The secretary walked up to him and asked, "Sir, why didn’t you take the chance to ask her about Shen Li?"
Liu Qingfeng said indifferently, "The year Shen Li sacrificed himself, she was only five years old. What could a five-year-old child rember?"
Besides, this child is sharp-minded. One misstep could easily backfire.
He invited his friend to dinner in the capacity of Liu Runxi’s father, not as the Governor inviting the child of a secret-level intelligence officer.
Even if there were questions, they shouldn’t involve using a child.
The secretary thought for a mont and said, "Sir, don’t you think it was a bit too coincidental when Master had that incident in Yanshui Lane?"
To be Liu Qingfeng’s personal secretary requires more than just a decorative title; he had suspected sothing for a long ti.
How co, when Master went to Yanshui Lane, he just happened to run into Ma Liu causing trouble there?
And it was Shen You’an who had taken Master there.
If it were soone else, it might be a coincidence—but given Master’s identity, it certainly wasn’t.
While this incident gave Sir the perfect excuse to deal with Gao Jie, as if a pillow had been handed to a sleepy person,
It’s precisely because of that perfection that it warrants vigilance.
Especially after discovering she’s the daughter of a secret-level intelligence officer, it feels even more peculiar.
This Shen Li is either wholly loyal or entirely treacherous.
Having soone like Shen You’an around Master is genuinely unsettling; while Madam Liu’s actions were extre, her intentions were good.
"She won’t hurt Xixi." Liu Qingfeng said flatly.
His mind conjured the image of those eyes hidden behind clouds and mist.
He trusted his instincts.
~
As November slipped into its latter half, the weather grew increasingly cold.
Finally, on the day of the minor snow solstice, Qingzhou welcod its first snowfall.
Shen You’an pulled open the curtains—everything was blanketed in silver. The river nearby had frozen over with a thick layer of ice covered in snow. From a distance, it looked like an endless field of white.
When Shen You’an headed out, she wore a long black down coat over her school uniform that reached down to her ankles.
"An’an, wait a mont." Luo Wan shoved a bottle of hot milk into Shen You’an’s arms, then hurried back to grab the scarf, hat, and gloves she had prepared.
In addition to the three-piece set she’d gifted Shen You’an for her birthday, Luo Wan had also knitted a rainbow-colored set. Its colors were vibrant but tastefully coordinated—bright without being garish. Paired with Shen You’an’s pale complexion, she was undoubtedly the most dazzling presence in the wintry landscape.
As soon as Gao Yuyue saw Shen You’an, she let out a gasp and darted over to inspect her closely. "Where did you get your hat and scarf? Quick, send the link!"
Shen You’an handed her the breakfast she brought. "One-of-a-kind, limited edition."
"Impossible! You’re just afraid I’d look better in them and won’t share the link with . Stingy!"
In the car, with the heating on, Shen You’an removed her down coat, revealing a knitted vest underneath her school uniform.
Gao Yuyue’s eyes lit up again. "Your vest—its color combination is eye-catching. Tell the brand."
Shen You’an sighed, "My aunt knitted it."
Shen You’an had a whole wardrobe of knitted sweaters and dresses, all crafted by Luo Wan in her spare ti. Luo Wan even started a video channel, posting her creations daily. Surprisingly, she had garnered quite a following.
Shen You’an had worried Luo Wan might strain her eyesight and tried several tis to persuade her to stop. But seeing how Luo Wan genuinely enjoyed it, Shen You’an eventually let her be and bought her a massage chair for the house instead.
Gao Yuyue spoke half-jealously, half-admiringly, "Your aunt is so talented—she can knit anything! And her sense of aesthetics is exceptional; the color combinations she creates are stunning. Can I place an order with her? Maybe she can knit one of those? Imagine how stylish I’d look—clearly indicating we’re sisters just by wearing it!"
Shen You’an glanced at her. "It’s not up to . You’ll have to talk to my aunt yourself."
Gao Yuyue’s eyes glead. "Great, I’ll bring gifts to your house tonight to discuss it with your aunt."
The two of them walked into the school, where the icy weather had gathered a crowd of students around the performance ranking list.
Shen You’an, whose body hadn’t yet fully undergone the Marrow Cleansing Period, grew weaker in colder weather. She had no interest in the hustle and bustle and only wanted to head straight to the classroom.
Gao Yuyue seed eager to check the rankings but, noticing how pale Shen You’an was, bit her lip and took her arm, leading her away.
At that mont, soone muttered loudly, "Why is it Shen You’an at the top again? Among all the geniuses at Lanya High School, is there really no one who can surpass her?"
The sourness in their tone was palpable even from ten miles away.
Perhaps because Shen You’an had openly crossed Mrs. Liu, those who disliked her were emboldened and began their venomous gossip once again, with others joining in.
"I saw Mr. Chen holding a private tutoring session just for her last week. We’re all students, but Mr. Chen is playing favorites. Are we really that much worse than her? If he were tutoring God Liu instead, he’d probably have surpassed Shen You’an long ago. She wouldn’t be so smug then."
Gao Yuyue abruptly halted her steps, her fiery gaze turning sharply towards the crowd.
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