Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Up until now, Lu Nian hadn't met the Zhao family's parents.

However, she pondered that the Zhao siblings, Ting Yuan and Ya Yuan, differed greatly in personality and appearance. She couldn't fathom what kind of parents could raise such diverse children.

But on festive occasions or her birthdays, the Zhao family's parents always prepared gifts for her, entrusted to Zhao Ting Yuan to deliver, accompanied by their kind regards. Their meticulous adherence to decorum demonstrated their sincere concern.

Plus, Zhao Yayuan had indeed helped her out quite a bit.

Hence, Lu Nian found it genuinely difficult to refuse, nodding slightly in agreement, "Hmm."

Seeing no signs of resistance from her, Lu Zhihong seemed quite pleased, "Then off you go. Take some time to rest well these few days. Don't get too wild while you're out, it might tarnish your image when meeting with Ru Lan and others later."

Lu Nian nodded silently.

As she stepped out of the room, digesting the words Lu Zhihong had spoken earlier, she felt a subtle heaviness in her heart.

When did he start holding such a high opinion of Qin Si?

Regarding any interaction between Lu Zhihong and Qin Si, she harbored an instinctive fear. Exactly what she feared, or who might harm whom, she couldn't articulate.

The agreed departure date was a few days away.

She didn't have much to do at home, spending her days in an air-conditioned room, occasionally indulging in some ice cream. Miao Miao had already prepared all the items needed for the trip.

Lu Nian sat on the small sofa, scooping a spoonful of ice cream, and logged into her Hai Tu account absentmindedly.

Suddenly, she remembered something.

Earlier, she submitted the manuscript of "Star Strike."

Lu Nian hastily logged into her email, to find, to her surprise, a reply already awaited her, informing her that one of her submissions had been selected. They also mentioned their preferred offer price, inquiring if Lu Nian was willing to accept it.

The offer was substantially higher than what she had anticipated.

Lu Nian quickly set aside her ice cream to respond. Fortuitously, the recipient was online, enabling her to swiftly finalize the matter, leaving her in high spirits.

In the past, numerous individuals had approached her with both public and private commission requests.

Due to her impending university entrance exams and the lack of time, Lu Nian had declined all offers.

But now, she began to reconsider.

Usually, Lu Nian's expenses were covered by the Lu family. Lu Zhihong was quite generous when it came to providing for Lu Nian, not objecting to her discretionary spending. However, every transaction made with the card he provided was recorded meticulously, offering Lu Zhihong complete visibility into her spending habits.

The only exception was the money she received during the New Year as a gift, which Lu Zhihong did not monitor. Lu Nian could save or spend this money as she pleased. In the past, if she wanted to make any secret purchases, she used this fund.

But this was, after all, not a sustainable plan.

Her thoughts strayed far into the future. If one day she could completely liberate herself from the constraints of the Lu family and lead a life of her own choosing, economic independence would be vital. Only then would she have a solid foundation to stand upon.

As long as she had a skill that could earn her a living, she could face any challenges, even being cast out with nothing, without fear.

She straightened her posture and posted a new status update, pinning it to the top of her profile.

@EncounterLu: Starting today, I am open for commissions, both private and commercial, qvq. Feel free to message me privately for any specific requests.

The EncounterLu account had been active for several years now. Unbeknownst to her, she had amassed a decent following.

She pondered for a moment. Being relatively new to this field, it wouldn't be prudent to set high prices. After some consideration, she chose a price point she deemed reasonable.

But not long after posting,

Lu Nian was nearly shocked stiff by the avalanche of private messages.

[Mrs. EncounterLu is actually accepting commissions now!]

[These are practically giveaway prices, wowww. I'll take a dozen!]

She hurriedly edited her post, indicating a temporary halt to new commissions.

Consequently, she spent the next few days at home, setting aside all other activities to immerse herself in drawing. Every so often, she would watch a tutorial to enhance her skills, researching ways to improve her art.

Although her artwork had yet to be published, the payment for her "Star Strike" submission had already been deposited.

She surreptitiously visited the bank to open a new account, where she deposited her recent earnings.

While it might seem insignificant compared to her previous allowance, it was sufficient to bring immense joy to Lu Nian.

This could be considered her first earnings in her lifetime, earned through her own efforts.

