Some Anticipation and the Keys Yet to Light Up

That afternoon at MoShui LinLang's estate, in the garden hall on the top floor of the villa,

Light streamed through the row of several-meter-high, narrow arched windows on one side, covering the deep crimson carpet, the magnificently carved pillars, and the white gauze curtains swaying high and gracefully in the wind.

Unlike the tranquil seclusion of evening, the garden in the afternoon

Was brilliantly bathed in sunlight.

The angle of the light, the flow of the air, the angle at which the shadows shifted in the afternoon, when it was most suitable to sit on the balcony—what many people did not know was that this entire villa had originally

Been built solely to create this garden, where one person could gaze upon the sea of flowers in the most perfect way.

Without skyscrapers blocking it, the wind at the estate in Beijing's northern outskirts was freer. On the balcony, just sheltered by the garden's shade,

The figure in the deep blue gown looked at the young man who had finally returned safely and at last set her mind at ease.

"Welcome back safely, Fang Ran."

Hearing her say that, faced with the relief and gentleness that truly belonged to an elder, Fang Ran suddenly felt at a loss and apologetic.

Part of it was for his reckless actions this time, but more of it was for how he had acted when facing Shui Linlang before.

"Um..."

"It's all right. You don't need to worry about it."

But before he could even speak, Shui Linlang smiled faintly and gestured for him not to apologize for their previous meeting.

Then, looking at the young man before her who had only just recovered from grave injuries in a hospital bed, as though she were looking at a child who had run away from