When Li Song opened his eyes again, the young girl in front of him was looking at him with a confused expression.

He was holding her wrist so forcefully that her pink lips were tightly pursed. Her clear, black eyes were shining with uneasy and trepidation. Li Song continued to stare at her face without blinking. Although her face was slightly different from the Wei Luo that he knew, they were still the same person.

Just as he was about to say something, the corner entrance's door was suddenly pushed opened by someone. An older female servant came out of the residence. She was wearing a honey-colored robe and harshly said without restraint, "Didn't I tell you to leave? What kind of place do you think Duke Ying's residence is? Is this a place that you can come and go as you please? Why don't you look at yourself? Why would Fifth Master agree to see you?" As she said this, she spat on the ground.

Li Song's brow twisted and he loosened his grip on Wei Luo's wrist. A moment later, Wei Luo broke free from him and ran towards the alley. She ran very quickly. By the time Li Song returned to his senses, she had already disappeared past the end of the alley.

Li Song had only felt as if something had left his grasp. He turned around to look at the older female servant that had an angry expression and asked, "What's going on?"

This older female servant's job was watching the corner entrance. She had just started working at Duke Ying's residence last year. When she saw how simply Wei Luo was dressed, she assumed that she was an impoverished girl trying to obtain money by pretending to be related to Fifth Master. Most likely, she knew one of the female servants in the residence and decided to use Fifth Master's name as a way to enter the residence.

This older female servant knew Li Song's identity, so her expression immediately changed. She piled on layer upon layer of smiles as she said, "Heir Li, you don't know. That girl had come here several times. She said she's looking for Fifth Master. How could Fifth Master be someone that she can meet just because she wants to? This servant has mentioned this matter to Fifth Madam. Fifth Madam had specially ordered this servant to not let that girl inside the residence..."

As the older female servant said a bunch of words, Li Song's face continued to sink the more he heard her speak.

In the end, he turned around without saying a word and headed in the direction that Wei Luo had left in.

Lu Shi saw that he wasn't coming back to the carriage, so he caught up to him and asked, "Young Master, where are you going? Weren't you going to go back home?"

Li Song didn't respond as he quickly walked.

Unfortunately, after he had searched the entire alley, he couldn't find any traces of Wei Luo. The end of the alley connected with a busy street. She had probably already run far away. Li Song stood at the end of the alley as people passed by him. His face was expressionless as he thought of the words that the older female servant had said. A long time later, he slammed his fist against the wall.

Lu Shi felt painful just looking at him. While he wondered why Li Song was acting so strangely today, he said with a smile, "Young Master, did you know that young girl?"

Li Song was silent for a moment. Instead of answering his question, he said, "Let's go back."

Lu Shi froze, but he quickly recovered and agreed. He went back to tell the carriage driver to drive the carriage here. He still didn't understand what had happened as they went back to Prince Ru Yang's residence.

After they returned home, Li Song directly went to the study and ordered Lu Shi to investigate the matter of Duke Ying's family's Fifth Miss's kidnapping again.

Although Lu Shi didn't understand why he cared so much about a stranger, he still obediently withdrew to investigate this matter.

The news he brought back wasn't that much different from the previous time. It wouldn't be easy to thoroughly investigate this matter and get clear answers. Too much time had passed.

Li Song thought of the words that the older female servant had said. After contemplating for a long time, he said to Lu Shi, "Send a few people over to keep watch of Du-shi's actions. If there's any anomaly, immediately tell me."

Lu Shi nodded. Before he left, he couldn't resist asking, "Young Master, this insignificant one audaciously asks, do you know that Fifth Miss? Her kidnapping happened so long ago and Duke Ying's household doesn't even care about this matter anymore. Why do you still want to look into this matter?"

Li Song paused before saying, "I care because no one else is concerned about this matter."

This world seemed slightly different from his previous world. Wei Luo actually wasn't living as Duke Ying's family's Fifth Miss. Wei Chang Hong was engaged to Li Xiang. What went wrong? He had to get to the bottom of this.

Lu Shi hesitated, but didn't ask another question.

