The car traveled another few dozen kilometers. By then, signs of habitation had grown increasingly sparse, and the sky had darkened enough for the faint outline of the moon to appear.
The car slowly came to a stop beside the road near a village. Chen Si pulled himself from his thoughts and looked at Zoe.
"It's getting late. There's a village up ahead. Let's ask the locals if we can stay the night."
"Of course, I don't have night blindness, so I can still see the road clearly. If you're in a hurry, we can keep going," Zoe offered.
"Let's rest for a while. You've been driving all day, and you haven't eaten yet, have you? Thanks for all your hard work." Chen Si smiled, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"Oh, it's nothing. It's been pretty easy, really." Watching his lips curve and listening to his words, Zoe lowered her head a little, her heartbeat quickening.
"Hello there! Are you passing through?"
An old man carrying a bucket and wearing a bamboo hat greeted them kindly. What seemed to be freshly caught fish were still flopping about inside his bucket.
"Yes, sir. Is there somewhere around here where we can get a meal?" Zoe asked.
"We're just about to have dinner at my house. If you don't mind, come along with me," the old man said warmly.
"Sorry for the trouble." Zoe nodded gratefully.
"Thank you." Chen Si thanked him as well. As he studied the old man before him, he suddenly thought of Armin's Grandfather, who had also worn a bamboo hat like this and loved fishing.
Night deepened, and the moon hung overhead.
They followed the old man down a somewhat uneven path toward his home. Thick grass and trees lined both sides, making for lovely