Waaah, I'm being forced into loving my yandere wife's brain.

For the past two weeks, Lin Zhiheng has been busy dealing with his father's funeral arrangements, which is why he hasn't been able to find a way to bring his younger sister out.

But I can't let my sister know these things, lest she be saddened.

"I will come to find you again in three days, around this time."

Lin Zhiheng hurriedly left his last words, glanced at the approaching footsteps of the forsythia, and then quickly retreated from the wall. With a sway of the branches, he disappeared, leaving only the forsythia bush still trembling gently.

Lin Zhiyao stood at the base of the wall, sunlight falling on the hem of her skirt that trailed on the ground.

Here, she is always dressed exceptionally lavishly, like a bird with magnificent plumage, and her food, clothing, and daily necessities are much better than when her family was at its most glorious.

But Lin Zhiyao was even more afraid. She always felt that the more glamorous something was, the less likely it was to last. After all, the first half of her life was like a glamorous bubble suddenly falling and bursting, just like a dream.

Therefore, she instinctively felt wary and unreal.

Hearing that her brother was going to take her away, Lin Zhiyao's heart started pounding wildly.

Behind her, Qingwu emerged from under the eaves, holding a kite. The silk gauze kite shone brightly in the sunlight, its workmanship exquisite and luxurious.

"Miss."

Qingwu walked over quickly, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Why are you standing here?"

Lin Zhiyao composed herself, calmed her racing heart, and then turned around.

"It's nothing, I just came to see these forsythia branches," Lin Zhiyao replied with a light smile.

When Qingwu arrived, she could already vaguely see the shadows on this side, but her brother was hidden among the forsythia branches, so she couldn't see him.

However, there's a high probability that her location will still be visible, so just in case, Lin Zhiyao didn't leave immediately; doing so would only arouse more suspicion.

Qingwu glanced at the wall with some confusion, but didn't seem to think much of it. "Let's go, Miss, let's go to an open area and fly a kite for a while."

Lin Zhiyao nodded, "Okay, let me see the kite first."

Qingwu didn't ask any more questions and handed the kite over. Lin Zhiyao took it and ran her fingertips over the blue phoenix painted on the silk gauze.

Its wings were spread out, and its tail feathers were long and decorated with gold powder lines.

When the sunlight shone on it, the gold dust sparkled in tiny fragments, looking as if it were about to take flight.

Just looking at it made Lin Zhiyao feel much more relaxed, as if she could be like this blue kite, spreading her wings and soaring high into the sky.

"Let's go." Lin Zhiyao gripped the kite frame tightly. "Let's find an open space to fly it."

"Okay, miss, please come with me."

Qingwu smiled and nodded slightly, "I've already spotted that area; it's perfect for flying kites."

Seeing that Qingwu didn't ask any further questions, Lin Zhiyao breathed a slight sigh of relief and followed her into the spacious central courtyard.

*

After noon that day.

As his brother had predicted, Shen Jin seemed to be preoccupied with matters of the court and had not returned for two days and one night.

Lin Zhiyao couldn't tell whether she felt more relaxed or more nervous as a result.

The only thing that can be confirmed.

There's a vague sense of unease.

Lin Zhiyao felt that things were progressing too smoothly.

It made her involuntarily recall the first time she ran away, when she almost escaped through the small door.

And it went so smoothly, as if divinely inspired.

No, it won't happen.

This time, she had her brother's help, and Shen Jin wasn't even at the manor. Qingwu hadn't seen anything back then either.

So this time it will definitely be different.

Lin Zhiyao comforted herself with this thought before closing her eyes and slowly falling asleep.

And tonight.

Shen Jin still hasn't returned.

*

Lin Zhiyao had originally planned to test Shen Jin, but she didn't expect that he really hadn't come back at all these past few days.

And the day that she had agreed upon with her brother had arrived.

"Qingwu, is that kite from the other day still there? I want to fly it again today."

Lin Zhiyao put down the ice cream she was holding and asked Qingwu calmly.

"It's always been here, miss."

Qingwu remained as usual, saying, "I'll go get it for you right away, Miss."