---

Later, Li Song went to Duke Ying's residence two more times. He deliberately took a detour and left through the corner entrance each time, but he didn't see Wei Luo.

Today, Li Song came to Duke Ying's residence with Elder Princess Gao Yang. Elder Princess Gao Yang had exchanged a few words with Fifth Madam Du-shi. She was probably hoping that after Li Xiang married into Duke Ying's family, Du-shi would treat Li Xiang magnanimously as her mother-in-law.

Du-shi was the daughter of a concubine and her status was much lower than Elder Princess Gao Yang's. Her attitude was very respectful and her tone was very amicable. She didn't show any disagreement towards Elder Princess Gao Yang's words.

When Elder Princess Gao Yang was leaving, Du-shi personally sent off the elder princess to the entrance with a smiling face from beginning to end.

Seeing that it had started to rain, Du-shi hurriedly had a servant girl bring over two umbrellas to Elder Princess Gao Yang.

After Elder Princess Gao Yang thanked Du-shi, she held a servant girl's hand for support as she went into her carriage. When she turned around, she saw Li Song standing in place. She asked, "Song-er, why aren't you coming? The raining is getting worse. Hurry and get inside the carriage. Don't let yourself catch a cold from standing in the rain."

Li Song returned to his senses and said to Elder Princess Gao Yang, "I'm going somewhere else first. I made plans with other people. Mother, you can go back home without me." Then, he accepted the oiled-paper umbrella from the servant girl, opened the umbrella, and went the other way with only Lu Shi following him.

Elder Princess Gao Yang called after him once. He seemed as if he hadn't heard her and continued walking away. He soon disappeared at the opening of an alley.

Elder Princess Gao Yang anxiously furrowed her eyebrows, "That child..."

The drizzle was accompanied by a cold wind and soaked the sides of Li Song's sleeves. Because it was late autumn, there was a penetrating chilliness even though it wasn't raining heavily. For every step he took, Li Song felt as if his body was turning into ice. But, his expression didn't change and he arrived at Duke Ying's residence's corner entrance to see that it's wooden doors were closed. He didn't see a fiendishly older female servant or a startled and terrified young girl here either.

Li Song stood in front of the corner entrance for a long time. His expression couldn't be clearly seen. The oil papered umbrella blocked most of his face and only his perfectly curved chin was exposed.

Lu Shi stood behind him and silently waited with him. After a while, seeing that Li Song wasn't moving at all, he finally asked, "Young Master, are you waiting for someone?"

Shortly after, Li Song finally moved. He strode towards the alley that was next to the corner entrance and threw down these words, "Wait for me here. You don't need to follow me."

Lu Shi was at a total loss. At first, he blindly followed Li Song for two steps. But, after seeing Li Song's unwavering steps, he slowly stopped. He looked at Li Song's back figure in confusion.

Li Song entered the alley where Wei Luo had disappeared into a few days ago. After taking several steps into the alley, the path became more and more narrow as he walked deeper into the alley.

The raindrops slid down from the eaves and dripped down onto the limestone path. The sound of the raindrops was both quiet and melodious. The surrounding area was unspeakably quiet because very people went through this alley.

Li Song gradually slowed his pace and took a turn into another alley. Last time, he hadn't taken this path and had directly left the alley into the bustling street. Today, he was walking slowly, so he had noticed this path.

Li Song walked several more steps before stopping in front of a place where the eaves were protruding. He lifted up his umbrella and started at the scene in front of him.

The girl underneath the eaves noticed that someone had come and slowly raised her head from her knees. She blinked her black, limpid, almond-shaped eyes. At first, she was so surprised that she didn't know how to react. Soon after, she faintly pursed her pink lips and observed Li Song for a while before slowly putting her head down. Her temperament was rather stubborn. She didn't say a word or make a sound. She just quietly curled up in the corner like an abandoned cat.

Last time, she had only been afraid because he had discovered her hiding in Duke Ying's residence's corner entrance. This time, she hadn't done anything wrong.

The two of the stayed like this. One was standing and the other was sitting. Neither of them spoke until the rain became heavier and the bottom of their clothes had become soaking wet.

