After leaving the pavilion, Zhan Xinjia was filled with remorse.

Frustrated and regretful.

How could you doubt your master? She must be very sad right now. You need to find a chance to apologize to her properly...

Not wanting to return to the garden for the time being, Zhan Xinjia wandered aimlessly through the Imperial Garden, kicking at the pebbles by the roadside with a heavy heart as she pondered what her master had just said.

It took her a while to realize that she still had something to do—she needed to go see Lord Shen!

Master Shen was definitely there at the beginning, but we don't know when he left or where he went.

Zhan Xinjia thought she would have to search for a long time, but she didn't expect that after walking only half a circle around the Imperial Garden, she saw the young man in white sitting quietly under a locust tree in a secluded corner hidden by a rockery.

The air in the sweltering summer is sticky and surging with heat, but the breeze brings a refreshing coolness.

The young man wore a snow-white robe, with large crane and auspicious cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, symbolizing a first-rank civil official. A pale blue silk sash was tied around his narrow waist, with a piece of clear jade hanging from the end.

He hung his head, seemingly lost in thought.

A few strands of dark hair, left behind by the hair ornament, fell from the young man's earlobes, partially obscuring his profile and making him appear even more lonely and desolate.

A gentle breeze, sometimes present and sometimes absent, rustled the green leaves above his head. The leaves brushed against each other, and the branches, swaying slightly in the wind, divided the light and shadow, casting dappled light of varying sizes through the gaps.

Finally, the fragmented light fell onto his shoulders and hair, reflecting off the corners of his eyes and brows.

From a distance, it looks like a framed painting, so beautiful that one hesitates to disturb it.

Time has paused for a moment.

Sensing approaching footsteps, Shen Suqing, snapping out of his daze, subconsciously looked up. He was slightly taken aback when he saw Azhi standing not far away, then relaxed his brows and smiled faintly.

"Come here."

On a sweltering summer afternoon, when nothing could be heard but the chirping of cicadas, his voice was exceptionally clear and melodious. A beautiful voice was like shards of ice splashing into a clear stream, carrying a cool and calming quality that soothed the soul.

Zhan Xinjia especially liked the relaxed and leisurely feeling when she was alone with Xiao Shen, as if the years had slowed down.

She naturally grew tired of it.

She had originally planned to enjoy the breeze with Master Shen and then ask him why he was sitting here alone in a daze, but as soon as she sat down next to him, the young man gestured for her to lie on his lap with her head resting on his side.

Although she was a little confused, Zhan Xinjia did as she was told.

He carefully removed the silver crown from her head, and her dark hair cascaded down. The young man used his fingers as a comb, his slender knuckles slowly and deliberately running through her soft hair, gently stroking it again and again.

Her voice was so gentle it was almost dripping with tenderness.

"Are you tired? Do you want to take a nap? I'll wake you up."

"...No, Lord Shen, why are you sitting here all alone? You have no idea how handsome I looked just now!"

The little girl's eyes sparkled with pride, eager to tell him what amazing thing she had done so that she could get some praise from him that would make her feel incredibly proud.

Ke Shen's expression was indifferent, and his smile was very perfunctory and forced.

He lowered his eyelashes and even abruptly changed the subject, selectively ignoring what she had just said.

"Hmm? Aren't you sleepy?"

"Master Xiao Shen."

Seeing that the young man was distracted, Zhan Xinjia straightened up from his lap and stared at his calm, indifferent eyes with great concern.

"What's wrong with you today? Are you feeling unwell? Or did I do something bad to make you angry?"

"No."

Shen Suqing raised his finger and stroked her soft cheek, his eyes gentle.

“Ah Zhi is very well-behaved.”

Feeling the warm hand pressed against her cheek, Zhan Xinjia blinked, her tone even more confused.

"Then why do you look so sad?"

"..."

In fact, Shen Suqing did not want to answer this question.

After a moment of silence, he leaned down, put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into a full embrace.

The young man embraced her and rested his head against her neck.

Even the sounds that came through were muffled.

"...I'm very worried about you."

Unexpectedly, Zhan Xinjia was taken aback by the reply, then her eyes curved into a smile. She cupped the young man's face, which was buried in her shoulders, with both hands, their noses touching, and smiled radiantly.

Her eyes were proud and full of confidence.

"What's there to worry about? I'm pretty strong! I might not even be able to beat my dad, after all, he's getting old."

Before the young man could speak, Zhan Xinjia continued to boast.

"Young Master Shen, let me tell you, I know a lot. No matter how many random people try to get close to me, I'm good at both offense and defense, whether it's bare hands or swords and spears."

Think about all the dangers we've encountered before. With me around, haven't we always managed to escape unscathed and turn danger into safety?

"What are assassins and killers? What are greedy bastards? They're no match for me. Once they've had their fill, I can teach them a lesson they won't forget!"

At this point, fearing that Master Shen might not believe her, Zhan Xinjia even got up and gave him an exaggerated and childish performance on the spot.

She was somewhat incoherent and at a loss for what to do.

Ultimately, she was just eager to prove her strength and power to him, so that he wouldn't worry anymore and wouldn't show that heartbreakingly desolate expression she had just seen.

But when she finished speaking, the sorrow in the young man's eyes deepened.

He looked as fragile as a sheet of paper, his face pale, his brows furrowed, and his beautiful phoenix eyes trembled with shimmering light, his dark pupils clearly reflecting her long, flowing hair.

His hand, which had been resting on her cheek, slid down and finally rested on her shoulder. He spoke softly.

"How did Ah Zhi become so powerful?"

Zhan Xinjia was stunned, and stammered, "Um... because I've always been with my dad? Some of these moves were created by my dad, some were from the military camp, and some I figured out myself and can do passably..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as Lord Shen looked even more distressed.

Shen Suqing pursed his lips and stared at her intently.

The silence was so profound that Zhan Xinjia began to feel uneasy, with only the gentle breeze rustling through the air.

As she reorganized her thoughts to talk about something else cheerful, Shen Suqing's hand, which had been resting on her shoulder, continued downwards, finally taking one of her hands in his and slipping it between her fingers to interlock them.

He held that hand tightly against his face.

He didn't say anything, but she suddenly understood everything.

Zhan Xinjia slowly opened her eyes, slightly surprised. Her eyes began to redden, and then gradually covered with a soft mist.

But she still smiled with her eyes curved.

They just started explaining and trying to cover up their mistakes in an even more panicked manner.

"...It's okay, it doesn't hurt. I don't really remember what happened before...Besides, I'm very skilled and talented. I can learn some moves in one go. I haven't experienced any setbacks or hardships. Over the years, very few people have been able to hurt me. Really, really."

Everyone was amazed by her superb skills, but only Master Shen was concerned about how much hardship she had endured to become so adept at it.

It was as if she casually told him about the hardships and setbacks she had gone through, as if she were a joke, and showed off her current situation to him.

But as he looked at her, he told her, slowly and deliberately, that he didn't find any of this funny at all.

He was very worried.

Shen Suqing didn't reply, but simply hugged her tighter again.

He was pleased that Azhi was fully capable of protecting herself, but at the same time he couldn't help but think about what injuries she had suffered and what dangers she had encountered during the process.

Then came an uncontrollable sense of inferiority.

The more you think about it, the more anxious you become, the more distorted you become, and the more uncontrollably you doubt yourself.