoid left, but due to the close proximity, their carriage still collided with the luxurious robe’s carriage.
Instantly, both carriages began to shake violently.
