Yixuan seemed to be reminiscing as he chuckled and said, "I had been moved by you for quite some time. But I hadn’t realized it myself. Not until you went to Jun City and everything changed when you returned. Third Brother, fourth brother, Fifth Brother, their attitudes towards you shifted, and you began to adapt to being cared for by them. Yet, those attentions—those should have been mine. I had been taking care of you, and without realizing it, you had become very important to me in my heart." "Important, very important, important enough to surpass everything." "So I was jealous, anxious, and lost, but at that time I did not understand what these feelings meant, until later... I think I was jealous. I was desperate to claim you, to ensure you belonged only to me." Yixuan slowly raised his hand, gently caressing her slightly swollen lips. He knew what this meant, especially since eldest brother hadn’t tried to hide it, his expression rippling like Da Bai sneaking a treat behind everyone’s backs. "Don’t always look at eldest brother or Third Brother. Occasionally, look at me too, will you?" "My heart has always been warm, burning for Baobao." He grasped her hand again, pressing it against his own chest. "I..." She blinked, but then Yixuan resumed his gentle and detached demeanor, "No rush, no need to hurry with your answer. You can take your time, but I want you to know that I’m always here. Whether you can see me or not, I’m here, hoping that you’ll turn around and glance at me." He could wait, wait for her to be ready. He had been waiting all along, but only today did he understand that his prior waiting had been one-sided, like he had been in a foolish dream. Now he had woken up. First, he needed to make her understand how important she was to him. She probably wasn’t aware of it herself. If he didn’t make it clear, and if she didn’t realize it, no matter how long he waited, it would be in vain. It was a considerable risk for him. It could be a step into a boundless sky or a step off a cliff to shattering doom. Regardless, he needed to make Baobao understand his feelings first! Afterward, the two of them started preparing lunch, but Dong Huiying’s expression remained distracted. She would occasionally sneak glances at Yixuan, who was focused on what he was doing, yet his heart was not at peace. When frying dishes, he mistook sugar for salt, turning a dish of salty meat into sweet meat. After a rueful smile, he cooked another dish afresh. Shujun’s eyes were gradually improving. Initially, things appeared blurry, but as time passed, her vision got clearer and clearer. In December, on the day of Laba Festival, Shujun and Liang Zhichen went out together. When they returned, they brought back the lease contracts of several shops. At noon, as everyone enjoyed Laba congee, Shujun said, "I went to Balibao with eldest brother and discovered that although Balibao is a small place, poorer than Taihang Town, its geographical location is excellent, positioned between Pingchang Prefecture and Qingfeng Prefecture as a transportation hub." "There are three inns in Balibao, frequently visited by travelers in need of a place to rest, but with only a few rooms available, and the development is poor due to the small local population." "Eldest brother and I took over these three inns; we can cater to the business of passing travelers, and I have another idea." "Baobao’s medical skill is very good. For instance, the Scar Removal Ointment originally compounded could certainly make a fortune if sold. And San Nian has a talent for perfume blending. He can handle the cosmetics like rouge and powder. Our business needs a woman to oversee the public aspects. I don’t want you, Baobao, to be too worn out, so I think this job would be suited for mother-in-law and Er Yuan."