CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 108: HE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME

Prince Jin?!

Tang Xiaobai’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly let go of Ah Xiao’s hand, taking a step to block him behind her.

Doing so was only slightly better than doing nothing.

She was a head shorter than Ah Xiao; what could she possibly cover?

But moving too conspicuously now would draw even more attention, so she only hoped Li Shu hadn’t noticed her side...

As soon as she thought that, Li Shu’s gaze turned sharply in their direction.

Tang Xiaobai’s heart leaped in her chest.

At this moment—

"Your Highness Prince Jin!" Tang Ziqian took two steps forward, just enough to shield her and Ah Xiao behind her.

Tang Xiaobai immediately felt a wave of relief, and using this cover, she quietly turned back to look for Ah Xiao.

Yet... she didn’t see him?

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

Ah Xiao wasn’t behind her.

Could it be, upon seeing Li Shu, he had hidden himself?

Where did he hide?

Tang Xiaobai gave Tao Zi, who was the closest, a questioning look.

Tao Zi returned with a face full of confusion.

Didn’t see him?

Tang Xiaobai suddenly had a bad premonition, her heart pounding with anxiety.

But by this time, Prince Jin was already approaching; she couldn’t keep looking back, otherwise if Prince Jin noticed anything, Ah Xiao’s hiding would have been in vain.

Tang Xiaobai had to suppress her inexplicable tension and turn her face forward.

Just then, a distorted scream came from behind—

"Ah Xiao!"

Tang Xiaobai’s already tense heart was suddenly lifted as if by an invisible hand as she turned back abruptly, forcefully pulling aside the people blocking her view—

She had seen such scenes many times on television or in movies.

The backdrop should be like now, with azure sky and white clouds, robes fluttering, as beautiful as a celestial being.

If the slow-motion shot was slow enough, it would capture a mournful, heartbroken look.

But she didn’t see any mournful gaze or fluttering robes.

There was only a flash of falling at the edge of the cliff, with the azure sky and white clouds still as a curtain.

She didn’t even see who it was clearly.

"What fell down?" Tang Xiaobai murmured as she stepped toward the cliff’s edge, asking.

"Second Miss!"

"Second Miss, don’t go over there!" Someone grabbed her.

She stared straight at the cliff, three or five steps away, as if floating in an endless void, unreachable below.

Unreachable, unable to see anything.

As if she had only just imagined it earlier.

"Xiaobai!" Tang Ziqian caught up, pulling her into his arms to hold her, fearing that she might act impulsively.

Tang Xiaobai turned half her face, searching among the crowd: "Where is Ah Xiao?"

Perhaps she really had imagined it earlier.

"Ah Xiao... fell off the cliff..."

Tang Xiaobai’s body jerked violently, and her vision went black as she lost consciousness...

...

When she woke up, she was already in her own bed.

Turning her head, she looked outside to see the blinding slant of sunlight filling the window.

Tang Xiaobai sat up abruptly, startling Cheng Zi who rushed to the bedside: "Second Miss is awake!"

"Where’s Ah Xiao?" Tang Xiaobai pushed Cheng Zi away and jumped off the bed.

"Second Miss..." Cheng Zi’s voice choked.

Tang Xiaobai impatiently kicked off her shoes and ran outside.

At the doorway, she collided with someone, causing them to fall backward.

"Eldest Miss!" Luckily, the maids rushed forward to catch her.

"Sister!" Tang Xiaobai also hurried forward to help her, "Sister, are you okay?"

Tang Jiaojiao clutched her chest, glaring at her: "Running so fast—" She stopped mid-sentence, then changed to scolding, "Why are you out here without any shoes?"

Tang Xiaobai clutched her sister’s arm: "Sister! Where is Ah Xiao? Have you found him? Is he okay?"

Tang Jiaojiao was at a loss for words.

The girl was still dressed in her nightclothes, her raven hair accentuating her snow-like complexion, with urgency furrowed between her brows like a taut string, ready to snap at any moment.

"Even if something is wrong, it’s okay!" She seemed somewhat calmed down, "Our family has a Divine Doctor. Even if he’s at death’s door, he can be saved. Sister, wouldn’t you agree?" She looked at her expectantly.

Tang Jiaojiao couldn’t find the words.

"Did he get badly hurt? Actually, even a broken leg wouldn’t be a problem. I’ve always thought Ah Xiao looks too good and is so smart. Being too perfect means he’s prone to misfortune, having a flaw means he could have a long, blessed life, and I can certainly afford to take care of him!" The girl’s bright eyes shimmered, both strong and fragile.

"Xiaobai..." Although Tang Jiaojiao could hardly bear to see her so concerned for that young servant, seeing her like this and remembering her fainting by the cliff, she carefully considered her words, "Ah Xiao... hasn’t been found yet."

"Hasn’t been found... hasn’t been found..." Tang Xiaobai felt her brain was a little sluggish, repeating the phrase several times before grasping its meaning, and her eyes brightened, "No news is the best news!" She pushed Tang Jiaojiao aside, "Sister, you rest, I’ll go find my brother!"

Tang Jiaojiao quickly grabbed her: "At least put on clothes and shoes!"

...

Tang Xiaobai haphazardly threw on clothes and shoes, running all the way to Tang Ziqian’s courtyard.

As she entered, she saw Tang Ziqian in a casual robe, looking as usual.

Tang Xiaobai paused for a moment, then was overjoyed: "Brother, did you find Ah Xiao? Is he okay? Is he badly hurt? Where is he now?"

Tang Ziqian, overwhelmed by her questions, managed a smile: "He hasn’t been found yet—"

"Hasn’t been found yet?" Tang Xiaobai exclaimed in surprise, "Then why are you back?"

Tang Ziqian almost thought she had discovered something.

"Where else could I go if I didn’t come back?" Tang Ziqian also looked surprised, "You don’t expect me to personally go down the mountain to find a servant’s body—"

"Don’t say that—" The girl’s sudden sharp cry nearly pierced his eardrums.

Tang Ziqian flinched, looking at her once more, and saw her eyes filling with tears.

"Brother... I’m sorry..." Such teary-eyed, she apologized to him with her first words.

Tang Ziqian was so frightened that he hurried forward to wipe her tears: "For what? What need to apologize, just talking, am I that petty?"

She sniffed deeply, her voice choked: "I’m sorry... I forgot... Ah Xiao is a servant, to you all... not important..."

Tang Ziqian smiled wryly.

What a mess...

"But... to me, he’s... very important!" The young girl wiped her face fiercely with his sleeve, revealing eyes that were red but unwavering, "He’s been alone since childhood. Since I’ve taken care of him, I’ll see it through. I’ll find him myself!"

With that, she turned resolutely and walked away.

"You stand still!" Tang Ziqian shouted.

But Tang Xiaobai acted like she hadn’t heard, not pausing a single step.

Tang Ziqian had to walk quickly to catch her.

She struggled, unable to break free, and turned back with tearful eyes: "Brother, Ah Xiao might be injured, lying at the mountainside, waiting for me to find him. If I don’t go, it’ll be dark soon, and it’ll be dangerous in the mountains at night!"

Tang Ziqian sighed, gently stroking her uncombed hair: "You stay at home obediently, brother will search for him on your behalf."