Chapter 4: Parents

Chapter 4: Parents

Qiu Shuiyi jumped.

Although they hadn't been together for long, Mei-shi had always been the picture of gentleness with her and had never lashed out like this before.

"What kind of dog dares to covet my daughter?! Unable to win her heart, unable to break off her engagement, so he resorts to such a despicable scheme? And he even dragged my other daughter into suffering!"

The more Mei-shi spoke, the angrier she became, her eyes blazing with fury. "What do you mean, a scapegoat? This is treating human life as worthless grass, showing utter disregard for the law! Arrogant and lawless!"

Without pausing for breath, Mei-shi finally spat out one last sentence.

"What a shameless and vicious dog! Get the hell away from me!"

Qiu Shuiyi was dumbfounded, feeling an intense surge of satisfaction welling up inside her.

Well said!

That scoundrel Han Zicheng deserved it!

"What's going on here?"

The Marquis of Yun'an had just arrived and heard his wife cursing. He asked with a gentle smile, "Who has upset my lady?"

"Marquis, someone has bullied our daughter."

Mei-shi's eyes welled up with tears, looking utterly aggrieved.

The Marquis of Yun'an glanced at her and immediately felt heartache. He embraced his wife and comforted her softly.

After Mei-shi recounted the incident involving Han Zicheng, anger gathered between his brows. He said coldly, "Don't worry, my lady. That scoundrel dared to scheme against our daughter. I will make sure he pays the price."

He waved his hand, and a middle-aged man who looked like a steward appeared at the door.

"Send more people to search for Ying'er. Look in the places where that Master Han has appeared. You must bring the eldest young lady back safely."

The steward acknowledged the order respectfully and withdrew.

Mei-shi's tears turned to a smile as she nestled in her husband's arms, her eyes filled with affection.

Qiu Shuiyi looked at one, then the other, feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

The original story mainly revolved around the female lead and her many admirers. When it came to the Yun'an Marquis and his wife, they were only portrayed as characters who doted on the female lead, with no further details.

So, this was how they interacted with each other.

Like an ordinary, loving couple.

Seeming to notice Qiu Shuiyi's gaze, the Marquis of Yun'an coughed, patted Mei-shi's shoulder, and created a little distance between them. He then turned to Qiu Shuiyi with fatherly affection. "Yi'er, your father brought you a gift today. See if you like it."

He pulled a stack of papers from his sleeve.

Qiu Shuiyi leaned over to look.

Her pupils instantly trembled.

One, two, three... a whole stack of silver notes.

The amounts varied—some for one hundred taels, some for one thousand.

The Marquis of Yun'an smiled somewhat shyly, which contrasted sharply with his extravagant gesture. "In the past, your mother always took care of your elder sister's clothes and jewelry. Your father doesn't really understand what young ladies like. Take this money and buy whatever you want."

This... this extravagant?

Qiu Shuiyi swallowed hard.

She reached out and picked up the stack of silver notes. It felt heavy in her hand.

Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Father."

"Yes, yes!" The Marquis of Yun'an was moved to tears, nodding with gratification.

Mei-shi was not pleased.

*She* was the one who first recognized their daughter. How dare this old man play such a sneaky trick, coaxing her innocent and lovely daughter to call him 'Father'?!

She hadn't even heard Yi'er call her 'Mother' yet.

Mei-shi thought sourly.

Seeing the Marquis of Yun'an's smug expression, Mei-shi's anger flared. She "whooshed" to her feet and strode purposefully out of the room.

"Yi'er, be good. Mother will be back in a moment."

Qiu Shuiyi: "..."

Her newly acquired mother had quite an interesting personality.

...

After coaxing Qiu Shuiyi into taking her medicine and chatting with her daughter for a while, Steward Qiu came to find the Marquis.

The Marquis of Yun'an left reluctantly.

After he was gone, Qiu Shuiyi rubbed her face and relaxed, collapsing onto the soft bed.

She stared blankly at the embroidered 'Hundred Birds' pattern on the bed canopy.

In her previous two lives, she hadn't had much luck with parents. Was this life meant to compensate her?

But she really had no experience getting along with parents.

And the Yun'an Marquis and his wife were too enthusiastic, making her feel at a loss.

Forget it.

Qiu Shuiyi thought, she would just go with the flow.

If she could gain her parents' love, she would cherish it. Even if she couldn't, she was used to it.

