A carriage rolled slowly along an empty gravel path.
Inside the dim carriage, Jialan leaned against Lin Qiye's shoulder. Through the curtain stirred by the breeze, she gazed at the vast, glittering starry sky, lost in thought.
"Qiye."
"Hmm?"
"How long have we been traveling?"
"About a year, I think."
"A year... Why does it feel like half a lifetime has passed?" Reminiscence surfaced in Jialan's eyes. "The sights I've seen this past year surpass everything I saw in all my previous years... and they've been far more wonderful than all my past experiences."
Jialan raised her head. In the darkness, those beautiful eyes blinked at Lin Qiye.
"Thank you for bringing me out here."
"If you're thanking me, does that mean you can skip giving me today's silver?"
"No!"
Jialan glared at him with puffed cheeks and gave his arm a hard pinch. Lin Qiye obligingly bared his teeth, then laughed sheepishly.
Jialan snorted and rested her head against his shoulder again.
The carriage fell silent.
"Qiye, I want to go back."
After a long while, Jialan's gentle voice sounded again.
Lin Qiye's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"
"We've been traveling for a year already. Even though we've seen so many sights, I'm getting a little tired... I want to go back to Chang'an and rest properly. And... I want to eat Chang'an's bean buns."
Lin Qiye swayed slightly with the rocking carriage. He did not answer. Looking through the curtain swaying in the wind, he spoke after a moment.
"Look, there's a beautiful lake ahead."
Jialan froze, then lifted the curtain and looked outside. She spoke in delighted surprise.
"There really is! What a huge lake..."
"Want to stop and take a look?"
"Sure."
The carriage slowly came to a stop beside the lake. Lin Qiye helped Jialan down,