Too much time has passed, and the memories have gradually faded. Shen Tangning is aloof and rarely pays attention to unimportant people.

But looking back now, some of those memories have come back to life.

That was her first birthday after marrying into the Chi family.

Her relationship with Chi Jingyu remains very strained; they even had a recent argument.

The incident began when Shen Xiwei took a liking to a glass lamp in her dowry and asked her for it.

Such things were not uncommon before she got married. Whenever Shen Xiwei took a fancy to something of hers, she would ask her father for it. Her father would always advise her to be tolerant in the name of her being the eldest sister.

So at that time, although Shen Tangning and Shen Xiwei's relationship wasn't that strained, it wasn't exactly close either. Plus, she had a problem with not allowing others to touch her things, so she refused.

Shen Xiwei didn't show anything at the time, but somehow the matter reached Chi Jingyu, who casually reminded her: "It's just a lamp. If she likes it, just give it to her. As the wife of the heir, you don't lack such things. Being so stingy makes you seem petty."

Shen Tangning was extremely unhappy. He had just spoken a few words and decided to give away her things, and then accused her of being petty.

So Shen Tangning took the glass lamp and smashed it to pieces in front of him. Meeting his astonished gaze, she smiled with her red lips: "Your Highness, you don't know, I've always been a domineering person. Even if it's something I don't want, I'd rather destroy it than let it fall into the hands of others."

It's easy to imagine how angry Chi Jingyu was; he ignored her for several days in a row.

She was already used to being indifferent, but the Lady Hou made a sarcastic remark and gave her the cold shoulder in front of the servants.

When Shen Tangning met Chi Yan, he was holding a bowl of longevity noodles made by Granny Qin and admiring the moon in the pavilion.

She had little appetite, and after a few bites, she stared blankly at the night sky, lost in thought.

"The noodles are all soggy." A voice suddenly rang out, and she subconsciously straightened her posture and looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.

Meeting her gaze, Chi Yan, still holding the wine jar in his arms, awkwardly adjusted his posture, lowered his head and stared at his toes: "Sister-in-law, I didn't mean to bother you."

Shen Tangning looked away: "It's okay, I'm not the only one who can come to this pavilion."

Just as she was about to get up and leave, Chi Yan suddenly spoke up, his tone hesitant: "Is today...your birthday?"

She looked up in surprise, her lips moved but she didn't know what to say for a moment, and she gave a faint "hmm".

He hesitated, and somehow she seemed to see a hint of pity in his eyes. Shen Tangning pursed her lips and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

Her relationship with Chi Yan wasn't exactly close; they would just greet each other when they met. Everyone said that Chi Yan was a reckless and unruly person, but he seemed to be quite polite in front of her, so she didn't feel any aversion or rejection towards him.

But this by no means means that she can accept his pity with equanimity.

"Sister-in-law," Chi Yan called out to her, his tone tinged with a cautious probing, "I know a good place where you can see further. Would you like to go?"

Shen Tangning frowned, instinctively wanting to refuse. She thought that Chi Yan was probably drunk; he would never say such a thing on a normal day.

But when she met his bright, burning eyes, the words of refusal stuck in her throat.

However, in the brief moment of surprise, Chi Yan raised an eyebrow, quite pleased with himself: "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes!"

Look, he really is drunk.

...

After a brief silence, Shen Tangning looked at him with a complex and restrained gaze: "The good place you mentioned, is it the rooftop?"

She really shouldn't have trusted him so hastily!

Chi Yan raised the corners of his lips, deliberately sitting a little further away from her, leisurely resting his chin on his hand: "Tell me, how far can you see?"

"..."

Standing for too long made her dizzy, and the roof tiles didn't look very sturdy, so Shen Tangning could only sit down carefully, her posture stiff and her eyes numb.

She wanted to call someone to pull her down, but she was afraid it would attract others who would see her with Chi Yan, and she wouldn't be able to explain herself.

She couldn't bring herself to speak to Chi Yan.

Seeing her frozen in place, he suppressed a laugh and feigned ignorance: "Sister-in-law, are you afraid of heights?"