Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

However, it was only a few days after Ling Yu's testimony in the library.

Everyone noticed that Liu Rusi had changed.

This change was not earth-shattering, but like a stream quietly flowing under the ice in early spring, it seeped out slowly and steadily, surprising those who were familiar with her icy exterior.

The news first reached Ling Yu's phone through the "intelligence agent," with an unbelievable exclamation:

"Master Ling! Liu Rusi has actually started jogging in the morning! For three days in a row! Right in the east playground of the school! She went there before daybreak!"

"She...she seems to be holding a lollipop in her mouth during class? I saw her with a candy stick in her mouth several times..."

"Holy crap! She just smiled at me! It was a very faint smile, but it was a real smile!"

Ling Yu held the phone, her fingertips tightening slightly.

Morning jog? The thin, malnourished man who fainted? Lollipop… The vague image of the man in the library, shrouded in the shadow of his hat, sucking on a candy stick, suddenly became clear. A smile? To a girl?

Doubt drove him. A few days later, in the morning, the sky was still a grayish blue, and the air was chilly. Ling Yu arrived at the east playground early, hiding in the shadows of the trees beside the track.

Then, he saw it.

That familiar yet unfamiliar figure was wearing a slightly faded sportswear - seemed to be a high school uniform?

Liu Rusi's pace was not fast, and even had a sluggish and heavy feel, as if a machine had not been operating for a long time.

She ran very slowly, round and round, her breathing was particularly clear in the quiet morning, with her trying hard to suppress her gasps. Her face was still pale in the dim light, but her focused expression revealed an almost stubborn ruthlessness.

Just as Ling Yu was staring with bated breath, a burst of obviously unsynchronized footsteps and yawns came from far away.

Ke Jinfeng came over with messy red hair and sleepy eyes. He was wearing a brand new sportswear with a big logo, and even the tag was still hanging on the hem. It was obvious that he had done it on impulse.

Ke Jinfeng locked onto the jogging figure on the track at a glance, and instantly became alert, his eyes shining as if he had discovered a new world: "Hey! You're really running!" He raised his leg and was about to rush over.

Ling Yu frowned, quickly stepped out of the shadows, and accurately grasped Ke Jinfeng's wrist, saying with a steady force, "Don't disturb her."

Ke Jinfeng was pulled back, and turned around in dissatisfaction. After seeing that it was Ling Yu, he said speechlessly, "Oh, I'm disturbing you? Master Ling, you're hiding behind a tree and peeping so early in the morning. Don't you look like a pervert?" He shook Ling Yu's hand away with force, even with disdain, "No matter what, my pursuit is open and aboveboard!"

Before he finished speaking, he rushed to the runway with his head held high and chest puffed out like a peacock with its tail spread out. In a few steps, he caught up with Liu Rusi, deliberately adjusting his breathing, trying to keep up with her slow pace.

"Good morning, beautiful! You're so determined! Wanna run together?"

"It's such a nice day for running, isn't it?"

"You look tired from running. Do you want to take a break? I'll treat you to breakfast."

Liu Rusi seemed to have heard nothing, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her pace unbroken. She didn't even glance sideways at him, as if it were just a gust of insignificant wind passing by. Ke Jinfeng's voice seemed abrupt and thin in the empty playground, receiving no response.

Ke Jinfeng followed relentlessly, trying to find topics to talk about, but Liu Rusi's indifference was like the strongest barrier.

Finally, Liu Rusi completed the number of laps she had set, and her speed slowly slowed down to a walking pace. She adjusted her breathing slightly, beads of sweat oozing from her forehead. Her face was still pale, but her eyes were focused.

She didn't look at Ke Jinfeng, who was panting and flushed beside her, and walked straight towards the exit of the playground - the direction leading to the girls' dormitory.

Ke Jinfeng wanted to follow, but Liu Rusi had already walked to the entrance of the dormitory area. She swiped her card skillfully and disappeared through the door, leaving only a neat and tidy back.

Ke Jinfeng was blocked outside by the cold gate and could only watch, his face a mixture of frustration and sweat, like a large dog abandoned outside.

However, Ke Jinfeng's "pursuit" did not die down because of this. Instead, it became more intense with Liu Rusi's remarkable change. However, in Ling Yu's view, his method was still superficial and might even be counterproductive.

However, Liu Rusi's subtle but firm change was like a stone thrown into the lake, causing deeper and deeper ripples in Ling Yu's heart, but also brought unprecedented uneasiness.

