Shen Guan did not press further but quietly sent his trusted aide to investigate a person—Shen Yunjie.
Ever since Xiao Yuan cried in front of him, Shen Guan had restrained his nature, as if he truly regarded himself as a hired hand in the shop. Before dawn, he would carry a small basket to select fresh vegetables and fruits, cook a meal, then wake the two children, organize Xiao Yuan’s schoolwork for the academy, and lead Niannian to wash his face, obediently just like Shen Yunjie back then.
Xiao Ning merely watched with cold eyes. The tenth day of next month was approaching. Once Shen Guan found the person he was looking for, he naturally wouldn’t stay here any longer.
Shen Guan still liked to snuggle close to Xiao Ning at night but no longer made random advances. Looking at the person sleeping peacefully in the crook of his arm, Xiao Ning’s mood gradually calmed. It might be better for him and Shen Yunjie this way. He would be the street vendor selling cakes, living out a peaceful life with Xiao Yuan and Niannian. And the person in his arms would only be Shen Guan of the Tianyi Division, holding a high position, calm and ruthless. This was the path that rightfully belonged to him.
On the night of the ninth, it suddenly began to rain. Inside the house, the candle flame was dim and yellow. Shen Guan stood by the window listening to the rain with his soft, slightly damp long hair falling to his waist. He held a cup of bitter tea, and the faint mist blurred his delicate and moving features.
Xiao Ning appeared behind him, saying coldly, “Why are you drinking tea so late at night?”
Shen Guan closed the window and turned around, setting down the teacup in his hand, saying, “Then shall I keep you company with wine?”
Xiao Ning did not speak but took two jars of Nu’er Hong from a nearby cupboard, broke the paper seals, and handed one jar to Shen Guan. When traveling and on a mission, Shen Guan originally never drank, but tonight he only wanted to get drunk.
The wine jar was empty, and slightly tipsy, Shen Guan took out a jade token from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Ning, saying, “If you ever have any difficulties in the future, come to the Tianyi Division to find me. Let this be your proof. I will grant you whatever you ask.”
Xiao Ning looked at the warm jade in his palm and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He wanted to smash the jade token, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to. He just closed his palm as his smile growing increasingly bitter.
Shen Guan felt a pang of sorrow deep in his heart but didn’t know for whom. He had sent people to investigate Shen Yunjie but found no trace of him. If a person had lived in this world, how could they have left no mark at all? Unless someone had deliberately erased it. The only entity capable of doing this seamlessly was the Tianyi Division. He remembered his master’s kindness; if this was what Jiang Lingxin wanted, what was the point of him continuing to investigate?
The Tianyi Division—he would have to return there sooner or later. Shen Guan pushed away the empty wine jar and staggered to his feet but was grasped by the wrist by Xiao Ning.
“Ah Yun…” Xiao Ning’s hand felt cold, his eyes turning damp, and his pale lips opened a few times as if to speak, but in the end he loosened his grip.
Shen Guan didn’t look back. He opened the door and walked out into the rain without taking an umbrella.
He only returned in the evening of the tenth day. Secret guards had already been deployed around the cake stall as a quiet murderous intent permeated the air.
