Chen Qing stood outside the courtyard gate, looking at the aloof, breathtakingly beautiful face within, and was slightly taken aback.
The Xu Min before him was completely different from the Senior Sister Xu he remembered.
She still had that same lovely face, her brows and eyes picturesque, her skin fairer than snow.
But the gentle grace of old, the faint smile that so often lingered on her lips—now her willow-leaf brows were slightly furrowed, as though she did not welcome his visit.
"Senior Sister Xu."
Suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, Chen Qing cupped his hands and said, "Previously, Senior Sister gave me pills to treat my injuries. I have engraved that kindness in my heart. I came uninvited today because I wished to thank you in person."
Xu Min's gaze rested on his face for two breaths before she stepped aside. "Come in."
Her voice was still pleasant, but it no longer held its former softness and sounded somewhat cold.
Chen Qing stepped inside. The small courtyard was still exquisitely arranged, with a lotus pond full of koi, unusual stones, and Spiritual Plants. Yet its atmosphere seemed far more chilly and desolate than before.
Neither of them went indoors. Instead, they sat facing each other in the octagonal pavilion beside the pond.
The stone table was icy cold.
Xu Min did not call for anyone to serve tea. She merely watched him quietly, waiting for him to speak.
Chen Qing directly took a jade box from his robes and pushed it before Xu Min.
"Back at Myriad Streams Market, I saw that Senior Sister enjoyed rare flowers and exotic grasses. I happened to acquire several rare flower seeds and thought they might be useful to you, so I brought them back as a small token of thanks."
Xu