Chapter 2: Difference

Wen Hao woke from the darkness, her eyes regaining their clarity.

What met her gaze was the face of a young man, tilted slightly upward.

That face was both familiar and strange, his ink-jade eyes filled with a hint of bewilderment.

Wen Hao was momentarily dazed.

Who was the person beneath her?

Wait, beneath her?

Wen Hao’s gaze subconsciously swept downward.

The spring flowers on her green silk skirt were tender and vibrant, and the tips of her goose-yellow shoes were suspended in mid-air.

She was—

Wen Hao looked at the young man again, and a bolt of lightning seemed to split the chaos in her mind, causing her to suddenly recall his identity.

Prince Jing’s heir, Qi Shuo!

Almost by instinct, Wen Hao moved to turn away, but a violent wave of dizziness suddenly struck. Her vision went black, and she tumbled down.

Qi Shuo lunged forward, opening his arms to catch the young girl falling from the wall.

The magnified handsome face and the physical contact left Wen Hao’s thoughts in a tangle, and she blurted out, "No!"

Qi Shuo’s eyes were filled with shock.

"You... can speak?"

Wen Hao’s eyes widened abruptly, and she covered her mouth with her hand. "I—"

At just that one word, tears surged forth, vying to be the first to fall.

A cry of surprise rang out: "Your Highness!"

Qi Shuo’s expression shifted slightly. He gently pushed the weeping girl aside and sprang to his feet.

The servant Chang Shun came sprinting over, his face full of panic. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

"Do not shout," Qi Shuo reprimanded him lightly, then reached out a hand toward Wen Hao, who was sitting on the ground. "Second Miss Wen, let me help you up."

The spring light was perfect; the young man’s hand was slender and fair, as translucent as fine jade.

Wen Hao stared at that hand, still unable to recover from the massive shock, merely murmuring two words: "No..."

Confusion flickered in Qi Shuo’s eyes, yet he kept his hand extended with patience.

"Isn't that Wen Hao!"

A woman’s voice caused everyone at the base of the wall to turn their heads in unison.

Not far away, several gorgeously dressed young ladies with varying expressions were walking toward them.

"Big Brother, what is going on here?" The leading girl in the yellow dress shifted her gaze between Qi Shuo and Wen Hao, shock evident on her pretty face.

The one who spoke was the little princess of Prince Jing’s manor, Qi Qiong, Qi Shuo’s younger sister.

"Need you ask? It must be Wen Hao spying on the Heir!" The girl who had spoken first stood beside Qi Qiong, looking down at Wen Hao, who was still sitting on the ground.

Wen Hao looked at her with a blank expression.

The disdainful gaze, the contemptuous look, the bright, eye-catching pomegranate-red skirt.

This must be a dream, right? She had actually dreamt of the scene from over three years ago.

Not long after her mother finished the mourning period, it happened to be the Princess of Jing’s birthday. Her mother had intended to take her and her elder sister to the manor to offer birthday greetings, but in the end, she only took her sister.

Her father had said, since she could not speak, why bring her out to be looked down upon?

Her mother was displeased and argued with her father. She had held her mother back, signaling that she did not want to go.

However, not being able to go and not wanting to go were two different things.

When her maternal grandfather was alive, he would try every possible way to coax her out, simply because he felt sorry that she could not speak and feared she would be too timid to face people.

Thinking of her late grandfather, she had returned to the General’s manor alone.

The General’s manor and Prince Jing’s manor were separated by only one wall. She had walked here unconsciously and, as if possessed, climbed onto the wall. Who would have thought that the Heir of Prince Jing would be standing on the other side, and she would run right into him?

Perhaps it was because she was too panicked, or perhaps it was just her bad luck, but a sudden wave of dizziness struck, and she fell from the wall.

And then—

Wen Hao looked at Qi Shuo, her eyes changing.

And then, things were different.

Back then, the Heir of Prince Jing had pretended not to see her fall to the ground and had walked straight away.

She knew some martial arts, so climbing back over the wall quietly shouldn't have been a problem, but she had twisted her ankle. Because of that delay, she was spotted by the little princess and the others who were strolling by.

