64 Warm Embrace

"Good boy, Master Qi!"

Even in the lingering glow of the setting sun, the bright moon can still be seen hanging high in the sky.

The two walked back to the temple together, where the butter lamps in front of the altar swayed gently in the magnificent hall.

Every day, pilgrims pile up coins of all sizes in front of the Buddha statue's railing. Song Chiyu chatted with him in the courtyard, accompanied by the low chanting of monks, creating a sense of timelessness.

The night grew deeper.

Song Chiyu tucked the small stool she was sitting on into his hand and walked toward her room.

Qi Yanzhou took it, staring intently at her, "Not going to sleep with me?"

Song Chiyu still tried to avoid his gaze, saying, "It's not appropriate."

"Okay." He didn't press her further, and carrying two stools, said, "I'm going to sleep now, goodnight."

Song Chiyu returned to the room that had been assigned to her. The room must have been uninhabited for a long time, as it was filled with all sorts of things. As soon as she entered, she smelled a strong aroma of ghee.

She opened her suitcase and rummaged through the toiletries inside.

A knock sounded at the door. Qi Yanzhou explained through the door, "I left the thermos at your door."

"Okay." When she went to find her things to open the door, Qi Yanzhou was already gone.

There were two basins and two thermos flasks by the door.

There was also a thermos flask that had been carefully placed in the basin. She suddenly remembered the days when she lived with her parents in the factory compound when she was a child, and took the basin to find him.

They said they would sleep separately.

Actually, it's just separated by a wall.

Song Chiyu knocked on the open door.

The man who was making the bed with his back to her turned around, and when he saw it was her, a look of surprise appeared on his face: "What's wrong?"

There was no smell of ghee in his room, only a familiar, cool, faint fragrance intertwined with the scent of books. The room was filled with all sorts of scrolls, and a laptop on the table exuded an incongruous sense of technology.

"You gave me all the water, what are you going to do?" It's very inconvenient to get water here, so everyone tries to save as much as possible.

"Give it to me after you've used it." He answered matter-of-factly, but Song Chiyu pursed her lips in embarrassment.

Seeing her embarrassment, Qi Yanzhou put down the bedding he was holding and came over: "It's okay, I don't mind."

"Then let's just wash them all together."

"Okay." He brought back all the things he had just taken there.

The two of them washed their faces together, then poured the water into the foot bath basin. He usually used it alone, so it felt cramped with two people sharing it.

Yet it felt warm and cozy in the dim, yellow light.

Song Chiyu stepped on his foot, staring at the two feet overlapping each other: "Were you used to it when you first arrived?"

“When I first came here, I lived near the archaeological station, but I often stayed here until midnight before moving here,” he didn’t give a clear answer, staring at the hot water bottle tucked into his bed: “Don’t you keep it at your place?”

"I don't like the taste of ghee."

He belatedly realized something, "Then I'll sleep over there."

"Let's sleep together." She didn't look up, still gently stepping on his feet in the misty air.

He smiled slightly, but still tilted his head to tease her, "Don't you feel embarrassed?"

“What’s wrong with sleeping in someone’s arms?” she muttered defiantly. “It’s not like you’re becoming a nun.”

He was amused again. Since he arrived, he felt that everything here had become more vibrant, and he no longer felt empty inside.

Qi Yanzhou finished washing first.

After she finished wiping her feet, he let her get into bed and took the foot basin outside to pour out the water. Song Chiyu watched his back with his trousers rolled up in the moonlight, and then recalled his aloof and noble demeanor in Anxi, and found the scene inexplicably funny.

I picked up my phone, leaned over the desk, and quietly took a picture.

When he returned, she couldn't wait to share with him, "Teacher Qi, you really seem like you came to participate in the Metamorphosis program."

He smiled gently, lowered the curtain in front of the window, and said, "Go to sleep."

Song Chiyu stared at the curtain, feeling it looked somewhat like the bed sheets at home, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "This..."

"Hmm, the bed sheets at home." He asked with considerable appreciation, supporting his hips, "Were they sewn on well?"

"It's more than just okay, it's practically perfect," Song Chiyu said, giving both of her thumbs up.

He turned off the room lights, and as soon as she got into bed, she immediately snuggled into his arms, using both her hands and feet to cling to his chest.