As if

Cultivating fields

A similar sense of accomplishment.

She carefully stowed away that card.

For now, the demands from the Lu family are largely within Lu Nian's tolerable range, but if they escalate beyond her endurance threshold in the future, severing ties with the Lu family might be inevitable. At that time, this money might just become her lifeline.

To sustain a decent life, one must plan ahead independently.

After all, she doesn't have anyone else to rely on.

The day of departure finally arrived.

Lu Nian was acquainted with most of the individuals heading to Fenghe, although they weren't particularly close; they were classmates from Class 2 and friends of Zhao Yayuan.

A car from the Lu family drove Lu Nian to the airport.

Lu Yang took her suitcase out for her. He didn't have a favorable impression of Zhao Yayuan, and as he passed by, he warned in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Mind your boundaries."

After all, at present, it was just the mutual understanding between the two families; nothing was certain regarding which brother it would be, hence Zhao Yayuan wasn't necessarily anyone significant to Lu Nian.

Zhao Yayuan couldn't be bothered with him, gesturing to Lu Nian with a wave, "Come on, let's go."

Someone teased, "Oh, Young Master Zhao is taking his girlfriend on a trip, huh?"

Lu Nian clarified, "No, we are just..."

Zhao Yayuan waved off the person with a dismissive gesture, "Scram, stop cracking tasteless jokes."

Fenghe was a coastal city, and at this time, it was a hotspot for those seeking respite from the summer heat, particularly the numerous freshly graduated high school students.

Upon their arrival in Fenghe, according to the plan, they were to casually explore and take some photos on the first day, followed by a flight to Nanbin in the wee hours of the second day.

Lu Nian felt somewhat apprehensive, not quite at ease while venturing out with the large group, even during meals and recreational activities.

She had pondered extensively on matters concerning Nan Qiao.

Before departing, she visited Cheng Mingying's room one more time. After much contemplation, she discreetly took the pendant from its hiding place, carrying it with her without any specific reason, guided merely by an inexplicable intuition.

In the evening, they all went to play by the seaside.

Lu Nian was not keen on participating, choosing instead to sit and rest at the edge of the beach, observing from a distance everyone seemingly enjoying themselves immensely.

A thought suddenly crossed her mind.

Perhaps, if she were here with someone she cherished, she might be able to immerse herself in the joyous atmosphere just like those individuals.

With this thought, her spirits sank once more.

A notification suddenly popped up on her phone.

Lu Nian took it out, unable to believe what she saw.

It was from Ming Ge.

She pursed her lips and opened the message.

Ming Ge: Hey Nian Nian, you've finished your college entrance exams, right? How about coming over to hang out in the next few days? We will treat you to whatever you wish to eat or do.

A smile tugged at Lu Nian's lips as she replied: Thank you, Ming Ge. However, I am traveling with classmates these days. Perhaps some other time.

Ming Ge: Oh, where have you gone? Is it fun?

Lu Nian casually took a photo.

Because she had to report to Lu Zhihong, she developed the habit of taking photos frequently.

In the photo was the deep blue night sky, the coastline, and the tide, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene.

Lu Nian: I'm in Fenghe, it's quite enjoyable.

Ming Ge: Then have a great time, and drop me a message when you're back. We'll treat you again.

Lu Nian: Sure thing.

The photo didn't include Lu Nian herself; it primarily captured the scenery.

Huang Mao, with sharp eyes, noticed something in the corner of the photo, "Is that a guy there?"

There were no people captured in Lu Nian's photo, but given the perspective from which it was taken, it seemed a male figure was sitting very close to her, at a distance and position that obviously wasn't just a passerby.

Only a fragment was visible in the corner of the picture, but it was clear, unmistakably a man's hand.

Xiao Qu: "It seems so."

Huang Mao remarked with curiosity, "But isn't Qin Ge at school now? He mentioned he was going for a summer internship in the coming days, but he didn't mention choosing Fenghe for it."

Xiao Qu: "... Well, that clearly indicates it's not Qin Ge then."

"Nian Nian is actually out playing with another guy???" Huang Mao finally realized, standing up abruptly in indignation, "And they went to Fenghe, standing so close to each other in broad daylight? Who is this shameless guy?"

