Senior Brother, Senior Sister, and Junior Brother—missing just one to complete the quartet.

The sudden kiss made Wanwan blush shyly. "Master, I'm hungry. Wanwan wants to eat," she murmured.

"Oh? Alright," Pan Yueyang replied, seizing her tender lips without hesitation and biting down with a playful punishment. It wasn’t enough to make her cry out in pain, but it certainly startled her into silence.

"Hey!" Baili Mubai rolled his eyes. Could you not do such indecent things in such an innocent atmosphere? At the very least, if you must, wait for a dark, stormy night with thunder and lightning!

The two of them, each lost in their own thoughts, turned toward the disgruntled interloper.

"You shouldn't be that hungry," Pan Yueyang remarked, remembering how someone had devoured a whole roast chicken that very morning, all the while subjecting him to his beastly table manners.

"Who says so!" Baili Murong rubbed his stomach in distress. "Senior brother, I’m craving Senior Sister Xueqing’s little buns..."

Pan Yueyang ignored him, his mind wandering to breakfast in the Wind Lotus Pavilion. He had intended to stretch his muscles that morning, only to be delayed by this fellow. Now, reminded by Wanwan, he realized he was a bit hungry himself.

"Which little glutton is craving Senior Sister’s meat buns?" Xueqing entered at just the right moment, carrying a food box and smiling as she walked from the courtyard into the room.

"Senior Sister Xueqing, wow, I think I can smell the meat buns already," Baili Mubai said, staring at the box and swallowing.

A true gourmand—Baili Mubai was a bona fide foodie! Xueqing and Pan Yueyang were long accustomed to his reputation. But who could say—perhaps...

"I smell them too!" Wanwan’s face lit up with delight as she looked at Baili Mubai. These days, she ate whatever was given to her, never picky, but that didn’t mean she didn’t love good food!

The two exchanged a glance, turning to the source of the aroma. Pan Yueyang shook his head, while Xueqing smiled gently.

Compared to Baili Mubai, Wanwan was still quite reserved. She only gazed longingly at the food box, her face full of anticipation. Baili Mubai, on the other hand, was used to taking liberties. With a grin, he snatched the box and pulled Wanwan over to the room’s only Eight Immortals table.

"Try them—Senior Sister’s buns are unrivaled!" Baili Mubai opened the box, and the buns, fresh from the steamer, were still steaming hot, their rich aroma filling the room. He shook his hand, waving away the heat, grabbed two buns, reconsidered, and put them back, sliding the whole plate in front of Wanwan. He picked one up himself, tossing it from hand to hand to cool it down.

"They’re very hot—take your time and savor them. Buns are best eaten fresh from the steamer!" Baili Mubai carefully stood a small bun upright in front of Wanwan, then continued his own battle with the steaming treat.

Wanwan swallowed, the mouthwatering scent making her want to take a bite immediately.

Seeing the little glutton’s eager expression, Pan Yueyang spoke gently, "Wanwan, weren’t you just saying you were hungry? Go on, eat."

With her master's command, Wanwan beamed. Not caring about the heat, she grabbed the bun Baili Mubai had set upright and took a big bite. "Ah, it’s so hot!"

Baili Mubai watched Wanwan with a foolish grin, then started on his own bun.

Xueqing quietly slipped out of the room, a wry smile on her lips.

Pan Yueyang, noticing her retreat, followed. "Did you invite Mubai here?"

"I did. He’s been in the mountains too long," Xueqing said, not turning back but stopping in her tracks.

"Very well. Let him stay as long as he wants," Pan Yueyang replied thoughtfully. With Mubai’s help against the cult, success would be assured.

"That’s what I thought, so I took the liberty of deciding." Xueqing composed herself, turned, and smiled gracefully.

"Come dine with me," Pan Yueyang said, glancing back at the two foodies, deciding he preferred Xueqing’s company for his meal.

Xueqing said nothing, following Pan Yueyang toward his room.

"Senior brother! Order a few proper outfits for me, would you?" Baili Mubai plopped his large self onto a wooden chair in Pan Yueyang’s study.

"Oh? Ready for a change?" Pan Yueyang didn’t look up from his military texts, implying Mubai’s previous appearance was woeful.

Baili Mubai rolled his eyes, unconcerned. He knew his senior brother would provide; rich, handsome, and generous, he and senior sister had always freeloaded off him.

"Senior brother..." Baili Mubai had something on his mind.

Pan Yueyang set down his book, looking up expectantly.

"Why is your life so good?" Mubai mused, half to Pan Yueyang, half to himself. "You’re born to a wealthy family, handsome, with all the girls around you. Why are some people so lucky? Imagine if you were rich and powerful but looked like a bun—short, fat, and ugly! Wouldn’t that be something?"

"You’re talking nonsense again. Is there ever a serious thought in your head?" Pan Yueyang stood and walked over. "Have you taken a fancy to some girl?"

"I have. I like Wanwan. I just took her kite flying, but she’s your woman," Mubai confessed without a hint of embarrassment.

