The sudden interruption washed away the surging emotions. Xu Yi smiled. "Getting to see what Xiao Yan looks like at a hundred in advance is pretty interesting. All right, stop squatting. Those old arms and legs of yours—aren't they going numb from sitting there so long?"
Yan Zi remained silent, though the turmoil in her heart had eased considerably.
When she had unexpectedly met Xu Yi, she hadn't felt joy, only fear. Back then, she had chosen to leave him because she knew the young master had many enemies, and her presence would only weigh him down. The Ghost Master's capture of her had been proof enough. So she had chosen to leave.
Almost four years had passed. Time had dulled many things, but it could not dull her memories of the past.
But she had never dared hope to see Xu Yi again. Things had changed, and she knew she might no longer be a burden to the young master, but she didn't want to face the young master she loved most with this aged, withered face.
Now, with Xu Yi appearing so suddenly, Yan Zi felt that even the last scrap of her modesty had fallen away.
At Xu Yi's teasing, her heart settled a little, but she still didn't have the courage to stand up, much less let him see her aged face.
"Fine, stay squatting there. I'll wait. But could you let me try on the clothes in your hands? I haven't had a well-fitting outfit in years."
Xu Yi smiled and teased her as he bent to pick up the blue robe hanging from a tree branch and slipped it on. "Huh? How did the stitching come loose here? Xiao Yan, your handiwork's gone downhill."
"Impossible!"
Yan Zi abruptly raised her head, only to see