A ray of eastern sunlight pierced the clouds, and it seemed as though a veil had been lifted from the little garden as well.
Lin Su slowly opened his eyes on the reclining chair and saw the garden overflowing with springtime splendor.
Outside, it was now a crisp autumn day, but within Yao Gu's true realm, every day was spring.
Yao Gu came out carrying two bowls of porridge, set them on the small table, untied the apron at her waist, and smiled softly. "Awake? Come eat!"
The rice porridge was fragrant, the side dishes were fragrant, and the pickles were crunchier than crunch itself. Lin Su swept through them like a whirlwind scattering the clouds, leaving nothing behind...
With a light wave of Yao Gu's hand, the bowls and chopsticks vanished from the table, replaced by two cups of fragrant tea.
She handed a cup to Lin Su and smiled faintly. "I didn't expect you to really leave just like this."
"What kind of leaving did you expect?" Lin Su smiled.
"At the very least, shouldn't you have gone back to Muye Manor once more?"
"No need!"
"Why not?" Yao Gu said. "When you are playing your game against the world, Muye Manor should be able to help you. You ought to strengthen your ties with them."
Lin Su said leisurely, "Wine is best when three parts full; flowers possess their deepest charm when only half in bloom!"
Others might not have understood those two lines of poetry, but Yao Gu naturally did. He was talking about timing. His relationship with Muye Manor was best left unseen...
Yao Gu said, "Are you sure the heat before you is just right?"
"At least it is better than going to Muye Manor at this moment!"
"A master of strategic games and