The balcony was bathed in moonlight, its atmosphere warm and tranquil.
Gao Bancheng and Zhao Qinghe, childhood sweethearts, had escaped the clamor of fame and fortune. They raised their glasses to invite the moon and reminisced about their carefree younger days.
"Brother Bancheng, I really want to go back to when we were children. We didn't understand anything then, but we were happiest." The alcohol had flushed Zhao Qinghe's little face, and a misty sheen covered her eyes.
"Yes." A look of reminiscence flashed through Gao Bancheng's eyes as he recalled playing hide-and-seek with his childhood companions in the thousand-acre estate.
Back then, he had loved hiding atop the garden's octagonal pavilion. Though the pavilion was rather high, the gilded Phoenix carved into its white jade beams were perfect for climbing.
Whenever he grew tired of playing, he would take an enamel-painted porcelain bowl from a servant and drain the chilled sour plum drink brewed from century-old Lingnan black plums in one gulp.
"Brother Bancheng, do you remember? I always pestered you to play house with me. I played the bride, and you played the groom."
Zhao Qinghe turned her head and gazed at Gao Bancheng with her large, affectionate eyes.
Gao Bancheng smiled.
"To buy osmanthus and share a boat of wine, yet it would never be... the same as our youthful wanderings."
They were both recalling their childhood, but they were thinking of very different things.
"Brother Bancheng, I'm a little cold." Zhao Qinghe hugged her arms.
The fine hairs on her exposed, snowy-white arms rose slightly under the chill.
"Then let's go back inside."
"No, I haven't seen you in so long. I don't want to go back." Zhao Qinghe stared at Gao Bancheng's suit, a sly smile appearing on her lips.
"Give me your jacket. You're