Chapter Thirty-Two: When I left...

That evening, the setting sun cast a blood-red glow. Yun Yao tidied himself up in his room and even trimmed his slightly long hair. He sat in front of the mirror, looking at his reflection, but there was no longer a ripple of emotion in his eyes.

He suddenly laughed, the corners of the person in the mirror curving upwards, but there was no hint of a smile in their eyes.

From then on, he would no longer have any extravagant desires or expectations regarding relationships. He saw his wife for who she truly was, and he also understood his own place in the world.

His life was beyond his control. But since things had come to this, he might as well make things easier for himself.

Thinking of this, Yun Yao smiled self-deprecatingly. Even if he was in the mud or in the abyss, he could not give up on himself. This was the only thing he could still decide for himself.

That evening, Butler Cheng came to pick him up. He knocked heavily on Yun Yao's door, urging him to open it quickly. But there was no sound from inside. Butler Cheng clicked his tongue and was about to knock again when the door opened gently.

Butler Cheng stared blankly at Yun Yao inside the door, then seemed to realize something and said repeatedly, "Good, good, you should have done this a long time ago, it looks much better this way."

Butler Cheng had long known that Yun Yao was a rare beauty, but Yun Yao had previously been low-key and unassuming, with a calm and obedient demeanor, making people feel comfortable around him but causing them to overlook his unparalleled beauty.

But today, although Yun Yao was still without makeup and not wearing any eye-catching or outlandish clothes, for some reason, Yun Yao was so beautiful tonight that it was impossible to look away. Anyone who saw her for the first time was only amazed and attracted.

Butler Cheng pondered for a moment, feeling that Yun Yao's temperament had changed; even he couldn't help but steal glances at her several times. With such rare beauty and a unique aura, Yun Yao's charm was now truly captivating.

Butler Cheng was very satisfied, because he knew that his wife would also be very satisfied.

Butler Cheng led Yunyao through the flower hall and into the garden connected to the back alley of the camphor garden. There, they found an exquisite lotus pond and a pavilion for tea drinking and relaxation.

Outside the dome, the moonlight rose, and twilight spread over the pavilion suspended above the lotus pond, its warm golden glow bathing the ebony table. Bubbles rose from a celadon bowl, and water vapor condensed into beads on the transparent dome, meandering down the mortise and tenon wooden frame, creating a charming contrast with the moon's reflection shattered by koi in the pond.

The lady was sitting upright above, casually sipping a cup of tea with her eyes lowered.

Upon hearing Butler Cheng's respectful report, the lady sighed softly and looked up at him indifferently.

With just one glance, the lady hesitated to put the lid back on the teacup in her hand.

The warm yellow light of the pavilion poured down from the cloud-patterned gauze canopy, spreading out in gentle ripples. Under the lamplight, Yun Yao's eyes seemed to be softened by the light, flowing with a tender, watery affection. His features, so exquisitely beautiful that even an ink painting could not capture them, appeared and disappeared in the light and shadow, captivatingly charming. The lustrous sheen of his skin reflected the light, making it impossible to distinguish which was more delicate and gentle.

Ambergris incense burned in the Xuande incense burner beside her, the smoke rising like wisps of silk. At that moment, the lady thought of the ancient poet's line, "The woman by the wine shop is like the moon, her fair wrists like frost and snow."

Suddenly a gust of wind swept through the hall. Yun Yao looked up at his wife, his eyes sparkling, and smiled slightly, calling out softly, "Madam."

The smile, bathed in a warm glow from the lamplight, instantly captivated the entire room.

The lady put down her teacup, looked at Yun Yao, and said in a strange tone, "Yun'er, come here."

Her gaze, tinged with warmth, followed Yun Yao's every step. Only when Yun Yao sat down beside her did the lady withdraw her gaze, and she said gently, "I heard from Shi Yao that you've changed your mind, Yun'er?"

Yun Yao felt a pang of pain in his heart, but his face remained impassive. He lowered his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Madam. I was just too scared at the time... Please forgive me."

The lady looked at the boy's exposed, fragile nape, like the neck of a white crane frozen in the snow—so pitiful and endearing, it made her heart tremble.

The lady smiled, lovingly stroking Yun Yao's moon-like face, and said softly, "Silly child, with me here, you don't need to be afraid of anything."

Seeing Yun Yao gazing at her with such affection, the lady could no longer hold back. She moved closer to the young man and placed a warm, intimate kiss on his lips.