Ming Ge had already forwarded that photo to Qin Si.

He sat back with his legs crossed, typing leisurely, "Little sister Nian Nian is out having fun with her sweetheart, flaunting their affection in Fenghe, seems like they're having a blast."

Xiao Qu covered his face, "Is this really okay?"

Ming Ge put away his phone leisurely, "Who cares? With that brat's nasty temper, do you think he deserves our Nian Nian sister?"

The person witnessing from afar: ...

The next evening, Fang Deng sent him the location, saying, "Boss, did you make a mistake? They are going to Nanqiao, not Fenghe."

Nanqiao?

At the sight of these two characters, his attractive eyebrows furrowed, and without much hesitation, he changed the destination of his flight ticket.

Grabbing a simple luggage, he headed straight for the airport.

Fang Deng asked, "Boss, are you going directly?"

Aren't you going to rest a bit first, at least get some sleep?

After all, getting to Nanqiao isn't that easy; it entails many hours of flying.

Initially, Qin Si had booked a ticket back to Ancheng. He had been swamped, working non-stop, settling work matters and end-of-term responsibilities early on before securing his ticket to return to Ancheng.

It seemed like he didn't want to waste even a second more.

He said succinctly, "Go and bring that fool back."

Nanqiao isn't exactly a safe haven, especially for Lu Nian,

That Zhao individual lured her there without considering what transpired over the past few years.

Among the accomplices in the Nanqiao kidnapping cases, some have already been released from prison.

Wherever she goes, it seems to stir up some sort of trouble.

He recalled the year when they were in ninth grade; he secretly protected her for a month. The moment when he saw the robber thrusting a knife towards her, his feelings at that instant were...

11 o'clock at night.

At the entrance of the Zero Degrees Hotel, Lu Nian, donning a hat and mask, and carrying a small backpack, stealthily dashed out of the hotel.

"That's the village over there, don't even bring a skirt," Zhao Yayuan advised, "Make sure to get a pair of comfortable shoes, a short-sleeved top and long pants will do. Otherwise, if you can't keep up, you'll have to ask me to carry you."

Lu Nian, "...I wouldn't ask you to carry me even if I couldn't walk."

After deleting the records of their previous chat, Lu Nian still prepared as he had suggested.

She left her small suitcase at the Fenghe Hotel, bringing only a small backpack filled with essential toiletries.

A high ponytail, a baseball cap, a short-sleeved tee, high-waisted jeans, and boots.

She already had a slender waist, and dressed like this, it seemed even more delicate and graspable, her legs were long and straight. Initially possessing a face of pure innocence, her serious expression now added a hint of heroism to her innate delicacy.

She waited anxiously, occasionally glancing at her phone, until she finally saw Zhao Yayuan emerge.

Zhao Yayuan gave her a few more lingering looks.

"Is this alright?" Lu Nian asked, "Is there anything else I need to change?"

"Nothing else needs changing," he said with a faint smile playing on his lips, "It's quite perfect."

Their flight was scheduled for the early hours of the morning.

"I've called a car." Without any unnecessary words, he said, "Let's go."

The two of them headed straight for the airport, boarded the plane smoothly, which was slated to arrive at Nanbin at six o'clock the next morning.

"There are no planes or high-speed trains there," Zhao Yayuan noted, "I've arranged for someone I know to take us to Nanqiao, but there are no roads into Nanqiao town; we'll have to walk from there."

Lu Nian nodded.

"You should get some sleep," Zhao Yayuan suggested, "You might not be able to hold up tomorrow."

Lu Nian indeed felt a bit weary. After being on high alert, she finally relaxed, her eyelids fighting to stay open. She asked a flight attendant for a blanket, and promptly drifted off to sleep.

The girl leaned against the window, sleeping peacefully, her long eyelashes resting on her fair, soft cheeks, which radiated an innocent aura.

……

The next day, after much travelling, they finally reached Nanqiao.

As Zhao Yayuan had accurately mentioned, it was indeed a simple little town.

Nestled at the foot of a large mountain, Lu Nian felt an uncanny sense of déjà vu, especially when she saw the distant mountains shrouded in clouds and mist.

All the while, Zhao Yayuan kept a close watch on her expressions.

