Even with Qin Guan's resilient temperament, she was startled by the sudden appearance of the man.
The man seemed equally surprised that Qin Guan had turned around, yet he showed no trace of embarrassment at being caught peeking. Instead, his smile widened as he teased, "Ah, Ninth Sister caught me!"
As he stepped forward, Qin Guan noticed he had a naturally smiling face—his slender, upturned peach-blossom eyes gave the illusion of laughter even when silent.
But in the eerie twilight, his grin struck her as insincere and unsettling.
Tall and lean, the man wore robes of exquisite craftsmanship. His address of "Ninth Sister" made Qin Guan frown—was this the eldest or second young master of Qin Manor?
And why was he here in the Purple Bamboo Forest?
He stood slightly behind her right side—had he followed her in, or had he been here all along?
Remembering that the Ninth Miss had been killed by a man, Qin Guan immediately grew wary, retreating half a step.
The man caught her movement and scoffed, closing the distance with a mocking glint in his eyes. "Ninth Sister, are you afraid of me? I heard Sixth Sister pushed you into the lake. Your Second Brother has been worried about you."
Second Brother… Qin Guan’s pupils contracted slightly—this was Qin Li, the second young master of Qin Manor!
As Qin Li drew nearer, his gaze flickered with something unreadable as he took in her appearance. "A few days apart, and Ninth Sister has grown even more delicate and lovely. I heard you fell ill—are you better now?"
Qin Guan lowered her eyes and retreated another step. "Much better."
Qin Li smiled with delight, as if savoring her tension and unease in his presence.
"Truly recovered? Lift your head and let Second Brother have a proper look..."
His hand drifted toward her chin with a careless gesture. Qin Guan swiftly stepped back, raising her gaze to meet his directly. The sharpness in her eyes made Qin Li pause, a chill running down his spine.
This wasn’t right. That look—it wasn’t something the timid Ninth Sister he used to toy with could muster.
Qin Li studied her from head to toe.
Qin Guan stood solitary, still the same slender and pretty girl. Such a woman easily stirred a man’s protective instincts. But the old Qin Guan had carried a lifeless timidity in her brows—something that might have intrigued at first but eventually bred disgust.
Now, however, the pride and unyielding dignity in her expression made her vivid and noble. This Qin Guan even managed to stir a flicker of admiration in him, a man who had known countless women.
While Qin Li scrutinized her, Qin Guan observed his expression in turn.
His naturally smiling eyes held a frivolous glint, but there was no trace of malice or suspicion in his gaze. If he were the killer, wouldn’t he question why she was in the Purple Bamboo Forest?
Qin Guan remembered clearly—when she awoke, there had been no signs of intimate injuries on her body, meaning the killer hadn’t acted out of lust. But then why had Qin Li appeared here, of all places?"Why is Ninth Miss so wary of your Second Brother? I heard that after the incident last time, Ninth Miss can't remember things from the past? Have you forgotten all the kindness Second Brother showed you before? It truly pains my heart... I wanted to visit you earlier, but Grandmother forbade us from coming to the rear courtyards..."
Qin Li withdrew his hand, his expression troubled, yet his smiling face made it seem insincere.
Qin Guan's lips tightened slightly. It seemed today wasn't a good time to investigate the truth.
"Thank you for your concern, Second Brother. I have matters to attend to and must take my leave."
Qin Guan made a swift decision and stepped toward the exit of the bamboo forest. But as soon as she moved, Qin Li extended his arm to block her path.
Qin Li smiled at her. "Why is Ninth Miss in such a hurry to leave? Second Brother saw you dismiss Fuling by the lotus pond. What brings you alone to the Purple Bamboo Forest?"
His voice lowered. "Don't you know this place is haunted?"
Qin Guan narrowed her eyes. So he had followed her here!
"If this place is haunted, Second Brother should leave as well."
As Qin Guan tried to sidestep Qin Li, he shifted his position, deliberately preventing her from leaving. "What secrets are you hiding, Ninth Miss? If you don't tell me today, Second Brother won't let you go..."
Qin Guan frowned, her irritation rising. "You—"
"What is Second Young Master doing here?"
Before Qin Guan could finish, a clear, cold voice rang out. She looked up toward the source of the sound and saw Fuling standing at the entrance of the bamboo forest with a woman dressed in yellow.
Qin Guan vaguely recognized the woman's face but couldn't recall where she had seen her before.
At the sound of the voice, Qin Li stiffened slightly before withdrawing his hand and turning around.
"Cai He, what brings you here?" Qin Li spoke, his tone markedly different—still lighthearted, but with a hint of tension.
The woman named Cai He curved her lips into a polite yet distant smile, neither submissive nor overbearing.
"Cai He isn't as leisurely as Second Young Master. I'm here on Old Madam's orders to invite Ninth Miss to the Buddhist shrine."
Old Madam? Qin Guan's mind brightened. She remembered now!
On the day she woke up and met Jiang Shi, the person standing closest to Jiang Shi wasn't Lin Shi—it was this Cai He!
"Grandmother?" Qin Li sounded surprised. He glanced suspiciously at Qin Guan before scoffing reluctantly. "If it's Grandmother's command, Ninth Miss, you'd best hurry. We can catch up another time."
Without hesitation, Qin Guan headed for the exit. As soon as she stepped out, Fuling grabbed her arm anxiously. "Miss, why did you come here? And why... why were you with Second Young Master?"
Fuling's nervousness was evident, as was her wariness and dislike for Qin Li.
Qin Guan soothingly squeezed Fuling's hand before turning to Cai He.
Fuling then added belatedly, "Miss, Sister Cai He came looking for you. She said Old Madam has summoned you."
Only then did Cai He speak, her smile much warmer toward Qin Guan. "Ninth Miss, Old Madam requests your presence at the Buddhist shrine."
Jiang Shi wouldn't summon her without reason. Was it about leaving the manor? Or about pulling Qin Shuang into the lake?
But why wait until now, after so many days had passed?
Fuling, standing beside her, was visibly uneasy and couldn't help asking, "Sister Cai He, what does Old Madam...?"Seeing their mistress and maid both somewhat flustered, Cai He covered her lips with a chuckle, "Don't be alarmed, Ninth Miss. It's good news."
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