"Alright," A Jiu didn't press, as she wouldn't be coming back anyway.
As for that question, A Jiu hesitated before saying, "I'm used to us interacting without regard for gender. Your sudden remark caught me off guard. If there's a chance, I'll think about it carefully. But you're not coming back, so it's not that important anymore."
Tuoba Yan's emotions had been a rollercoaster, and when her last sentence was spoken, he rubbed his face.
"Then what if I do come back? Would it matter then?"
"Are you crazy? Why would you come back? To be discovered as the killer and arrested? You should let go of romantic feelings. Nothing is more important than staying alive."
A Jiu valued survival above all else. "It's almost dawn, you should go. I need to sleep."
A Jiu pushed him out and tossed and turned on the floor mat, unable to sleep.
Did it really happen or not? She didn't seem to know herself. It was over; both her lives had been lived in vain.
Meng Jiuer, Meng Jiuer, you called your rebirth a great joy. You thought your life had no regrets, but today, after Xiao Yan Yan said that.
It was bad enough that she was sold to an old man in her previous life, sigh... She had never even been in a relationship. It was pathetic; she knew nothing about romantic relationships between men and women.
Right, Ye Qing's jealous expression should be love. Thinking about it again, had she ever been jealous of Xiao Yan Yan? The more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt; she never had.
Around noon, Ye Qing arrived with some pickles and steamed buns, and also brought a pot of tea.
"Given the current circumstances, this is all I have to eat."
Ye Qing put down the food, her face etched with exhaustion, clearly having not slept all night.
"Thank you, Ye Qing." A Jiu accepted without ceremony, smiling as she sat down, grabbed a steamed bun, broke it open, and stuffed some pickles inside before taking a bite.
"Mmm, these pickles are treasures, so delicious."
After all, A Jiu knew how precious salt was now, and it went well with the food.
Watching Meng Jiuer eat with her cheeks bulging, Ye Qing's heart trembled slightly. She was as pure as a blank sheet of paper.
"You don't blame me for how I treated you yesterday?"
"It's fine. You were just eager to find your husband. Besides, Tuoba Yan isn't really your fiancé. Perhaps he just looks similar." A Jiu mumbled while eating and drinking tea to avoid choking.
"How can you be so sure?" Ye Qing's temper flared as soon as she heard this.
"He's a ghost, not from our world at all... Ah!" A Jiu carefully slapped her own mouth. What was she saying?
"In short, I know. Think about it, who wouldn't want to be royalty? If he were, why wouldn't he admit it? Wouldn't it be better to be a young prince eating well and living comfortably? It's such simple logic. And I'll tell you a secret..."
"Tell me!" Ye Qing's previous words had made her start to doubt herself. When secrets were mentioned, she became alert.
"Tuoba Yan, he's hemophobic. He faints at the sight of blood, to the point where his breathing and heartbeat stop." A Jiu said each word seriously.
No one would believe it was a lie:
"If you don't believe me, when he's not paying attention, give him some chicken or duck blood. He'll definitely collapse instantly."
"There's such a thing?" Ye Qing narrowed her eyes and pondered suspiciously.
"If you don't believe me, go try it." A Jiu shoved the last bite of the steamed bun into her mouth. "If he's truly the person you're looking for, how could a hemophobe go to battle?"
Ye Qing observed A Jiu closely for a few more seconds, seeing the purity in her eyes, without any flaws.
Ye Qing left immediately.
But what A Jiu didn't expect was that there were no chickens or ducks or other livestock in the military camp. She actually cut her wrist right in front of Tuoba Yan.