The author has something to say: To make An Zi yuan's feelings feel more natural, some minor details in the two preceding chapters were slightly adjusted, and the latter half of the previous chapter was substantially revised. Below is the substantially revised section—[PS: Also, a little wish for everyone a happy New Year! (*^__^*)]. Yun Rao didn't realize she had bit down on her lower lip, yet she hadn't managed to pull away—she simply watched him, watching his brows grow deeper and deeper in concentration, then finally let go of her hand. When he looked at her, his expression had grown slightly serious, his voice a touch sharper. "What exactly is going on?" Her pulse was weak, almost faint, yet irregular—disrupted, as if several different energies were battling within her. Yun Rao smiled, a touch of self-mockery in her expression, her hand instinctively gliding over her untamed hair before reaching to her waist, where she pulled out a bronze qilin-shaped ring. She twirled it gently between her slender, pale fingers. An Zi yuan glanced at her fingers, a subtle ripple passing through his calm gaze. The qilin ring she held was precisely the one he had lost. Yun Rao turned her head slightly, offering a gentle smile to An Zi yuan. "Lord An, I'm sorry for taking your item. Here, I return it to you." An Zi yuan looked at the qilin ring, his eyes settling on hers. He neither reached out to take it nor spoke—he simply stared at her steadily. Though his expression remained calm and composed, Yun Rao felt a little uneasy under his gaze, and smiled involuntarily. She then grasped his hand firmly, placing the ring into it. "Lord An, I have now returned it exactly as it was. From now on, I hope you won't need to come looking for me again." "Say this," Yun Rao had already risen swiftly. "The sky is growing dark. I'll go back and rest now. Good night, sir." As she spoke, she launched herself into the distance, her movements slightly hurried, as though eager to escape. An Zi yuan did not rise to follow her. Instead, he gazed thoughtfully at her hurried figure before lowering his eyes to the Qi Lin ring resting quietly in his palm, gently brushing it with his thumb, silent and still. In the shadows, Wuxiang stepped forward, puzzled. "Sir, why did Lady Yun suddenly return the ring to you? I had even poisoned her then—she didn't flinch a bit. Now... moreover, how did the Qi Lin ring suddenly appear on her? She must have never worn it before." "She's leaving," An Zi yuan replied calmly, tightening his grip on the ring suddenly, cradling it firmly in his palm. "Ah?" Wuxiang looked at his master, still puzzled. But An Zi yuan had already turned away, walking off without another glance. When Yun Rao returned to the room, Qu Xiaoman was already seated by the table. Upon seeing her, Qu Xiaoman rose, her face devoid of its usual scorn. "Why did you suddenly return the Qilin ring to him? Didn't you go to great lengths to retrieve it at all costs back then?" Yun Rao shook her head, offering no immediate reply, but instead walked toward the bed and began unpacking her traveling satchel. Yun Rao's unusual behavior caught Qu Xiaoman off guard. She approached her. "Miss, what's wrong?" Yun Rao continued to shake her head, still silent, yet her movements of packing clothes grew more efficient, even hurried. Yet, one by one, tears began to fall steadily, dampening the soft fabric. Qu Xiaoman's heart tightened. She suddenly grasped Yun Rao's shoulders, turning her around. Seeing the gray, damp face, her voice grew urgent. "Yun Rao, what's happening?" "I'm fine," Yun Rao replied, shaking her head, her voice choked and strained. Qu Xiao Man glanced at her, wrapped her in a warm embrace, and had her lean against her shoulder. "Yun Rao, though I am someone the Master trusts, I've been raised and cared for by you since childhood. If you still consider us sisters, then don't keep everything you feel bottled up inside." Yun Rao only wept quietly, her tears soaking into the fabric of her shoulders. Qu Xiao Man didn't press her—she simply let her cry. After a while, Yun Rao's emotions began to settle. She turned to Qu Xiao Man and said, "Xiao Man, I would like to go back to Yunze." Qu Xiao Man looked at her, her expression