Yu Xi looked at Jian Yiling, a hint of concern etched on his face. "Do you know how to use these two books you're holding?" He couldn't shake the feeling that she might be getting in over her head. He hoped she wouldn't naively march off to confront He Yan with the records in hand. Given He Yan's cleverness, those two books alone wouldn't be enough to pin anything on her. If Jian Yiling proceeded recklessly, she could end up in even greater danger.
"I know," Jian Yiling replied, her tone resolute and serious, yet the gentle impression her demeanor gave off made Yu Xi feel uneasy.
"You might want to leave those with me for safekeeping. If anything comes up, you can come find me," Yu Xi suggested, wanting to protect her from potential pitfalls.
"No need," Jian Yiling firmly rejected the idea, her determination clear.
"Alright, just be careful then," Yu Xi urged, genuinely worried that her naivety could lead to trouble.
Zhai Yungsheng, having observed Jian Yiling for a moment, then asked, "Do you want Yu Xi to find you a guest room to rest in?"
Once again, Jian Yiling looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong? Or do you want to join the festivities?" he inquired.
"I don't want to," she replied.
Though Zhai Yungsheng's tone wasn't particularly gentle, there was a patience underlying his words. "Then go rest. I can see the redness in your eyes. Do you really think you're a little bunny?"
She raised an eyebrow at the reference, recognizing that it was a playful jab. It was Zhai Yungsheng, aside from the old lady Jian, who had noted her recent lack of sleep.
"Redness? Do I really have it?" Jian Yiling asked, unsure and slightly alarmed.
Yu Xi leaned in to examine her eyes closely, concerned for her well-being. He had been with her throughout the journey from the Jian household to the Yu household and hadn't noticed her tiredness before now.
However, the moment he got too close, Jian Yiling instinctively stepped back. Proximity made her uncomfortable.
Before Yu Xi could scrutinize her further, Zhai Yungsheng suddenly pulled him back. "Aren't you going to arrange for a room?" he said, his eyes narrowing, clearly displeased with Yu Xi's lack of initiative.
"I'll have the housekeeper take care of it," Yu Xi replied, calling for the housekeeper to lead Jian Yiling to a guest room to rest.
Once they were alone, Yu Xi settled next to Zhai Yungsheng, filled with curiosity. "Sheng Ye, I can't help but wonder why you're so invested in that little girl. You even seem concerned about her fatigue."
Zhai Yungsheng answered matter-of-factly, "She resembles a pet I used to have."
"A pet? You mean that little white rabbit?" Yu Xi recalled, piecing together Zhai Yungsheng's earlier words.
Jian Yiling indeed had a soft, innocent appearance, akin to a small rabbit, with a fair complexion and silky hair that made one want to reach out and stroke it, just as one might with a rabbit's fur.
Yu Xi had seen the pet Zhai Yungsheng once kept, but he remembered his master hadn't shown much attachment to the rabbit.
But then a realization struck him. "Wait a minute, Sheng Ye! I remember you fed that rabbit sweet potato leaves until it got really fat—and then you ended up eating it yourself!"
Meanwhile, Jian Yujie had made arrangements to have the driver take him to the Jian household early. When the car stopped in front of the house, he began unloading various bags and items.
As he was busy, Grandma Jian stepped out of the house and spotted Jian Yujie lugging several packages toward the entrance.
"Yujie, did your mother agree to let you stay here at the old house for a while?" she inquired, her voice laced with curiosity.
Given her understanding of He Yan's character, Grandma Jian found it hard to believe. He Yan might want Jian Yujie to build rapport with the elderly couple, but it was unlikely she would actually hand him over to them. She knew that once Jian Yujie was with them, she wouldn't be able to stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a magician.
In that moment, Grandma Jian felt a mix of hope and concern, wondering just how this new development would unfold. The family dynamics were shifting, and it was becoming increasingly clear that the challenges ahead would require careful navigation.