He casually pointed out, "That used to be a school, but there's hardly anyone there now."

"The food sold in that shop, especially the morning buns, is not tasty at all."

Zhao Yayuan halted, "We will have lunch at my grandma's place."

Lu Nian responded, "Alright."

Before their arrival, Zhao Yayuan had clarified that he was only responsible for bringing Lu Nian here; as for the rest, she could explore and discover as much as she wanted on her own.

If Lu Nian chose not to delve deeper, she could simply treat this as a regular trip.

Qiulan was a very kind elderly woman, with more than half of her hair turned white. Dressed in a light-colored local robe, her benevolent face seemed extremely easy to get along with.

"This is Nian Nian," Zhao Yayuan introduced.

Lu Nian stood at the entrance, somewhat restrained, hesitating to step inside,

"Xiao Ya knew to bring a girl home this time." Qiu Lan exclaimed joyfully, clasping Lu Nian's hand warmly. Her palm was warm and her grip gentle, instilling a sense of comfort.

Zhao Yayuan has always had a quirky personality since childhood, let alone having girl friends, he had very few close male friends.

Lu Nian smiled, her lips pressed together in a reserved smile, "Hello, Grandma."

Qiu Lan led them inside, "Xiao Qiu is not here, he left early in the morning."

"It must be that elementary school we saw earlier," Zhao Yayuan said with a smirk, informing Lu Nian, "He's probably there. Whenever he's free, he goes there to help out. They are short of teachers, so he often volunteers his time."

Lu Nian nodded slightly.

Qiu Lan asked Zhao Yayuan to pour tea for Lu Nian and led her to sit on a bamboo chair, "That's my grandson, Qiu Li, he's about your age."

Lu Nian nodded slightly, surmising that must be Zhao Yayuan's childhood friend.

Zhao Yayuan had mentioned several times that he had a childhood playmate.

"Your face seems very familiar," Qiu Lan said, her eyes squinting happily as she held her hand, "How old are you this year, and where are you from?"

Lu Nian answered each question in turn.

A dog barked suddenly from outside the courtyard, to which Zhao Yayuan commented, "He must be coming back."

For some unknown reason, Lu Nian's heartbeat quickened slightly.

It was a strange sensation, not fear, nor excitement, but a mystical feeling that she couldn't quite articulate.

The door opened.

A young man entered, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers. His black hair and fair skin gave him a clean and refined appearance. He looked up, his gaze meeting Lu Nian's directly.

It was a pair of eyes that were gentle and clear, radiating warmth.

Zhao Yayuan placed his hands behind his head, remaining silent. The room fell into a stillness until Qiu Lan sensed something was amiss, softly calling out, "Xiao Qiu."

"…Hello," Lu Nian greeted hesitantly.

His features were gentle and amiable, but in that moment, the look he gave her was incredibly complex.

Lu Nian found herself nearly at a loss for words.

She recognized him; he was the young boy from the picture in Zhao Yayuan's room.

Qiu Li sat across from her, his demeanor now back to normal, "My name is Qiu Li."

Lu Nian almost believed that the earlier moment had been a figment of her imagination.

The lunch was sumptuous, featuring stir-fried bamboo shoots, dried mushrooms, carp, and pheasant.

Although predominantly vegetarian dishes, the ingredients are fresh and succulent, boasting an exceptionally delightful taste.

"Xiao Qiu prepared these," Qiu Lan mentioned, "I'm not sure if it suits the palate of youngsters from the city."

"It's delicious," Lu Nian commented.

She hasn't been in the best of health, and being picky at home meals, she rarely eats this much.

"You have great culinary skills," she said to Qiu Li with a smile, slightly embarrassed, "I'm this old, yet I can't cook a single dish."

Mainly, she hasn't had much opportunity to try, plus she isn't adept with her hands.

Lu Nian seemed to particularly enjoy the stir-fried bamboo shoots, but that dish was placed furthest from her.

He smiled silently, picked up a clean pair of chopsticks, and served her some bamboo shoots.

Lu Nian, "...Thank you."

He indeed was a person attentive to the finer details, and oddly, Lu Nian found nothing inappropriate about his gesture.

It seemed to just happen naturally.

