Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong immediately fell asleep after handing over the watch to Bai Yu and Zhu Zhuqing. Bai Yu and Zhu Zhuqing looked at each other. Bai Yu could not help yawning, and Zhu Zhuqing, usually rather aloof, caught it from him and yawned as well.
They looked at each other for a moment, then laughed.
As Bai Yu poked at the campfire with a branch, he teased, "When I first met you, I thought you were stone-faced. Now I see you're actually pretty interesting."
Zhu Zhuqing was speechless. "Is that any way to talk to someone?"
Perhaps the night felt tranquil, or perhaps the campfire felt warm. When Zhu Zhuqing was alone with Bai Yu, she no longer had that air of keeping everyone at arm's length.
Bai Yu smiled. "What I mean is, you look beautiful when you smile. How about smiling more often?"
Zhu Zhuqing froze. This was the first time someone had told her that she looked good when she smiled.
She had grown up under the Star Luo Imperial Family's oppressive rules. Slaughter and schemes had occupied much of her path to adulthood, which was why she had developed such a reserved personality.
It was the best way to protect herself.
But she was not without feelings. She remembered that, when she was little and had not yet begun her royal training, her mother had held her in her arms, pinched her little cheeks, and said with a smile, "My Zhuqing is so pretty. When you grow up, you'll definitely become a beauty just like your mother. Zhuqing, smile more. Come on~"
After so many years, Bai Yu had made her recall that memory. Something in her heart was touched, and her nose stung as she rubbed her eyes.
Bai Yu asked with