As Xiaoliu sends them on their way before Nian ruins the wedding banquet, Xuan made a passing remark that Shiqi is nowhere to be seen. Xiaoliu covered for his absence by making an excuse.

She found Shiqi sitting by the river.

Xiaoliu playfully splashes water on Shiqi and told him not to dry himself.
He really listened to her, but he took out a clean handkerchief to gently dry her.

Their little moment is interrupted by Xiangliu, who has arrived to take Xiaoliu somewhere.
Shiqi was unwilling to let her go with him, since Xiaoliu always returned with some injury, but she was worried he will get hurt fighting Xiangliu. Xiaoliu told Shiqi to stand down and not fight.

Xiaoliu was not enjoying the aerial maneuvers of Top-Gun Chubby as she had trouble staying on the bird with her low spiritual power, as it executed all kinds of mad moves in the sky.

She was clever enough to understand that Xiangliu was in a bad mood.

Xiangliu listened attentively to her story of her past sufferings and he did seem to cheer up.

He unexpectedly patted Xiaoliu at the back of her head instead when he saw her cower by reflex, and did not bite her as usual after her cheeky retorts.

Xiaoliu could not believe her eyes when Xiangliu extended his hand to her to join him on the lake.

Xiangliu took Xiaoliu by her hand, so she can walk out onto the lake where they saw a beautiful moon rising together. They stood there for a long while as the moon slowly rose across the sky, mirrored over the lake.

Xiangliu!! Counselling Xiaoliu!! This is a twist I never saw coming.
Xiangliu with all his lives, telling someone who only has one, about how precious life is, definitely has some irony in there somewhere.

Familiarity breeds contempt. Probably feeling like they got closer after their moon-gazing, Xiaoliu goes one step too far with Xiangliu. She started to advise him about defecting to the King of Xiyan and met with painful consequences as he lashed out with anger at her suggestion.

The drama changed the story a little.

Instead of going back, Shiqi waited by the river, contemplating if he should try to find her again. Shiqi remembered the kiss mark on her neck, half hidden behind her collar, and he stopped.

Just then, Xiangliu brought Xiaoliu back.

Instead of throwing Xiaoliu into the river (like in the novel), Xiangliu delivered her flying into Shiqi’s arms. Thanks Xiangliu, what a wingman you are

Back at the clinic, Xiaoliu was recovering from her ordeal by downing a hot soup.

Shiqi can’t bear to see Xiaoliu coming to harm every time she meets Xiangliu. So he asked her to leave it to him. Xiaoliu however has other plans, that involves a mysterious walnut.

The variable for Shiqi’s fate, came not from Xuan as Xiaoliu had feared, but with the arrival of a pretty lady in Qingshui town.

Soon, they received bad news that Master Yu, the ‘half-king’ of Qingshui town, intends to take back the shops by the river, including Rejuvenation Hall.
Everyone is devastated at the thought of losing the home they worked hard to build.

Mr Yu had bad news for them. He is not the person who can decide to continue renting the shops to them. Disappointed, Xiaoliu and Shiqi were dismissed.

The lady Xiaoliu had seen earlier, happened to come in just as they were leaving.
Shiqi saw her and turned quickly. But she saw him as he turned, and cried out for them to stop.

Shiqi walked with large strides and did not comply while Xiaoliu stopped to see what was happening. The lady threw herself at Shiqi’s feet and held onto his leg to stop him from leaving.

Xiaoliu immediately understood that the inevitable time had come.
Shiqi had been found. He will have to return to where he belonged.

She was upset, but put up a strong front as she cheerfully left without him.

Back at Rejuvenation Hall, Xiaoliu looked dejected and the others thought they will have to leave this place they call home.

They were overjoyed to hear they can stay and Shiqi even ‘stayed with Master Yu’. She could not continue eating as the others rejoiced at Shiqi’s good fortune to be working for Yu, and went out for a walk.

As Xiaoliu walked and kicked randomly at things, in a bad mood. Shiqi followed her from a distance.

Xiaoliu noted that he is still in his old clothes, but he put on some cologne went to meet her smelling nicer than usual. Unfortunately for him, Xiaoliu was brutally unimpressed.
She didn’t know what to say to him and told him to go home to his family.

Sang Tian’er is very perceptive, her comment made Xiaoliu realize that she still wanted to see Shiqi.

The next time Shiqi showed up again by the river for her walk, she was in a playful cheeky mood again.

She was pleased that he did not put scent on his clothing after her previous disapproval, and gave him a medicine pouch that she made.

Aaaaaah! Its a big deal when a girl gives a boy a ‘Fragrance pouch’, since its usually a gesture of a love confession, and Shiqi was confused at this sudden gift especially when Xiaoliu had been cold to him. He accepted it before Xiaoliu changed her mind with a goofy smile.

Xiaoliu is worried about Shiqi returning to the people who have hurt him in the past.
She was very thorough with a list of points for him to look after himself when he goes back, even telling him to come back if things don’t work out.

Their conversation remains one-sided, more like parting instructions.
Xiaoliu still did not ask him his name and Shiqi never offered it.

It was as if they had a tacit understanding to keep Ye Shiqi ‘alive’ for as long as possible.

It’s exposition time!

This day, is the first meeting of Xiaoliu and “Tushan Jing”.

Shiqi was waiting for Xiaoliu to appear but Xuan called her over before he could.

She was momentarily distracted when she laid eyes on Shiqi in fine clothing sitting far across their table.

She had avoided asking who he is, and he had not told her, but now she is forced to hear everything from the Stone spirit.

She knew he was from prestige but his status seemed higher than she had anticipated.

Jing had been meeting Xiaoliu as Ye Shiqi so that she won’t feel that things have changed.
Seeing him in dressed differently now, made the change hit home.

Hearing how he is being described, probably made Xiaoliu feel like that is not the person she has come to know. Elegant and witty? This quiet man of few words?

The words of the Stone spirit is so at odds with the present situation, that coupled with Xuan’s reactions, made for a strangely hilarious scene.

This Qingqiu Junior master displayed his use of tactics, by bringing a plate of shelled gingko nuts to get a seat at Xiaoliu’s table.

Xuan saw clearly that Jing only sat down after Xiaoliu accepted his gingko nuts. He can barely keep his laughter to himself.

Cang Xuan: he’s so whipped

The news about the existence of a prior marriage engagement for the Young Master of Tushan, for some reason, put Xiaoliu in a very bad mood as she squashed the poor gingko nut in her hand. hehe

As the Stone spirit listed all of the Young Master of Qingqiu’s talents and qualities, Xuan is watching as the very same Young Master, who is quietly shelling gingko nuts for a little unknown physician, in a backwater town.

---

Laugh it up, Cang Xuan.
While you still can!

Sadly all good things seem to have to come to an end.
The wonderful times Xiaoliu shared with her Shiqi, seemed to be over.

Shiqi has been found against his wishes and it would seem that his place will no longer be by Xiaoliu’s side.
She doesn’t know what to do with this impending change, so she blows hot and cold as she did not want to feel abandoned yet again.

The timeless trope of “Missing Chaebol rescued by a commoner”, thank goodness there is no amnesia involved here.

When you are trying to have a date but your brother’s there to chaperone lol