"Has she been like this all day?" Chen Shu asked.
"She's been like this since I saw her this morning. Even in the flying car, she looked at her phone and smiled," Chen Banxia said. "Scared me to death."
"Scared me to death," Xiaoxiao said.
"I see..." Chen Shu understood.
"Are we going to stand here forever?" Ning Qing held Peach, ignoring their exaggerated expressions.
"Oh, right. Let's go. I'll take you to my courtyard first so you can put your things down." Chen Shu started ahead. "Follow me."
The three followed him up the steps.
The morning mist had yet to disperse. Wisps drifted between the palaces on Jade Summit Mountain and gathered in the gaps between roof tiles. Spirit Power was so abundant on the mountain that any living creature stepping onto it would immediately feel an indescribable comfort.
Ning Qing stayed close behind Chen Shu, turning her head to take in the place where he had lived on and off for some time. She asked quietly:
"Mr. Chen, how do you plan to entertain us?"
"There's an old town at the foot of the mountain we can wander around. The Jade Summit Mountains are pretty scenic too—karst landscape. The rapeseed flowers outside have been blooming lately. They reached full bloom yesterday, so this is when the place looks its best all year. Did you see them on the way?" Chen Shu talked as he walked. Whatever had happened before, however dull and exhausting his days of study had been, being with them made him feel light all over.
"I did." Ning Qing nodded.
"Well, well! Even Secretary Ning's talking more!" Chen Shu smiled in surprise.
"I'm in a good mood." Ning Qing pursed her lips, then continued, "I heard this is one of the country's four best