Siblings Reunited, Qian Renxue's Heart in Turmoil!

Qian Chen nodded.

"You're a Soul Master too."

"Where are you going?"

"I was planning to find somewhere to look at the moon."

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.

"I know a place."

"You can see all of Heaven Dou City from there, and the moonlight is beautiful too."

After saying that, she held out her hand to Qian Chen.

"Come with me."

Qian Chen looked at her fair palm but did not move right away.

Qian Renxue hesitated for a moment before taking his hand herself.

Her soft fingertips pressed against his palm.

Her heartbeat suddenly quickened, though her expression remained natural.

"This way."

The two walked along the lakeshore.

Qian Renxue held his hand lightly, but she did not let go.

After crossing a stone bridge, Qian Chen pulled his hand free.

Qian Renxue stopped.

"What is it?"

"I'm not used to being too close to strangers."

Qian Renxue looked at her empty palm, a flicker of disappointment passing through her eyes.

"We've walked together for so long. Are we still strangers?"

"At least for now, we are."

Qian Chen looked at her.

"I feel like you're very familiar."

Qian Renxue's heart jolted.

For a moment, she nearly thought Qian Chen had recognized her identity.

"Is that so?"

She turned around and continued onward.

"Perhaps it's because we both share the surname Qian."

The two arrived at a high platform.

It was far from the streets, surrounded only by low tree shadows and blooming moon orchids.

Looking up, they could see the entire night sky.

Qian Renxue sat on the edge of the stone platform, her golden skirt spread at her side. She looked up at the moon, and the ease on her face gradually faded.

Qian Chen stood beside her.

"You're unhappy?"

Qian Renxue fell silent for a moment.

"I have a friend."

"Ever since she was born, her family placed great expectations on her."

"Everyone said she was the most important heir, but her mother never truly acknowledged her."

Qian Chen did not interrupt her.

Qian Renxue lowered her gaze.

"No matter how well she did, she could never receive a word of approval."

"She wanted to get close to that person, but she was always pushed away."

"Over time, she no longer even knew what she had done wrong."

Moonlight fell into her eyes.

Those golden eyes held the weariness she had suppressed for many years.

Qian Chen looked at her.

"If she has already done her best, then she does not need to doubt herself anymore."

"Not receiving her family's approval does not mean she is unworthy of love."

Qian Renxue's fingertips slowly curled tighter.

"But that person is her mother."

"Blood ties cannot be changed, but attitudes can."

Qian Chen looked toward the night sky.

"Some people do not know how to be mothers."

"They impose their pain on their children, then claim it is all the child's fault."

Qian Renxue's eyes grew warm.

She had always told herself that Bibi Dong was merely trapped by the past.

She had also always told herself that as long as she did better, her mother would see her one day.

But six years had passed.

She still had not reached that day.

Qian Chen's words made her admit for the first time that she had done nothing wrong.

"Can she really stop caring?"

"She can."

Qian Chen looked at her.

"She does not need everyone's approval."

"As long as she knows the path she wants to take and keeps walking it, that is enough."

Qian Renxue lowered her head and looked at her hands.

Only after a long while did she nod gently.

"Thank you."

She raised her eyes to Qian Chen, and at last, a trace of ease appeared on her face.

"Qian Chen, can I come find you again in the future?"

"You can."

"Then we'll meet again next time."

"Alright."

Qian Renxue stood up.

She did not leave immediately. Instead, she looked at Qian Chen seriously for a moment.

"You're different from everyone else I've met."

"How am I different?"

"You can see the things other people hide."

Qian Chen did not answer.

Qian Renxue turned and walked down from the high platform.

After walking more than ten steps, she suddenly looked back.

"Qian Chen."

"Hmm?"

"When we meet next time, will you still remember me?"

Qian Chen looked at her.

"I won't forget."

Qian Renxue finally felt at ease.

She turned away, her skirt swaying softly beneath the moonlight before she soon disappeared behind the shadows of the trees.

Not far away.

Shui Bing'er stood by the lake.

She had originally come to find Qian Chen.

It was Qian Chen's first time in Heaven Dou City, and he had not returned to the residence for a long time, so she had brought a maid out to look for him.

But as she approached, she saw the two on the high platform.

That woman wore a long golden dress. She had exquisite features and a tall figure. She stood very close to Qian Chen and had even held his hand.

Shui Bing'er stopped where she was.

She had not heard their conversation. She only saw that when Qian Renxue turned to leave, Qian Chen continued watching her retreating figure.

A sour feeling rose in Shui Bing'er's heart.

"Who is she?"

"Why was Qian Chen meeting her alone?"

Shui Bing'er looked down at her own long dress.

She had always stood by Qian Chen's side, yet she had never taken the initiative to hold his hand.

If this continued, would Qian Chen be taken away by someone else?

The moment that thought appeared, Shui Bing'er's gaze gradually became resolute.

"I can't wait any longer."

"At the very least, I have to let him know how I feel."

She turned and headed toward the Crown Prince's Residence.

Elsewhere.

Qian Chen returned to his room.

The moment he pushed open the door, he sensed an extra presence on the bed.

The bedding was slightly raised.

Catwoman poked her head out from beneath it, her pink hair scattered over the pillow. She wore only an oversized white nightgown, revealing her slender ankles and a stretch of fair calf.

The moment she saw Qian Chen, she immediately sat up.

"Why are you here?"

Catwoman pointed at the bed.

"I was waiting for you."

"This is my room."

"I know."

She lowered her head and looked at the bedding.

"It's cold at night. I wanted to warm the bed for you."

Qian Chen walked to the bedside.

"Go back to your own room."

Catwoman's pink cat ears slowly drooped.

She climbed down from the bed and stopped by the door.

"You don't like me staying here?"

Qian Chen looked at her.

Catwoman lowered her head, lightly pinching the hem of her clothes between her fingers.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No."

"Then why are you making me leave?"

She raised her eyes, her pink pupils full of grievance.

Qian Chen was silent for a moment.

Ever since Catwoman had been bought from the auction house, she had regarded him as the person closest to her. She had never encountered complicated human relationships, nor did she understand the boundaries between men and women.

If he directly made her leave, she would only think that he disliked her.

Qian Chen raised a hand and rubbed her long hair.

"I don't dislike you."

Catwoman looked up at him.

"Then can I stay?"

"You can only sleep beside the bed."

"Okay."

She immediately nodded.

Qian Chen lay down on one side of the bed, and Catwoman cautiously lay down beside him.

There was a space between them.

But before long, Catwoman slowly moved closer.

She first touched Qian Chen's sleeve. Only after confirming that he did not avoid her did she rest her forehead against his shoulder.

Her pink cat tail slipped out from beneath the bedding and gently curled around his wrist.

Qian Chen glanced at her and did not stop her again.

"Go to sleep."

Catwoman closed her eyes.

Her cheek rested against Qian Chen's shoulder, and at last, a relieved smile appeared on her lips.