Gao Wu: I'll enjoy the benefits, but you'll bear the side effects.

"Sister Wen, I understand what you mean, but things have developed to this point, and I really don't have any good solutions. You also know that if it weren't for their help, I wouldn't have been able to go to Jinling at all. If I hadn't gone to Jinling, how would we have had the chance to meet? It can be said that along the way, our fates have become intertwined and cannot be easily separated."

Gao Jie frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness and struggle in his eyes. He paused, then continued...

"Besides, their family is in dire straits now, and I absolutely cannot do something as heartless and unjust as kicking them when they're down. Moreover, Xu Wenfeng used to take good care of my friends, and I value loyalty above all else, so I can't abandon them at a time like this. Besides, these two young ladies are just a bit spoiled, but they're not bad at heart, and otherwise quite nice."

Hearing Gao Jie's heartfelt words, Sister Wen smiled slightly, secretly glad that she hadn't misjudged him.

She thought to herself that if things had been in the previous situation, and Gao Jie had actually chased the two girls away, she would definitely not have stayed there any longer.

After all, the fact that he could so easily drive others away was enough to prove that this guy was heartless and ungrateful.

But he didn't do that now, which precisely shows that he is a good person who values ​​loyalty and righteousness. Following a good person is always much better than following someone with ulterior motives, isn't it?

Moreover, Gao Jie has already handled things to this extent, which is truly remarkable. Why should I press him further?

So now that things have come to this, there's really no need to take it to heart anymore.

As for what will happen next, that's up to fate and has nothing to do with me.

"Actually, I don't have any other ill intentions. I just want to kindly remind you to pay attention to everything that needs to be paid attention to, and not to make the problem too complicated and difficult because of a moment's carelessness. As you know, the current situation is not simple, and what other variables may occur later would be a completely different and unpredictable situation."

Sister Wen's eyes still held a trace of worry, but compared to before, they were noticeably more relaxed. She looked at Gao Jie and said earnestly,

"Gao Jie, I don't want to see you so exhausted, nor do I want you to be caught in a dilemma. I only hope that we can live peacefully here and not cause you too much trouble. Let's weather this storm for now, and when the time is right, we'll find a way to return to Jinling together."

Sister Wen still cherishes those grand ideals and ambitions in her heart; at least she shouldn't be living like this now, dependent on others, drifting aimlessly like a rootless duckweed.

Once she could return to that once-prosperous place, she firmly believed that everything would be back under her control, and then she could realize her ambitions and achieve her heart's desires.

Hearing Wen Jie's words, Gao Jie was filled with emotion. He knew Wen Jie's thoughts and expectations. At least in such a difficult time, one should not undermine a person's fundamental will to live.

So he patiently comforted Sister Wen for a while, and only after watching her emotions gradually calm down did he turn around and slowly back out.

Gao Jie understood Wen Jie's character; he knew that although she sometimes spoke sharply, she was actually kind-hearted and wouldn't really take things to heart.

As soon as Gao Jie stepped out of the house, he saw Huang Xu sitting in the yard, enjoying wild fruits with great relish, looking quite content.

Gao Jie looked puzzled and quickly stepped forward to stop him:

"You should eat less wild fruit. Although the wild fruit around here looks delicious, you don't know that many of them contain heat toxins."

As Gao Jie spoke, he pointed to the surrounding woods.

"There are many wild fruits growing around here, and many of them can be used as medicine. The heat and toxicity hidden in these fruits should not be underestimated. Once it takes effect, the consequences can be quite serious, and then it will be a big problem."

Gao Jie felt it was best to inform Huang Xu of the things that needed to be reminded first, since in this remote mountain area, if a problem were to arise from the food, it wouldn't be so easy to resolve.

Huang Xu waved his hand dismissively, then patted the bucket of water beside him, a confident smile on his face, and said:

"See? I've left a bucket of water here, so don't worry. As soon as I feel even the slightest thing wrong with my body, I'll drink more water. With the power of water, I can force out any kind of poison."

Huang Xu spoke with great enthusiasm, as if he had found a wonderful way to deal with all poisons.

"By the way, where are you going? I just saw those two sisters heading towards the river, probably to wash clothes, right? I'm not really sure, why don't you go check on them?"

