"Ruan Tianling, slow down, why are you walking so fast?" Jian Yufei couldn’t help but speak up.

The person in front suddenly stopped, and Jian Yufei, unable to react in time, bumped her nose against his hard back.

Ruan Tianling turned his head, his dark eyes staring at her unblinkingly.

Jian Yufei found his gaze baffling.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Ruan Tianling pressed his lips together, not answering.

His demeanor made Jian Yufei even more puzzled.

"What’s wrong with you anyway? Is something amiss?"

She thought maybe he had noticed something off about Nangong Yi.

But that child didn’t seem problematic to her, no matter how she looked.

Ruan Tianling still remained silent.

Jian Yufei was a bit anxious, "Ruan Tianling, what’s wrong with you?! Speak!"

"Nangong Yi is your cousin." Ruan Tianling suddenly blurted out.

Jian Yufei didn’t understand, but she nodded compliantly, "I guess he’s a cousin, but not as close as a real one."

Her eyes showed no strangeness, and Ruan Tianling thought he was being overly sensitive.

Since they were related by blood, it was impossible for Jian Yufei to have feelings for him.

"Don’t you think Nangong Yi looks quite special?" Ruan Tianling couldn’t help but ask tentatively.

"He’s quite good-looking. I was a bit stunned when I first saw him. Why do you ask?"

Jian Yufei’s face was blank, and when she spoke of Nangong Yi’s appearance, her eyes were pure; she felt no amazement toward him.

Actually, Jian Yufei was indeed amazed when she first saw him.

But she wasn’t a naive little girl anymore.

When she looked at a person, she didn’t only consider their appearance; she also looked at their character and all other aspects.

Since Nangong Yi was Nangong Wenchang’s grandson, he probably wasn’t a good person.

She wasn’t naive enough to judge a good person just by looks.

Even if he was a good person, no one said she must like him, right?

Ruan Tianling completely relaxed.

He smiled and said, "I was just afraid you’d feel soft-hearted and wouldn’t bear for me to keep him locked up."

Jian Yufei thought his reasoning was quite amusing.

"His grandfather could bear to lock up my father, so why would I feel bad about locking him? Besides, we haven’t harmed him."

Ruan Tianling suddenly kissed Jian Yufei on the lips—

"What are you doing?" Jian Yufei blushed slightly.

Ruan Tianling was in a good mood, "Nothing, just wanted to kiss you."

Jian Yufei gave him an amused look, and the two walked away hand in hand, talking and laughing.

...

Two days passed.

Nangong Yi still hadn’t eaten.

He was stubborn; knowing he had been captured, he didn’t want to become a captive, so he protested with a hunger strike.

At first, Ruan Tianling didn’t care at all, even hoping he’d go hungry for a few meals.

But after two or three days of not eating, Nangong Yi lay on the bed, barely clinging to life.

If he died, they would lose their leverage against Nangong Wenchang.

It’s said that Nangong Wenchang was quite fond of his grandson, so having him in their hands would lure that old fox.

Ruan Tianling coldly ordered his men to administer a nutrient injection to Nangong Yi.

If he won’t eat, he won’t be allowed to die either!

Keeping him barely alive would be even more torturous.

But Nangong Yi was truly ruthless.

He managed to pull out the nutrient IV when no one was watching, and by the time they discovered him, he had fainted from hunger.

Jian Yufei, upon hearing this, said to Ruan Tianling, "You should talk to him. His stubbornness is useless. Besides, we haven’t mistreated him."