Qi Yanzhou wrapped his arms around her waist, adjusted his position, and said, "Didn't you say you wouldn't sleep with me?"

"Alright." Song Chiyu covered his lips. "Go to sleep."

He gently kissed her palm. "Goodnight."

Song Chiyu didn't dream at all that night.

When I woke up, it was bright daylight, and the clear sunlight shone on the translucent curtains, leaving a bright shadow in the room.

She changed out of her pajamas and left the room.

Qi Yanzhou had already prepared a car, ready to take her to the airport after she finished packing.

The seemingly ample time came to an abrupt end.

Song Chiyu pursed her lips; she hadn't even left yet, but she already missed them.

Suddenly I understand why he was reluctant to go on business trips before.

When people have something to care about, it's like they're tied to a rope; no matter how far they go, they'll be pulled back to where they started.

Song Chiyu suppressed these emotions and said, "Wait for me, I'll wash my face and then we'll leave."

"It's okay, no rush." ​​He turned around and looked at her hurried figure, staring at her intently as if trying to imprint this scene into his mind. "Take your time, you'll make it."

Song Chiyu quickly washed her face, applied sunscreen, and got into the passenger seat.

Once he got into the car, she applied sunscreen from her palm to his face without saying a word. He didn't resist at all and just let her apply it. Song Chiyu couldn't help but tease him, "So good, Master Qi."

He remained calm and composed, showing no embarrassment at being teased.

"It's not like it's the first time I've been this well-behaved in front of you."

Song Chiyu, on the contrary, felt a little embarrassed.

I won't continue the conversation.

On the way, neither of them showed much emotion, chatting and joking as usual. When they arrived at the airport, Qi Yanzhou escorted her to the security checkpoint. She put away her ID card, preparing to say goodbye, when she suddenly saw his deep eyes and couldn't help but hug him, saying, "Come back soon."

He hadn't expected her to be so proactive, and he was momentarily stunned.

She whispered in my ear, "I'm waiting for you at home."

...

The plane ascended from low mountains, and the sky, still glowing with the afterglow of the sunset, gradually darkened.

Zhou Yue came over from another car to find him. He didn't know what Qi Yanzhou was thinking as he looked out the window, but he didn't ask any questions because he knew that even if he did, Qi Yanzhou wouldn't tell him.

Only when the departing flight became the starting point of Dou Da's journey did he slowly withdraw his gaze and slightly turn his head: "An archaeology professor from Cheng'an is coming over."

Zhou Yue nodded in sudden realization: "So we're waiting for him here?"

Qi Yanzhou shook his head: "I'll go ahead with the others. You wait for him here, then take him to apply, and finally meet up with us."

Zhou Yue understood, "Master Qi, what are you doing...?"

We need to give her an explanation.

really.

Someone as intelligent as Song Chiyu couldn't possibly be oblivious to everything, and the way a smart person would handle this situation is for both of them to compromise.

Try to handle this matter within the limits that the other party can accept.

Zhou Yue discovered that getting married at an older age had its advantages. Both of them were mature enough that there weren't many things to work out or adjust to. He patted Qi Yanzhou on the shoulder meaningfully and said, "Master Qi, if you find anything good, you'd better save it for me."

Qi Yanzhou waved his hand away impatiently, "I'm just going to take a look."

**

After returning home, Song Chiyu did not mention what had happened in Tibet to anyone.

A few days later, she belatedly remembered Su Jiacheng and learned that Zhou Yue had given her a car to drive back, so she completely forgot about the matter.

A week has passed.

Song Chiyu drove back to Xizhou. Her cousin, Song Zhisheng, had given birth to her second child, and the sense of superiority that had faded after Song Chiyu's marriage suddenly returned. Her stomach wound was still throbbing, so she started teasing Song Chiyu about how to relieve the pain.

"You're not young anymore, are you? Why don't you want children yet?"

"Because I want to enjoy a few more years of peace and happiness." Song Chiyu didn't want to argue with her, but the other woman started to hold a grudge against her, so Song Chiyu naturally didn't give in.

The elders who had been chatting came up to her, asking what was wrong.

