"...At that time, the crowd was dense, and I was so scared that I inadvertently squeezed Yun Que's hand too hard..."
"...As soon as she let go, we were separated by the flow of people..."
After answering, Song You'an bit her lip again and lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers.
Rather than a rabbit, she felt more like a mouse. Unable to see the light, shunned by everyone. Forever only able to shrink in a tiny hole...
A wave of inferiority instantly engulfed her.
She hunched her shoulders dejectedly, like a flower that had withered before it could bloom, filled with a sense of decrepitude.
At this moment, Qi Huan was asking the system: "Are there any hair dyes in the delivery warehouse?"
"Please wait a moment, host."
"--Five packages matching the requirements have been found for the host."
Having obtained the answer she wanted, Qi Huan's lips curled up, her eyes brimming with warm laughter.
She took Song You'an's slightly cool little hand and comforted her: "An'an, tomorrow sister will give you a gift, and you'll be able to go out without worry from now on. It's getting late, let's go home first."
The warmth from her palm transmitted through the skin to Song You'an. The young girl finally raised her head, revealing a faint smile.
Her cousin treated her so well; she didn't want to worry her.
Although she was still very upset, she could hide under the covers and cry after returning home.
Only her pillow would know her sorrow.
Facing her family, although she couldn't be as bright and lively as her cousin, she always tried to remain obedient and sensible.
Her second brother suffered from tuberculosis, and the family was worried sick about him. She couldn't let them worry about her as well.
Song You'an stood up, habitually wanting to grip Qi Huan's hand tightly, but then secretly forced herself to relax her hold.
She was afraid of accidentally hurting her cousin, fearing that her cousin would abandon her like Yun Que did.
Seeing her clinging tightly to herself, Qi Huan's protective instincts immediately flared up.
"An'an, sister will take you home."
After saying this, she turned to Yan Qinghe: "Thank you for saving An'an tonight. When the restaurant opens, you can eat there for free!"
"Ah Huan, you're too kind. There's no need for thanks between us, right?"
Thinking that eating alone wouldn't be enjoyable, Yan Qinghe scratched his head and asked with a grin: "Can I bring Brother Yan Wu to eat too? Will it be free for him as well?"
If it wasn't free, he wouldn't bring him.
"Of course you can. We won't forget our friends in good times. Next time I'll give Xiuyuan a heads up in advance, you're welcome anytime."
Yan Wu was touched, but he really couldn't understand why Miss Qi referred to herself as a "dog"?
It wasn't until he caught a glimpse of the mask on His Highness's face that he finally understood.
So Miss Qi was trying to match His Highness, to be a "dog couple"!
Fortunately, neither Qi Huan nor Li Shuchen had mind-reading abilities, otherwise he would have—died at the age of twenty-two.
While he was lost in his thoughts, Qi Huan had already said goodbye to Li Shuchen and was sitting in the carriage back to the mansion with Song You'an.
When they returned to the Song Mansion, Nanny Wu, who had been waiting at the gate, immediately brightened up.
"Quick! Inform the Old Lady that the young miss has brought the third miss back!"
Steward Song, who had come upon hearing the news, carefully looked Song You'an up and down. Only after seeing that she was unharmed did he slightly relax.
"Ah De, quickly go to the street to find the eldest young master, the eldest madam, and the eldest young master, tell them the third miss has returned safely!"
The mansion was in chaos, and Qi Huan took Song You'an to pay respects to Old Lady Song in Qingsong Court first.
In the main hall, Yun Que was kneeling at the lower end.
The moment she saw Song You'an, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
She truly hadn't meant to let go of Song You'an's hand, but rather because the nervous Song You'an had gripped her too tightly, causing her pain, that she had forcefully pulled away.
After all, if she lost Song You'an, she wouldn't have fared well either.
But after Song You'an was pushed away by the crowd, she didn't call for the guards. Instead, when the guards caught up, she deliberately pointed them in the wrong direction.
In that instant, it was as if her mind was clouded by greed, and she thought:
If the young miss got lost, the Song family was kind-hearted and might not punish her. If she could distance herself from the situation and then strive to be transferred to the young miss's side, wouldn't she be able to live as happily as that maid called Tao Su?
With her young miss in this state, her future marriage prospects would certainly be problematic. What future could there be in following her?
When she was younger, she didn't understand, but now that she had grown up, she should consider her own interests...
However, when she actually lost Song You'an in her moment of folly, she was immediately consumed by overwhelming regret.
To keep Song You'an's secret, the Song family had only assigned her as the personal maid.
Over the years, her monthly wages were higher than other maids, and Song You'an had treated her extremely well.
But what had she done?
At this moment, Yun Que truly regretted her actions. She rushed over and grabbed Song You'an's sleeve, sobbing: "I'm sorry, young miss."
Song You'an shrank back slightly.
Earlier, when Yun Que had let go of her, her eyes had been filled with such disgust. After letting go, her expression had suddenly relaxed, as if she had shed a troublesome burden.
These images kept replaying in her mind.
Unusually, she didn't cry or stutter, but looked at Yun Que seriously and asked, "Did you want to get rid of me?"
Her eyes were too pure, and being stared at with such a gaze, Yun Que lowered her head in shame: "I'm sorry, young miss. This servant will never do it again..."
Unfortunately, it was too late to mend the fold after the sheep had been lost.
What would have happened if Song You'an hadn't been rescued?
Old Lady Song's usually kind eyes suddenly became sharp.
When she saw the dirt on Song You'an's clothes and her swollen eyes from crying, she had already guessed what had happened.
"Once unfaithful, never to be used again. Sell her off."
Regardless of what Yun Que had done at the time, or whether she was truly remorseful now, the fact remained that she had caused harm to Song You'an.
So many guards had gone out and failed to protect Song You'an; Old Lady Song simply couldn't believe there wasn't something fishy going on.
In the room, not a single person spoke up for her.
Yun Que looked at Song You'an in panic: "Young miss, this servant has already admitted her mistake, why won't you say something for me?"
Song You'an turned away, ignoring her.
Since Yun Que didn't like her, she could only agree with her grandmother to sell her off, to let her find a master she liked.
Seeing her so cold, Yun Que had no choice but to turn to Qi Huan: "Young miss Qi, could you please say something? This servant is skilled at embroidery, you've often praised the handkerchiefs that the third miss gave you, and some of those were embroidered by me. Couldn't you take me as your maid? Even as a second-class maid would be fine!"
"This servant is much more useful than that maid of yours who only thinks about eating Tao Su and roasted duck..."
Suddenly being dragged into this, Tao Su put her hands on her hips, her face scrunched up angrily: "At least I wouldn't lose our County Princess. No matter how crowded it is, as long as the County Princess needs me, I'll always be there!"
"Besides, Tao Su and roasted duck are so delicious, don't you want to eat them? Why are you talking about me!"
Sprayed by her words, Yun Que was too ashamed to respond, her pleading gaze still fixed on Qi Huan.
She knew that the young miss Qi was Old Lady Song's darling, and if only she would speak up, she could stay.
But she was destined to be disappointed.
Qi Huan's red lips parted slightly as she said to the little maid beside her: "Grandmother has already said to sell her off, why haven't you dragged her away yet?"