Things couldn't be worse than being a scapegoat.

Thinking of this, Qiu Shuiyi asked, "System, I've already changed the ending. I didn't become the female lead's scapegoat and die at the bottom of the cliff. From now on, can I live my own life?"

Her eyes sparkled like stars, her voice full of anticipation.

"I'm sorry, but no."

"Host's fate in the original work is already set. The lifespan you have now was earned by completing tasks. Once the rewarded lifespan is used up, the host will die immediately."

The light in her eyes died out instantly. Qiu Shuiyi asked, her voice feeble, "So how much longer do I have to live?"

A voice with a steady, electronic tone echoed deep in her mind.

"Successfully escaping Han Zicheng's attempt on your life, lifespan increased by five years."

"Remaining lifespan: four years, three hundred and sixty-three days. Host, please continue completing risk-avoidance tasks."

Five years!

Qiu Shuiyi abruptly sat up.

The movement was too swift, the room spinning before her eyes. She fell forward onto the quilt, trying to ease the throbbing pain in her head.

Yet even the headache couldn't dispel the joy in her heart.

That was five whole years!

Just before, she'd had only two hours left.

Qiu Shuiyi was so delighted she hugged the quilt and rolled over several times, all her earlier gloom vanishing.

Avoiding danger could earn her lifespan—where else in the world could she find such a good deal?

She could do this!

After the initial joy subsided, the medicine she'd taken finally kicked in, and her consciousness gradually grew hazy.

Eyelids drooping, Qiu Shuiyi pulled the quilt over herself and drifted into a drowsy sleep.

When she awoke, it was just past noon. A maidservant who had been waiting outside the room, hearing movement, inquired, "Does the young lady wish to dine?"

She touched her flat stomach, feeling a pang of hunger. Qiu Shuiyi replied softly, "Yes."

The maidservant promptly instructed a young maid to fetch the meal.

It was still a bowl of congee, but now accompanied by several refreshing side dishes, quite appetizing.

Qiu Shuiyi ate two bowls in a row.

After finishing the meal and taking her medicine, she held a plate of preserved fruits, eating them to clear the bitter taste in her mouth.

Just as she popped one into her mouth, Mei-shi, who had been out, returned.

"Come here quickly, Yi'er, and see if you like these?"

Qiu Shuiyi turned her head to look.

Mei-shi hurried in, followed by a long line of maidservants.

Qiu Shuiyi blinked.

Mei-shi sat down beside her and beckoned. Her head maid, Xia Shuang, instructed the maidservants to line up in two rows.

Mei-shi raised her chin slightly, and another head maid, Xia Lu, unfolded the items held by the maidservants.

Qiu Shuiyi's eyes followed the movement.

It was a moon-white, wide-sleeved jacket that fastened at the front, embroidered with a cluster of blooming magnolia flowers in white silk thread, extremely elegant and delicate.

A circle of rabbit fur sewn around the cuffs added a touch of cuteness.

A brief glance showed that the items held by the other maidservants were mostly clothing as well.

Mei-shi clapped her hands. The maidservants stepped back, and those in the second row came forward.

A wooden box was opened, revealing a set of ruby-studded headpieces that nearly dazzled Qiu Shuiyi's eyes.

Rubbing her eyes and looking again, she saw several other wooden boxes contained complete sets of pearl, jadeite, and white jade headpieces.

Beside her, Mei-shi asked expectantly, "Do you like them?"

Qiu Shuiyi opened her mouth. "I like them."

In this lifetime, apart from her grandfather, no one had ever been so good to her.

She liked them so much it gave her mixed feelings.

"It's good that you like them."

Mei-shi beamed with joy.

Taking a white jade lotus hairpin from a box, Mei-shi held it up against Qiu Shuiyi a few times, then carefully tidied her soft hair and inserted the lotus hairpin.

After examining it closely for a moment, she nodded in satisfaction. "My daughter is truly beautiful."

The lustrous jade color complemented Qiu Shuiyi's exquisitely beautiful face perfectly.

Having said that, Mei-shi looked at her expectantly.

Qiu Shuiyi pursed her lips and said softly, "Thank you, Mother."

"Yes!"

Mei-shi responded with a smile, her heart feeling as if it were soaking in warm spring water, utterly warm.

She was clearly happy, yet for some reason, her eyes grew slightly moist.

