Bai Ruxue stood outside Shang Jiuli's courtyard gate. She had no idea how long she had been standing there.
She felt hollow inside, her mind completely blank.
Bai Ruxue couldn't even feel time passing.
She had no idea how much time had gone by.
When Bai Ruxue came to her senses, the door of the bamboo house had already opened.
Bai Ruxue jumped, her heart thrown into utter chaos.
Her eyes darted around as she concealed her presence and hid behind a tree.
Xiao Mo and Shang Jiuli came downstairs together and walked out of the courtyard.
Standing at the gate, Xiao Mo bowed to Shang Jiuli. "You've worked hard these past few days, Senior Sister."
"It'd be a lie to say it wasn't hard, but Junior Brother really is talented." Shang Jiuli yawned. "And I've had such fulfilling nights lately~"
"."
In the past, Xiao Mo would have argued when his senior sister said something so ambiguous.
But now, he was used to it.
"Get some rest, Senior Sister. I'll take my leave." Xiao Mo took a pearl from his robes. "I have no use for this, so I'll return it to you."
When Xiao Mo had wanted to sneak out of the courtyard, Shang Jiuli had given him a precious pearl so Bai Ruxue wouldn't discover him.
"Why not keep it, Junior Brother? What if you get lonely in the middle of the night again someday?" Shang Jiuli said with a smile.
"Don't tease me, Senior Sister." Xiao Mo shook his head.
"All right." Shang Jiuli took back the pearl. "Then off you go, Junior Brother. I'm going back to bed too. You've kept me busy for over two months; at last, I'll be able to get a good night's sleep."
"Don't see me off, Senior Sister."
Xiao