"Yunyan."

Xie Fengsheng's voice was gentle and tender, making Li Yunyan a little nervous.

He was as graceful as a bamboo shoot and as upright as a pine tree. He walked slowly to her and took out the sandalwood box that he had treasured for a day.

He slowly opened it, and a pure white jade hairpin appeared before her eyes.

At the top of the jade hairpin is a blooming pear blossom, and at the tip of the blossom is a small character for "wind".

His usually clear and melodious voice sounded a little hoarse at this moment: "Yunyan, I want to give this to you."

His expression was so serious that it made Li Yunyan's heart skip a beat.

She asked softly, "Xie Fengsheng, do you... like me?"

Looking into her straightforward and clear eyes, in which his image was reflected, Xie Fengsheng was captivated.

He didn't flinch, but stared straight at her with utmost sincerity, and his answer was equally firm:

"Yes!" came the firm and resounding reply.

Li Yunyan's eyes flickered. She knew very well that she had no romantic feelings for Xie Fengsheng. However, romantic feelings had never been her top priority.

After all, the feelings in the previous two lives were developed through sleeping together, the kind that deepened with each sleep.

But seeing Xie Fengsheng's sincere confession to her, Li Yunyan felt a pang of reluctance. If she accepted him in that way, wouldn't it be a desecration of their relationship?

She cherished this feeling. If she could also fall in love with him, then things would naturally fall into place, right?

Li Yunyan asked him earnestly, "Xie Fengsheng, if I accept, does that mean I have to marry you right away?"

Xie Fengsheng chuckled softly, his tension lessening somewhat.

At this moment, he really wanted to reach out and touch the top of her soft hair.

Having finally banished the itch in his palms, he swallowed hard and said gently, "No need. If you can accept it, I will be very happy; if you are not willing, I will have no regrets."

Li Yunyan raised her hand and took the box from his hand.

Just before he was about to be overjoyed, she whispered, "Xie Fengsheng, could you please let me think about it?"

The joy in his eyes faded, but he still smiled and said, "Of course!"

Her tone softened further: "But while you're considering this, could you please not avoid me?"

He always spoke to her politely, and even the distance between them was always kept at a safe level. He was never abrupt or overstepped his bounds.

He is a truly handsome and charming young man.

Li Yunyan looked up and met his gaze, then nodded.

Xie Fengsheng let out a sigh of relief, so happy that he was momentarily speechless.

After pacing around in place for a couple of minutes, he realized it was getting late and stammered to Li Yunyan, "Yunyan, well, I... I'll be going now!"

After saying that, he squeezed out through the small door, closed it for her, and walked away with a silly grin, looking back every few steps.

Li Yunyan smiled too. If her other half was this kind of person, she would definitely be very happy to be with him.

She will try her best to make herself like him!

*

Xie Fengsheng would bring Li Yunyan some treats every day when he came to the clinic.

Sometimes it's a box of pastries, a box of candy, a few pieces of fruit, a bowl of wontons, or a serving of freshly fried meatballs; other times it's a sugar figurine under the overpass or a crispy chicken in a restaurant.

A different dish every day.

Li Yunyan accepted everything without hesitation and ate with great relish.

She never hesitated to smile at him, and whenever she saw him staring blankly at her, she would chuckle to herself.

Only then would he realize his lapse in composure, his ears turning red as he made an excuse to leave.

When he returned, he had regained his composure and calmness.

Seeing him like this, Li Yunyan often recalled a quote she had read before: Love is restraint.

The love she had experienced before was possessive.

She really wanted to know, to what extent can love be restrained?

Xie Fengsheng was like a free waiter in her shop, always there regardless of the weather, always diligent in his work.

And we don't even need to pay salaries.

After lunch each day was Xie Fengsheng's favorite time of day.

Because at this time, Li Yunyan would close the museum for an hour and send the children to take a nap.

Then he could linger in the clinic, quietly watching her prepare the medicinal herbs needed for the afternoon.

Li Yunyan is currently slicing ginseng. Ginseng is a precious medicinal material for ordinary people, so she is very careful when slicing it. She can't use too much force, lest it break, nor can she cut it too lightly, lest she break it.

She gently bit her lower lip, trying to control the force she used.

Xie Fengsheng involuntarily stopped what he was doing, his eyes uncontrollably fixed on her lips.

Her lips were full and bright red, appearing even redder when she bit them with her small teeth.

He walked over without thinking, blocking the light from Li Yunyan's eyes.

Li Yunyan looked up, slightly annoyed, and said, "You're blocking my way!"

The tightly clenched lips were released, still bearing clear teeth marks and glistening, heart-pounding texture.

Xie Fengsheng slowly reached out and, under her gaze, gently tucked her stray hairs behind her ear.

He didn't even touch an inch of her skin.

She looked up into his eyes, which were filled with deep affection and turbulent emotions, completely at odds with the restraint and propriety she displayed.

She felt a little sorry for him.

She wasn't actually a chaste and virtuous woman, and she wasn't worth his esteem.

If he had been a little more reckless, she might even have had his child!

Li Yunyan stood up and walked towards him, taking a step closer than before when they kept a safe distance.

Xie Fengsheng immediately smelled the fragrance emanating from her. It was fresh, sweet, and mixed with a hint of the bitterness of medicinal herbs.

It made him dazzled and infatuated.

His heart was racing; he didn't know what she wanted to do, nor what he should do.

He saw Li Yunyan tilt her head up, looking at him tenderly. Her face was as white as jade, making him want to touch her.

He clenched his fists tightly, not wanting to be impolite to her!

But she seemed oblivious to her terrible thoughts, and smiled brightly at him.

He was mesmerized again. Being able to look at her like this without any reservations had always been his dream.

His head involuntarily lowered further and further.

Until she closed her eyes.

Li Yunyan closed her eyes, her fingers still gently pinching the hem of his clothes.

She felt his breath getting closer and closer, his hot breath gently touching her face.

The breath lingered around her lips for a long time before slowly rising and finally gently landing on her forehead.

As light as a dragonfly skimming the water.

Li Yunyan's heart skipped a beat!

She slowly opened her eyes and looked into his affectionate gaze.

Her red lips parted slightly: "Feng Sheng, I promise you!"

"So, you can kiss me."