With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

The blood on the flower branch hadn't dried completely; it clung to her fingertips, still warm.

Shen Nannan vaguely recalled her past life—

Every time that man returned from killing someone, he would hug her first.

He held her so tightly that she couldn't breathe.

He never cared about his own injuries, letting the wounds bleed, as if the body wasn't his own.

He was covered in blood and blood, and he held her tightly in his arms, saying, "Nannan, don't run away."

She won't run. There's no way she can escape.

She reached up and touched her lips.

The broken skin still hurts.

"This madman..."

She muttered a curse under her breath, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

"Autumn Rain!" she called out.

Qiu Yu lifted the curtain and came in. Seeing the peach blossoms in her hand, her eyes lit up: "Oh my, who put these here? They're so beautiful!"

Shen Nannan didn't reply, placed the peach blossom on her pillow, threw off the covers and got out of bed: "Where's A-Chao?"

"Going to fetch water."

"Fetch water? What does a guard need to fetch water for?"

Qiu Yu also looked puzzled. "Yesterday, the servants filled a whole vat with water, but it was gone this morning. Ah Chao went to fetch water without saying a word... That's strange."

Shen Nannan paused, "What's wrong?"

I can't quite explain it.

Autumn rain frowned.

"I noticed his hair was still wet at the ends, and that tub of cold water... I'm afraid he used it all up to take a bath, especially in this freezing weather..."

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat.

"Alright, stop overthinking." She waved her hand. "Help me comb my hair."

While combing her hair, she kept thinking about that peach blossom.

He came in at midnight.

She was sleeping so soundly that she didn't hear anything.

But he only placed a peach blossom and did nothing else.

She recalled the soft, warm touch she felt while she was unconscious last night, and her face flushed again.

"Miss, why is your face red?" Qiu Yu looked at her in the mirror.

"It's hot." Shen Nannan looked away. "The weather is nice today."

Qiu Yu looked up at the window—it was a cloudy day, and the wind was quite strong.

"Miss!"

Linglong's voice came from the courtyard gate, panting as she ran, "Miss, Young Master Pei is here!"

Shen Nannan paused for a moment, then asked, "Who did you say?"

"Young Master Pei! Your fiancé!"

Linglong, panting, leaned on her knees: "He's waiting in the front hall, saying he's here to deliver something to the young lady."

Shen Nannan sat still.

Pei Ran.

The name was like a needle, piercing her mind instantly.

The gentle, refined face from her past life appeared before her eyes—he stood before the grand gates of the Pei residence, gently shaking his head at her who had come seeking his help.

"Darling, there's nothing I can do."

She later learned that as soon as news of the Shen family's defeat spread, he severed ties with his father.

Forget childhood sweethearts, forget engaged couples.

all fake.

"Miss?" Linglong looked up at her. "What's wrong?"

Shen Nannan snapped out of her daze and looked down at herself.

I had just woken up, my hair was disheveled, and my nightgown was loose.

"Change your clothes." She threw back the covers and got out of bed. "Take your time."

Qiu Yu was taken aback: "But Young Master Pei is waiting..."

"We'll wait then."

Shen Nannan walked to the dressing table and sat down. "He's a guest, I'm the host. He can wait."

Qiu Yu opened her mouth, wanting to say that you weren't like this before—you used to wish you could fly there whenever you heard that Young Master Pei was coming.

But she didn't dare ask and obediently combed the young lady's hair.

Shen Nannan looked at herself in the bronze mirror.

In her past life, whenever she saw Pei Ran, she would always dress up meticulously, wishing she could wear all her best jewelry on her head.

She really liked him back then, so much so that she thought she would marry no one but him in this lifetime.

"Miss?" Qiu Yu asked hesitantly, holding the hairpin, "What hairstyle should I wear today?"

Shen Nannan looked at her beautiful face in the mirror.

"Whatever," she said.

"They're not that important."

Suddenly something came to mind:

"Call Ah Chao here."

Qiu Yu paused, "Miss?"

"Let him in," Shen Nannan repeated.

"Isn't he one of my family members? Is there a problem with him coming to serve me?"

Qiu Yu blinked, thinking that the young lady today was even stranger than A Chao.

But she still went out.

A moment later, the door was pushed open.

Ah Chao stood at the door, but didn't come in.

Shen Nannan looked at him in the bronze mirror.

Dressed in a black guard uniform, tall and elegant, with a straight back.

His hair was still wet at the ends, and a few strands of dark hair clung to the side of his face, making his face appear even paler and colder.

"come over."

Ah Chao walked over and stood behind her.

Shen Nannan looked in the bronze mirror, picked up a jade hairpin, and compared it to her hair.

"Is it pretty?"

Ah Chao was stunned for a moment.

"You look good in anything, Miss."

Shen Nannan laughed: "You're always good at giving perfunctory answers."

She put down the jade hairpin and picked up a gold hair ornament.

"What about this one?"

Ah Chao glanced at it.

That hair ornament was exquisitely crafted, with delicate tassels hanging from the bottom.

When you put it on, it shakes around with every movement, making your eyes dizzy.

"No good," he said.

Shen Nannan raised an eyebrow: "Why?"

Ah Chao didn't say anything.

Shen Nannan looked at him in the bronze mirror.

He kept his eyes down, his face still expressionless.

He wouldn't tell,

It's too shaky.

She was so striking that people would stare at her.

She defied his wishes and picked up the hairpin, putting it on instead.

Sure enough, the swaying of the hairpin accentuated her beautiful and captivating face.

She casually picked up the lip rouge beside her; its color was vibrant.

Ah Chao suddenly spoke up.

"Does your lip still hurt?"

Shen Nannan: "…………"

She subconsciously raised her hand and touched her lips.

It still hurts.

The pain intensified, especially after seeing that peach blossom in the morning.

"Ah Chao".

"exist."

"That... Peach Blossom," she said, staring into his eyes.

"Did you put it there?"

Ah Chao looked up.

Eyes facing each other.

Those eyes were unfathomable, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Mmm," he responded softly, "I passed by this morning, thought it looked nice, and picked it on a whim."

Shen Nannan looked at him,

"Just for fun?" She took a step closer. "Let me see your hand."

Ah Chao suddenly bent down and looked down to meet her gaze.

He raised his almost healed finger and stretched it out in front of Shen Nannan.

"I got pricked by a thorn while picking flowers for the young lady..."

He looked into her bright eyes.

"It hurts so much..."

Shen Nannan couldn't help but chuckle.

This person, even after having several broken ribs and vomiting blood all night in their past life, was never like this.

This wound should heal by now.

Her eyes crinkled with laughter.

To exaggerate,

"How could you be so careless? Ouch, your skin is all scraped!"

She pulled over Ah Chao's finger, whose scars were barely visible unless you looked closely.

She pouted her little lips and made a "whoosh~ whoosh~" sound.

He blew two breaths in a very professional manner.

A warm, sweet aroma wafted over, and Ah Chao instinctively took a step back.

Along with it, that finger slipped out of Shen Nannan's hand.

Ah Chao felt that he couldn't get any closer. If he did, he wouldn't be able to resist taking a bite.

Seeing his expression, Shen Nannan stopped teasing him.

She turned and walked out.

"I'm gone."

She said, "Come with me to see that guy surnamed Pei."

Ah Chao stood there, watching her back.

Watching her light steps, watching her swaying skirt.

His surname is Pei.

He pressed the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

He lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting darkness in them.

Then he lifted his foot and followed.