The intelligence officer's reports became more frequent, interspersed with complaints about Ke Jinfeng's "performance": "Young Master Feng was amazing today! Before class, he brought a huge acrylic box filled with colorful imported lollipops! He placed it directly on Liu Rusi's desk and shouted, 'Enough for the whole class!'"

"Guess what happened? Without even raising her eyelids, Liu Rusi pushed the entire box onto the empty table next to her and said to the girl next to her, 'I bought this for you.'"

"And then... then everyone came up to get the candy with laughter! As they took it, they thanked Master Feng! Master Feng's expression was like a mixture of anger and pride, like his face was changing all the time! Hahaha!"

Ling Yu looked at the message with a frown... Ke Jinfeng was using her tiny changes to try to narrow the distance between them, and even create the illusion of being "accepted".

Although Liu Rusi's response remains indifferent and clear-cut, Ke Jinfeng always seems to find new ways to make his presence felt.

That day, in the cafeteria, Ling Yu witnessed with his own eyes during his daily secret observation:

Liu Rusi sat in her usual seat, struggling with a small piece of steamed fish. Ke Jinfeng appeared, carrying a plate of food and casually sat down diagonally across from her—a distance that wouldn't force her to leave immediately, but still allowed her to observe and talk clearly.

"Hey, you need to eat more meat to supplement your nutrition!" Ke Jinfeng stared at her plate with burning eyes like a shabby old woman, then picked up a piece of beer duck and put it in her bowl. "Look at how thin you are. You will fall down if the wind blows! You need to gain some weight!"

Liu Rusi frowned in disgust as she looked at the piece of beer duck. She stretched out her chopsticks to pick it up and put it into the bowl of bones beside her. But then, her movements suddenly stopped and her face turned pale. She covered her mouth, her body leaned forward uncontrollably, and her shoulders shook violently - it was actually a burst of uncontrollable dry heaving.

Ke Jinfeng's chattering voice came to an abrupt halt.

He froze, the eager concern on his face frozen for a moment, then replaced by a mixture of surprise, embarrassment and hurt.

He stared blankly at Liu Rusi's pained expression, his lips moving but no sound coming out. At that moment, Ling Yu clearly caught the blankness in his eyes and a hint of... self-righteous understanding? Ke Jinfeng seemed to misinterpret the retching as extreme disgust and physical rejection of his proximity.

Liu Rusi suppressed her discomfort, not even glancing at Ke Jinfeng, nor explaining. She simply took a deep breath, her face still pale, her eyes even emptier and more stubborn. She picked up the spoon again, scooped up a little rice, and continued her slow and labored eating.

A few days later, the intelligence agent sent a message: "Liu Rusi has been packing her lunch back to the dorm lately. I guess Master Feng is annoying her..."

This news was like a fine needle, piercing the thin membrane of "calm observation" in Ling Yu's heart. A surge of unease came over him, almost drowning him.

Liu Rusi is changing!

The ice of her fortress was melting slightly. She was actively trying to connect with the world, trying to repair herself. The tightly closed door of her heart seemed to finally have a tiny crack.

However, in front of this gap stood Ke Jinfeng, a tireless man with no skills but unlimited "admission tickets", who had enough time, energy and nerve!

His presence itself was like a powerful and clumsy torrent, constantly impacting that gap. Although his exaggerated and self-righteous "care" was ignored by Liu Rusi, it actually invaded her space and interfered with the order of her life.

Ling Yu's reason told him that Liu Rusi's dislike for Ke Jinfeng was deep-rooted, and his approach would only backfire.

But deep down, an unprecedented sense of crisis gripped him: What if? What if, when she was most vulnerable and in need of help, the persistent Ke Jinfeng happened to be the one by her side? What if, by accident, Ke Jinfeng was the first person to squeeze through that gap?

This "what if" possibility entwined Ling Yu's heart like a vine, bringing a sense of urgency as if facing a threat.

He couldn't sit idly by and watch Liu Rusi being "captured" in the wrong way by someone like Ke Jinfeng while she was struggling to recover. He had to take action!

But after experiencing the failure of the luxury store and the embarrassment of being a dishwasher, he knew that an exaggerated and deliberate "appearance" would only lead to repeating the same mistakes.

He needed a more natural and reasonable way, a way that could gently penetrate her hard shell and reach her lonely soul.

But he couldn't think of a better way, so he chose the oldest way: writing a love letter.

Ling Yu sat at his desk, his pen lingering for a long moment over the plain white paper. What should he write? How should he introduce himself? How should he express this hidden concern? How could he convince her that he meant no harm?

He tore up countless pages filled with flowery rhetoric or pretentiously profound beginnings. In the end, he discarded all identity labels and ostentatious decorations, leaving only the simplest heart.

