After returning to the Qin Family, Qin Wu didn't go to find Qin Hanzhong first, but headed straight for Mi Lan's place.

Outside Mi Lan's room, Qin Wu lingered for a long time before finally knocking on the door. "Young Miss, are you awake?"

It was almost dawn and most people were still asleep. Qin Wu knew that visiting at this hour was a bit abrupt, but he felt uneasy, needing to get something off his chest.

To his surprise, Mi Lan seemed to have been awake for a while. She swiftly opened the door upon hearing Qin Wu's knock.

"Brother Wu, do you need something?" Mi Lan's eyes were dark from lack of sleep, clearly having stayed up all night.

Furthermore, Mi Lan was still in her clothes and her hair was a bit messy.

Seeing her like this, Qin Wu opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

"Brother Wu, what's wrong?" Mi Lan asked again.

She knew Qin Wu had always liked her, but it was a silent, self-effacing kind of love. He never dared to express it openly.

After all, even though Qin Wu was an adopted son, his status in the Qin Family was similar to that of a servant.

Though Mi Lan was not well regarded, she still had Qin Family blood in her veins as Qin Hanzhong's daughter, and she had inheritance rights, unlike Qin Feng.

"Young Miss, do you want to marry Mr. Luo?" After a moment of hesitation, Qin Wu finally spoke, looking intently at Mi Lan.

Mi Lan was taken aback, her eyes flickering before she let out a bitter laugh. "Brother Wu, what difference does my willingness make? The Qin Family is determined to marry me off to him. What can my decision change?"

Qin Wu took a sudden step forward, closing the distance to a single step, startling Mi Lan into backing up two steps. "Brother Wu, what are you doing?"

"Lanlan, your opinion matters. I don't care about what our foster father thinks, I only want to hear your thoughts, right now." Qin Wu gripped the door frame, leaving an imprint on it as if he could break it with just a bit more force.

Mi Lan stared blankly at Qin Wu. Although she didn't understand why he was asking, her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice choked. "Brother Wu, thank you for asking. I haven't even met Luo Zongfang. How could I be willing? But my feelings don't matter. Brother Wu, you know I've always dreamed of marrying a heroic figure, someone like Sun Wukong who would come for me in a blaze of glory. But that's just a fantasy. I'll never meet someone like that in this lifetime."

Throughout her life, despite being ostracized by the other members of the Qin Family, Qin Wu had always treated Mi Lan well.

Mi Lan used to confide in Qin Wu.

Qin Wu knew Mi Lan had a dream since childhood.

Seeing the nearly hopeless look in Mi Lan's eyes, Qin Wu finally understood. Many might believe that marrying Luo Zongfang was the best outcome for Mi Lan.

But that was only from others' perspectives. To Mi Lan, it was a descent into hell.

Clenching his teeth, Qin Wu lifted his head. "Ye Guichen is here. Maybe he's the hero you've dreamed of. I hope he won't let you down."

"What?" Mi Lan was stunned, her entire body trembling as she grabbed Qin Wu's arm. "Brother Wu, what did you say? He's here in Qinghe? You're not lying to me?"

Qin Wu nodded firmly. "Yes, and besides, I'm no match for him."

As he spoke, a small smile of relief appeared on Qin Wu's face. "I can't see through him, but I know he truly deserves you."

He gently pushed Mi Lan's hand away. "I'll go to our foster father right now and tell him that you can't marry into the Luo Family."

He turned and resolutely walked toward Qin Hanzhong's room.

This place was like an old, large family estate. The distance between Mi Lan's and Qin Hanzhong's quarters was quite substantial.

Watching Qin Wu's retreating figure, Mi Lan couldn't hold back her tears anymore.

At this moment, she felt happy.

"He... he's really here?"

Regardless, Mi Lan never thought Ye Guichen would come to Qinghe and even earn Qin Wu's admiration.

It was well known that among her father's adopted sons, Qin Wu was a top martial artist respected by even Qin Hanzhong.

When she was young, Mi Lan had heard Qin Wu suggest that if she never found a suitable partner, marrying him might be a good option. After all, bringing Qin Wu into the family as a son-in-law would ensure his loyalty to the Qin Family.

But with the Luo Family involved, Qin Hanzhong seemed to have long forgotten those words.

However, Qin Wu remembered them forever.

Although he knew it was a distant hope, he didn't want to see Mi Lan suffer.

"Qin Wu, where have you been?"

Just as Qin Wu approached Qin Hanzhong's room, a voice called out from behind.

Qin Wu turned around quickly, bowing deeply. "Madam, I just did some errands for our foster father and now need to report to him."

"Errands?" Qin Feng's stepmother, Ning Youlan, sneered as she walked up to Qin Wu. "Wu, didn't you just go see that girl Mi Lan? Was that part of your task?"

Qin Wu was taken aback, looking at Ning Youlan in confusion. "Madam, how did you know?"

"Heh, you're the most valued adopted son in Hanzhong's eyes, yet you drop all your guard around that girl. I heard your entire conversation and you didn't even notice?" Ning Youlan stepped closer, only half a meter away from Qin Wu, so close they could hear each other's breathing.

"Wu, Mi Lan's marriage is a significant matter for the Qin Family. You wouldn't be thinking of stopping it, would you?" Ning Youlan's eyes glinted as she licked her lips, watching Qin Wu with a sly smile.

Qin Wu, straightforward by nature, didn't think much and said directly, "Madam, the future of the Qin Family is important, but so is Mi Lan's happiness. I must tell our foster father her thoughts so he can reconsider. If he's still adamant, then I have nothing more to say."

Ning Youlan narrowed her eyes. "So you're willing to offend your foster father and the Luo Family to stand up for that girl Mi Lan?"

"Madam, I..." Qin Wu began, but before he could finish, Ning Youlan suddenly lunged at him.

Qin Wu was stunned, not understanding her intentions, but quickly caught her to prevent her from falling. "Madam, are you alright?"

The next second, before Qin Wu could grasp the situation, Ning Youlan tore her clothes, exposing her pale shoulder. "Help! Someone help! The treacherous Lao Wu is attacking!"

Her cry instantly left Qin Wu dumbfounded.

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