Huang Xu asked casually, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Gao Jie nodded slightly, the movement slow and natural. His heart was stirred as if by an invisible hand, filled with curiosity and doubt about the sisters' whereabouts.

Driven by his curiosity, he turned and strolled leisurely toward the riverbank.

He walked with steady steps, each step seemingly measuring the secrets of the land beneath his feet.

His thoughts, however, were like wild horses, galloping freely through his mind as he pondered what activities the two sisters were engaged in by the river.

The gentle breeze by the river seemed to whisper in his ear, trying to convey some clues, but he couldn't quite grasp them.

When his feet finally touched the soft earth by the river, the scene before him made him realize what was happening.

It turned out that Xu Rourou was entangled in a tangled mess of sorrow in her heart, and her mood had sunk to the lowest point. That's why she chose to come to this riverbank, hoping that the flowing water and the fresh, natural scenery could soothe her inner turmoil and calm her heart, which was like a small boat in a storm.

Just then, Xu Wanwan happened to see Gao Jie arrive. A flash of inspiration seemed to pass through her intelligent eyes, as if she had instantly grasped some subtle opportunity. Then, like a kind-hearted matchmaker, she intentionally created a private space for Gao Jie and Xu Rourou to be alone.

So she simply pursed her lips slightly and said nothing more, as if afraid that her words would break the wonderful atmosphere that was about to unfold.

"Alright, you two chat for a while. I feel really tired and need to go back and get some sleep. If you need anything, come find me."

Xu Wanwan's voice was soft and calm, like the evening breeze that blows by and then quietly dissipates into the air.

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and left the riverbank with the grace of a nimble deer, leaving Gao Jie and Xu Rourou standing there quietly like two statues.

Xu Rourou looked up and saw Gao Jie's figure appear in front of her. Her pink lips seemed to be driven by some kind of instinct, and she unconsciously pouted slightly, looking like a wronged child.

A thin mist seemed to drift across her eyes, tinged with a hint of discontent and grievance, like a flood about to burst its banks, desperately seeking an outlet. She parted her lips slightly and said:

"Oh, so you have time to come over now, huh? Weren't you just making a scene with your sweethearts a little earlier?"

Xu Rourou deliberately raised her voice a few decibels, and the sound, like a sharp whistle, shattered the originally tranquil air by the river.

Her words were like vinegar, overflowing with sourness, each word like a sour plum, exuding a rich vinegar aroma in the air.

"Or is it that they don't need you anymore, so they're only now thinking of coming to see me?"

Upon hearing these words, which were full of jealousy and sarcasm, Gao Jie felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and his mind instantly cleared.

His previously confused mind suddenly realized that the girl was jealous!

He quickly stepped forward and explained:

"Don't joke around, okay? I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that Sister Wen was in a bad mood at the time, and I was only trying to comfort her out of concern. I didn't mean anything by it. If my actions made you feel uncomfortable, please forgive me, okay?"

Gao Jie's eyes held a hint of guilt and sincerity; he genuinely hoped that Xu Rourou could understand him.

Xu Rourou curled her lip indifferently and said:

"Don't say that. I'm not feeling unwell at all. I'm just an ordinary person, nothing special, right?"

Although Xu Rourou said this, her grievances and dissatisfaction grew stronger. She felt that Gao Jie did not seem to truly understand her feelings.

Gao Jie frowned slightly upon hearing these words, knowing that Xu Rourou was being hypocritical.

"I knew you must have misunderstood something back then, please don't take it to heart, okay?"

Gao Jie's tone carried a hint of anxiety and helplessness as he looked at Xu Rourou and continued,

"Let me tell you, it was Sister Wen who helped me in that critical moment. Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here in front of you unharmed now. But actually, this whole mess is your father's doing, which led to this situation."

Upon hearing this, Xu Rourou's eyes widened instantly, and her anger flared up. She was about to retort when Gao Jie cut her off with a few words.

Xu Rourou stomped her feet in anger, her lips pouting even more. She never expected that Gao Jie would say such things to her after going around in circles. She felt both angry and wronged, but she didn't know how to respond.

She even got angrier for a moment, but unexpectedly Gao Jie took out a bouquet of flowers and stuffed it into her hands.

"Please don't be angry anymore, okay? I know everything I did was wrong, and I'll try my best not to do it again. Besides, your health isn't very good right now; you took too much to care for yourself back then. You need to take good care of yourself."

