March 2nd, early morning.

The night is as dark as ink, so thick that it cannot be dissolved, and the cold wind is biting and bitter, like crying and complaining.

Bai Yuheng and the kidnapped Hua Rongsheng and her husband escaped the deserted island on a bamboo raft. The raft drifted along the Yousi River, the water occasionally bouncing around, splashing and soaking the corners of their clothes.

The darkness was like a thick curtain, tightly covering the surroundings. Only a few sparse stars above their heads blinked intermittently like the eyes of a sleepy person, as if silently watching them.

The night wind whistled like a sharp whip, mercilessly lashing their cheeks and bringing waves of sharp pain.

Bai Yuheng remained silent. He struggled to hold the bamboo pole, fighting against the river water like a warrior, allowing the bamboo raft to move forward steadily in the river.

Ye Maochun's eyes revealed deep fear and uneasiness, and his body trembled slightly uncontrollably. He held Hua Rongsheng's hand tightly, as if it was his only support in this endless darkness.

Hua Rongsheng, sensing Ye Maochun's uneasiness, quickly hugged her husband tightly, hoping to use her body temperature to dispel his fear. At this moment, their fate was like a bamboo raft drifting with the current, with an uncertain future and no one knowing where it would drift to.

The sound of the river was especially clear in the utter silence of the night, each thud like a hammer striking the heart, terrifying. Hua Rongsheng and Ye Maochun felt their own heartbeats resonate with the river's rhythm, tense and resolute. On the dark, cold river, they prayed silently, praying for escape and freedom.

Finally, after a long drift, the rising sun in the east pierced the darkness of the silent night like a sharp sword, and Bai Yuheng and his party left Youzhou like birds out of a cage and entered the territory of Qinzhou.

"Mr. Bai, you have been rowing the bamboo raft all night, you must be exhausted. Let me do it." Hua Rongsheng looked at Bai Yuheng with a tired face, and couldn't help feeling grateful and sympathetic in his heart.

At this time, Bai Yuheng had taken off his black formal attire and put on an elegant robe, appearing like a humble and graceful young man. Hua Rongsheng and Ye Maochun, his wife and husband, finally saw the true face of the man who had saved them from danger.

Bai Yuheng glanced at Hua Rongsheng, who was a scholar, well-mannered and weak, then looked at Ye Maochun with a big belly and shook his head slightly.

"No need, Aunt Hua, Uncle Ye. We're far away from Youzhou now. Even if the guards on the island discovered you were missing, they wouldn't be able to catch up. There's a small town not far ahead. Let's go ashore there and find an inn to stay in, have a meal, and then have a good rest."

Bai Yuheng not only has a good-looking appearance as gentle as jade, but even his voice seems to carry a unique magic. His voice is low and mellow, very magnetic, like the sound of nature, and inexplicably has the power to calm people's souls.

Hua Rongsheng and Ye Maochun looked at him with gratitude and nodded slightly to express their deep gratitude and respect.

The raft continued on for a short distance before landing safely on the shore. The three of them then stepped onto land and entered the small town. While it couldn't compare to the prosperity of the capital, it was bustling with activity and bustling with people, offering a unique and interesting atmosphere.

After entering the town, they quickly found a quiet inn. Upon entering, Bai Yuheng walked straight to a table by the window and politely invited Hua Rongsheng and Ye Maochun and his wife to sit down.

After everyone was seated, Bai Yuheng picked up the menu and examined it carefully. When ordering, he displayed meticulous care and consideration, first gently asking Hua Rongsheng and Ye Maochun if they had any dietary restrictions or favorite dishes. His actions were elegant and generous, revealing the demeanor of a humble gentleman.

Faced with such an understanding, gentle and considerate Bai Yuheng, Hua Rongsheng and Ye Maochun felt warm in their hearts, with happy smiles on their faces and nodded in response.

Especially Ye Maochun, as he gently stroked his bulging pregnant belly, he secretly yearned: Maybe after Xiao Qingguo is born, she will be as handsome and elegant as the Mr. Bai in front of him, not only with a gentle and kind personality, but also knowing how to respect her mother, father and elders... Thinking of this, he looked at Bai Yuheng with a bit more kindness and love in his eyes.

Facing the scorching gazes of Hua Rongsheng, his wife, and her husband, Bai Yuheng could only pretend not to notice the undisguised...love in their eyes?!

The dishes were quickly served, and the three, starving, eyes lit up as they devoured the food. Even with their unbearable hunger, their posture while eating remained elegant and graceful, without a trace of rudeness. Bai Yuheng, in particular, displayed a graceful demeanor and excellent upbringing in every movement.

During the meal, the three chatted about their future plans.

"Mr. Bai, thank you so much for your help this time, otherwise Maochun and I would not have been able to escape this disaster. But right now, my wife and I are penniless, and I really don't know how to repay you." Hua Rongsheng said apologetically.

"Aunt Hua, you're too kind. This is just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning. What's more... I am only entrusted by your daughter, and it is a kind of fate to meet you two." Bai Yuheng raised the corners of his mouth slightly and responded humbly.

"That being said, if it weren't for Mr. Bai's help, my wife and I would probably be in danger of our lives. But now we don't have the money to return to the capital, so I'm afraid we have to borrow... borrow some silver from Mr. Bai." Hua Rongsheng said a little embarrassedly.

After saying this, Hua Rongsheng's cheeks instantly flushed with shyness. After all, this was the first time in her life that she had asked a young man, about the same age as her daughter, for a loan! However, with her husband Ye Maochun about to give birth, it was clearly no longer possible for her to care about her dignity and endure the pain.

There's a saying that goes, "Help others to the end, and send Buddha to the west." After a moment's hesitation, Bai Yuheng said, "If Aunt Hua and Uncle Ye don't mind, I will personally escort you back to the capital after we have a day's rest."

Hearing this, Hua Rongsheng and Ye Maochun exchanged a glance, a flicker of unexpected joy in their eyes. They had originally thought that Bai Yuheng would part ways with them at this moment, but they had never expected him to be so kind-hearted.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Bai! My wife and I really don't know how to repay your kindness..." Hua Rongsheng was so moved that tears filled her eyes.

"It's just a trivial matter, why worry about it." Bai Yuheng smiled slightly, his tone very humble.

"By the way, let me ask you a question. I wonder if Mr. Bai and Qingcheng... are classmates in the Imperial College?" Ye Maochun finally couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked doubtfully.

Bai Yuheng's face froze slightly upon hearing this, but he quickly put away his strange expression and said leisurely, "I am actually her teacher. I have to take a temporary leave from the Imperial College due to family matters..."

At this moment, a voice suddenly came from outside the inn, which made Bai Yuheng's scalp tingle.

"Master, we've been on the boat for a whole day and night, and our bones are almost falling apart. Miaoyu thinks we should quickly find an inn to have a meal and rest!"