In the blink of an eye, the Dragon Boat Festival arrived.
The academy also closed for the day.
Jiang Hao went to Xu Jiaorong's home and shared a reunion meal with his sister and brother-in-law. That evening, he changed into a moon-white robe, tied a cloth headscarf around his head, took up a folding fan, bade his sister and brother-in-law farewell, and went out to enjoy the streets.
Though it was already night, Hangzhou City had grown even livelier.
All the shops were open, and strings of lanterns hung outside every household, casting bright light everywhere. The streets teemed with passersby, flowers bloomed in profusion along the sides, and a gentle breeze carried a faint fragrance through the air.
There were vendors selling toys, snacks, brocade, folding fans, scented powder, sachets, and everything else imaginable. Jiang Hao came to the riverbank, where many people were setting lotus lanterns afloat to pray for blessings.
May the whole family be free of illness and disaster.
Jiang Hao spotted one of his students gazing affectionately across the narrow river at a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl.
What a wonderful age, when young hearts first stirred.
Just then, a white lotus lantern drifted over beside Jiang Hao. He noticed that it was not made of paper, but was a real white lotus, its petals still trembling softly in the breeze. Curious, he picked it up.
As he raised his head, he saw a graceful figure in white across the river.
That figure in white was looking at him as well.
The little river was only three or four meters wide, and their eyes met clearly.
"Miss Bai!"
Jiang Hao greeted her with a smile.
Lady White Snake smiled shyly. "Greetings, Master Xu."
Jiang Hao looked at the lotus in his hand. "Did you set this