slightly surprised, yet wisely said nothing. "If you truly see me as a sister, then stop pushing me to return—it's already pointless," she added, wiping her nose. Her voice still trembled slightly. "I don't have many days left. I want to do things I still feel capable of doing." Qu Xiao Man gazed at her, pressed her lips together, and after a long pause, slowly replied, "Very well. I'll make sure the Master doesn't send you back." "Yun Rao managed a smile." "Thank you," she said. Qu Xiao Man only managed a slight lift of her lips, and went about settling the bundles neatly. Yun Rao had originally intended to simply leave, but after walking a few steps, she paused and turned back, writing down a pen name and leaving a note for An Ziyuan, expressing her gratitude for his care over these past days. As she pushed open the door, she glanced up and immediately saw An Ziyuan standing there, arms folded, dressed in a pale moon-blue robe, the soft moonlight enhancing his ethereal grace. "Mr. An," she said softly, not sure how long he had been standing there, nor whether he had heard her conversation with Qu Xiao Man. An Ziyuan turned, facing the moonlight, his elegant features shaded by the dusk, making it difficult to see his current expression. With a quiet voice, he asked, "Is it another case of you leaving without saying goodbye?" "The voice sounded much the same as usual, yet subtly different—like a faint, restrained irritation, barely there. Yun Rao wasn't sure, so she simply looked at him and said, 'Thank you, Mr. An, for all your care these past days. I'm truly grateful.' An Ziyuan pulled at his lips, but didn't smile. 'Where do you plan to go?' '...Yunze.' After a moment's hesitation, Yun Rao softly replied. Her answer indeed made An Ziyuan glance at her a little longer. Yun Rao looked at him silently. An Ziyuan then shifted his gaze away from her. 'It's getting late. We can leave tomorrow, the roads outside are icy and snowy...' 'Brother Ziyuan, I thought you were here!' A bright, youthful voice interrupted before An Ziyuan finished speaking. As the words settled, the person had already reached their side—Su Can. Yun Rao glanced at the still-childlike face. Su Can, once Su Chen, now seemed so different that it was hard to reconcile the two. Su Can now also noticed her, her eyes widening. 'Wait a minute—how did you end up here?' "Having said that, Yun Rao glanced at the bundle slung over her shoulder, her brows furrowing. "Are you leaving?" She looked out toward the dark, empty courtyard. "It's not like you're rushing off to be reborn. You're not even making a big deal out of it—just suddenly vanishing in the middle of the night. To someone who doesn't know, it would seem as though Zi Yuan has been neglecting you." "I'll have someone pack you and send you back to Cangzhou tomorrow." "You...," Su Ran stomped her foot fiercely, turned to glare at Yun Rao, and went off with a pout. Yun Rao silently watched her retreating figure, then looked at An Ziyuan. "An Sir and Su Ran have always been very close." An Ziyuan smiled slightly. "She's just a girl who's always been spoiled since childhood. Back then, I used to treat her like that—she grew more and more out of her depth as she matured." Yun Rao smiled, didn't respond. To be spoiled was truly fortunate. The same fate, yet such a completely different outcome—what if things had been different back then? Then, she shook her head with a touch of self-mockery. How many 'what ifs' were there? The outcome had already been destined. An Ziyuan watched her expression shift, slightly furrowed her brows. "What's wrong?" Yun Rao shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just envious of Su Ran." An Ziyuan looked at her, his tone softening. "Let's wait until tomorrow. The weather isn "Master, could you please speak a little more softly?" said Qu Xiao-man. Yun Rao glanced out into the vast, still night sky, then smiled gently at An Zi-yuan. "Then I shall have to keep you company for another night." An Zi-yuan gently pulled at his lips. "That's quite kind of you." Yun Rao returned to her room, rested overnight, and had intended to leave the next morning at dawn. But before dawn had fully broken, an unexpected event occurred—Su Ran had vanished.