"..."
Seeing the two of them act this way, Tanchun wasn't foolish. She gave a slight nod, then looked past them toward the motionless figure beneath the eaves beside the pond in the distant courtyard.
"??"
At a glance, Tanchun sensed something was wrong.
She thought it over, then quietly stepped closer. A few paces away, she called with a smile, "Sister Lin?"
"What are you thinking about?"
Daiyu didn't answer.
"..."
After a pause, Tanchun looked back at Zijuan and Xueyan, who stood some distance behind her, their faces tense. Then, mustering her courage, she walked a few steps closer. Only when she was nearly at the table did she raise her voice a little.
"Sister Lin?"
"What's wrong?"
Unfortunately, Daiyu still didn't answer.
"..."
At that moment, Daiyu seemed like a jade statue. Tanchun's calls didn't so much as make her eyelashes flutter.
"..."
At last, the smile faded from Tanchun's face, and her brows drew together.
After all, she knew Sister Lin very well. She knew how sensitive and thoughtful she was, and how prone to melancholy. But Tanchun had never seen her so utterly lost in a daze.
She thought for a moment, then simply went back and drew Zijuan and Xueyan aside. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Tell me!"
"What on earth happened to Sister Lin?"
"Why does she look so absent-minded? I called her several times, but she didn't answer."
"Did Second Brother come bother her again this morning?"
Tanchun's first suspect was Jia Baoyu. She figured that the devil-may-care boy must have said something reckless and offended Sister Lin again, making her sulk and refuse to speak to anyone.
"..."
"..."
Zijuan and Xueyan exchanged a glance, then shook their heads together.
"No!"
Xueyan looked troubled. Watching Tanchun's expression, she quietly pointed in