Li Li knew her daughter's sharp tongue all too well, so she pulled Song Chiyu behind her to keep quiet. Song Zhi seized the opportunity to stir things up, "You're all talking about her. She and her husband aren't young anymore, and they don't want children yet. When are they going to have them? I'm afraid if they keep putting it off, they won't be able to get pregnant even if they want to."

"Why are you meddling in other people's business?" Song Zhi's mother also scolded, "You just need to take care of yourself."

Song Chiyu didn't seem to care, but Li Li was embarrassed. After leaving the hospital, she kept the matter in mind and asked, "When are you and Xiao Qi going to have a baby?"

"We'll do it when he gets back." Song Chiyu was already well-versed in the art of pressuring people to get married and have children.

"Huh?" Li Li exclaimed in surprise, "There's no need to be in such a hurry."

"How can we not be in a hurry? If we don't have children soon, you and Dad will get old, and who will take care of the children for me then?"

"You..." Li Li didn't expect her to have made arrangements for herself and Lao Song so quickly. "Didn't you think about having the groom's family take care of the child?"

"Who will take you?" Song Chiyu asked. "Who in their family have you taken a fancy to? I'll have him go and ask them."

Li Li: "..."

So it really is true, there aren't any.

Qi Qingfang is too old, almost as old as Song Chiyu's maternal grandfather; Aunt Ning has too many rules, I don't know how she'll be raised; and Qi Jianguo is even more complicated, he's too busy dating himself.

So, it really is just Li Li and Lao Song leading them.

When the topic of having the two of them take care of the baby came up, Li Li's desire to urge them to have a baby wasn't so strong anymore. "It's okay, Mom isn't in a hurry. You and Xiao Qi can have the baby in a couple of years."

“That works too,” Song Chiyu agreed.

If they wait a few more years, she and Teacher Qi will get old.

There's no way to urge them then.

Song Chiyu had already made her own plans, not wanting to trouble Qi Yanzhou with this matter. Unexpectedly, Qi Jianguo found her as soon as she returned to Mingzhou from Xizhou.

It was his first time visiting her home, and he seemed unusually reserved. While Li Li got up to pour tea, Qi Jianguo cut to the chase: "Has Yanzhou contacted you?"

Having received his kindness, Song Chiyu nodded honestly.

Qi Jianguo was not surprised. With Qi Yanzhou's abilities, it was impossible for anything to happen in Tibet without him even noticing. He simply didn't want to get involved.

"Did he say anything to you?" Qi Jianguo paused. "Zhan Nan told me that Yan Zhou and you have shaken them off."

She and Qi Yanzhou are in cahoots.

Otherwise, Qi Jianguo wouldn't have come looking for him.

"He is very interested in a legendary civilization site in Tibet and has now ventured deep into the snow-capped mountains."

Song Chiyu shook her head.

"If you and Dad can't call someone back, how could I possibly call them back?"

"Then I'll have to offend you, sister-in-law." Qi Jianguo said, trying to control his emotions. "Sister-in-law, get up and come with me. If I have someone take you away, I won't be able to explain it to Yanzhou."

Song Chiyu was not surprised at all by his change at this moment.

Qi Yanzhou's behavior, on the other hand, made her feel unreal, so she wisely stood up and said, "I can go with you, but I need to ask my workplace for leave first."

"Sister-in-law, I'll help you get leave, but I can't say for sure when you'll be back."

"Can I pack a few clothes?"

Qi Jianguo raised an eyebrow to indicate that he was okay.

He hoped that Song Chiyu could contact Qi Yanzhou immediately, but Song Chiyu simply packed a few clothes, carried a bag, and left with him.

He only offered a brief farewell to Li Li, who showed concern for him.

They were completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

Qi Jianguo had to remind her, "Sister-in-law, the Qi family is in a mess right now. This time, things won't be as harmonious as last time."

"With Qi Yanzhou gone, you can't even stabilize the situation in Anxi?" Song Chiyu had never ridden in such an expensive car before, and couldn't help but look him up and down.

She showed no fear whatsoever; instead, she began to criticize them.

Qi Jianguo was also helpless, and looked out the window with a wry smile: "Yes, people have forgotten what their true nature is after living in peace for so long. I can't control them. My father can barely keep things in order now, but he is getting old. I want him to live a couple more years. I don't want him to suffer a miserable old age because of these things."

Song Chiyu knew this was a family matter of the Qi family, so she wisely refrained from asking further questions.

