Yin Feng replied, “Good, I’ll have noodles too,” and went downstairs.

By the time You Mingxu came down, the cook had just prepared several bowls of deliciously aromatic noodles. When the two of them ate noodles, Guanjun and the others also wanted noodles. The men of the Yin household were all like dogs.

Everyone else had started eating, but Yin Feng was still reading a book. You Mingxu sat down beside him, and only then did he put down his book and pick up his chopsticks.

For some reason, this small detail suddenly made You Mingxu feel refreshed. The deliberately stern expression she had put on unconsciously softened as she lowered her head to eat.

After just a few bites, his hand reached over and grabbed hers under the table. You Mingxu didn’t pull away.

Young and energetic, Xiao Yan finished eating first. He put down his chopsticks, stared into space for a moment, then suddenly said, “I just realized, this is the first time our boss’s lady has taken time off to stay at home since she joined us, and it’s three days!”

Chen Feng chuckled, Tuya quickly nodded in agreement, and Guanjun glanced sideways at You Mingxu, still holding a grudge about being hit on the head yesterday: “Hmph!”

Yin Feng gently asked You Mingxu, “What would you like to do these few days?”

You Mingxu, however, was thinking of something else. If Xiao Yan hadn’t mentioned it, she wouldn’t have realized. Since Yin Feng had been with her, he’d been constantly investigating cases. As his girlfriend, she had never properly spent time with him.

“What would you like to do? I’ll accompany you,” said You Mingxu.

Xiao Yan and the others’ eyes lit up. Guanjun snorted again but kept his ears perked up, listening. He wanted to go have fun too.

Yin Feng looked at her. “Alright.” He glanced around. “Would you like to bring them along?”

“They” all turned their heads to look at You Mingxu, moving in unison like a pack of large dogs.

You Mingxu smiled.

——

Three days wasn’t enough time for an international trip, and You Mingxu couldn’t leave the country casually.

With Chen Feng’s unmatched organizational skills, by that afternoon, with the sun shining brightly, the six of them had already disembarked from their plane and were standing on the soil of Guizhou.

You Mingxu hadn’t expected Yin Feng to bring her to Guizhou, a place with too many unpleasant memories. However, Yin Feng said, “Guizhou has beautiful scenery, not many people, and it’s peaceful. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here for my writing retreat.”

Guanjun interjected from the side, “We can also visit Old Nine.”

Xiao Yan said, “Isn’t Old Nine buried in Xiangcheng?”

Guanjun replied, “Idiot, his soul is here.”

You Mingxu saw that they all appeared normal; they had truly moved on. She too looked up at the crystal-clear blue sky of Guizhou, thinking that the person’s soul should have returned to Xiangcheng by now, back to the police station, back home.

The car rental had been arranged in advance. That night, they drove to a small hot spring town to stay, planning to explore more the next day.

In the evening, they enjoyed wine and good food, soaked in hot springs to relieve fatigue, and had a joyous time.

You Mingxu and Yin Feng’s room also had a large private hot spring. The two spent the night in wild abandon, completely exhausted but utterly satisfied—needless to say.

The next day, the two lazily slept until late morning before getting up. The others had already explored the town and brought back local specialty snacks. You Mingxu ate with great satisfaction, thinking, No wonder Yin Feng liked them. Despite their occasional craziness, they had all regained their innocence. It was Yin Feng who had helped them live life as it was meant to be. Because his heart was the same.

So after eating and drinking her fill, she went over and kissed Yin Feng on the cheek.

Yin Feng smiled slightly. He didn’t understand what prompted the reward, but the more, the better.

They went to the Grand Canyon.

Being the off-season, there were few tourists. Chen Feng bought the tickets, and the group slowly walked along the mountain valley plank road. Along the way, splashing streams, flowing rivers, beautiful scenery, mountains, and tranquility surrounded them.

Xiao Yan was agile and quickly disappeared. Guanjun wanted to follow but couldn’t keep up, so he ran off grumbling. Chen Feng and Tuya steadily followed behind You Mingxu and Yin Feng.

