In the days that followed, Snow Spirit did not grow more mature with age. Instead, she remained as... pure and innocent as ever.
The peach seed Cheng Yu had planted had grown into a lush peach tree under his care. Though it had yet to bear fruit, its abundant blossoms lent a touch of charm to the otherwise unremarkable farmhouse courtyard.
Beneath the flowering peach tree, Cheng Yu lay in a rocking chair, reading a letter from afar. It was from Lian'er.
As always, she sent her regards, expressed how much she missed him, and told him how she had been doing.
Cheng Yu had never expected Lian'er to keep this up for so long.
After all, Lian'er was no longer a fallen woman trapped in a pleasure house. She was now a talented young woman who had earned some recognition at an Academy renowned throughout the Heavenly Dynasty.
The glittering world could easily dazzle the eyes. As the capital of the Great Qin Celestial Dynasty, the Central Capital possessed a degree of splendor and extravagance Lian'er could never have imagined.
Cheng Yu had a fairly clear understanding of human nature. His usual approach was to expect nothing, and thus never be disappointed.
Whether Lian'er became enamored with that splendor and gave herself to a wealthy young master at the Academy, or drifted away from him to sever ties with her past, Cheng Yu would have taken it in stride.
Yet her unwavering correspondence over the years still stirred something in him. He could only conclude that he had underestimated how deeply being saved by him had affected her.
In truth, saving Lian'er had merely been something he had done on a whim when he had nothing better to do.
Through the Mark he had given Lian'er, Cheng Yu could