The temperamental white moonlight is back, and the entire Marquis's family obediently calls him

"An'an, you're finally here! I've prepared lunch. Come and try it, see if it's something you like."

As soon as Zhou Ming'an entered the courtyard, Chu Yuan'er took his arm and led him into the house.

Sure enough, the table was full of Zhou Ming'an's favorite dishes.

"Thank you so much, Aunt Chu. It's been so many years, and you still remember what I like to eat."

The two sat down with smiles. Chu Yuan'er served him a few bites of food before casually mentioning, "By the way, I just went to take a look at Mu Qiu."

Zhou Ming'an paused, then quickly looked up at her.

"Did Aunt Chu go to see my sister-in-law? How is she? Did she say anything?"

Chu Yuan'er sighed: "She's still resting in bed. She seems fine on the surface, but her expression changes whenever I mention you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming'an paused, feeling as if his heart was being torn apart.

Yes, she almost got her sister-in-law into trouble yesterday, no wonder her sister-in-law wouldn't want to mention her.

Chu Yuan'er handed her a cup of tea and said regretfully, "You two sisters-in-law used to have a very good relationship, it's a pity that something like this happened. But don't worry, I'll go see her often these days, and maybe she'll be fine once she calms down. Your sister-in-law isn't the type to hold grudges."

Zhou Ming'an nodded, finding the meal utterly tasteless.

Chu Yuan'er spoke to her for a while longer before letting her leave.

On his way back to the hospital, Zhou Ming'an was preoccupied with worries. The negative emotions he had released during martial arts practice that morning all came rushing back.

"Miss Ming'an?"

As she was walking, she suddenly heard a familiar voice not far in front of her.

Zhou looked up and saw Liu Muyuan standing not far away, smiling at her with some surprise.

Zhou Ming'an was also quite surprised. She subconsciously glanced at her clothes to make sure everything was in accordance with the rules before gracefully walking over: "Young Master Liu, what are you doing here?"

Liu Muyuan smiled gently, "I heard that my sister is pregnant, so I came to stay for a while and talk to her often, which makes her happier."

When Zhou Ming'an mentioned his sister-in-law again, his smile became somewhat stiff.

But Liu Muyuan seemed to see through her thoughts and said gently, "I've heard about what happened yesterday, but my sister and I both know you didn't mean it, so don't take it to heart."

"I told my sister that you are a kind-hearted girl, and my sister was very moved. She was thinking of visiting you again when she felt better."

These words, spoken by an outsider, have a different effect than those spoken by Liu Muqiu's own brother.

A glimmer of hope flashed in Zhou Ming'an's eyes.

"Did my sister-in-law really say that?"

Liu Muyuan smiled, his eyes crinkling slightly: "Of course it's true!"

Zhou Ming'an felt a weight lifted from his heart, but his nose began to sting and his eyes welled up with tears.

The moment the tears fell, she quickly turned her head away, not wanting Liu Muyuan to see her embarrassing situation.

But the next moment, the boy in front of her handed her a handkerchief: "Don't cry."

Seeing you cry makes me feel bad too.

Zhou Ming'an quickly wiped away his tears and said, choking back sobs, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have cried in front of you. Did I upset you?"

"No," Liu Muyuan lowered his head, his voice steady, with a hint of tenderness, "I just don't want to see the person I like sad, that's all."

"..."

Zhou Ming'an opened his mouth, his eyes darting away.

She recalled the things Liu Muyuan had said when they last met.

"Actually, I haven't forgotten what Young Master Liu said last time, but..."

Liu Muyuan said softly, "Miss Ming'an, I'm not in a hurry for an answer."

"I know I'm not qualified to propose to you right now, but as long as you don't hate me, that's enough for me. One day, I will definitely be worthy of you. Even if it means crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, I will come to you."

A fourteen-year-old girl is easily swayed by such sweet words; a few words are enough to make her blush like a ripe apple.

Zhou Ming'an's heart raced, but then she remembered her mother's words and felt that their hopes were still slim.

Zhou Ming'an bit his lip and said resolutely, "But Young Master Liu, even if I truly have feelings for you, even if you pass the imperial examinations in the future, my mother may not agree to us being together."

"Perhaps she will marry me off to someone else in a few days, or perhaps she will deliberately delay my marriage until I become an old maid... I can't even see my own future, so I really don't want to hold you back. A good man like you deserves a better match."

Liu Muyuan: "So, Miss An, you're not completely indifferent to me, are you?"

Zhou Ming'an didn't expect Liu Muyuan to focus on this.

She paused, then nodded hesitantly.

"That's enough."

Liu Muyuan smiled, as if he had gained immense satisfaction and comfort from Zhou Ming'an's words: "If love between two people is meant to last, why should they be together every day and night?"

"As long as my heart is with the girl, I can wait no matter how long it takes. What if I never marry in this lifetime? As long as I know that the girl has me in her heart, this lifetime will be worthwhile."

"after all……"

Liu Muyuan paused, his eyes growing more affectionate: "Time flows by like water, fleeting and ephemeral, where can one find such beauty again..."

Zhou Ming'an was taken aback by Liu Muyuan's words. After regaining her senses, she quickly lowered her head and said, "I...I'll go back first..."

Zhou Ming'an hurriedly brushed past him.

As Liu Muyuan watched Zhou Ming'an's retreating figure, the slightly infatuated smile on his face gradually faded, and a complex emotion flashed in his calm eyes.

He wasn't sure if what he was doing was right or wrong.

All he knew was that this was his only path.

Therefore, at this moment, he could only firmly believe that he was right.

"Miss, wait for me!"

Cuilan followed behind Zhou Ming'an, her eyes full of confusion: "You and Young Master Liu were talking so well, why did you suddenly run away? I don't think what Young Master Liu said was wrong."

"And those two lines of poetry that Young Master Liu recited, I didn't understand them, but I thought they sounded beautiful."

Zhou Ming'an didn't turn his head, muttering under his breath, "What do you know..."

She touched her burning cheeks, feeling her heart pounding even harder.

"Liu Muyuan's last line of poetry comes from 'The Romance of the Western Chamber'... the book you brought back from outside this summer."

These kinds of books were not meant for a young lady like her to read, but she had read them anyway.

Liu Muyuan had also read it.

It was as if by some unseen force that they shared similar tastes and the same longing for love.

However, Liu Muyuan's almost confessional words and overly intense affection made Zhou Ming'an somewhat overwhelmed.

Cuilan suddenly realized, "So that's how it is! Although I haven't read it, I roughly know the story. If that's the case, then Young Master Liu is Zhang Sheng, and the young lady is Cui Yingying, so this servant... wouldn't I be Hongniang?"

Cuilan deliberately dragged out the sound, her eyes filled with a hint of mischief.

"What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat? Be careful, or I'll tell Mother, and you'll be in big trouble." Zhou Ming'an stomped her foot angrily, her face turning even redder.

The two chased and played for a while, but Cuilan couldn't run anymore and begged for mercy.

"Good girl, I was wrong."

"However, to be honest, I don't want you and Young Master Liu to go through so many hardships before you finally become a couple."

"Don't you think of any other ways, young lady?"

Zhou Ming'an slowly lowered his eyes: "Other methods? Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. I've already mentioned it to my father, what else can we do?"