When Wei Luo lifted up her skirt and shrank further back underneath the eaves, her pink, satin shoes that were embroidered with orchids were exposed. Although her clothes were old, they were very clean. Only her face was slightly dirty from the dust that had come off from the walls. She looked quite pitiful.

This was the first time that Li Song saw Wei Luo looking so pitiful. In his previous life, Wei Luo was always proud and willful. No matter what she was doing, she always behaved as if it was her natural right. Her unyielding spirit made people hate her to the point of wanting to gnash their teeth in anger, but it almost made people want to be closer to her.

He had never seen her so lonely and weak.

After Li Song had looked at her for a while, he suddenly lowered his eyes and chuckled.

When he laughed, he was quite good-looking. He had a handsome and elegant appearance to begin with, but because he usually acted arrogant and unrestrained, it made people have an instinctive dislike towards him.

Wei Luo couldn't make head or tail of his sudden laughter. She glanced at him before looking away and continuing to stare at her feet.

She originally thought she could easily reunite with her father after she found Duke Ying's residence. She hadn't expected that it would be so difficult to enter the residence. She had gone there several times, but she was driven away each time. Last time, it had been even more severe than usual. That older female servant had told the household's servants to teach her a lesson. Fortunately, she had run away quickly. Otherwise, who knows how badly she would have been beaten.

Wei Luo was feeling very gloomy. She didn't know when she would be able to see her father.

As she was thinking about this, Wei Luo noticed that the person next to her had slightly moved from her peripheral vision.

Li Song walked closed. Without giving time for Wei Luo to react, he leaned over and grabbed Wei Luo's wrist. He pulled her up, turned around, and started walking.

Startled, Wei Luo tried to move back and pry Li Song's hand from her wrist. She stared at him with her black, almond-shaped eyes and said, "Who are you? Where are you taking me? Let me go."

After leaving the shelter of the eaves, the heavy rain quickly drenched the hair in front of Wei Luo's forehead. Under the cleansing rain, her eyes became even clearer as if a layer of water covered them. Her eyes reflected Li Song's figure.

Li Song let go of her wrist and moved the umbrella over her head. He lowered his eyes to look at her wrist. The part of her wrist that he had been holding onto before had already turned red. There was even a light circle of green above the red mark. It was probably from him injuring her the last time they had met. The bruise still hadn't healed.

He remembered that he had been very forceful at the time because he had been scared that she would run away.

Li Song raised the hand that had been at his side and gently moved her soaked, loose hair behind her ears. He looked at her with a burning gaze as he said, "Come with me."

Wei Luo directly looked at him and saw a predatory gleam in his eyes that wouldn't allow any refusal. She instinctively shook her head and said, "No..." After saying this, she turned around and started to run away from him. She definitely didn't know this person. Why did he keep looking for her? Did he want to kidnap and sell her? Wei Luo thought of that childhood memory and a chill went up from the soles of her feet. She couldn't go with him.

Li Song caught up with her and grabbed her hand. This time, he didn't using all of his strength to seize her wrist. He only tightly held her fingers and didn't let her go. "Wei Luo. I'll say it one more time. Come with me."

Wei Luo stared at him with wide eyes, "Who are you?"

Li Song froze for a moment. In this lifetime, she didn't know him. Of course, she wouldn't be willing to come with him. Moreover, even if she knew him, based on the degree of hatred she felt for him in their previous lifetime, she would be even less likely to come with him. Li Song just looked at Wei Luo without saying a word. His staring made Wei Luo feel even uneasier.

A long time later, he finally quietly said, "I'm Li Song." After he said this, he clenched his hand around the umbrella as if he was trying to control his emotions. His voice became even quieter as he said, "I... I've been looking for you for a long time."

Wei Luo felt surprised and confused. "Why are you looking for me?"

Li Song raised his eyes to look at her. His eyebrows were slightly low and he looked away from her.

It was only at this moment that Wei Luo discovered he had a very unique birthmark under his eye that resembled a butterfly. The butterfly looked worn out resting underneath his eye and made his face look more unique.

