Not wanting to expose Xu Lanmeng, Yun Yueqin replied, “I hitched a ride on someone who was about to die.”
It was a common occurrence in hospitals.
People on the verge of death, or those suffering from severe illnesses, had weakened soul bodies that were easy to possess. It was much like how someone with a high fever could easily be invaded by malevolent spirits.
Some ghosts trapped by their suicide sites used this method. Once their family took them out of the hospital, the barrier of the suicide location no longer affected them, allowing the ghosts to go anywhere they pleased.
The only catch was that if they were caught, the punishment would be even harsher.
It didn’t matter to Yun Yueqin. From the day Xu Lanmeng had taken her away from the hospital, she had decided to catch one glimpse of Yun Chun before vanishing on her own. No matter how severe the punishment, she would accept it—as long as she could see Yun Chun just once.
Xu Lanmeng often said she was too bound by outdated rules.
And she truly was that kind of person.
If someone asked why she didn’t just possess a dying person’s body like those other ghosts—allowing her to see Yun Chun before Xu Lanmeng found her—Yun Yueqin had considered it. But the moment she saw those people writhing in agony, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She wanted to see Yun Chun, but only if it didn’t harm anyone else.
So she had endured endless darkness and loneliness alone… until Xu Lanmeng appeared.
Qian Shan laughed at Yun Yueqin’s words. “Honest, aren’t you?”
“I enjoyed the show you put on, but rules are rules. You escaped your place of punishment without authorization. You should be sent to Hell.”
Qian Shan casually raised her hand, as if preparing to send Yun Yueqin to Hell for judgment.
Just as the Gate of Hell began to crack open, Lu Qingxue flicked her finger. A spell shot forth, sealing the thin fissure in the gate.
Then it vanished completely.
Qian Shan narrowed her eyes at Lu Qingxue. Lu Qingxue’s calm voice rang out: “This is my jurisdiction. How she’s handled is my business. No need for you to trouble yourself, milady.”
Qian Shan rolled her eyes. “You’re under my command. Do I really need to worry about jurisdictional boundaries when I want to deal with someone?”
Lu Qingxue shifted slightly, her white gown flowing gracefully like feathers in the wind. She curled her lips. “In that case, why don’t you handle all the big and small matters in this area from now on, milady?”
Qian Shan raised an eyebrow. “Lu Qingxue, you should be placating me right now, not talking back.”
Lu Qingxue replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “I’m just saying—if you’re so quick to handle ghosts in my jurisdiction, what use am I? I have my reasons for keeping her around. Dealing with her is just a matter of time. Why trouble yourself, milady?”
“Heh.”
Qian Shan let out a cold laugh. “If I hadn’t overheard your little chat just now, I might have fallen for that. She’s that human’s mother. Given your current relationship, doesn’t that make her your mother-in-law too? Are you keeping her for some use, or are you afraid of breaking that human’s heart if you deal with her? You think I don’t know?”
Lu Qingxue remained calm and composed, replying softly, “That’s my business too, milady. No need to waste your breath.”
Standing behind Lu Qingxue, Yun Yueqin heard every word of the exchange between her and Qian Shan. Qian Shan’s status was clearly higher than Lu Qingxue’s, yet Lu Qingxue wasn’t afraid to stand her ground. Yun Yueqin felt deep gratitude for Lu Qingxue’s protection. Her lips trembled, and she called out, “Little Snow…”
Lu Qingxue took Yun Yueqin’s words as a sign of fear. She discreetly reached back and patted Yun Yueqin’s body reassuringly, signaling her not to worry. At the same time, she kept her tone even as she addressed Qian Shan. “If you’re here to drink with me, milady, wait until I handle this matter. I’ll come to your residence later?”
Qian Shan’s lips curved upward at that. “Trying to shoo me away?”
With a turn, she plopped down on the sofa. The bells on her ankles jingled. “I want to watch the show a bit longer.”
Lu Qingxue said softly, “I haven’t set up a stage here, milady. I’m afraid there’s no show for you.”
“Then forget the show. Watch me win instead.”
Qian Shan chuckled lowly. Her gaze flicked toward the door as she heard the sound of footsteps racing up the stairs. She looked at Lu Qingxue, her tone lilting. “Don’t cry when you lose, okay~”
With that, Qian Shan vanished from sight.
Yun Yueqin couldn’t see her and assumed she’d left. Her lips parted slightly as she asked Lu Qingxue, “What bet?”
Lu Qingxue, who had frowned at Qian Shan’s parting words, glanced at where Qian Shan sat. Her brows gradually relaxed.
Since Qian Shan wasn’t making a move, Yun Yueqin was safe for the time being.
One could trust Qian Shan’s character on that front.
Addressing Yun Yueqin’s question, she turned slowly. “It’s nothing.”
Lu Qingxue continued, “Let me send you back.”
Only by returning to Xu Lanmeng’s side would Yun Yueqin truly be safe.
Qian Shan’s sudden appearance had shattered the mood.
And Lu Qingxue’s actions had also stopped Yun Yueqin from kneeling to plead her case.
Yun Yueqin looked at Lu Qingxue, her mouth opening and closing. The plea she’d meant to voice wouldn’t come. Instead, she asked softly, “What about Little Yun…?”
Lu Qingxue’s eyes flickered. After pondering for a few seconds, she told Yun Yueqin, “Aunt Qin, give me five more days. By then, I’ll have an answer for you.”
Just five days.
Once those five days passed, if she could turn back into a human, she could stand openly at Little Darling’s side.
