December in Rong City was bleak and cold, the air damp with moisture.
That morning, Tang Song and Xie Shuyu went to Kuanzhai Alley in Qingyang District.
There was no driver, and no assistant.
Tang Song held Xie Shuyu's hand, and like an ordinary tourist couple, they strolled along the smooth bluestone-paved road.
The streets and alleys crisscrossed one another, with red lanterns hanging amid gray walls and blue-tiled roofs.
The air was filled with the fresh fragrance of roasted tea, the sweetness of sugar-fried fruit, and the excited chatter of tourists.
The bustling crowds intertwined with the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life.
At first, Xie Shuyu still felt a little uncomfortable.
She habitually kept her back straight, maintaining her poise and reserve.
It had been many years since she had cast off the shackles of work and status and simply enjoyed herself freely amid the bustling streets.
Especially with a boyfriend by her side.
The experience was both unfamiliar and subtly strange to her.
But when Tang Song turned slightly amid the crowd and shielded her with his body as they passed through;
When he casually used stories he had just looked up on his phone to explain the origins of the ancient archway before them;
When the syrup from the "Three Cannons" splashed against the stone pavement, scattering glittering drops of sugar across his smiling face;
The taut string in Xie Shuyu's heart finally began to loosen, little by little.
For the first time, she truly experienced the ease and joy of being cared for.
It made her feel immense warmth in Rong City's damp, chilly winter air.
Afterward, following an online guide, Tang Song eagerly pulled her to People's Park.
They sat beneath the open-air bamboo grove at Heming Teahouse and, like the locals, ordered a pot