This was quite strange... after all, they had just met today for the first time, and Lu Nian, being conservative in nature, usually maintains a distance from unfamiliar males, let alone tolerate such intimate gestures as sharing food.

After the meal, as per her custom, Qiu Lan took a noon nap.

The three of them engaged in casual conversation.

"Our home wasn't always here," Zhao Yayuan began, "It was up in Nanqiao Mountain. Many families lived there. We moved down to Nanqiao Town later on because grandma got older and it was difficult for her to walk up the mountain."

"Would you like to visit the mountain tomorrow?" Zhao Yayuan asked, "There are many fun things to explore up there."

Lu Nian replied, "Sure."

Qiu Li furrowed his delicate brows as he looked at Lu Nian, who seemed quite excited. He swallowed back his words, saying nothing.

The next day, the three of them ventured up the mountain together.

The path on the mountain was far from easy to traverse. Lu Nian, having been pampered all her life, had never walked on such muddy roads.

"Be careful," Qiu Li warned her.

He briefly held Lu Nian's hand before quickly letting go, saying softly, "I'm sorry."

Lu Nian felt a bit embarrassed, and quickened her pace slightly.

There weren't any proper roads on the mountain, the so-called paths were formed by the footsteps of people who had walked there repeatedly. The bamboo grew densely and in a disorderly manner, harboring many small creatures. Zhao Yayuan explained things to her along the way, while Qiu Li remained very silent, scarcely speaking.

"Hmm..." Zhao Yayuan, who was leading, suddenly heard Lu Nian's voice.

Qiu Li had already turned around, "Are you alright?"

Lu Nian covered her foot, forcing a smile, "It seems I just got scratched by something."

"I'm fine," her face was slightly pale, "it's better now."

Zhao Yayuan noted, "We will be there in two minutes." He pointed to a small house not far away, "If you can't go on, we'll head back down."

Lu Nian bit her lip, "I can manage."

The cottage they used to live in seemed to be even more modest, but its layout was not much different from the rooms at the foot of the mountain.

"This is Qiu Li's room," said Zhao Yayuan.

Lu Nian followed him inside for a look; evidently, it hadn't been occupied for quite some time.

However, her gaze suddenly froze, fixed upon the rice paper window coverings in Qiu Li's room. The paper was quite ordinary, a plain snowy blue hue, simple yet elegant and pristine.

Lu Nian was biting her lip again.

That pattern, it was identical to the one now lying quietly in her backpack, in the center of the pendant, the hollowed-out design, an exact match.

She couldn't possibly mistake it, that unique pattern.

Sharp on the four corners, with the center entwined with patterns resembling both a dragon and a phoenix, intertwined with each other.

"He drew that," Zhao Yayuan said, noticing her gaze, "He enjoys doodling and sketching in his free time, created a lot of inexplicable artwork back when he was at home."

Qiu Li removed the paper from the window, folded it in half, and tucked it into a drawer, "The drawing isn't good, quite embarrassing, actually."

A whirlwind of chaos had engulfed Lu Nian's mind.

She recalled the photograph enclosed within the pendant left by Cheng Mingying.

The two infants in the photograph, the ambiguous hints Zhao Yayuan had given previously.

She studied Qiu Li's profile, and the more she looked, the more she found his facial features, even his expressions, strikingly familiar. From their first meeting, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness.

The answers seemed on the verge of revealing themselves.

However, confusion swiftly followed.

If her speculations were true, why would Lu Zhichong, a person who valued lineage so highly, hide his existence all this time, with even the entire Lu family participating in the concealment?

Why couldn't she remember anything?

Could it be that Qiu Li also had no recollection, why didn't he say anything then?

How did Qiu Li end up in Nanqiao, and how did he suddenly become the grandson of Granny Qiu Lan?

Her mind felt on the verge of exploding.

"What happened?"

Sweat was nearly breaking out on the girl's smooth forehead as she clutched her shin, "...hurts."

"Did you twist it?" Zhao Yayuan asked, "You insisted it was fine just a moment ago."

Lu Nian, "...". She had a vague feeling in her heart that she indeed had hurt herself, but she didn't want to show them the wound at this moment.

Zhao Yayuan suggested, "Let me carry you down then."

Qiu Li watched her quietly, "I'll do it."

