The sun sank toward the horizon, and the sunset clouds were breathtaking.
Unfortunately, someone didn't care about this rare and beautiful sight.
In front of a small courtyard deep in Guihua Lane, a young woman in a white dress stood at the gate, staring blankly toward the lane's shadowy western entrance, waiting with eager anticipation.
Whenever a somewhat familiar figure appeared in the distance, the woman would be overjoyed, only to return to disappointment a moment later.
Her heart rose and fell, over and over.
As the saying went, "I've sailed past countless boats, yet none were you; the sunset glimmers softly, and the waters flow on."
The woman looked just like a young wife waiting for her husband to come home.
Just then, a woman passing by noticed her expression and struck up a conversation. "Jing Zhi, are you waiting for Mingyuan?"
Only then did Jing Zhi notice the woman, who had already come quite close. "Auntie Wu, Mingyuan said this afternoon that he was going to the academy, but he still hasn't come back. I don't know what happened.
"It's almost dark already."
Jing Zhi's brows knitted together, her heart full of worry.
After all, her Mingyuan was only going to register and see if he could join the Agricultural School. Why hadn't he come back yet?
Had something happened to him?
"Jing Zhi, you don't need to worry. What could happen to him in the city?
"Maybe Mingyuan was held up by something. He'll be back soon.
"There's no need to fret.
"You know, back then, I was just like you, waiting at the door every day for Huzi's father to come home.
"But now I've learned to take things in stride. When he's meant to come back, he'll come back. There's no use worrying yourself sick..."