"It's you!" Ince stood up angrily, but after hearing the heavy breathing of the two strong men behind him, he had no choice but to sit down again.

"It's me." Xu Xiaoyou spat out a sunflower seed shell, her face showing no emotion.

"For you to see me here today, I've burned a lot of bridges."

"Do you think that by getting me out, I'll forgive you for the things you did to me before!"

"The damage to my tender soul is something you can never make up for!"

Xu Xiaoyou stood up and tipped the seed shells from her hand into the trash can. Ince watched her every move, deciding that no matter what she asked from him, he would outright refuse!

"Looks like Mr. Ince isn't very willing to cooperate." Xu Xiaoyou sighed lightly, indifferent as she waved her hand, "Then send him back. Perhaps he misses life in prison more; I have other candidates."

The two strong men nodded and stepped forward, placing their hands on Ince's shoulders.

Just remembering the inmate with the full set of yellow teeth, grinning eerily at the bedside, made Ince tighten below, sending a shiver down his spine.

Ince, who moments before had been steadfastly unyielding, immediately forced a smile worse than crying, sobbing and sniffling as he lunged to hug the girl's leg. Xu Xiaoyou stepped aside without emotion, letting the man fall miserably.

"I hate working with people; cooperation implies equality. Do you think you're in any position to negotiate with me now?" Xu Xiaoyou's tone was calm.

"Sis, I was just kidding. What happened before is water under the bridge. From now on, you can order me as you wish. Point me east and I'll never go west. Just don't make me sell myself, I'll do anything else."

Ince, with a mournful face, fearing Xu Xiaoyou's dissatisfaction, added quietly.

"Of course, if I must sell myself, it's not impossible either."

"Very good, seems you've figured out your position." Xu Xiaoyou clapped her hands, signaling the two strong men to let Ince go.

"Remember, if I can pull you out of prison, I can send you back in."

Ince knelt on the ground, his back straight with resolve. He understood well his heavy punishment. Thousands of years of sentences, his fate sealed with a single gavel strike by the exalted Chord Officer, sentenced equally with those heinous Ascetic Sect lunatics. Although the disaster was spread out, its final visual presentation seemed hardly different from the Ascetic Sect's deeds.

Someone able to pull him out of jail, the energy held by this blonde girl, certainly wasn't as simple as it appeared on the surface. At least on the Star of Art, she undoubtedly had a vast network.

"So, what do you expect me to do?" Ince asked cautiously.

Xu Xiaoyou tossed a camera into Ince's arms, a photo of a blue-haired girl popped out from the camera. The girl in the photo wore a white dress, turning back with an innocent and brilliant smile.

"Starting tomorrow, stick close to her and fully use your 'photography talent'."

Listening to the continuous flat tone of the girl, Ince nodded as if he understood, making an OK gesture.

"Sis, from now on, I'll follow your lead. I've wandered aimlessly half my life without meeting a wise lord. If Miss doesn't reject, I'm willing to serve as a household attendant!"

Xu Xiaoyou faintly smiled.

"Never mention anything about me to anyone."

...

In the morning, Life Elegy Hospital, in a ward room.

Victor routinely underwent investigation by medical staff. He had been confined in this hospital for nearly a week, his mind gradually sobering after the incident that day, becoming much more mature in thought.

His aunt was an elder in the family, and news of his situation in the hospital should have reached her long ago. Yet, these days not a single person had come to visit him, and even the whole hospital remained eerily calm. That old man almost strangled him to death, and barely a splash was made?

After all, he was the sole child in his lineage; could that Little Blue Bird indeed possess such power that it intimidated his aunt's faction?

Logically, it shouldn't be so. The other side had merely decided to wade through the family's muddy waters, seemingly delicate as a storm flower, how could she have quickly developed connections, embedding her roots deep into the intricate family network?

What method did she use to keep his aunt in check...

Could it be, Yain truly valued his daughter, whom he hadn't seen much, just because she's Starry Singer, and was willing to fall out with his aunt just to support his daughter's whims.

Victor shook his head, refraining from overthinking.

Learning from experience, he understood the consequences of speaking recklessly and paid the price for his arrogance and pride. Even with the family's elite education branding him, no matter how dandy a family heir, recognizing the circumstances is a lesson they must learn.

If that Little Blue Bird genuinely wields such influence, he mustn't provoke any trouble with her. The risk of endangering himself and consequently implicating his mother and the rest of his line, would make regrets pointless.

He needed a plan to mend their rift. Being so handsome, perhaps after discharge, inviting her for a candlelit dinner as a courtesy, she might not have any reason to refuse, mending their relationship while ensuring his aunt's faction doesn't escalate the matter; surely that Little Blue Bird would comprehend.

As Victor contemplated this, the figure he least wanted to see walked into the ward. Old Quill, wearing a brown-gray oil wax jacket, looked travel-worn, like a seasoned hunter returning from the wild.

Reeking of alcohol, Old Quill didn't greet anyone, just plopped onto his hospital bed.

"What do you want, Old Quill?" Victor asked unpleasantly.

He might show a friendly face to Little Blue Bird, but could never forgive this damned old man who nearly killed him!

"Miss said, you'll be sent home in the afternoon to reunite with your family. Have you figured out what to say?"

Old Quill, seemingly drunk, held a bottle of vodka.

"Yeah, I won't mention anything about myself to my aunt's faction. Apologize to Sevia for me, let this matter pass, I can pretend nothing happened."

Old Quill chuckled, stood up facing the young man, and rolled the wheelchair to Victor's front, "Sorry for being heavy-handed before. Must've been tired of being cooped up in the ward. Let's take a stroll in the garden."

Victor snorted coldly but didn't decline.

The back garden of the hospital was peaceful, the shrubs concealing green leaves and vibrant flowers among them. Pitcher plants sported white snowy spots, silver-white flowers bloomed silently in corners, hanging wisteria draped around the constructed corridor, while the wheelchair quietly rolled over arranged bamboo wood floors, producing creaking sounds.

Victor breathed the long-awaited fresh air; the heaviness inside him dissipated somewhat with the breeze. He plucked a white lily-of-the-valley, its fragrance spreading, the green stem twirling in his hand, its bloomed petals swayed like a girl's dress dancing in the wind.

Victor couldn't help but think of that blue-haired girl, with eyes deep as the ocean, her pure, entrancing face, serene comfortable smile pulling at his heartstrings, making him want to protect such beauty. The girl's eyes gave him his piece of azure sky; if someday he could hold her hand, running through the serene flowery meadows...

"How's the view here?" Old Quill suddenly asked.

"Quite nice. I love lily-of-the-valley, mom grows them in her room." Victor replied.

"Then this is where we settle."

An icy wind blew between them, shattering all the beautiful fantasies the young man held and, suffocatingly, gloomily pressed over Victor's heart.

He wished to stand up, yet was held down by Old Quill, looking around did he realize the garden this morning was devoid of people, with not even a guard in sight, the dead quiet growing in the sterile desolation.

An icy gun pressed against the back of his head.

Fear instantly stripped Victor of all thinking capacity, his lips turned pale like his face. Though trying to feign calm, he couldn't stop the trembling in his voice.

"She clearly said she'd spare me."

"Wait, is it her wanting to kill me or is it your idea, or perhaps Yain's sick thought!"

"You don't need to know."

Old Quill pulled the trigger, the flashing flame sliced through the wilderness of his eyes.

The young man fell powerlessly, horror and disbelief frozen in his widened eyes, bright blood dyed the ground beneath the pure white lily-of-the-valley.

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