Zhao Yayuan fell silent, his youthful features resembling a delicate landscape painting, now wore an unusual stubborn expression.

Zhao Yayuan conceded, "Alright then."

Qiu Li lifted her onto his back.

There was a faint scent of herbs on him, accompanied by a mild bitterness, resembling the aroma of medicinal plants.

"Thank you," Lu Nian said.

Her mind was still in turmoil, knowing that there was a high probability she couldn't walk on her own. If she had to choose someone to carry her, she surprisingly preferred Qiu Li.

The girl lay quietly and docilely on his back.

His face turned slightly red, eyes cast downward as he walked silently.

Zhao Yayuan moved ahead to lead the way, while Qiu Li carried her, walking quietly behind.

"Don't come here again tomorrow," Qiu Li advised, "There are many mosquitoes on the mountain, and the path is inconvenient. There isn't much to see."

Lu Nian closed her eyes, "Mm."

Besides the pain in her leg, her head was also aching fiercely, but she still couldn't remember anything. It seemed as if there was a force resisting her, preventing her from recalling what had happened.

She had inherited most of Lu Nian's memories, yet only this part was obscured, shrouded in mists, evading clarity no matter how hard she tried.

And yet, inexplicably, she felt profoundly heartbroken.

By the time Qiu Li realized something was amiss, tears were already rolling down her cheeks, dampening a patch of his shirt.

"I can't remember anything." Her voice had grown hoarse, the corners of her eyes reddened.

Qiu Li wiped her tears gently, soothingly saying, "Then don't try to."

"Are you going to stay in Nanqiao forever?" Lu Nian sobbed, "Can you come back with me?"

Her leg was in severe pain; Qiu Li held her, tenderly wiping her tears, yet remained silent on this matter.

The mountain breeze whispered quietly as it passed by.

They finally descended the mountain, with Qiu Li leading her to the only small clinic in town.

Pulling back the fabric of her pants, it was evident that her shin was injured. The originally smooth and jade-like portion of her leg was marred with grotesque scratches, the blood had almost ceased to flow, and the cloth around the wound had darkened to a deep hue.

Zhao Yayuan looked at the wound incredulously, "It's this bad and you still said it was nothing?"

Qiu Li didn't scold her, "Xiao Ya," his tone was gentle, "let's not discuss this anymore."

Lu Nian's mood had substantially stabilized.

The more she observed Qiu Li, the more familiar he seemed.

It was indeed strange, having been in this world for quite some time, this was the first instance she truly felt a kinship, a blood connection, ironically with a boy she had known for less than a day.

After the bandaging, she still found walking to be a bit cumbersome. Qiu Li assisted her back to Qiu Lan's home.

Qiu Lan's home was not large, consisting of a living room and three additional rooms.

One room served as Qiu Lan's bedroom, another was Qiu Li's, and Zhao Yayuan's room doubled as a study, only utilized when he visited annually.

Qiu Lan suggested, "Xiao Ya, why don't you share the room with Xiao Qiu and give your room to Nian Nian?"

Zhao Yayuan retorted, "Granny, have you forgotten? We're both eighteen now, fully grown... Can both of us even fit on Qiu Li's bed? Unless you suggest Nian Nian shares a bed with one of us."

Qiu Li furrowed his brows, admonishing softly, "Ya Yuan."

Lu Nian hurriedly shook her head, "It's fine, I remember there's a hotel in town. I can just book a room there."

With her leg injured, her movements were restricted for the coming days.

Given Qiu Li's frail health, having him carry or support her all the way would indeed be a burden.

Zhao Yayuan concurred, "That works."

The security in Nanqiao was excellent, with negligible incidents of theft or misdemeanors, and everyone knew each other. The hotel was merely a few minutes away from their place.

Observing Lu Nian's attitude towards Qiu Li, he surmised that something must have occurred between them.

In reality, Zhao Yayuan wasn't keen on meddling in others' affairs. Now that he had brought Lu Nian here and the introduction was made, he didn't plan to further interfere. They could resolve their internal matters themselves.

Qiu Li seemed to disagree, suggesting, "I can sleep on the couch."

Lu Nian whispered, "There are some inconveniences..." She felt somewhat embarrassed, but indeed, staying at a hotel would be much more convenient for her these days.