If not… Lu Qingxue’s eyelids drooped halfway as she recalled Yun Yueqin’s bent knee. If not, then… she’d deal with it when the time came.
She still couldn’t bring herself to leave Yun Chun.
Yun Yueqin let out a breath of relief at her words. The tension in her heart eased a little. What had just happened only deepened her favorable impression of Lu Qingxue. She trusted her.
She could wait five days.
Just as Yun Yueqin nodded, ready to agree, she heard a noise from the direction of the door.
It sounded like the key wasn’t fitting into the lock—probably from haste.
Lu Qingxue heard it too. She was surprised that Yun Chun was back so early. Hadn’t she said that morning she’d be late and that Lu Qingxue didn’t need to prepare dinner?
In that moment of distraction, the door was pushed open from outside.
The first thing Yun Chun saw upon entering was Yun Yueqin. The anxiety weighing on her heart finally settled. Good. She was still here.
Next, Yun Chun spotted Lu Qingxue standing opposite Yun Yueqin. Without a second thought, she bolted toward them, darting forward in one stride to wedge herself between them. She stood in front of Yun Yueqin, lips pressed thin, staring wordlessly at Lu Qingxue.
Lu Qingxue had just spotted Yun Chun’s return and hadn’t even had time to call out “Little Darling” before the scene before her left her stunned.
Especially…
Yun Chun stood silently in front of Yun Yueqin, her dark eyes fixed intently on Lu Qingxue, brimming with wariness.
Yun Chun was guarding against her.
Realizing this, Lu Qingxue’s upturned lips pressed into a line.
The light shimmering in her eyes dimmed gradually as Yun Chun’s mouth tightened further.
Meanwhile, Yun Chun’s thoughts were still consumed with worry for Yun Yueqin. Her flustered state prevented her from noticing the change in Lu Qingxue’s gaze—or even her own actions.
Protecting Yun Yueqin was simply her instinct.
She hadn’t had time to think it through.
Yet that instinctive reaction pierced Lu Qingxue deeply.
Even without organs in her body, she felt a sudden pang of pain.
The worst of it… throbbed in her heart.
Xu Lanmeng followed Yun Chun inside. Seeing the scene, she didn’t hesitate. She swiftly raised her wrist, revealing the bracelet. In that instant, Yun Yueqin vanished from behind Yun Chun.
On the sofa, Qian Shan glanced at Xu Lanmeng. She huffed inwardly. She’d thought she was dealing with an honest one, but she was a liar too.
She could tell now that Yun Yueqin hadn’t left her punishment site the way she’d claimed.
Humans were just so dishonest.
So unlikable.
Lu Qingxue was far more entertaining.
She said what she meant.
And going toe-to-toe with her, even making her angry—it was a talent that added spice to Qian Shan’s otherwise dull existence.
Qian Shan’s brows lifted. Soon, her life wouldn’t be so boring anymore.
With that thought, her gaze locked intently on them.
Realizing Yun Yueqin had been taken back by Xu Lanmeng, Yun Chun’s taut nerves finally relaxed. She turned to Xu Lanmeng, who seemed in a foul mood. In a low voice, Xu Lanmeng said to them, “You two talk. I’m heading out.”
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and left.
The door clicked shut with a crisp, moderate snap.
The sound made Yun Chun’s heart inexplicably quicken by a couple beats. She dismissed it as fatigue from rushing up the stairs.
The room fell utterly quiet, so still that Yun Chun could hear her own breathing.
As she steadied her breath, her gaze slowly turned toward Lu Qingxue.
“Sister Qingxue…” she called out, and Lu Qingxue lifted her gaze to meet hers.
Those eyes, devoid of any emotion, made Yun Chun’s heart quiver.
She hesitated before speaking. “I can explain.”
She assumed Lu Qingxue was upset about Yun Yueqin.
But Lu Qingxue thought Yun Chun was about to explain why she had planted herself in front of Yun Yueqin the moment she walked in, guarding her like an enemy.
Lu Qingxue was willing to give Yun Chun a chance. She lifted her lowered eyelids slightly and asked in a hoarse voice, “How do you explain it?”
Yun Chun’s tongue flicked across her lips. She had driven back in a mad rush, her anxiety leaving her body weak and drained. But she pushed that aside. After gathering her thoughts, she said slowly, “Before I left the country, Auntie Xu had already found my mother. The only reason I went to her house was to see Mom. I kept it from you and didn’t tell you because I learned something about you, so…”
Lu Qingxue’s dangling hand clenched tight, and a bitter smile rose in her heart.
So, she had been on guard against her.
That much, Lu Qingxue could understand.
What she couldn’t accept was how Yun Chun had just positioned herself in front of Yun Yueqin like she was warding off some villain. Did Yun Chun have no trust in her at all?
“Don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to,” Yun Chun said.
Lu Qingxue’s lowered gaze fell to the floor.
She had been standing on the boundary between light and shadow before, her path to light or darkness decided by the sun.
But now, the sun didn’t know where it had gone.
The floor no longer held that orange-gold light.
Only dull gray darkness remained.
And it grew darker by the moment.
Yun Chun received no response after she finished speaking. After a few seconds of pause, she called out, “Sister Qingxue.”
Lu Qingxue raised her head slightly. The look she directed at Yun Chun hid a deep gloom.
And the words Yun Chun spoke next convinced Lu Qingxue that she had stepped into the darkness, never to emerge.
The sun apparently wasn’t her sun.
It wouldn’t tilt in her favor.
Yun Chun said, “Let’s burn that marriage certificate.”
