The night breeze brushed past.
The camellias swayed gently, leaves and petals drifting down, their scattered glimmers catching the bright moonlight.
Xiao Wan'er's hands, tucked inside her cloak, twisted together. Her bright eyes were filled with Chen Yi's reflection.
This day had come at last.
Ever since she had learned that Chen Yi would be leaving Shuzhou, she had known this day would soon come.
Nervousness, unease, worry, reluctance to part-
Her feelings were inevitably tangled.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Chen Yi looked at her, a smile appearing on his less-than-handsome face, and comforted her gently. "I'll leave early and return early, right?"
Xiao Wan'er murmured an instinctive assent, then lowered her head and did not raise it again.
The night breeze teased her dark hair, making it sway.
Her robes were cold, her gaze tender.
Seeing this, Chen Yi sighed inwardly, then stepped forward and gathered her into his arms.
"Trust me. Within a month, I'll be back in Tonglin Town."
Xiao Wan'er rested her forehead against his shoulder. Her hands slipped out of her cloak of their own accord and clutched his sleeves.
For some reason, a memory surfaced.
She remembered it had been five years ago.
Back then, Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing had still been at the residence, eating with her as usual.
Xiao Wuge lay in a cradle beside the table. He had been so young then that he could only nestle in his swaddling clothes, his eyes wide and round as he looked about.
Dressed in black brocade house clothes, Xiao Fengchun sat at the head of the table, eating while watching mother and daughter play with Xiao Wuge.
"Mother, Wuge is smiling at you."
"Be good, Wuge. Mother will play with you after dinner."
"What a pity Jinghong isn't here. How lovely