Chen Yuancheng wasn't in a hurry, so he and Ling Qi traveled at a leisurely pace for more than ten days to reach the coastal town that Xiao Yunying had passed through when she was kidnapped.

Looking at the bustling, crowded town, Ling Qi led the carriage and said, "Young Master, this town is quite lively and prosperous."

"Something's probably going to happen in the city soon."

The two inquired and found the largest inn in town. When they asked the innkeeper, they learned that the inn was full. The innkeeper also said that other inns were probably full as well.

Ling Qi asked, "Are there so many outsiders lately?"

The innkeeper explained, "Young masters, you may not know this, but we just opened the fishing season here a couple of days ago. The seafood is at its fattest and most delicious this time of year, so many outsiders come here to try it or buy seafood."

"I see." Ling Qi understood, then asked again, "Manager, perhaps you could spare a room? We've traveled for so long to get here, we're really exhausted."

"It's not that I don't want to make room for you two, it's just that we really can't make room right now, we're all full. Why don't you two look for somewhere else?"

"Alright, Lingqi, let's go. If all else fails, we can rent a small house..."

Before Chen Yuancheng could finish speaking, he heard a somewhat surprised female voice behind him: "Brother Yuancheng?"

He turned around and saw Zuo Qingzhi standing on the stairs, looking delighted. "It really is you, Brother Yuancheng!"

She ran down the stairs, shouting, "Why is Brother Yuancheng here too?"

"I... came to see the sea."

Zuo Qingzhi said "Oh," and then added, "You came here because my older sister told you the scenery by the sea was beautiful, right?"

A fleeting sadness crossed her eyes as she said this, but then they brightened again: "I've been here for a few days now. The sunsets over the sea are truly beautiful, the fish and shrimp are very fresh, and the sea crabs are delicious—I think they're much better than river crabs."

Chen Yuancheng thought that after the incident of being rejected when he proposed to her, the two of them could no longer get along as freely as before.

Unexpectedly, Zuo Qingzhi spoke to him as before, as if she had completely forgotten about that incident.

He was infected by her emotions and his mood improved as well: "Why do you only say the sunset is beautiful? What about the sunrise?"

Zuo Qingzhi wrinkled her nose: "I couldn't get up this morning... so I didn't look at it..."

Feeling a little embarrassed after she finished speaking, she changed the subject and asked, "Brother Yuancheng, would you like to stay at this inn? A lot of people have come to this small town recently, so it should be full by now."

"Yes, that's why I was just thinking of asking around at other inns."

"No need to ask. There have been a lot of outsiders for the past half month, and other places should be full. If Brother Yuancheng doesn't mind, I'll have the guards vacate a room for you."

Before Chen Yuancheng could answer, she turned around and gave instructions to the guards behind her.

"Let's go, I'll take Brother Yuancheng to his room."

Before Chen Yuancheng could dissuade him, he saw the guard take orders and go upstairs to tidy up the room, so he could only reply, "Then thank you very much."

"Brother Yuancheng, why be so polite with me? It makes us seem like strangers."

The two walked upstairs side by side. Suddenly, Zuo Qingzhi whispered, "Brother Yuancheng, you don't need to be so reserved. It makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Just think of me as a younger sister like Yaoyao. Wouldn't it be more comfortable if we thought of each other as brother and sister traveling together?"

She's come to terms with it. If others don't like her, she can't force them to like her; she's not made of silver.

She felt that her older sister was right. Who said that a woman's only path was marriage? Life is only a few decades long, why should she listen to worldly arrangements and live a life of routine?

She doesn't want that; she wants to do whatever makes her happy.

As for my parents... well, my older sister said she would support me.

As for Chen Yuancheng... after all, he was someone she had liked for many years, and she couldn't completely let go of him in a short time, but she no longer had such a strong obsession with him.

The older sister said that time heals all wounds, and she is slowly adjusting her feelings for Chen Yuancheng. He is such a good person, she can be his younger sister.

Chen Yuancheng looked at Zuo Qingzhi, who was dressed as a man, and saw that her bright eyes were devoid of any other emotion, clean and clear, which made him seem too preoccupied.

This free-spirited and unrestrained personality is somewhat similar to Yun Ying's...

He asked, "You've been here for a few days now? Besides the sunset, have you seen any other natural scenery?"

“There are so many.” Zuo Qingzhi counted on her fingers: “I saw the fishing boats returning to shore, and I also went to the beach to collect seashells. I just got a little seasick, otherwise I would have gone out to sea with the fishing boats.”

When they arrived at the room, the guards had already packed and brought out their belongings. Zuo Qingzhi called two people to go with Ling Qi to the carriage to help move the things.

"Brother Yuancheng, you must be tired from your journey. Take a rest for a while, and I'll come and call you to dinner tonight, okay? I know a restaurant that makes really delicious seafood, and you have to book a table in advance."

She realized she had been too enthusiastic after she finished speaking, and remembering that Chen Yuancheng disliked noisy environments, she added, "Perhaps Brother Yuancheng doesn't want to go to the restaurant, I can have someone bring the food over?"

"No need, I'll go with you."

"Okay, I'll come and get you tonight."

Over the next few days, Zuo Qingzhi took Chen Yuancheng to do all the things she found interesting. After they had experienced the scenery and food, Chen Yuancheng began to plan their future.

That day, they strolled slowly on the beach. Chen Yuancheng looked at Zuo Qingzhi, who was picking up seashells, and asked, "You've been staying here for quite a while now. Where do you plan to go next?"

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