Pan Yueyang’s lips twitched ever so slightly. So he dared to covet his woman and spoke of it so lightly?

"Enough, off you go. I’ve got strategies to study. I’ll tell the steward to order your clothes," Pan Yueyang said, rubbing his forehead.

Baili Mubai didn’t bother with further protest, heading straight for the door. Suddenly, he turned back. "Senior brother, Wanwan’s been hurt before."

Pan Yueyang, book in hand, maintained his reading posture, showing no reaction, not even a change in expression. Mubai, finding this dull, left the room.

Slowly, Pan Yueyang laid down his book. Mubai, ever interested in medical arts, often pored over their master’s medical texts, so if he said so, it must be true.

He, too, had noticed something off about Wanwan. It was hard to pinpoint, but she was almost too docile—bordering on simple-minded. In their days together, she showed none of the physical strength of a laborer, yet the steward and Xueqing both said that when they found her, she was in rags and near death. Wanwan herself had mentioned she woke from a fall and was then brought to the capital by the person who sold her, which suggested she wasn’t of poor birth.

Moreover, from the little habits she occasionally revealed—how she naturally knew to have maids attend her while dressing, her calm composure, and dignified table manners—he was increasingly certain of her background. These weren’t behaviors of a commoner, nor did she have the giddy or arrogant attitude of someone suddenly rising in status.

Perhaps he ought to call for a physician... Yet, who was she really?

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking pulled Pan Yueyang from his thoughts.

"Come in."

"Yueyang~" Qin’er entered softly, her expression tender.

Pan Yueyang’s lips curled into a wicked smile at the sight of his concubine.

"I heard you’ve been very busy lately. I made you some restorative soup and brought it specially," Qin’er said, carrying a tray—white porcelain, her attire as immaculate as ever.

"Put it down," Pan Yueyang said, rising to embrace her. This woman pleased him; always sensible, knowing when to advance and when to retreat—hence he kept her by his side.

"Yueyang, don’t..." Qin’er half-heartedly tried to resist his advances.

Pan Yueyang pulled down her hand, undeterred.

Outside, birds flew by, while inside, springtime passion filled the room...

Xueqing quietly waited outside the study until Qin’er emerged, satisfied, and let out a long breath.

"Come in," Pan Yueyang called, already dressed and unfolding a map.

The room still held the lingering scent of intimacy. Xueqing kept her gaze lowered, deliberately ignoring it. "Mubai keeps clamoring to take Wanwan out for a walk."

Pan Yueyang looked up. "Do you want to go out?"

Though he asked for her opinion, he was already heading for the door. With a sigh, Xueqing followed him. After all these years, nothing had changed between them.

"Troubled lately? Why the sigh?" Pan Yueyang asked, spotting Wanwan and Mubai waiting at the gates.

"It’s nothing. It’s just been a long time since I went out with you," Xueqing replied, masking her feelings with a smile as she glanced at the golden couple at the entrance.

Wanwan wore an orange-gold gauze layered skirt, the wide pipa sleeves swaying gently in the breeze. A white jade bangle adorned her wrist, her hair parted and draped over her shoulders, crowned with a domed hairpin set with a large ruby. Her earrings matched the jade bangle, peeking shyly through her hair.

Mubai was dressed as he had been that morning—an ash-grey robe over a white inner garment, a matching belt at his waist.

Seeing Pan Yueyang and Xueqing approach, both Wanwan and Mubai waved excitedly.

"Let’s go! Wanwan said kite flying was great fun—I think she’s been stifled in the house for too long," Baili Mubai said, his eyes never leaving Wanwan.

"Mm." Pan Yueyang didn’t miss Mubai’s gaze. Noting it, he possessively wrapped an arm around Wanwan’s slender waist and led her out first.

Xueqing smiled at Mubai, teasing, "You know, this outfit really does make me see you in a new light."

The four of them left the General’s Manor, two by two.

Pan Yueyang looked around—no horses, no carriage. So they’d be walking?

"Wanwan wants to stroll, and I haven’t been to the market in ages either," Xueqing’s voice came from behind him and Wanwan.

"It’s nearly noon—why don’t we let senior brother treat us to a good meal first, then wander about?" As usual, the foodie had food on the brain.

"You sure?" Pan Yueyang didn’t slow down, still holding Wanwan close.

The sun beat down fiercely; it wasn’t long before Wanwan began to feel uncomfortable. She raised a hand to shield her face from the glare, squinting against the dazzling light, while her master, seemingly unbothered by the heat, held her fast.

The other three had martial training—walking to the market was nothing for them, not even a journey of hundreds of miles would tire them. But Wanwan... she was already struggling after a few steps.

"Senior brother, maybe I should fetch the carriage?" Mubai felt guilty, seeing Wanwan unsuited to such exertion.

"No need," Pan Yueyang replied, tightening his arm around Wanwan. "To the Qilin Restaurant!" As he spoke, he gathered his energy, held Wanwan close, and with a burst of lightness skill, soared away, disappearing from Xueqing and Mubai’s sight.