Chapter 5: Who Are You Acting For?

How could there still be someone thinking of her at a time like this?

In the midst of her astonishment and shock, a beautiful, flower-like woman of about twenty years old, dressed in a yellow dress, walked quickly toward her with an anxious expression, carrying a white porcelain soup bowl.

"Sister, your body has been weak since childhood, and now you've fallen into the water again. You must be careful to stay warm. Quickly, drink this bowl of ginger soup to drive out the chill from your body..."

With the thoughts implanted by Hai Lan, how could Feng Qingcheng dare to drink it? She merely watched her warily, neither taking the bowl nor refusing it.

As if guessing her thoughts, the woman affectionately and caringly held the soup bowl to her lips, taking a clearly visible small sip, before smiling faintly. "Sister, this ginger soup is no longer hot. If you wait any longer, it will go cold..."

Feng Qingcheng saw with her own eyes that she had tasted a sip and swallowed it. Furthermore, being a newcomer, she did not wish to attract special attention, and since Hai Lan showed no intention of refusing, she hesitated briefly before taking the white porcelain bowl and drinking the ginger soup dry.

However, at that very moment, a woman on the shore shouted loudly, "Where is the Second Miss of the Su family?"

The woman in front of her hurriedly stood up and responded, "Do not be anxious, Nanny. My fifth sister fell into the water and is feeling the chill, so I have brought her a bowl of ginger soup to drive out the cold..."

"The Second Miss of the Su family has good intentions, but the Empress has sent someone to inquire. It would be best if the Second Miss could hurry..."

Feng Qingcheng, who was halfway through the ginger soup, suddenly paused, instantly understanding everything.

The woman in yellow gave an acknowledgment, then let out a long sigh in front of Feng Qingcheng.

"My eldest sister has fallen into the water and her life or death is unknown; even the Empress has been disturbed and is sending people to inquire... Sister, once you have finished the ginger soup, go to the meditation room in the back to rest for a while. I must go first to respond to the Empress..."

With the disappearance of this Second Miss of the Su family, the painted pleasure boat instantly returned to tranquility; even the onlookers automatically dispersed.

It seemed as if everyone had forgotten that Feng Qingcheng, the victim of the fall, still existed on the boat.

Feng Qingcheng casually tossed the porcelain bowl and the remaining ginger soup into the water, drawing a startled cry from Hai Lan.

"Miss, why did you stop drinking?"

"It was merely a prop used for a play. Without the actors and without the audience... what is there left for me to act out?"

Hai Lan looked at her with stunned, confused eyes, clearly not understanding the meaning behind her mistress's words.

A trace of a cold sneer surfaced in Feng Qingcheng's eyes. "This Second Sister of mine... I imagine she is a young lady who is most beloved by everyone, isn't she?"

"How did Miss know?" Hai Lan's lips parted slowly as she looked at her in shock. "The Second Miss is indeed the most loved by Uncle and the Old Ancestor... even the servants in the manor like her very much..."

"Being such a good actress naturally makes one likable..." Feng Qingcheng glanced sideways at her and sneered, "I have been in the water for so long, yet why didn't I see her bring out a bowl of ginger soup... to drive out the chill? Since she knew that falling into the water is cold and that my body is weak, why didn't she let me into the cabin to rest? Instead, she chose to perform this scene of deep sisterly affection—this delicate drama—precisely when those Nannies from the Empress's side were here?"