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The estate had several docks, each with its own rest area and restaurant. As noon approached, Shen Lantang's group stopped at the nearest dock and went ashore for lunch.

The restaurant offered plenty of dishes with appealing names and carefully chosen ingredients. The prices were impressive too. Neither Shen Lantang nor Xie Jin was extravagant, so they ordered two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, a cold dish, and a freshly prepared fish for themselves and their two maids.

They had nearly finished eating when the restaurant brought them complimentary watermelon.

The watermelon had soaked overnight in mountain spring water. The chill had seeped through the rind and into the flesh, leaving it cool and wonderfully juicy. It was nothing like the watermelon Shen Lantang had taken from the refrigerator in her previous life. In short, it was sweet, juicy, and delicious!

The mountain air was less stifling, so they had eaten a hearty lunch. After two large slices of watermelon each, they were all stuffed.

Rubbing her belly, Shen Lantang said:

"My lord, I'm going outside for a walk to digest my food. Let's meet back here in a little while."

Xie Jin needed to arrange for someone to take care of the leftover fish, so he nodded.

Shen Lantang went out with Baozhu. The sun was bright, but Baozhu held an umbrella over her, and the mountain was lush with greenery, so it was comfortable enough. In the distance, Shen Lantang spotted a pavilion beside a rockery and decided to go there for some shade.

She had taken only a few steps toward it when she heard a girl's lighthearted laughter. Shen Lantang wasn't afraid of socializing, exactly; she simply preferred to avoid it when she could. She was about to turn away when a woman in red, seated on a bench inside the pavilion, leaned out and gently touched a cypress vine growing nearby, breathing in its fragrance.

Then the woman glanced back with a hint of a smile, outshining every flower in the world!

Shen Lantang stopped short. It was the peerless beauty she had seen the night before!

There was Luo Shen in ancient times, and now there was this peerless beauty before her!

In her excitement, Shen Lantang stepped on a twig by accident. It snapped beneath her foot.

At the sound, both people in the pavilion turned. Seeing that the newcomer was a young woman, they said nothing, merely looking over with curiosity.

"Ahem. Baozhu."

"Yes, miss?"

"My clothes and hair are neat, aren't they? I look presentable?"

"Of course."

If she didn't, wouldn't that mean her maids had failed miserably?

"Good."

Shen Lantang drew a quiet breath, then emerged from the greenery with small, graceful steps, looking every bit the poised lady.

Until now, she had only glimpsed the beauty from afar. Up close, she could finally see her clearly: a face like a silver moon, eyes like soft apricots, naturally red lips and dark brows. Her figure was perfectly proportioned, her height just right. A fraction taller or shorter, and she would be less than perfect.

In a word: gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!

Shen Lantang was shrieking inside. How could anyone be so beautiful? At that moment, she was glad she wasn't a man. She could approach a beauty of any age without anyone finding it improper.

As Shen Lantang drew closer, the woman in the pavilion rose and studied the young married woman approaching her.

The newcomer wore a gauzy emerald-green dress with a silver-dusted shawl painted with flowers draped over her shoulders. She was graceful and lovely, with cloud-black hair loosely pinned atop her head. A gilded kingfisher-feather hair ornament swayed as she walked. With those dark eyes shining like jewels, she was a lovely sight indeed.

Shen Lantang stopped two paces from the pavilion entrance. A smile lit her fair face as she spoke.

"I spotted a beautiful lady sitting here from afar. Everyone appreciates beauty, and before I knew it, I'd wandered over. I hope you'll forgive me."

The woman had expected some polite greeting from this lady. Instead, she was met with talk of "beauty," "appreciation," and being unable to help herself. She was stunned speechless.

The maid beside her burst out laughing and said proudly, "My lady truly is a beauty without equal."

"Yan'er!"

"She's right, though. I did spot a beautiful lady here from afar. I think I'm fairly pretty myself. If I hadn't been struck by your beauty, I wouldn't have come over to introduce myself so readily."

Judging by Shen Lantang's attire, the woman guessed she was some noblewoman from the capital. She was lovely and seemed harmless, her expression open and sincere. She also looked younger than her. Far from taking offense, the woman found herself rather fond of her.

"You flatter me, little sister. I think your looks and bearing are both exceptional, and sincerity like yours is rare."

"If there's one thing I am, it's honest."

"You are absolutely the most beautiful person I've ever seen."

Had a man showered her with such praise, it would have been hard not to call him forward. But from another woman, it was different. What could one woman's praise for another be but sincere admiration?

A blush spread across the woman's cheeks. "No, no. You flatter me."

"I'm not."

Even Baozhu couldn't resist saying, "My lady is indeed a rare beauty who could topple kingdoms. But to me, my miss is still the prettiest."

The unexpected ending made everyone laugh, Shen Lantang included.

After that shared laughter, the awkwardness of a first meeting melted away. It almost felt as though they had known each other for years.

The beautiful lady asked, "Did you come here with your family to escape the summer heat, little sister?"

"Yes. You did too, didn't you?"

"I did."

"And which gentleman is your husband?"

Now that Shen Lantang had met this peerless beauty, she meant to befriend her. A fleeting acquaintance wouldn't satisfy her.

"My husband..."

She was about to continue when a clear male voice came from the direction Shen Lantang had arrived.

"Tiaozhu."

A handsome young man in his early twenties appeared. He paused when he saw Shen Lantang, looking as though he were trying to place her. Just then—

"Lan Tang."

Xie Jin had arrived.

"Xie Jin." The young man recognized him at once.

Surprise crossed Xie Jin's face as well. "Tan Shaoyuan."

Rankings

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Time-Travel and Rebirth Romance

Devoted Love

Jiang Ciyu

Mind Reading

Laid-Back Life