After walking for a while, a large waterfall appeared ahead, thundering loudly, a broad white ribbon, magnificent and beautiful in the sunlight. There weren’t many people on the viewing platform. Yin Feng held You Mingxu’s hand as they walked over. Even though they were still some distance from the waterfall, they could soon feel the mist rushing toward them, with dampness pervading the air.

You Mingxu leaned against the railing and looked down at a stone pool below. The water was deep green, with smooth, round boulders. She unconsciously said, “I want to jump down there.”

Yin Feng: “Are you a monkey?”

You Mingxu laughed and pointed at the pool: “It would be so refreshing to bathe there.”

Yin Feng: “Not allowed.”

You Mingxu was just talking; how could she possibly do that with everyone watching? But she didn’t let up verbally: “You’re getting bold, trying to control me now?”

Yin Feng said casually: “I’m controlling you, yes, controlling you, and I’ll keep controlling you.”

The same words, but in a completely different tone.

As expected from an experienced hand, You Mingxu felt her face grow warm.

Just then, they heard someone call out “Hey” from below. They looked down to see none other than Xiao Yan. This guy had somehow already climbed over the safety railing and was standing on a smooth, round boulder, soaking wet, waving and smiling at them.

You Mingxu smiled too and waved back at him.

Before they knew it, he had climbed up along the railing, flipped over onto the viewing platform, and with a grin, opened his palm to reveal a smooth, white, lustrous little stone that reflected a hint of colorful light in the sunshine.

“Boss’s lady, this is for you,” he said.

How long had it been since You Mingxu had received a gift, especially from such an adorable young man? She simply accepted it: “Thank you!”

As she took the stone to examine it, she heard the person beside her ask, “Where’s mine?”

Xiao Yan was startled.

No one had ever heard of giving beautiful white pebbles to a thirty-year-old man.

Yin Feng had already extended his hand toward him.

“You give to her but not to me? Am I just an add-on?”

You Mingxu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, while Xiao Yan wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.

Then Xiao Yan smiled sheepishly but displayed unprecedented quick wit, saying righteously, “Teacher Yin, what’s hers is yours, isn’t it? She’s your person!” As soon as he finished speaking, he ran toward the railing, flipped over, and jumped down, disappearing.

“Mmm.” Someone responded lazily.

You Mingxu took his hand and placed the stone in his palm. “If you like it, I’ll give it to you.” As a result, he seized the opportunity to pull her hand, drawing her into his embrace and kissing her face several times. To be precise, he “ravished” it several times.

“I’m glad you understand,” he said.

You Mingxu wondered what exactly he was being jealous about.

At this moment, Chen Feng walked over and asked with a smile, “Teacher Yin, shall I take a photo of you two? It seems like you’ve never had a picture together.”

Neither You Mingxu nor Yin Feng said anything.

Yin Feng thought to himself that they had taken photos together. That was when he was You Yingjun. Several times when she was asleep, he would hold his phone by the bedside and capture them both in the frame. Like a lovesick fool, it was almost unbearable to look at.

You Mingxu felt a weight on her shoulder as Yin Feng’s hand rested on it. “Go ahead and take it.”

You Mingxu also smiled and naturally leaned into his embrace.

Chen Feng smiled and crouched down to frame the shot: “One, two…”

As he counted “three,” Yin Feng suddenly bent down and gently kissed You Mingxu’s temple.

You Mingxu’s heart skipped a beat. The warm breath touched and left, yet the world seemed to stand still for a moment.

Chen Feng lowered his phone and watched the couple before him. Not knowing who initiated it, or perhaps by some tacit understanding, they embraced silently and began to kiss. Yin Feng turned his body, almost blocking the view from all sides, leaving only his back visible to others. The waterfall cascaded behind them, sunlight and mist enveloping everything, the ground all wet, quiet yet damp—very much like love itself.

Chen Feng smiled and walked away first. As a perpetual single, he really couldn’t bear to watch such an unrestrained display of affection.