She turned her body slightly, lowering her head to wipe away the tears in her eyes.

After calming her emotions, Mei-shi looked at the two rows of clothing and jewelry, picking up a pair of pearl earrings. "This pearl set is quite nice. Tomorrow, pair it with that white marble jacket embroidered with intertwined flowers, and have your brother take you out of the manor for some fun."

At this point, Mei-shi smiled. "Yi'er, you also have an older brother, two years your senior, named Jinbai. He is currently at Chongshan Academy with his teacher, preparing for the spring imperial examinations next year. He'll return to the manor in a couple of days."

Qiu Jinbai.

Qiu Shuiyi knew of him.

As the female lead's older brother, he appeared quite frequently in the original work—a bright and magnanimous young man.

She curved her eyes, smiling gently and obediently.

"Alright."

...

Qiu Shuiyi had a good constitution. After resting for two days, her cold had largely recovered.

Feeling stifled from staying indoors, she dressed properly and, accompanied by a maidservant, walked out of the courtyard.

When she saw the words "Minghui Courtyard," it suddenly dawned on her.

This was the heroine's courtyard.

According to the book, the heroine, Qiu Lianying, would return to the estate in two days.

If she came back and found her courtyard occupied by someone else, that would be so awkward.

Qiu Shuiyi thought she must ask Mei-shi to change her courtyard.

Absentmindedly, she wandered along the covered walkway, choosing a direction at random.

After walking for nearly half an hour, Qiu Shuiyi was marveling at how vast the Marquis of Yun'an's estate was when she looked up and saw a plum grove ahead.

The plum grove stood behind an empty courtyard, its buds just beginning to swell. The air carried a faint floral fragrance mingled with the sharp, clean scent of ice and snow.

Reaching out to brush the ice and snow from a petal, feeling the chill on her fingertips, Qiu Shuiyi was momentarily lost in thought.

Behind her own courtyard, there had also been a plum tree, one she and her grandfather had planted together.

Before she left, a few small buds had already formed. She wondered if the flowers had bloomed yet.

If only she could go back and see.

She had left something there, after all.

Qiu Shuiyi sighed inwardly.

Taking a step back, she lifted her head. "Let's go—"

*Thud.*

A pebble fell from the sky, grazing the side of Qiu Shuiyi's face before striking the bluestone pavement.

"Young Miss!"

The accompanying maid, Bi Wan, rushed forward anxiously. "Are you hurt, Young Miss?"

Seeing her unmoving, Bi Wan grew frantic. "Young Miss? Young Miss?"

"Hmm?" Qiu Shuiyi snapped back to attention and offered a reassuring smile. "I'm fine."

Bi Wan was the heroine's maid, assigned to serve her these past few days.

As for Bi Tao, it was said she had been punished by Mei-shi for privately disclosing her mistress's whereabouts to outsiders.

"Let's head back."

Qiu Shuiyi took the lead and started walking.

On the way back, she pondered the system's recent notification.

"Avoided one danger. Gained five days of lifespan."

If even dodging a small pebble could earn her lifespan, what about other things?

Like being splashed with water, or tripping and falling.

Should she try it?

Qiu Shuiyi stole a glance at Bi Wan behind her and suppressed her restless thoughts.

Forget it. Bi Wan is the heroine's personal maid. Messing with her would be like opposing the heroine herself.

Better to move out first.

Having made up her mind, Qiu Shuiyi walked toward Minghui Courtyard with a curl of her lip.

Gaining five extra days of lifespan was a real pleasant surprise.

It wasn't much, but who would complain about having more?

Feeling cheerful, her steps lightened considerably.

Just as her right foot landed on the stone steps, a clear, bright voice called from behind.

"Ying'er, I was told you weren't in the estate?"

A tall young man stood a few paces away.

His features bore a strong resemblance to the Marquis of Yun'an, hinting at the Marquis's youthful charm, but his eyes and brows were more like Mei-shi's.

In truth, it could be said they both inherited Mei-shi's eyes—large, round apricot eyes.

On a woman, such eyes added a touch of playfulness; when glistening with tears, they could appear as pitiful as a fawn's.

On a man, such eyes seemed even clearer and brighter, adding an air of integrity to his youthful spirit.

As she turned around, the young man suddenly paused, hesitating as he asked, "...Is that Yi'er?"