As long as she was following Cheng Chi, Zhou Shaojin didn’t care where they went.

The two of them slowly made their way toward the back mountain along a mountain path concealed by green trees.

April was the finest season in the capital. The sky was clear and boundless, as pristine as if freshly washed. The mountains were covered with wildflowers of unknown varieties, a riot of colors—brilliant reds and vibrant purples. Butterflies danced among the flowers, bees buzzed busily gathering nectar, and mountain spring water tinkled and gurgled.

Zhou Shaojin had never known that the scenery on the back mountain of the Great Xiangguo Temple was so beautiful.

Cheng Chi pointed to a large bluish-gray stone beside the horizontal path and said, “Shaojin, come sit down and rest for a while.”

Zhou Shaojin rarely walked this much, and a thin sheen of sweat had already formed on her body.

She obediently and gently responded, “All right,” and sat down on the large stone with Cheng Chi’s hand supporting her.

Beside the large stone stood an old locust tree with a spreading canopy that stretched over her head like an umbrella. A light breeze blew through the forest, bringing refreshing coolness. Looking out into the distance, she could see the white pagoda on the back mountain of the Great Xiangguo Temple and the golden tiles of the temple’s main hall among the green trees—a scene of tranquility and serenity far removed from the dusty world.

“This place is wonderful!” She looked at him and shifted over slightly, gesturing for Cheng Chi to sit down as well.

Cheng Chi smiled at her and said, “I discovered this place by chance once when I came to Xiangguo Temple. I’m glad you like it!”

Zhou Shaojin was surprised.

A flash of triumphant satisfaction crossed Cheng Chi’s features as he said gently with a smile, “Sit here for a moment. I’ll go get you some water to drink! I didn’t think we’d be climbing the mountain earlier, so I didn’t prepare anything for you.”

No matter how beautiful the scenery was here, without Cheng Chi, she would feel afraid being alone.

“Where are you going?” she asked somewhat nervously.

Sitting on the stone, Zhou Shaojin was at the same height as the standing Cheng Chi.

Cheng Chi gently embraced her and pointed behind her. “Look, there’s a small stream over there. I’ll be right there!”

Only then did Zhou Shaojin’s expression relax.

Was she really so unable to be apart from him?

Cheng Chi felt somewhat surprised, yet also felt it was within reason.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had the courage to refuse Song Mu.

His place in her heart… might be even more important than he had imagined!

At this moment, Cheng Chi felt a bit of regret.

If Shaojin hadn’t had the courage to refuse Song Mu at the time, or if Song Mu, for the sake of his pride, had refused to give up on Shaojin no matter what, and he had just handed Shaojin over to someone else like that… would she have withered and faded like a flower?

The thought made him afraid.

His voice to Zhou Shaojin became even more gentle without him even realizing it. “Be good, sit here and don’t move. Be careful not to fall.”

Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly and sat there properly. Her appearance was as obedient as could be.

She was like dough in his hands—he could knead and shape her however he wished.

Cheng Chi couldn’t restrain himself. Holding her, his mouth pressed against her lips.

That warm, delicate sensation with a hint of coolness rushed into his mind, and only then did he realize what he had done.

Cheng Chi cursed himself inwardly.

He hurriedly lifted his head, kissed her on the cheek, and said softly, “Shaojin, be good, sit here and don’t move.”

Zhou Shaojin was completely dazed.

She hadn’t done anything—it was broad daylight. Why did Uncle Chi still kiss her?

It wasn’t until Cheng Chi released her that she came back to her senses. Her gentle, good-natured temperament made her murmur “Oh” and lower her eyelids.

Seeing that she didn’t have much of a reaction, Cheng Chi still felt somewhat uneasy and stroked her head.

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but lift her lids and quickly glance at him.

The corners of his eyes and brows revealed the relaxation and contentment that came after complete satisfaction.

Was it because he had kissed her?

Zhou Shaojin thought of that time when Cheng Chi had pressed her against the door panel to bully her… he had seemed very happy then too.

Her face instantly burned hot, and she didn’t dare lift her head.

Seeing Zhou Shaojin shyly lower her head, Cheng Chi’s heart seemed to skip a beat, and he felt somewhat breathless.

Was Shaojin… slowly beginning to adapt to him?

Cheng Chi turned and walked toward the small stream.

He took several deep breaths before his emotions calmed down.

Even when he had heard last time that the ship from the Thirteen Hongs had sunk, he hadn’t been this nervous. No, to be precise, it had been a very long time since he had felt this nervous.

Cheng Chi’s steps involuntarily became lighter and more cheerful.

The small stream was just as he remembered it, with a few water lily leaves floating on the surface, though the leaves were more lush than when he had last been here.

Cheng Chi suddenly thought of the phrase “branching out and spreading leaves.”

He smiled and shook his head, picked a leaf, washed it clean, used it to carry water, and walked back.

The dappled light and shadows in the forest fell on his face. Zhou Shaojin could clearly see his handsome features and the joy brimming at the corners of his eyes and brows.

She couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile along with him.

Uncle Chi had told her not to show any of the seven emotions and six desires on her face, yet he himself was… anyone could tell at a glance that he was very happy.

Zhou Shaojin suddenly remembered what that small vendor selling Buddhist incense had said.

Uncle Chi… whether he was her father or her uncle… Uncle Chi must have been furious inside at the time… otherwise he wouldn’t have cared so much… Uncle Chi had probably never been so embarrassed in his entire life.

She clearly knew she should forget about this matter, but inexplicably, whenever she thought about how Uncle Chi had been embarrassed because of her, she couldn’t suppress her urge to laugh, couldn’t suppress the honey-sweet feeling in her heart.