"Please accept this bouquet of flowers, and don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Xu Rourou's lips curled into a cold smile, a smile like frost in the dead of winter, carrying a hint of chill and stubbornness. She parted her lips slightly and slowly said:

"You're absolutely right. I have to stay calm, otherwise I'll drive her crazy! Humph!"

Her voice carried a hint of sarcasm and dissatisfaction; after a slight pause, she continued her indignant rant:

"I never expected that old woman would pick a fight with a young girl like me. It really makes me furious. I've never provoked her, so why does she have to put on such a pretentious act in front of you, making it seem like I'm some kind of wicked person? I was just a little annoyed that she was getting closer to you, so I said a few words, and she acted all wronged."

"Furthermore, you weren't even on our side. Tell me, what were you thinking back then?"

Xu Rourou stared intently at Gao Jie with her beautiful eyes, her gaze like a sharp blade, full of questioning and reproach, as if she wouldn't be satisfied until Gao Jie gave her a perfect answer that could convince her.

Looking at Xu Rourou's relentless attitude, Gao Jie sighed deeply in helplessness. He really hadn't expected this girl to be so persistent and stubborn about this matter, refusing to let it go easily no matter what.

He knew that arguing with Xu Rourou, who was in a fit of anger, would only make the situation worse and would be pointless, so he could only try his best to persuade her to beg for forgiveness.

"Rou Rou, I really didn't mean it. I just subconsciously wanted to help Sister Wen calm down. I acted impulsively and didn't think much about it. It was my oversight. Please be understanding and don't be angry, okay?"

Gao Jie's eyes were full of sincerity and helplessness, and his tone was full of flattery and pleading.

Seeing that Gao Jie seemed truly at his wit's end and utterly helpless, Xu Rourou gently pursed her lips, her previously tense face softening slightly, and her tone no longer so sharp:

"Alright, I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to casually discuss these related issues with you, that's all."

She lowered her head slightly, a strand of hair falling across her cheek, perfectly concealing her slightly flushed earlobes. A hint of shyness flashed in her eyes as she spoke softly:

"I heard you're going out, right? Then don't forget one thing when you go out. I want some plum candy."

At this moment, Xu Rourou was completely different from her angry appearance just now. Her voice had become soft and gentle, with a hint of timidity, like a cute little animal cautiously seeking comfort after being injured.

Seeing Xu Rourou like this, Gao Jie couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness and pity.

His thoughts drifted back to the past, and he seemed to see Xu Rourou as a wealthy young lady. Back then, she lived a life of luxury, getting whatever she wanted, like a bright pearl held in the palm of someone's hand, dazzling and precious.

But now, due to family misfortunes, he has fallen into such a precarious situation, living under someone else's roof and having to be extremely careful. It is truly a cruel twist of fate and an unpredictable life, which is quite lamentable.

"It's okay, just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll try my best to buy it for you. If it's not available here, I won't be able to buy it."

Gao Jie's voice was exceptionally gentle, like a spring breeze that softly caressed Xu Rourou's heart, carrying a hint of doting and care.

Upon hearing this, Xu Rourou's mood instantly improved, and her eyes, which had been slightly dimmed by anger, immediately regained their brilliance, like twinkling stars in the night sky.

She nodded happily like an innocent child, her face beaming with a radiant smile like sunshine. Full of joy and anticipation, she moved closer to Gao Jie and said excitedly:

"I also want osmanthus cake, walnut shortbread, and glutinous rice balls—they're all so delicious! Especially the osmanthus cake, it's soft, sweet, and melts in your mouth, with a rich osmanthus aroma. Every time I eat it, I feel like I'm in a courtyard full of blooming osmanthus flowers. The walnut shortbread is crisp and delicious; one bite and your mouth is filled with fragrance, the unique walnut flavor lingering on your tongue. The glutinous rice balls are also great—chewy and bouncy, sweet but not cloying, with an excellent texture."

Gao Jie listened attentively to Xu Rourou's description with a smile, memorizing every single snack she mentioned.

Seeing Xu Rourou's happy and content appearance, he secretly vowed in his heart that no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, he would do his best to take good care of her, so that she would not suffer any more grievances and hardships, and that she could find a trace of warmth and happiness again in these turbulent days.