Qi Jianguo pressed on, asking, "What else did Yanzhou say to you? I don't understand why he did this."

"I don't know either."

Qi Jianguo knew she was lying as soon as he heard it, but he didn't call her out on it. He just said to himself, "He's in a bad mood, isn't he?"

"No."

"Then why?" Qi Jianguo asked, somewhat annoyed. "Do you think I'm spoiling Zhan Nan too much? But I don't want to spoil him. I just know he's not cut out for this. The more I pamper him, the more trouble he'll cause. It's better to just let him play around like this, so he won't suddenly get into trouble."

Everyone is limited by their own self-awareness.

Qi Jianguo naturally loved his younger brother, but he still couldn't understand what Qi Yanzhou was thinking from his perspective.

Song Chiyu didn't want him to speculate about Qi Yanzhou like that, so she told him the truth: "He just hopes that even without him, the Qi family's ship can continue to sail in the direction he has set. If he is gone, everything he has done will be overturned, and then there is no point in him continuing."

On the contrary, they are more likely to suffer retribution.

Qi Jianguo was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"He doesn't have strong material desires, and the fate of the Qi family has no impact on him personally. Whether he's the head of the family or the leader, it's just his responsibility, not his personal will. Too many people in the Qi family see him as a potential enemy, feeling that he's holding them back, but they haven't considered that it's precisely because of him that the Qi family has been sailing on the right track." Song Chiyu said solemnly, "If he's gone, those people will be eager to overturn the rules he set, and then it will be futile for him to continue. He will suffer retribution."

"Qi Yanzhou told you that?"

“Only the last sentence was spoken by him to me,” Song Chiyu replied.

"What kind of retribution does he think he will suffer?"

"Betrayed by everyone." Qi Yanzhou hadn't said it, but she had thought about it. "When more and more people feel that he is holding them back, will they think that it would be better if the Qi family didn't have him?"

Her voice was so calm, with the clarity of an observer: "So, brother, it's no use bringing me back to Anxi. I won't tell him about this. He'll come back when he wants to."

"You don't want your job anymore?" Qi Jianguo didn't intend to be polite to her.

Song Chiyu lowered her head, looking completely subdued. Qi Jianguo was about to say something to sway her when she replied softly, "There's nothing we can do about it."

When she decided to stand by him, she was already prepared to give up her job.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have written commercial restorations.

Always be prepared to take another path.

Qi Jianguo didn't know what to say. In some ways, she was just as stubborn as Qi Yanzhou.

He didn't understand what Qi Yanzhou was doing, but she seemed to understand.

"It's just asking him to come back, is it really worth making such a fuss over?"

“He can come back, but not because of me.” She didn’t want to be a burden to him: “I don’t want to tie his hands either.”

Song Chiyu didn't think this had anything to do with reading. She turned her head to look out the window and replied, "The child finally has something he likes, so just let him have it."

Qi Jianguo rarely heard anyone refer to Qi Yanzhou as a child.

He couldn't explain it to Song Chiyu, so he simply stopped talking about it.

After seven or eight hours, we finally arrived in Anxi.

As soon as Qi Jianguo entered the inner courtyard, he had someone take Song Chiyu to the place where Qi Yanzhou had returned to stay, and then went to see Qi Qingfang alone. He relayed Song Chiyu's words again, and at one point thought that Qi Qingfang would also scold him for being ridiculous, but unexpectedly, Qi Qingfang said the same thing as Song Chiyu.

"As long as he's alright, he can go out and have fun if he wants."

Qi Jianguo was furious, acting as if he was the only one in the family who was heartless.

Song Chiyu had no idea what was happening outside. After Qi Jianguo politely invited her into the room, he never appeared again. She tried to go out to check on things, but the door and windows were locked from the inside.

This effectively traps her here completely.

That evening, when Qi Jianguo sent someone to deliver her dinner, he took her phone again. Luckily, she had the foresight to remove her usual SIM card beforehand.

I wish someone could give her another spare phone to use.

She peered through the crack in the window and saw Yinghong pass by in the yard. Just as she was about to knock on the window, Aunt Ning slowly walked over from behind. She reluctantly withdrew her hand.

When Yinghong passed by the window for the second time, she called out to her softly.

