After deceiving the villain, I was forced to love him.

"..." Feng Lan dared not respond to this.

Bai Lize gave a sarcastic assurance, "Don't worry, it's good to be under a big tree. I would never do anything stupid."

It wasn't that she didn't trust Wang Qingyan, but rather that she couldn't trust only Wang Qingyan.

Hearing the answer she wanted, Feng Lan unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he quickly said something Baili Ce wanted to hear, "Miss also asked me to ask Bicui what you plan to do."

Although this older sister didn't like her, she had never been wronged since she took over the management.

"Although he was a traitor, he was raised on the food of the Baili family."

"I've had my dog ​​for three months, and if it accidentally runs away, it knows how to find me."

“Yes,” Feng Lan immediately understood.

She was, after all, a daughter raised with great care by a prestigious family; how could she only know about romance and poetry?

......

After the rain, an even hotter sunny day will follow.

From dawn till dusk, the heat is so intense that even fish that accidentally flip out of the pond are scalded and left half-cooked.

"Ha, serves him right~"

"This is what happens when you leave your comfort zone!"

"Therefore, don't do things beyond your capabilities."

After scolding the fish, Baili Ce took it home, made soup with half of it, and grilled the other half.

It was delicious, but it was incredibly hot after eating it.

The glass stone that Wang Qingyan gave her did make the room much cooler, but she couldn't stay in the room all day.

But if I go outside for a walk, I get covered in sweat.

In the end, she could only voluntarily accompany Wang Qingyan for walks in his enormous house once in the morning and once in the evening.

"It's much better today than the day before yesterday." Wang Qingyan tossed the used gauze aside and skillfully treated her wound.

Bai Li Ce rested her chin on her left hand, letting Wang Qing Yan guide her right hand to apply the medicine, her eyes calm. "Hmm, it doesn't hurt as much anymore."

"We still need to be careful; we can't eat cold food anymore." That's how it is when two people get along; once things progress, there's not so much awkwardness anymore.

"I didn't eat anything!"

Wang Qingyan bent down to wrap a new bandage around her right hand, and gently stretched and bent her wrist to test the tightness. "Iced pear, um... with added osmanthus sugar."

"..." Bai Li Ce was so embarrassed that he clenched his toes.

How does he know everything?

However, Wang Qingyan quickly changed the subject, "There will be dragon and lion dances tonight, would you like to go see them?"

"Mmm," Baili Ce nodded without hesitation.

Then she asked him, "Hasn't things been progressing quickly in Shucheng these past few days?"

"you......"

Wang Qingyan comes to keep her company every day, but he doesn't seem to do much serious work. He's starting to act like a hands-off manager.

"Prefect Lin and Commander Li do not want me to interfere too much in the affairs of Shucheng."

His achievements are only one aspect; if he were to reveal anything else, many people would likely go beyond mere suspicion.

Besides, whether it's earlier or later, it doesn't really make any difference to him.

If he can't maximize his profits, why waste his time?

“That makes sense,” Baili Ce nodded slowly.

But then...

Doesn't that mean she'll be spending a lot of time with Wang Qingyan?

This is really... fun!

"Patriarch Wang, then I..."

Call me Qingyan

Bai Li Ce paused for a moment, then immediately began to act affectedly, "Yes, yes, yes, Qing Yan, Qing Yan, Qing Yan... Is that enough?"

"More or less," he said, becoming quite proud with satisfaction.

This is no longer interesting.

I took a big sip of the white fungus and lotus seed soup. Although it wasn't iced, it was still sweet and refreshing.

Most importantly, Wang Qingyan no longer needs to feed her.

"Hey, speaking of which, where did Song Zhao and the others go?"

"He's gone to take over the affairs of the three cities."

"I heard they're registering and establishing households for the people in Sanchengzhai. Do you want to go and take a look?"

If Wang Qingyan could tell her clearly, then there was nothing to worry about. "No need, I was just asking."

"why are you not going?"

"Same as you~"

Lu Jian tacitly approved her turning the three cities into the Baili family's territory, but on the surface, it still had to be under the jurisdiction of the government.

Using soup instead of wine, Wang Qingyan raised his bowl and clinked it against hers, saying, "Then I wish us 'idle' folks a good time!"

What she said was, "Then please bear with me from now on."

Lincheng is a bustling city, and it becomes even more lively on market days.

From the various breakfast items, vegetables, and fruits at the morning market to the lantern riddles, acrobatics, lion dances, and dragon dances at the night market, many businesses can continue until the very last minute of midnight.

So after a whole day of sightseeing, Baili Ce not only didn't feel tired, but was also very excited!

A few years ago, when she was still confined to her room studying this and that, she dreamed of going out with her best friend and strolling around freely all day.

But as she gradually gained a voice in the Baili clan, she felt that the so-called freedom was not as good as she had imagined.

Wow~ You're so amazing!

As Baili Ce walked along, he heard a burst of laughter and cheerful chatter from ahead.

"This young master guessed correctly and will receive a butterfly lantern."

"Wife, let's go have some fun too."

"Son, you should go and try it."

"it is good"

......

Seeing that she was engrossed in watching, Wang Qingyan took her hand and tried to move forward.

"No need," Baili Ce said, pulling him back.

A hint of melancholy flickered in his eyes. "I just wanted to take a look."

Looking at the couples, the parents and children leaning on each other, Baili Ce suddenly felt sad.

She knew it was wrong, but she just couldn't help it.

Everyone is so happy, and Wang Qingyan is happy too, so she shouldn't be sad.

But......

She always seemed so out of place, always so disappointing, like an oddball.

As the fourth wife once said—

You have no home.

"Some things are always better to look at than to actually have."

I don't really think so.

What kind of liking is it if you can't have it? Wang Qingyan weaved into the crowd...

Soon, cheers and applause erupted.

Every now and then, envious voices could be heard.

Look at them!

Wow, he's amazing!

"Dad, look how amazing that older brother is!"

"Young master, your writing is excellent!"

"Clap clap clap..." The applause grew louder and louder.

The shopkeeper, beaming, said, "This young master has guessed all the riddles correctly. Please come again next time!"

Then he took down all the lanterns from the shelf and handed them to Wang Qingyan one by one.

"I only want this one," Wang Qingyan said, squeezing through the crowd after picking out a lantern with an angry pig design.

But the boss stopped him, saying, "Oh, that won't do. I said I'd give it to you if you guessed right."

Wang Qingyan glanced at Baili Ce outside the crowd, saw her expression was silent, turned around and smiled, "Then let's give it to the guests here."

"Okay~"

Some people immediately jumped for joy, exclaiming, "Thank you, young master!"

"Quick, quick, I want the rabbit one."

"Grandpa, I want that little turtle!"

"Alright, here you go, little turtle."

"Quickly thank your brother."

"Thank you, brother," came the sweet, childlike voice.

Several girls carrying lotus lanterns followed Wang Qingyan out and boldly invited him, "Young master, do you have any companions? Perhaps..."

"Have"

He looked at Baili Ce, his eyes filled with starlight.