Shen Ruoyu followed Xiao Chun's gaze to a small stall selling clay figurines. "If you like it, buy it. The Shen family has more than enough money." It was just a trifling trinket. Xiao Chun had served her since childhood, and she wasn't so miserly as to refuse the little girl a clay figurine.

"Xiao Chun, I'm a little tired. My brother should be back from the academy soon. Let's go back early." Despite her careful preparations before leaving the house, faced with the familiar streets of the capital she had wandered countless times, Shen Ruoyu quickly grew bored.

Just as she was about to return the way she came, a pair of jade-white hands suddenly patted her shoulder. A familiar voice rang out behind her, "Sister Ayu!"

Compared to the other girl's surprise, Shen Ruoyu was much calmer. She nodded slightly. "Sister Qi Long, what a coincidence to run into you here."

The owner of the voice was a sweet-looking young girl, the same age as Shen Xinghuai. The two were acquainted, and she also knew Shen Ruoyu, so she liked to call her "sister" as well. Qi Long was delighted to encounter Shen Ruoyu here. She naturally took Shen Ruoyu's arm. 

"I've been wanting to spend time with you, Sister. It's such a coincidence to meet you here today. You have no idea how annoying the one following behind me is..."

Qi Long lowered her voice when she spoke the latter half of the sentence. She didn't know what bad luck she had encountered recently, but every time she went out, her brother insisted on following her closely. And not only did he follow, but he also interfered in everything. He wasn't that much older, yet he acted like a little old man.

Shen Ruoyu couldn't help but scoff. 

"Really? Well, anyone close to his uncle can't be a good person. Has Sister Qi Long never heard the saying, 'He who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and he who stays near ink gets stained black'?" 

Rong Yan was not a good person. That man with his perverse inclinations had kept her deceived for the sake of family interests. In Shen Ruoyu's eyes, Rong Yan's nephew was even worse.

Actually, meeting Qi Long was no coincidence. Having been reborn so many times, Shen Ruoyu knew she would encounter her here. She hadn't chosen to avoid this path, mainly because she genuinely liked the lively Qi Long and wanted to chat with her.

However, she had forgotten that every time Qi Long appeared on this long street, her gloomy-faced brother would be trailing behind. Even though Qi Ziyi had a fair and handsome face, Shen Ruoyu still found him extremely annoying.

Their whispered conversation reached Qi Ziyi's ears word for word. "Miss Shen, choose your words carefully. What do you mean by saying that being close to my uncle makes someone a bad person?" 

Both Qi Ziyi and Qi Long were born to Rong Yan's elder sister. Qi Ziyi had been close to Rong Yan since childhood, and even outsiders knew of his admiration for his uncle.

Observing Qi Ziyi's expression, Shen Ruoyu wondered if she should describe him as resembling a bristling puppy. He was always like this, unable to remain calm whenever his uncle was mentioned.

The atmosphere between them grew tense. Qi Long, unable to bear it, jumped in to mediate. "Alright, Brother. Sister Ayu must have had a quarrel with Uncle, so she's in a bad mood. Don't forget, Sister Ayu will be our aunt in the future..."

"Enough! Qi Long, do you even believe such gossip?" Qi Ziyi's voice deepened, interrupting Qi Long. His chest heaved, as if he were extremely angry.

Qi Long, unsure which words had offended her brother again, could only lower her head in grievance.

"Where did this whippersnapper come from, daring to shout at me? Or do you perhaps harbor some improper feelings for your uncle, some sordid secret, and that's why you can't bear to hear others mention him?"

Shen Ruoyu noticed Qi Ziyi's face alternating between pale and flushed. In truth, she had no direct evidence to prove Qi Ziyi's affection for Rong Yan; it was merely her subjective speculation.

The root of her hatred for Qi Ziyi stemmed from the fact that he always lurked in the shadows, assisting Lu Zhixing whenever he harmed her brother. Every time Shen Xinghuai was reborn, and then died again and again, it was always inextricably linked to this person.

Combining this with Qi Ziyi's various actions, she suspected that perhaps he loved his uncle and viewed Shen Xinghuai as a rival, thus repeatedly putting him to death.

If that were truly the case, then he not only had perverse inclinations but also disregarded human ethics, truly despicable. Rong Yan loved Shen Xinghuai, and Qi Ziyi secretly loved Rong Yan? What a drama this was!

"Miss Shen, you jest. I naturally admire my uncle greatly. How could I harbor any other feelings...?"

"Xiao Chun, let's go." Shen Ruoyu interrupted him. She didn't trust anyone now, too weary to listen to their flowery words. After bidding farewell to Qi Long, she turned and headed home.

She didn't know how long her short-lived brother would survive after this rebirth. He might die tomorrow, or with luck, Shen Xinghuai might live to a ripe old age this time.

The most urgent matter at hand was to find a reason to break off the engagement with Rong Yan. Since she didn't know how many days she had left to live, she might as well live them comfortably and keep that scum far away from her.