His letter was brief:

"My name is Ling Yu.

I like you.

But I don't want to make you feel troubled and not know how to approach you.

I hope you can see this letter and see me."

He carefully sealed the letter, which had no title on it.

At the same time, he once again stepped into the "Time Cottage" restaurant, the place that once made him feel extremely embarrassed.

This time, he did not go to the greasy kitchen, but sat down by the window like a real ordinary diner.

The manager was startled at first when he saw him, but then he smiled knowingly and walked over with tea in his hand. He lowered his voice and said, "Hey, little brother, I finally understand! Are you here for Liu Rusi?"

"Hahaha, you're not the only one coming here for Liu Rusi lately," the manager gossiped, a bit disdainful. "There are also a few young fools who copied your tricks and came to apply for the job, but they're even more troublesome than you. Their minds aren't focused on the work at all! They even got into fights out of jealousy! I fired them all!"

He poured tea for Ling Yu, glanced at a young waitress who was wiping a table not far away, and said meaningfully, "Liu Rusi has been promoted now, working as an assistant in HR and finance, but she still helps out occasionally."

"As for you," the manager patted Ling Yu's shoulder, "just eat your meal and don't make a fuss. It's useless! Do you really want to meet her? How about I ask Ali to introduce her to you? She's on the same shift as Liu Rusi."

Ling Yu remained silent and did not respond to this topic. He just opened the menu and pointed out the food he might like to eat, wanting to start like a real foodie.

……

By silently observing Liu Rusi's work and going time, Ling Yu turned herself into a fixed silhouette by the window of the "Time Cottage" restaurant.

He ordered a light meal, a cup of coffee, a book or notebook, and brought some work that could be taken out of the laboratory here to complete. However, his efficiency became very low, and his eyes always unconsciously drifted towards the door leading to the office, or to the cold figure that occasionally flashed when he was busy in the restaurant lobby.

The days flow by in quiet observation.

What surprised him was that Ke Jinfeng's noisy figure had disappeared for several days.

The intelligence officer's report did not include any of his various "pursuit" feats. Ling Yu's tense heartstrings quietly relaxed.

Without Ke Jinfeng's rude interruption, Liu Rusi might be able to continue her difficult and slow self-salvation with greater concentration and peace of mind.

And he can also calm down his anxiety and wait patiently for the opportunity that will allow him to truly set foot in her world.

However, this brief peace was broken by a burst of greasy and slippery teasing on a not-too-late night on the weekend.

Liu Rusi had just finished work and walked out of the back door of "Time Cottage" and stepped onto the relatively quiet auxiliary road leading to the side door of the school.

Ling Yu, as usual, followed silently from a safe distance. Just then, a few ruffian boys emerged from the shadows and blocked Liu Rusi's way with playful smiles.

"Hey! Beautiful! Are you alone?" The leader, with dyed yellow hair, looked her up and down with a frivolous look, "How about we take you out to play?"

The other few also gathered around with a chuckle, forming a semicircle to block Liu Rusi's way.

Ling Yu's heart instantly clenched! Blood rushed to his head, and he almost instinctively rushed forward!

But just as he took a step forward, Liu Rusi's reaction made him feel like he was doused with ice water, and he froze in place instantly.

She stopped, but instead of being panicked, she laughed slowly and clearly under the dim street light.

The laughter was soft, yet carried a chilling chill, like thin ice shattering on a knife's edge. Even from a distance of more than ten meters, Ling Yu could clearly feel a chill creeping up his spine, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

"Okay." Liu Rusi's voice sounded, unusually calm.

The boys obviously didn't expect this reaction and were stunned. The yellow-haired guy in the lead reacted and forced an awkward smile to prepare for the response.

However, Liu Rusi's subsequent actions and words made their smiles freeze on their faces in an instant.

She slowly and methodically pulled a flat, metallic iron box from her pocket. Her movements were as unhurried as if she were taking a perfectly ordinary piece of stationery. She opened the lid, and within lay a scalpel, gleaming with a chilling cold light.

The blade reflected a cold and dazzling light under the street light.

Her bony fingers grasped the sharp, thin scalpel steadily, and her movements were as familiar as breathing.

"However," Liu Rusi raised her eyes, sweeping over the thugs in front of her who had turned pale instantly. There was no emotion in her eyes, only a bottomless darkness and a terrifying nothingness. "I'll decide how to play."

She tilted her head slightly, her voice barely a whisper, yet clearly penetrating everyone's ears, with a frantic calmness:

"Police station, hospital, prison, morgue... guess where we're all going?"