"That wasn't appropriate?" Mo Xian'er arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Why do you say that?"
Mengmeng pondered for a moment before answering, "Isn't it obvious? Who takes their clothes off in front of a strange girl?"
"That was a misunderstanding," Mo Xian'er chuckled. "He just wanted to prove he'd recovered, that's all."
"Even so, it was inappropriate, don't you think?" Mengmeng frowned. "And besides, he seems different from the person we used to know. Like... he's become someone else entirely. Maybe he was faking it all along, and he's actually bad news."
"He does seem a little different," Mo Xian'er nodded thoughtfully. "But... I think he's smart. At the very least, he knows his place and understands who he is. That alone saves a lot of trouble, even if it's a bit awkward."
"But what if he's hiding something darker?" Mengmeng pressed, her brows furrowing.
"You really think so?"
"It's possible, isn't it?" Mengmeng replied, then paused as if something had just occurred to her. "Why don't I test him a little? Try to get a better sense of who he really is."
"Test him? How?"
"I haven't decided yet," she said. "But something to gauge his character. If he's hiding something malicious, we should know. If not, it's still good to understand him better. After all... the young lady is supposed to spend her whole life with him. Things may be fine now, but it can't stay like this forever, right?"
Mo Xian'er suddenly froze.
Right... a whole lifetime. That was a long time.
After a long silence, she slowly nodded. "Alright. But don't push it too far. And don't act too soon either. He's still recovering. Let him rest for a while. Besides, we haven't caught that assassin yet..."
As she spoke, she seemed to recall something. "Oh, right. Mengmeng, you fought the assassin that night. Did you get any clues?"
Mengmeng furrowed her brows and tried to recall, but eventually shook her head. "He was fast. I only exchanged one move with him and couldn't see through his technique. But he didn't feel like an ordinary thug... more like a professional killer."
"A professional killer?" Mo Xian'er frowned, falling deep into thought. After a while, she said, "In the next few days, I'll have to trouble you. We must drag him out into the light. I want to know who's behind all this."
"Yes, Miss," Mengmeng replied resolutely and took a few steps back. "I'll get right on it."
Mo Xian'er stared at her departing figure for a long moment before turning and walking in another direction.
Elsewhere, Ye Xuan wandered through the Mo residence under Mengmeng's guidance. Thanks to her introductions, he began to get a better sense of the place.
He learned that the compound was passed down through generations of the Mo family. Though it had been expanded over time, its core design remained unchanged. To Mengmeng, it felt like walking through ancient history. To Ye Xuan, however, it stirred no emotion.
They encountered a few servants and distant relatives during their stroll. Most greeted him politely, even respectfully—likely thanks to Mo Yang's earlier words. Despite being a live-in son-in-law, Ye Xuan wasn't met with disdain. Everyone was unnervingly courteous.
But Ye Xuan's body was still weak. Even just strolling around left him drenched in sweat, his clothes clinging to him.
"Sir, perhaps we should head back?" Mengmeng suggested gently. "This estate is massive. If you want to see every corner, it might take all day."
Though they weren't close, their conversations had become more relaxed. Mengmeng didn't dislike him. In fact, she thought Ye Xuan might be a good match for her young lady, even if he wasn't on her level. He didn't seem to care for wealth or power, and more importantly, he knew his place. He wouldn't overstep just because he was now married to Mo Xian'er.
Ye Xuan, of course, had no idea what impression he left. He was simply eager to refine the Body-Tempering Pill. This frail body was becoming unbearable.
"Alright, let's go back."
Back at his residence, Ye Xuan washed up and rested. Over the next few days, aside from a few visits to Mo Yang, he stayed within the courtyard. Mo Xian'er was rarely home, always out handling business or investigating the assassin. According to Mengmeng, they hadn't found any leads.
Ye Xuan wasn't surprised. As he suspected, if the assassin worked for a powerful group, the attempt would have been carefully orchestrated. After the failure, they would vanish without a trace, waiting for the next chance. Tracking them down wouldn't happen overnight.
This was going to be a long game.
But... was that really all?
Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes. The deeper the mystery, the more interesting it became. But that didn't mean he wanted to waste time.
"Once I complete body-tempering and build my foundation, I can deal with this properly."
Seven days later, Ye Xuan finally asked to return to the clinic.
This time, neither Mo Xian'er nor Mo Yang objected. They agreed immediately.
After a simple breakfast, Ye Xuan left the Mo estate with Mengmeng.
As they reentered the bustling city, surrounded by skyscrapers and streams of cars, Ye Xuan felt a strange, distant sense of displacement.
Within minutes, Mengmeng pulled up in front of Huichuntang.
The Huichuntang Medical Hall had been passed down through Ye family generations. It sat tucked in a quieter corner of the city, preserving its old-world charm. Its architecture felt ancient amidst the modern landscape.
As soon as Ye Xuan stepped out of the car, he caught a faint whiff of medicinal herbs. Peering through the doors, he saw no patients, just a few attendants chatting idly and laughing, giving the place a casual, lived-in atmosphere.
Behind the front counter, a young girl in a plain white dress sat writing something intently.
As if sensing his gaze, she looked up.
The moment their eyes met, Ye Xuan's mind was flooded with memories—of her.
This was Luo Yanlan, the girl who had grown up with him.
She had been adopted by Ye Xuan's father, Ye Tingyun, an orphan with no name of her own. Ye Xuan's mother had named her, and from then on, they had studied medicine together under Ye Tingyun's guidance. Luo Yanlan had always shown remarkable talent, and so, in Ye Tingyun's will, he left the clinic to her. Ye Xuan, on the other hand, had been sent to marry into the Mo family.
This was the first time they were meeting since his marriage. It had only been ten days, but for the two of them, it felt like an eternity.
The moment Luo Yanlan saw him, she bolted across the room and threw herself into his arms.
"Ye Xuan-ge..."
Her trembling body and tear-filled eyes said everything.
"Ahem..."
A soft cough came from behind.
It was Mengmeng, and her face was not pleased.
She had come along to care for and protect Ye Xuan—but also to report back to Mo Xian'er. She knew about Luo Yanlan, but seeing the two embrace so tightly... it still rubbed her the wrong way. Ye Xuan was married now. How could he still be hugging another woman like that?
Ye Xuan didn't seem fazed, but Luo Yanlan quickly sprang back as if electrocuted. She stepped away, the joy fading from her face, replaced by a subtle sadness.
She quickly composed herself and welcomed them into the back of the clinic.
Reunited at last, there was much to talk about. Since Ye Xuan had taken over this body, he had the original's memories, but Luo Yanlan still felt unfamiliar to him. She, on the other hand, couldn't stop talking—asking about his life in the Mo household, how he was treated, whether he was eating well, sleeping enough.
Then, a sudden commotion broke out outside.
"Where the hell is everyone?! Get out here! Now!"
The voice was thunderous with rage.
Luo Yanlan frowned and stood up. "I'll go check it out. Wait here."