Yinghong had also heard about her being brought back, and had secretly slipped over to see her. Through the crack in the window, she asked, "Sister-in-law?"

Song Chiyu was glad that she had gotten along well with Yinghong the last time she came.

Not wanting to be completely alone, she called out softly, "Cherry Blossom, are you alone?"

"Yes," she replied affirmatively.

"You can help me buy a new phone or find one that's not in use. I'm so bored being locked up here all by myself. I want to relieve my boredom."

Yinghong glanced at Qi Jianguo, who was hiding in the shadows, and received his affirmative answer: "I'll go find it for you."

She returned after a while. "I bought you a new one, but how can I give it to you?"

"If someone brings me water later, you can quietly pass it to me from outside the door."

Sakura agreed.

The night grew deeper.

The person who brought her water arrived, and Yinghong followed behind him, quietly handing in her phone and the packaging box together.

She opened the box and saw the cherry-red note: Qi Jianguo had agreed to give her this phone.

She immediately understood that Qi Jianguo's purpose in locking her up here was not to make her unable to resist seeking help from Qi Yanzhou.

Song Chiyu silently burned the note and threw it away.

After inserting his SIM card into the new phone and setting up all the software, Qi Yanzhou called.

Song Chiyu turned on the water in the bathroom and answered the phone as if nothing had happened.

Qi Yanzhou heard the sound of running water behind her: "Taking a bath?"

"kindness."

“We’ve reached that area, and the signal will be completely cut off soon. I’ll call you back when I get back to the village.”

"Okay." Song Chiyu didn't mention it again.

A few days later, instead of waiting for Qi Yanzhou, Qi Zhannan appeared.

Even though Song Chiyu was locked up, she could still see people coming and going through the window. Qi Qingfang often came to see her, but each time he was called away by others after only a few words.

She could vaguely see Qi Yanzhou's busy figure.

But she didn't think it was Qi Yanzhou's responsibility and still didn't intend to bother him.

After Qi Zhannan learned that she was trapped, the first thing he did after rushing out of the hall was to smash the door to her room. Ignoring everyone else's attempts to stop him, he shouted, "You can't find my second uncle, so you lock her up and force him to submit? Are you all crazy? Is my second uncle the kind of person you can manipulate? Open the door for me!"

As a result, Qi Jianguo really went mad.

Qi Zhannan was also locked up.

He also complained to Song Chiyu on WeChat: "Goodness, my dad has really gone crazy. He locked me out too."

Song Chiyu was worried that he might say something unfounded to Qi Yanzhou, so she pretended not to see him. It wasn't until twenty-three days later that Qi Yanzhou returned, looking travel-worn.

His return was a grand affair; all the lights in the courtyard were turned on.

Song Chiyu groggily opened her eyes and heard the sound of the door being unlocked. Qi Yanzhou strode in from outside. His hair had grown longer, his beard had grown, his skin had darkened, and he was thinner and more muscular. The outline of his pectoral muscles could be seen even through his clothes.

This was so sudden.

Song Chiyu once thought she was dreaming.

"Teacher Qi?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" His rapid breathing was slightly labored.

Song Chiyu belatedly came to her senses: "There's nothing to say. I'm eating and living well here, and everyone is treating me very well."

Qi Yanzhou saw through it but didn't say anything. His chest heaved noticeably, and his handsome face revealed a rare sense of vicissitude and anger.

"What's going on with your beard?" Song Chiyu pretended not to know and knelt up, touching his hair: "Your hair has grown too."

As her breath drew nearer, he could no longer contain his emotions and pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry, I'm late."

The cool, calming woody scent that had been emanating from him had vanished, replaced by a distinctly strong tobacco aroma.

She gently stroked his hair: "Are you going to see your brother now?"

He was silent for a moment, then responded softly.

"Take a shower and shave before you go." She was now fully awake and stood up, saying, "I'll run you a bath."

“No need for all that trouble,” he said, gripping her arm to stop her. “I’ll just go straight there…”

"Don't you want to talk to me?" Song Chiyu grabbed his wrist. "Tell them to wait a little longer. I'll shave your beard before I go over."

[Author's Note]

Lately, it's been so sweet that even writing the side stories makes me feel happy. [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]

Thank you for following along, baby!! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]