Shi Lan had noticed Li the moment he stepped into the palace. She had merely hesitated when she saw him suppressing his anger and had not gone up to him. Now, seeing that he seemed ready to return straight to his room, she stepped forward and stopped him.
"Miss Duanmu wants you to come over. She has something to tell you."
Li looked up at Shi Lan in confusion. Ever since Chu Zhong and Ruoruo had entered the inner hall, and everyone there had become trustworthy, Shi Lan had grown much more casual in her attitude toward him within the inner hall.
Of course, Li did not mind. After all, such casualness meant that Shi Lan had truly opened her heart to him, did it not?
"What is it?" Li did not want to go to Duanmu Rong's right now. He only wanted to be alone, sort through his thoughts, and figure out how to make his next move.
"You'll know when you get there." Shi Lan suddenly seemed less understanding than usual. She simply looked at him without offering an explanation.
That unusual behavior actually stirred what little curiosity Li had.
After all, Duanmu Rong appeared as cold as ice, but she was warm-hearted beneath that exterior—seemingly strong, yet gentle within. Though she had initially harbored hostility toward him, after spending time together, he could clearly feel that her attitude toward him had changed.
This so-called icy beauty looked unapproachable and tough on the outside, but in truth, she was easily moved to compassion.
So, Li still felt a measure of tenderness toward her.
"Miss Duanmu, what is it?"
Pushing open the door, Li spoke before he had even taken in the room.
When no answer came after a while, Li looked more closely. He found Duanmu Rong and