Tang Wei, the second miss of the Marquis of Wuning’s manor, had heaped cold sarcasm upon her, and soon the news of Second Miss Wen climbing the wall had spread.

But now, the Heir of Prince Jing had reached out to catch her and even intended to help her back onto the wall.

Was she having a dream where the Heir of Prince Jing was helpful?

Wen Hao scanned each face, a bitter smile spilling from the corners of her mouth.

Then this dream was even worse than the situation three years ago.

Back then, because the Heir of Prince Jing had walked away first, the only thing that spread was her reputation for being willful and unruly. But now, she had fallen directly onto the Heir of Prince Jing...

"It is like this—" A low, mellow voice reached Wen Hao’s ears. "Just now, I suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable in my chest, and Chang Shun was not by my side, so I called out for help. Second Miss Wen is kind-hearted and heard my cries..."

Qi Shuo’s explanation made the little princess Qi Qiong’s expression soften. She stared fixedly at Wen Hao. "Second Miss Wen, is that so?"

Wen Hao looked deeply at Qi Shuo and nodded slightly.

Qi Qiong’s expression relaxed, and just as she was about to speak, she heard a "Yes."

That "Yes" fell into everyone’s ears like a bolt of lightning.

"You, you can actually speak!" Tang Wei pointed at Wen Hao, her voice turning shrill in extreme shock.

The little princess Qi Qiong couldn't help but take a step closer. "Second Miss Wen, you—"

The General’s manor was Wen Hao’s maternal home, and Wen Hao had spent most of her time growing up there, so she had known Qi Qiong since childhood.

"Little Sister, we should probably send Second Miss Wen back first."

Qi Qiong realized that surrounding her like this was inappropriate and signaled to a maid.

The maid stepped forward to help Wen Hao up.

A piercing pain made Wen Hao’s legs go weak, and cold sweat broke out.

She looked down at her goose-yellow embroidered shoes, her brows furrowed tightly.

Could one feel such pain even in a dream when twisting an ankle?

But if it wasn't a dream, why could she speak?

"Second Miss Wen, are you alright?" Qi Qiong asked.

Wen Hao looked at her, then at Qi Shuo, and put her hand into her mouth, biting down hard.

Blood seeped from the back of her fair hand, staining her red lips.

Gasps of surprise followed one after another.

Tang Wei looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Wen Hao, you, are you crazy?"

Under the various gazes, Wen Hao raised her sleeve to cover her face and wept.

She was crazy.

So this wasn't a dream after all.

"Second Sister, are you alright?" Having received the message sent by the little princess Qi Qiong, Wen Chan hurried over.

Through tear-blurred eyes, Wen Hao tried hard to see that face clearly and threw herself into Wen Chan’s arms.

"Big Sister, I can speak now..." Wen Hao pulled out the most suitable excuse and sobbed loudly.

She was still alive, and her sister was still alive.

She still had time to prevent those tragedies.

"Second Sister, you can speak? That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful..." Wen Chan was incoherent, immersed in the surprise.

Qi Qiong coughed lightly, interrupting the warmth between the sisters. "Eldest Miss Wen, Second Miss Wen has twisted her ankle; you should take her back early."

Wen Chan wiped her tears and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I will take Second Sister back now. Many thanks, Princess—"

She paused, regaining her composure. "How did Second Sister come to be with the Princess?"

Qi Qiong gave her brother a strange look and repeated the excuse Qi Shuo had given.

Qi Shuo cupped his hands toward the Wen sisters. "It is I who have implicated Second Miss Wen."

"Your Highness is too kind. Anyone who heard someone calling for help would not remain indifferent." Wen Chan suppressed the suspicion in her heart, accepted the excuse, and with the help of the maid she had brought, supported Wen Hao as they left.

"Hmph, I don't believe it—" Tang Wei’s remaining words were swallowed as Qi Shuo’s cold gaze swept over her.

Wen Hao looked back, her gaze resting on Qi Shuo’s face for a fleeting moment before she turned her head away.

Since it wasn't a dream, but a return to over three years ago, why was the Heir of Prince Jing’s reaction different?

The update time is still the usual 10:10 AM. Investment carries risks, so please be cautious!

(End of chapter)