Zhao Wenqi is very obedient.

His uncle told him to say goodbye to his aunt properly, and he really clung to her and wouldn't let go.

It stuck to me everywhere I went, and I was stuck to it all day long.

Zhao Changqing was filled with remorse: If only I had known... I shouldn't have said that!

"Zhao Wenqi, it's late, aren't you going to sleep?"

"I'll talk to my aunt for a little while longer..." Zhao Wenqi yawned.

"You're so sleepy you can barely keep your eyes open," Zhao Changqing said coldly.

"...I'm not...I'm not sleepy..."

Seeing that his eyelids were already closed, Zhao Changqing immediately took action, personally peeling the little guy off He Youyou and throwing him to Qin Ming.

"Take him back to sleep."

Qin Ming looked at Zhao Wenqi in his arms. Hmm, his breathing was very even; he was already asleep.

The hall finally returned to silence.

He Youyou stood up, fanning herself, and stretched: "It's late, you should go to sleep early too. I'm going back to my room. See you tomorrow."

Zhao Changqing stared blankly at her departing figure.

He... hasn't even said more than a few words to her yet.

"Hey, Youyou..." He opened his mouth, wanting to keep her.

Hearing his voice, He Youyou stopped in her tracks, stood there, turned around and waved to him: "I'm going to take a shower, it's so hot. You should take a shower too, I'll ask the kitchen to boil some water for you."

"No need, I'll just use cold water," he heard himself say.

He Youyou simply said "oh" and left without saying anything more.

Her clothes swayed as she disappeared into the night.

Zhao Changqing then walked out the door and stood in the center of the courtyard.

Looking up, I saw a moon hanging on the treetops, and suddenly I remembered the poem she had recited on the Lantern Festival, something about "When will the bright moon appear?" and "We share the beauty of the moon, though we are thousands of miles apart."

A thousand miles away...

This journey to the capital feels like being a thousand miles away.

He stood in the courtyard for a long time.

His neck ached from standing, and finally he silently walked back to his room with his hands behind his back.

As I reached the door, I suddenly felt a lingering sense of unease.

The emptiness in my heart can never be filled.

He turned around abruptly and walked towards He Youyou's room.

The lights in the room were off, and there was no sound of breathing.

He knew He Youyou was definitely not there.

She went home.

But she can hear.

Zhao Changqing raised his hand and tapped the door with his fingers.

Thump thump thump—

"He Youyou! He Youyou!"

Thump thump thump—

Thump thump thump—

The door opened on the third knock.

He Youyou stood in front of him, smelling of fresh scent after her bath.

Looking puzzled, he asked, "Hanzhang, it's so late, do you need something from me?"

"Hmm." He didn't know what to say, so he just mumbled a "hmm."

He Youyou frowned and said, "It's too hot outside, let's come inside."

Zhao Changqing was overjoyed.

Just as he was about to step across the threshold, he suddenly felt her grip his belt tightly.

Then, the scene before my eyes suddenly changed.

From darkness to light.

From hot to cool.

When she said "come in and talk," she meant to come into her house to talk.

"It's so cool here."

Zhao Changqing was amazed by the cool and comfortable temperature.

"Yes, my house has a constant temperature and humidity, so it's neither too hot nor too cold all year round."

After He Youyou finished speaking, she looked him up and down again.

Zhao Changqing was still wearing the same summer cloth clothes he had come in, and his hair on his forehead was slightly damp with sweat.

"You haven't showered yet? Why don't you shower at my place? I'll teach you how to use the showerhead."

As she spoke, she walked straight toward the elevator.

Seeing that she had left, Zhao Changqing hurriedly followed.

He Youyou's villa has three floors above ground and two floors below ground, with a five-story elevator inside.

The second and third floors each have two toilets with showers.

The third floor is her own bedroom and a room reserved for her parents.

She thought for a moment and then pressed the button for the third floor.

The elevator slowly ascended, taking them to the third floor.

He Youyou found a set of her father's pajamas in the closet of her parents' room.

She held up the pajamas to him and said, "You should be able to fit into this."

Zhao Changqing found everything around him novel and simply listened blankly as she was directed.

"Come here, I'll teach you how to use hot water."

He Youyou led him to the bathroom and carefully taught him how to use the showerhead.

After confirming that he had learned it, she looked at his hair again, reached out, and pulled out the hairpin that held his hair back.

With his hair down, Zhao Changqing's features appeared more defined and his eyes clear under the bathroom ceiling light.

"You've been traveling and sweating a lot, so wash your hair properly. This is shampoo for your hair, and that's for your body."

He Youyou then explained the usage of the bath products to him one by one: "Have you memorized them all?"

"I've got it." Zhao Changqing nodded.

"It's okay if you can't remember it, and there won't be any serious consequences if you use it incorrectly."

Anyway, they're all just fragrances and surfactants, so there's not much difference in their ingredients.

He Youyou tossed him another bath towel: "Use this to dry yourself after you shower, then get dressed and come downstairs to find me."

Zhao Changqing held the soft bath towel in his hands and hummed in agreement.

He Youyou turned and walked out of the bathroom, making sure to close the door behind her.

The bathroom lights were soft yet bright, and Zhao Changqing felt as if he were in a dream.

The world He Youyou came from was indescribably wonderful.

He finished showering and inhaled the fragrance emanating from his body.

Yes, it smells like her.

After showering and getting dressed, I went downstairs and saw her curled up on the sofa, holding a book in her hand, reading and writing something at the same time.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!