Wei Luo stared at his birthmark while he was lost in thought.

A short while later, Li Song looked at her again. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed and it took a long time before he quietly said, "Don't you want to go inside Duke Ying's residence and be reunited with your family? I'll help you."

---

When Lu Shi carried the newly purchased clothes into the residence, he felt puzzled. Why did young master bring home a girl and specially have him buy clothes for her? What was going on? He was with young master every day. Why didn't he know about this person before?

Moreover, young master didn't directly bring her back to Prince Ru Yang's residence. Instead, he had settled her down in another place. Li Song had previously purchased this house to rest here for the occasional times when he was drunk. He must have brought her here because he didn't want Elder Princess Gao Yang and Miss to know about her and cause a huge fuss in Prince Ru Yang's residence. For him to hide her so securely, he definitely treasured her greatly.

Lu Shi knocked on the doors while holding the clothes. The servant girl inside the room partially opened the doors to allow a small gap, took the clothes, and closed the doors.

There had recently been an autumn rain. Young master was worried that the girl would catch a cold and had specially let her to take a hot bath first.

Lu Shi shook his head in front of the doors and tsked. He had never seen young master so worried over another person.

Lu Shu returned to the study and raised his head to look at Li Song. He was standing by the window.

Li Song had already changed into a light purple robe. Noticing that Lu Shi had arrived, he asked without turning his head, "Did you deliver the clothes?"

Lu Shi nodded, "To respond to Young Master, the clothes have been delivered."

Li Song didn't ask further questions.

After about an hour passed, he left the study and arrived at the room that Wei Luo was temporarily staying in. He directly entered the room without having someone announce his arrival.

The room was scented with incense that Li Song often liked to use. He stopped himself from walking past a small divider with a cloisonné center. He looked at the girl that was sitting on the arhat rattan bed. Wei Luo had just finished taking a bath. She was wearing the cherry blossom pink top and skirt that Lu Shi had bought. A sash that was two palms wide was wrapped around her waist. Her waist was slender and seemed as if it could be held in one hand. Her head was currently lowered as she was drying her black hair that was hanging down on one side and her slender, white as snow neck was exposed. The side of her face was exquisitely beautiful. Her eyelashes were long and curling upwards. It was only in moments like these that she looked an especially obedient doll that had been carved from jade.

Li Song stared at her. It felt as if he could never look at her enough.

Wei Luo saw a pair of ink-black shoes embroidered in golden thread appear on the ground. When she raised her head to look, she was faced with Li Song's unfathomable black eyes.

Wei Luo put down the towel in her hands and slowly straightened her posture. She thought for a moment before asking, "What did you recent words mean?"

He had recently said he would help her reunite with her family, but as for why would he do this... Wei Luo was sure that they had never met. So, what was his reason?

Li Song didn't move. He looked at her and said, "My younger sister is engaged to Duke Ying's family's Sixth Young Master."

His seemingly nonsensical words made Wei Luo stiffen her back. She naturally knew who Duke Ying's Sixth Young Master was. He was her younger brother, Wei Chang Hong. She had hovered outside Duke Ying's residence for several days, but she still hadn't seen him even once. How was he right now? They had been separated for so long. Did Chang Hong still remember his older sister?

Li Song added, "Li Xiang doesn't want to marry Wei Chang Hong. It won't be easy to cancel the engagement. The only way is to start with Du-shi. If Du-shi's moral conduct is dishonorable and has a malevolent heart, then Prince Ru Yang's household will have an excuse to cancel this engagement."

Wei Luo wasn't stupid. Although she had lived in a village for ten years, her mind was still clever. "How do you know that Du-shi's moral conduct is dishonorable? How do you know about my past?"

Li Song was silent for a moment. His bottomless black eyes looked at her. There were many emotions hidden in his eyes. In the end, it morphed into one sentence, "I know everything about you."

Wei Luo, "..."

A servant girl came into the room to bring a bottle of ointment that would improve circulation. She left the room after bring the bottle to Li Song with her head lowered.