When He Yang got up, he found no one beside him and the bed was cold, so he knew that Xiang Wan hadn't slept all night. He went to the living room and saw Xiang Wan sitting on the sofa.

"Why aren't you asleep?" He Yang asked as he walked towards the bathroom in his slippers. "I only took half a day off. Remember to pack your things later. Make sure you bring everything you need. If you forget something, you'll have to come back for it, which is a hassle."

Normally, when Xiang Wan heard He Yang say something like that, she would have happily agreed long ago.

Perhaps because she had figured things out, or perhaps because Xiang Wan's state of mind had changed, she felt no emotion when she heard He Yang's words. She simply replied calmly, "Let's talk about it later."

He Yang was a little surprised. He glanced back at Xiang Wan and then continued washing up. While Xiang Wan was washing the rice and making porridge, she took some pickled vegetables from the refrigerator and put the eggs in the kitchen to fry later.

The rented apartment was only 60 square meters, and with all the household items and miscellaneous things piled up, it was just right for the two of them to live together. After He Yang came out of the bathroom, Xiang Wan went in and tidied herself up.

After breakfast, Xiang Wan rummaged through her meager wardrobe, only to find nothing decent. It was all either drab gray or black tracksuits, or business suits. To save money, and to conserve water and laundry detergent, even the bright clothes He Yang had picked out for her while shopping had been replaced with drab gray ones. Xiang Wan sighed, wondering how she had ever managed to live like this before.

Finally, Xiang Wan chose a white shirt and jeans, tucked the shirt in, put on her faded sneakers, tied her hair in a side ponytail, and applied a light touch of makeup. She exuded youthful energy. She nodded in satisfaction and left the bathroom.

He Yang was all ready to go. When he saw Xiang Wan come out, he looked up and glanced at her, then froze.

"You seem a little different today."

Xiang Wan smiled slightly, her mood improving. She picked up her handbag and stuffed everything into her backpack, saying as she tidied up, "Let's go hiking today. It's been a long time since I've exercised."

Are you sure?

"Today will be a special day. Believe me, you won't want to go to work this afternoon."

Perhaps infected by Xiang Wan's good mood, He Yang didn't say anything more. He turned around and called to ask for a day off. He went back to his bedroom to change into some light clothes, put on his backpack, and went out with Xiang Wan.

The place they rented was neither close to the city nor far from the suburbs; the nearest mountain was an hour's drive away.

Before leaving the apartment complex, Xiang Wan bought a few bottles of water and some biscuits at a convenience store, which she divided and packed into their bags. Once outside, she hailed a taxi and asked the driver to take a shortcut.

He Yang remained silent, only looking at Xiang Wan with a slight frown.

It was autumn, the air was crisp and clear, and the sun was shining brightly—perfect for hiking. Plus, it was a weekday, so there weren't many people hiking. After getting off the bus in the evening, Xiang Wan was the first to head up the mountain.

This is the highest peak in the vicinity, and many people bring their families here on weekends. Therefore, you can see many vendors along the way selling fruit, snacks, and various trinkets. She used to never bother with any of these things; if it weren't for her pride—she'd even try to skip the entrance fee—why would she spend money on these useless things, a complete waste of money?

Arriving at a kite stall, Xiang Wan carefully selected a butterfly kite, then turned to He Yang and smiled, "Is this pretty?"

"This young lady has a good eye; she picked our most popular kite right away. It's lightweight, foldable, and of good quality; it won't break easily, and she can take it anywhere she goes," the kite seller chimed in with a smile.

"Really? Then according to you, Auntie, this kite isn't cheap. Look at me, I fell in love with this kite the first time I bought one, which means I'm destined to have it and you. How about giving me a discount? Maybe when it flies in the sky, it can even bring you some business!"

"Wow, you're quite the smooth talker, aren't you? How about this, this is my first order of the day, I'll give you a five-yuan discount, how about it?"

"Ten yuan off, and I'll take it."

"We're not even making a profit at cost price, add a little more!"

"Auntie, I know whether this is cost price or not. If you keep talking like this, I can tell you exactly where the kite comes from, the materials, and the shipping costs. I just want to try something new. You make a little profit, and I'll have some fun. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"

"Fine, I can't argue with you. Small profits, quick turnover. Take it now, take it now."

Xiang Wan deftly took out the money, unpacked and rolled up the kite, and put it in her schoolbag.

"What's wrong with you today?"

He Yang hesitated for a long time before catching up with Xiang Wan, determined to get to the bottom of things. This Xiang Wan was very different from the one he usually saw, making him feel somewhat unfamiliar with her, and also subtly uneasy.

Xiang Wan smiled at him and replied, seemingly unrelated, "Don't you think this kind of weather is perfect for kites?"

He Yang was a little confused, but seeing that Xiang Wan was really happy, he shut up and silently accompanied her up the mountain.

The steps leading up the mountain were quite long. After walking for less than ten minutes, Xiang Wan was already panting heavily and sweating profusely. She hadn't realized it before, but now she understood that her physical condition was truly terrible and she desperately needed exercise.

He Yang was in a slightly better condition than her, only sweating slightly. After walking for a while, he tried to help Xiang Wan, but Xiang Wan refused by raising her hand.

"No need to help me, I can manage on my own."

Later, she walked slower and slower, and Xiang Wan didn't let him help her. Instead, she took one step at a time until her legs were weak from exhaustion, and finally reached the top of the mountain.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!