Zhou Shaojin covered her mouth.

Drawing closer, Cheng Chi smiled and asked, “What’s making you so happy?”

Zhou Shaojin naturally didn’t dare tell him. She quickly said, “Nothing, nothing at all!”

Seeing that she was happy, Cheng Chi naturally wouldn’t interrogate her about every detail. He held the leaf carrying water to her lips and said gently, “Come, drink a little. Be careful.”

Zhou Shaojin hadn’t been thirsty, but she still very much wanted to drink water, especially water carried in a lotus leaf—in both her lives, this was her first time drinking like this.

She thought for a moment, boldly steadied herself by holding onto Cheng Chi’s shoulder, and took a sip of water.

So sweet!

Zhou Shaojin took two more sips and pushed it toward Cheng Chi. “You drink some too!”

Cheng Chi smiled at her and drank all the remaining water.

Only then did Zhou Shaojin belatedly realize that Cheng Chi had drunk the water she had left over.

Her face flushed red again.

Cheng Chi looked at her with a smile and asked, “Are you hungry?”

If she said she was hungry, could Uncle Chi really do anything about it?

Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help but blurt this out.

Cheng Chi just laughed and said, “Go a bit further. There are peach trees. At this time of year, they should already have fruit.” He smiled again. “Since I brought you out, how could I let you be cold or hungry!”

Zhou Shaojin didn’t want to be separated from Cheng Chi at all!

She said, “I’m not hungry. Besides, I can’t digest peaches well.”

Cheng Chi felt that if two people wanted to be together for a long time, they should make their likes and dislikes clear.

Zhou Shaojin was so infatuated with him, but she wouldn’t blindly comply with everything he said because of it, abandoning even her own preferences.

He felt this was good.

“I saw you bought Miao embroidery patterns. Do you really like embroidery?” Cheng Chi chatted with her.

Zhou Shaojin nodded.

The first time she met Cheng Chi, she had been able to trust him so much because she felt he was a tolerant person. No matter how embarrassed she might be, Cheng Chi would never laugh at her maliciously.

Later, after more contact with Cheng Chi, this feeling only grew stronger.

Besides, what embarrassing thing didn’t he know about her? Zhou Shaojin found it very easy to speak her heart to him. “I can’t do anything well. Only my embroidery is not bad. Gradually, I came to really like embroidery.”

“Is that so?” Cheng Chi smiled. “I think you’re also very good at raising flowers—you can even grow Eighteen Scholars camellias and black chrysanthemums!”

Zhou Shaojin said with a flushed face, “Because embroidery can be given as gifts. You can’t very well give people a few pots of flowers, right? Besides, the flowers I gave them usually all died. What a pity!”

Did this little girl yearn for recognition while being unwilling to harm those living flowers and plants?

Thinking of her childhood experiences, Cheng Chi felt heartbroken and pulled her into his embrace, saying softly, “It’s all right! When the time comes, I’ll accompany you to visit Fengtai. We’ll give flowers to people who understand and love them, and we won’t bother with those who don’t understand or love flowers. Embroidery hurts the eyes, but raising flowers can help people relax their emotions. If you like, embroider for a while, then tend to flowers and plants for a while. It can give your eyes a rest.”

Zhou Shaojin’s body stiffened slightly. She wanted to push Cheng Chi away, but thinking of how the corners of his eyes and brows had revealed that relaxation and contentment after complete satisfaction earlier, she hesitated again.

She secretly glanced at Cheng Chi.

Sure enough, Cheng Chi’s expression was very content.

Well, then… never mind… at least Uncle Chi was very happy…

Zhou Shaojin lowered her head, acting as if nothing had happened, but her heart was pounding hard—thump, thump, thump—like beating drums. She didn’t hear clearly what Cheng Chi said afterward at all, only obediently nodding along with his words.

Then Cheng Chi held her on his lap.

Like holding a child.

She was nestled in his embrace.

How did this happen?

Zhou Shaojin was almost in tears.

She was so afraid that Uncle Chi would, like last time… put his hand inside her clothing…

Zhou Shaojin tried to struggle and sit up.

But Cheng Chi was very proper, only gently patting her back, holding her as tenderly as one would soothe a baby in swaddling clothes.

Zhou Shaojin began to crave this warmth again.

What should she do?

She bit her lip.

Cheng Chi’s clear voice came to her ear. “…Shaojin, is that all right?”

Zhou Shaojin was greatly embarrassed.

She had no idea what Cheng Chi had been saying to her.

Cheng Chi was secretly amused.

The little girl’s conflict was written all over her face.

She liked him to the bone.

Probably in his entire life, he would never meet anyone who liked him more than Shaojin.

His Shaojin… he must cherish her well.

As the thought flashed through his mind, his heart soared as if blown by the wind.

“Shaojin,” he repeated what he had just said, “you stay at home all day. Don’t you feel bored? Cheng Zheng is in the capital, and Cheng Sheng will come to the capital with her husband in some time. Do you want to associate with them?”

“No!” Zhou Shaojin refused without a second thought.

In what capacity would she associate with them now!

Cheng Chi immediately understood Zhou Shaojin’s thinking.

He felt very guilty.

If he had known it would be like this, he should have handled everything properly before embracing Shaojin!

Cheng Chi kissed Zhou Shaojin’s temple and said softly, “Shaojin, give me two more years. I will hold your hand and let you stand before everyone with dignity and propriety. Is that all right?”

Stand before everyone with dignity and propriety… Uncle Chi, did he want to marry her?

Zhou Shaojin stared at Cheng Chi in shock.

Cheng Chi’s gaze was deep and calm, like the vast, unchanging night sky of eternity.