Bathing, changing sanitary pads, washing undergarments - all these were rather awkward situations to navigate.

The young man evidently hadn't anticipated this. He lowered his eyes, "...I'm sorry."

Lu Nian quickly reassured, "It's okay, I just have more to attend to."

"Then you should accompany her," Zhao Yayuan said.

He intentionally left them some space to converse.

The inn was simply and directly named "Nanqiao Inn."

"Nian Nian, your ID," Qiu Li said, "I'm quite familiar with this place, I can help you check in."

Lu Nian felt somewhat embarrassed as she rummaged through her bag for her identification card.

The check-in was quick; she received her room key and brought all her luggage inside.

Qiu Li mentioned, "I'll head back first then. If anything comes up, feel free to call me anytime."

Lu Nian leaned on the railing, feeling significantly better with her leg bandaged and now wearing loose pants, insisted on seeing him out.

"You should go," Lu Nian remarked, "See you tomorrow."

In reality, both were aware that Lu Nian couldn't stay in Nanqiao for long. She would be leaving the next day.

He remained stationary.

"Xiao Qiu," Lu Nian finally called out to him.

"Go on," stepping on her toes, she patted him encouragingly on the shoulder, and playfully tousled his hair.

The bond of blood was indeed unique; she could instinctively feel a closeness to him.

The boy's dark eyes curved into a shy smile; he hugged her gently and whispered, "You should also get some rest."

"Don't fret over it if it gives you a headache," he advised, "And no crying tonight."

Lu Nian felt quite bashful hearing his words. She was curious to know who was older between them, but it wasn't apparent, and she felt too shy to ask Qiu Li directly.

The innkeeper seemed to be checking in another guest.

"Including you, astonishingly we've had two new guests just today," the innkeeper, a man in his fifties with a joyful disposition and a portly figure resembling a blessed Maitreya Buddha commented, "And both are young folks."

The innkeeper was chatty, while the new guest seemed exceptionally silent, letting him talk without responding.

A male individual with a black travel bag appeared somewhat travel-worn but showcased broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, and a straight back. Even just his tall silhouette was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

It wasn't clear when he had entered.

Lu Nian was stunned.

After the young man completed the registration, retrieved his room key, and turned around, he revealed an extremely handsome, indifferent face.

She could never have dreamed that in this remote small town, she would encounter Qin Si, whom she hadn't seen in a year.

He had grown taller, his features had undergone some changes; more distinct facial contours, narrow phoenix eyes, and thin lips held tightly together. His demeanor seemed somewhat more fierce than before.

"Nian Nian?" Qiu Li softly called her name.

Lu Nian came back to her senses, "..."

The young man cast his eyes downward, observing the two closely standing together, his gaze indifferent.

Carrying his bag, he turned around to leave, seemingly not noticing her presence.

Lu Nian stood motionless on the spot, her feet seemingly nailed to the ground.

Could she have mistaken his identity?

Impossible, she would recognize him even if he was reduced to ashes.

She managed a strained smile, "Xiao Qiu, you should go back and rest. You must be tired today, rest early."

Qiu Li truly wasn't in good health, especially his lungs. She had injured her foot today, and Qiu Li insisted on carrying her all the way down the mountain. However, Lu Nian firmly rejected this, opting for his support instead. Still, she could tell that the day had truly exhausted him; he wasn't suited for such physical exertion.

Nanqiao Inn was only two stories high.

Most of the guest rooms were on the second floor, with Lu Nian occupying the room to the left on the same floor, and the door of the room next door tightly shut.

Lu Nian remembered that it was open when she first came upstairs earlier.

That was Qin Si's room.

Having walked on the mountain for the entire day, she felt truly uncomfortable. She took a bath in her room, changed the medication on her calf, dried her hair, and just as she sat down, thoughts of Qin Si resurfaced.

Putting on such a facade.

Not recognizing her?

Did going to university make him so snobbish that he now refused to acknowledge familiar faces?

Moreover, why was he appearing in Nanqiao at this time, acting as if nothing was amiss?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, unable to sit still any longer, she directly opened her door to knock on the one next to hers.

Her knocking gradually weakened, losing confidence with each knock.

If Qin Si was here with someone else... like a girlfriend or something, would her knocking on his door like this be considered impolite?