Lin Zhiyao quickly stopped her, "No, I'll finish eating first, and I'll call you later."

As she ate, she secretly glanced at the spot on the wall outside the window, planning to wait for her brother to appear before sending Qingwu away.

Suddenly, Lin Zhiyao saw the clump of forsythia branches on the wall tremble again in the distance. Then, half of Lin Zhiheng's body leaned out. He looked even more slender than a few days ago, but his eyes were surprisingly bright.

He gestured sharply at her.

Lin Zhiyao's heart suddenly raced, and she turned to Qingwu and said, "I want to fly a kite by myself for a while. After you get it, wait for me under the east corridor and come find me in half an hour."

Qingwu hesitated for a moment, but seeing that she had been behaving herself for the past two weeks, she bowed slightly, quickly took the kite, and then walked away with the food box.

Lin Zhiyao immediately walked to the base of the wall. Before she could even stand still, Lin Zhiheng jumped down from the top of the wall. He hit his knee when he landed, let out a muffled groan, but didn't care about the pain. He grabbed Lin Zhiyao's waist and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

"Little sister, now's the time! I've sent the people outside away, hurry up and go!"

Lin Zhiyao felt dizzy and fell face down onto his shoulder, with only the bluestone ground rushing past in her vision.

Her brother's bones were pressing against her stomach, making her feel like her internal organs were shaking, but she bit her lip tightly and didn't make a sound.

Lin Zhiheng touched the ground with his toes, leaped over the wall, and took three or four steps off the ground before regaining his balance.

He carried Lin Zhiyao and ran away at full speed.

Lin Zhiyao was hanging upside down and couldn't see what was ahead. She could only hear her brother's increasingly heavy breathing and the scenery rushing past all around her.

Lin Zhiyao was initially very nervous, fearing that she would repeat the same mistake, but this time, Shen Jin seemed to be really held back by something, and several minutes passed without him catching up.

One alley, two alleys, three alleys...

No one chased after them.

Lin Zhiheng gradually slowed down and put her down at the end of a narrow alley with few people.

He leaned on his knees, panting heavily. "It's about five blocks away from that eunuch's mansion."

Lin Zhiheng stood up and wiped the sweat from his chin. He looked around the alleyway, his voice still slightly breathless, but unusually relaxed. "It should be alright now."

Lin Zhiyao landed on her feet, her legs felt weak, and she leaned against the wall for a few breaths before looking back at the way she came.

The sunlight shone brightly on the bluestone slabs, and the alley entrance was deserted.

"I'll have someone take you to the outskirts of the capital when it gets dark. The estate may be dilapidated, but it's secluded. Once the affairs of the previous dynasty are settled, your brother will bring you back. As for other things at home... you don't need to worry about them. You've already sacrificed a lot."

Lin Zhiyao sensed the restraint in his words, her fingertips tugged at his sleeve, and she pursed her lips. "Brother, are you hiding something from me?"

Lin Zhiheng didn't reply, but instead took out a small oil paper package from his pocket and handed it over, panting. "These are some cloud cakes. They're from the shop you loved to eat at when you were little. I just happened to pass by and picked them up."

He held the oil paper package in his hands, his knuckles protruding, and he was even thinner than he had been half a month ago.

Lin Zhiyao reached out and took the paper package; it was still warm from his chest.

Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but her eyes welled up with tears that flowed out before she could speak, dripping onto the oil paper package.

Lin Zhiyao hurriedly wiped away her tears, forced a smile, and said, "Mmm."

Just then.

A series of unhurried footsteps came from the alley entrance, the soles of boots stepping on the bluestone as if stepping on a person's eardrum.

Lin Zhiyao's back suddenly tensed, and her palms became sweaty. Without turning around, she could hear the unhurried pace in his footsteps.

Like a cat playing with a mouse, proceeding cautiously step by step, never in a hurry to close the net.

The footsteps sounded so familiar.

Sure enough, the next second, accompanied by light applause, "What a beautiful scene of brotherly and sisterly affection... it really moved me."

It's Shen Jin.