The Liu Residence
The moonlight was hazy, but the Liu Residence blazed with lights. Liu Yirong and several medical experts from the Liu Family had been urgently summoned to the City Lord's Residence to treat the poisoned soldiers of the City Guard Battalion.
Meanwhile, Liu Ruyan and Ji Boda had just returned to the Liu Family to take charge and handle urgent matters.
Liu Ruyan sat in the study, her brows tightly knitted as she sank into thought.
She turned toward the window. The bright moon hung high, its silver light spilling across the window lattice and illuminating her cool, delicate profile.
An inexplicable feeling welled up inside her, something like unease, yet something like anticipation as well.
Just then, Ji Boda slipped quietly into the study. Noticing that something was wrong, he asked with concern, "Ru Yan, what's wrong? You look unsettled."
Liu Ruyan came back to herself, shook her head gently, and forced a faint smile. "Nothing. I was just thinking about a few things."
Ji Boda sat beside her and took her hand, saying gently, "Is it about Ito Makoto and the Crimson Church? I know what you're worried about. I've been thinking about those questions too. You condemned him so fiercely at the engagement banquet today, but I know it hurt you. After all, you've always treated him like your own little brother."
Liu Ruyan nodded, the worry on her face deepening. "Yes, Bo Da. I think we might not understand Ito Makoto well enough. Our earlier conversation with Chen Xiaojun and the others only revealed the tip of the iceberg. The connection between Ito Makoto and the Crimson Church must be far more complicated than we imagined."
Ji Boda frowned as well. He knew Liu Ruyan's concerns had not come out of thin air. Ito