At that moment, the lady caught a glimpse of the jade pendant necklace she had given the boy, which was hanging around his neck but hidden by his collar.

Seeing that Yun Yao was still wearing the necklace obediently, the lady was very happy.

She seemed to have finally shaken off the anger and coldness she felt from being disobeyed by her lover, and embraced Yun Yao affectionately, sighing softly, "Yun'er, it has to be you..."

As night deepened, the lady, holding Yunyao's hand, returned to their secluded and luxurious love nest. In that dreamlike state permeated with the fragrance of sandalwood, the passion of love was as intense as before. After the rain subsided and the wind died down, the lady embraced her beautiful lover, who had become gentle and obedient once more, and showered him with tender kisses on his neck.

The lady stroked the jade pendant on his chest, which still held the warmth of their bodies, then turned and nibbled at his ear, whispering, "Just this once, there won't be a next time, understand?"

If he wanted to leave her, she would only allow him to say it this once.

...

Cuiwei Manor entered a busy yet quiet period, with the retinue and servants heading north making all the necessary preparations in an orderly manner.

Butler Cheng had been sent back to the north by his wife two days earlier to make arrangements at the main family home there. Among these arrangements was a secret one concerning Yun Yao.

After all, the lady had never brought her lover back to her family home like this before.

When she was young, the lady had a marriage alliance, but this man from a prominent family did not stay with her for long and passed away early. After that, the lady did not remarry and had no children of her own.

However, the lady showed extraordinary talent in her youth. The family behind her partner was very close to her and helped her with everything they had. Later, they even arranged for the second son, whom the lady considered her sworn brother, to marry her cousin.

The lady's maternal family was already dwindling in number, but after this marriage, the aristocratic family allowed their eldest son to take the lady's surname, essentially making him adopted by her. Although the lady only allowed the child to call her "aunt," her affection and respect for him were evident.

Besides this eldest son, the lady also has three younger relatives, each with some blood or marriage ties, by her side.

These young masters and ladies greatly admired and deeply respected their mistress, and because of this, they were very critical of those favored by her.

This time, Madam has unusually brought home a young lover who is so young and whose background isn't exactly innocent. These young masters and ladies probably won't be happy to accept him. They certainly won't dare to say anything to Madam, but they probably won't give the recommender, Butler Cheng, a pleasant look.

Butler Cheng felt quite troubled when he thought about the young masters and ladies of the main family. He was especially afraid of the eldest young master, who had been promoted to colonel and was becoming increasingly serious and dignified, and the second young master, who was cunning, flirtatious and always causing trouble.

While Butler Cheng was filled with worry and fear, everything in Nanhang was ready and nearing completion.

For the first time, Yun Yao made a request to his wife: he wanted to pay respects to his mother and maternal grandparents alone before leaving. He gently declined his wife's offer to arrange it for him, and on a sunny morning, Yun Yao went to the cemetery alone.

The cemetery is located in a quiet area on the outskirts of Nanhang, and it is managed by dedicated staff.

All was quiet, with a gentle breeze blowing. Yun Yao spent the morning alone in the cemetery. If he could, he wished he could never leave, to be the caretaker of his loved ones' graves in life, and to be buried beside them in death. Would that mean there would never be separation again, as if he had never left their warm embrace, never faced the hardships and indifference of the outside world?

At this moment, Yun Yao looked up and saw rows of lush green willows along the shore of Liuhu Lake at the foot of the cemetery. The willow leaves and branches swayed in the wind, like a veil of emerald smoke or a sea of ​​green waves. He didn't know when he would see such a scene again.

He recalled an ancient poem his grandmother had once recited to him when he was a child: "When I left, the willows were swaying. Now I return, the rain and snow are falling. I walk slowly on the road, thirsty and hungry. My heart is grieved, and no one knows my sorrow!"

Yun Yao couldn't hold back his tears. He looked around at the emptiness, his beloved family members were buried in the ground, and his fate would be to wander aimlessly.

The world is so vast, it seems nowhere is his final destination.

"My heart is grieved, none know my sorrow..."

At midday, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall. As Yun Yao stepped out of the cemetery gate, the wind whipped up the raindrops and rushed towards her, carrying a damp scent.

He raised his hand to wipe the rain from his face, unable to distinguish whether it was rain or tears.

The distant city appeared and disappeared in the rain and mist, the neon lights blurred into indistinct patches of color in the rain curtain, forming a stark contrast with the silence of the cemetery.