The door opened.

Lu Nian still stood stupefied at the doorway.

Peering inside, she noticed a simple standard room with no signs of feminine presence.

Inside, there was only a bed, a black travel bag placed in one corner of the room, with the quilt and bed sheets neatly arranged – very much Qin Si's style.

The weather was unbearably hot, and it seemed he had just come out from a shower. Holding a towel in one hand, droplets of water trickled down his dark hair, soaking through the back of his black t-shirt, making his broad and upright back appear even more prominent.

He tossed the towel aside, pursed his lips, and asked curtly, "What do you want?"

Lu Nian's mind was brimming with questions, unsure which one to address first.

Why had Qin Si appeared in Nanqiao at this time? Was he here for leisure?

The notion seemed utterly absurd.

She recalled how highly Lu Zhichong had spoken of him that day.

Her initial reaction was that perhaps Qin Si had been summoned by Lu Zhichong, that her secret was exposed and Lu Zhichong had sent him to bring her back.

She blurted out, "Why have you come to Nanqiao? Did my father send you?"

Qin Si's expression turned decidedly cold.

Mockingly, he said, "So scared, are we?"

"While you were embracing someone out there, weren't you afraid then?" he continued, "Secretly coming here alone with a man, weren't you scared?"

Lu Nian's face turned a furious red, realizing what he was insinuating, her face burning hot either from anger or embarrassment, "Were you following me?"

"I'm here for social practice," he responded with a voice cold as ice, averting his gaze, "You think I'm interested in watching?"

Those icy eyes seemed dark and indifferent, devoid of any emotions.

Lu Nian was shaking with rage, wishing she could slap him across the face. She was absolutely furious, momentarily forgetting her injured left leg. As she stood up, she stumbled and fell forward.

Without a second thought, she naturally fell in Qin Si's direction.

Even in falling, she would drag him down with her.

From this perspective, it seemed as if she had intentionally lunged at him.

In this humble room, there wasn't even a single chair.

Qin Si, who was initially sitting at the edge of the bed, was caught off guard by her sudden plunge.

She had just taken a bath not long ago, and as she fell, a sweet, girlish fragrance, reminiscent of orchids and musk, enveloped him.

It felt so unfamiliar, yet somehow incredibly familiar at the same time.

The moment she fell into his arms, his mind went blank, as if the blood flow throughout his body had halted.

Daydreaming and longing were incomparable to having her in his arms in reality.

The way he looked at her and the uncontrollable reactions he felt during their physical contacts often filled him with extreme shame. Now, having her directly fall into his arms had completely surpassed his limits.

"Go ahead, speak," Lu Nian urged, her mind clouded by anger.

He stood a head taller than her, yet, surprisingly, he found himself pinned down by her, pressed onto the bed.

Continue arguing with her, won't he? After all, he seems to enjoy mocking her, taking delight in their quarrels.

The young man's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice coming out husky, unable to articulate any words.

Lu Nian caught the scent of fresh moisture mingled with his clean, familiar yet somewhat strange aroma.

His skin was fair, and he seldom showed emotions, often donning a cold and haughty face. His remarks could be exceedingly biting. Now, his face, right down to behind his ears, was flushed crimson. He closed his eyes, seeming too flustered to utter a word or push the person in his arms away.

Lu Nian noticed his lips move, as if he wanted to say something.

Probably another rebuttal, gearing up to argue with her again.

Looking down at the young man's handsome face, her mind overheated, anger blurring her rationality, and without a second thought, she bit down on those thin lips.

Whenever he spoke, it was always to throw cool, sarcastic remarks her way, which she had no desire to hear.

"Go tell my father," she mumbled, "include this as well, tell him everything."

Wasn't this act far more egregious than a mere hug or embrace? If he had the guts, he would reveal this to Lu Zhichong as well.

The author has something to say:

Nian Nian forcefully kissed him, and Si Si was pushed down.

(By the way, can a stolen kiss really be considered a first kiss? Si Si is quite innocent; it was just a touch without any deeper engagement, cough.)

Nian Nian taunted, with a dominant expression, "So, will you tell or not? Speak up, or we're moving to the next step."

Si Si: ……

(Si Si will certainly take the initiative, but not now, hehe.)