On the bow of the boat stood a woman in a pink long dress, hands on her hips, exuding an aggressive aura.
With a round face, large eyes, and a few strands of hair falling onto her forehead, her soft and adorable face looked incredibly cute even when she wore a fierce expression.
And that face, in her past life, belonged to He Xiaoyu, her best friend who had faced life and death with Li Yue Shu, and was closer to her than family!
“Xiao Yu?”
Li Yue Shu's voice trembled with surprise and a hint of disbelief.
She instinctively wanted to walk over, but a gap separated the two boats. She could only stand at the edge of her boat, nervously watching the woman on the other, “Are you really Xiao Yu?”
He Xiaoyu, whose eyes were previously filled with rage, instinctively furrowed her brow at the woman who suddenly appeared, looking like she had seen a relative.
“Who are you? Do I know you well?”
Her distant and wary tone was like a bucket of cold water poured over Li Yue Shu.
In her two lifetimes, she had rarely lost her composure, but Xiao Yu was the person closest to her. If they truly met in another world, how could she not be excited!
Moreover, the person before her looked exactly like Xiao Yu, and even her voice was the same. No matter how calm she was, she couldn't help but be moved.
But the person in front of her spoke distantly and looked warily, which was not how Xiao Yu would react upon seeing her.
In their modern lives, she and Xiao Yu often disguised themselves as various people, but no matter how skilled the other’s makeup was, they could always recognize each other.
Just like now, even with identical looks and voices, she knew this He Xiaoyu was not the one she was looking for.
If it were Xiao Yu, even if her current face had changed, she would definitely recognize her!
The heart that had just been lifted plummeted to the bottom. The immense gap in her emotions left Li Yue Shu speechless.
Qin Moyuan, who had followed her out, immediately sensed her emotions and quickly stepped forward to embrace Li Yue Shu.
“I’m sorry, you look exactly like a friend of my wife. She mistook you.”
He Xiaoyu’s brows were tightly knitted. She clearly didn't believe his words.
As if hearing the commotion, someone from the cabin behind her also came out.
It was a handsome man with a gentle demeanor. His blue robe made him appear even more approachable.
“Sister, what happened?”
His soft voice, filled with dependence and curiosity, was like a puppy that had just been born, both nurturing and sweet.
As soon as the man appeared, he stood in front of He Xiaoyu. Despite his slender frame, he firmly shielded He Xiaoyu behind him.
His eyes warily watched Li Yue Shu and the others, as if he were ready to pounce and bite at any moment.
He Xiaoyu tugged his sleeve, “Xiao Yu, they just mistook us.”
Upon hearing this, the man’s gaze instantly shifted from a fierce wolfdog to a cute puppy.
He turned back and obediently nodded, covering his mouth and giving a gentle cough before silently standing by He Xiaoyu’s side.
The dramatic change in his demeanor made Li Yue Shu, who was still feeling a bit down, forget her sadness and stare at him in surprise.
Noticing her expression, He Xiaoyu’s brows furrowed. She directly blocked Li Yue Shu’s line of sight, “What, do you perhaps have a friend who looks like Mo Yulin?”
Li Yue Shu blinked.
Mo Yulin?
Was this the cuckold of Ji Quansi?
Li Yue Shu couldn’t help but look again.
Considering his earlier look, fierce and wolf-like in public, soft and puppy-like in private, he was indeed Xiao Yu’s type.
Unfortunately, the person in front of her was not Xiao Yu.
Li Yue Shu’s disappointment was evident as she said, “I’m sorry, you really look too much like my friend… May I invite you to a meal?”
If it were just a name, it would be one thing, but they looked exactly alike. Li Yue Shu felt there must be some connection to her best friend Xiao Yu.
If it were an ordinary person, they would refuse politely. But He Xiaoyu was famously arrogant and overbearing.
She tilted her chin and disdainfully sized up Li Yue Shu, “Who do you think you are? I am the Crown Princess. What is your status, thinking you can dine with me!”
Her voice was not low, and the boats nearby could clearly hear her.
While her words sounded harsh, He Xiaoyu’s eyes held no arrogance or disdain as she spoke. Her raised voice even seemed somewhat forced.
Li Yue Shu pondered this, not angered by her words.
She smiled faintly, “If the Crown Princess does not wish to dine with me because I resemble your friend, then perhaps do it for this young master Mo.”
He Xiaoyu, who was about to turn back into the cabin, paused. She turned her head and frowned at Li Yue Shu, “What do you mean by that?”
Her expression remained disdainful, but a hint of seriousness crept into her eyes.
Li Yue Shu’s expression remained unchanged, but she was beginning to feel certain.
This He Xiaoyu was quite different from the rumors.
Li Yue Shu took a slight step forward, lowering her voice, “I know a bit of medicine. If the Crown Princess trusts me, I might be able to try and cure the poison on this young master Mo.”
Upon hearing this, He Xiaoyu and Mo Yulin’s expressions changed.
He Xiaoyu abandoned her arrogant demeanor and rushed to the edge of the boat, “How do you know he is poisoned?”
Everyone believed Mo Yulin was born with a weak constitution and had been frail since childhood.
The matter of his poisoning was known only to the two of them and the person who had administered it.
Mo Yulin quickly moved to He Xiaoyu’s side. Though he remained silent, his protective stance was obvious.
Li Yue Shu acted as if she didn't notice their hostility, her smile unwavering, “I can see at a glance that young master Mo is deeply poisoned. Can the Crown Princess still not trust my medical skills?”
He Xiaoyu clearly hesitated.
Seeing this, Mo Yulin quickly tugged her arm. He frowned and said, “Sister, these people are of unknown origin. Don’t trust them.”
He Xiaoyu’s lips were tightly pursed, showing her indecision.
Li Yue Shu added fuel to the fire, “If young master Mo’s poison is not resolved soon, he won’t have much time left, will he!”
He Xiaoyu suddenly turned her head, “Can you truly cure his poison?”
Li Yue Shu did not give a definite answer. “Whether I can cure it depends on whether I can examine him first.”
Upon hearing this, He Xiaoyu gritted her teeth, “Fine, I’ll let you examine him.”
“Sister!” Mo Yulin was anxious, fearing He Xiaoyu would be taken advantage of.
He Xiaoyu gently shook her head at him, then looked at Li Yue Shu, “I want to see if you have the ability. If you are lying… Hmph!”
She let out a cold snort, not specifying the consequences, but this unknown threat was more intimidating.
Li Yue Shu’s smile remained unchanged, “Then, Crown Princess, please pick a restaurant. Shall we go now?”
He Xiaoyu raised her chin, “Follow me!”
Saying that, she arrogantly turned and led Mo Yulin into the cabin.
Li Yue Shu and the other three returned to their cabin, waiting for the boatman to dock.
Hong Dai quickly asked, “Xiao Yue Shu, is this He Xiaoyu your friend?”
Li Yue Shu shook her head.
Seeing this, Hong Dai furrowed her brows in confusion, “Since she isn’t your friend, why did you still invite her to a meal?”