Yun Yao took a deep breath, straightened her back, gently placed the last bunch of white chrysanthemums on the stone steps, and turned to walk down the mountain into the street...

Behind him, the iron gate of the cemetery creaked, like a sigh, watching him gradually disappear into the distance, into that world of human life filled with confusion yet unavoidable.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier. As the large raindrops pounded on the asphalt road and created a white mist, Yun Yao ran into the bus stop, almost completely soaked.

He wiped the water off his face, then picked up his phone to call a car.

Just then, a piercing screech of brakes tore through the rain.

The flamboyant red Maserati was parked at an angle on the side of the road. The passenger window was down, and Qin Rao was holding the steering wheel. Her red velvet gloves gleamed honey-colored in the rain.

She looked at Yun Yao with a mixture of surprise and caution. Seeing his glistening eyelashes, Qin Rao couldn't help but smile slightly at the corners of her red lipstick-covered lips: "Yun Yao, it really is you! What are you doing here?"

The moment the car door popped open, a whiff of ambergris and cedarwood wafted out. Yun Yao didn't move; he glanced coldly at Qin Rao and continued calling a car on his phone.

Qin Rao panicked. She stepped out of the car, ignoring the torrential rain that soaked her delicate makeup and hair. She grabbed Yun Yao's hand and said softly, "Yun Yao, it's impossible to get a taxi in this awful weather. Get in my car first, I'll take you."

Yun Yao was silent for a moment. He knew that what Qin Rao said was true, so he stopped arguing with her, sighed, and got into the car.

Dark water stains were visible on the leather seats. In the rearview mirror, Qin Rao was deftly reapplying her lipstick, the gilded case reflecting the smile in her eyes: "Yun'er, what a coincidence! I rarely drive this road, and yet I run into you. Is this a destined meeting from afar?"

"Qin Rao, if you say another word, I'm getting off the bus," Yun Yao said coldly, without even looking at her.

The windshield wipers swung back and forth across the windshield, slicing the rain into messy fragments. Qin Rao gazed at the boy she longed for, a pang of sadness in her heart. She sighed, "Fine, fine, I know you don't like me right now, I won't say anything. But Yun Yao, you have to tell me where you want to go right now, or I'll..."

The car air freshener emitted a cool, cedar scent, which, mixed with the dampness from his body, created a subtle atmosphere in the cramped car.

Upon hearing Qin Rao's question, Yun Yao gave a self-deprecating laugh, a faint and bitter laugh. "Where can I go? Where else can I go?"

Qin Rao glanced at him cautiously, then turned back and said, "I heard that the one from Cuiwei Manor is going back to the north soon. Yun Yao, are you... are you going with her too?"

Yun Yao didn't speak. He looked out the car window at the rain, his eyes filled with melancholy.

Qin Rao understood. She sighed, pondered for a moment, and then said earnestly, "Yun'er, I know you may no longer believe anything I say, but I still want you to be well in the future. That lady's family in the north is a powerful and influential clan in the inner circle. If you come into contact with them, you must be extremely careful. Cuiwei Manor may seem to have strict rules, but compared to the north, it's actually quite lenient. To put it another way, the north is probably just a larger version of Cuiwei Manor. Yun'er, with your personality, isn't it like a deer falling into a wolf's den? I'm truly worried about you..."

Before Qin Rao could finish speaking, Yun Yao's phone suddenly rang.

Yun Yao seemed to be startled. He looked at the incoming call on his phone, remained silent for a moment, and then answered.

Looking through the rearview mirror, Qin Rao could only see Yun Yao's expressionless face and hear some scattered words.

"Okay...no need, I've already hailed a taxi...thank you, ma'am...okay, I'll wait for you then."

After a while, Yun Yao finally hung up the phone. He looked up at Qin Rao and simply said, "Thank you for your trouble. I'll get off up ahead."

Qin Rao bit her lip. She could roughly guess what the person on the phone was saying—probably about sending a car to pick up Yun Yao and take her back to Cuiwei Manor. She remembered how she used to feel the same way, wanting to hold Yun Yao in her hands at all times.

Qin Rao parked her car at a secluded street corner. She kept watching Yun Yao, who had already gotten out of the car, until he was picked up by a mysterious black car. Only then did she sigh with a sense of loss.

From now on, she and Yun Yao will be separated by vast distances, and it's uncertain when they will ever meet again...