Cheng Muyun was awakened by the water vapor carried by the wind on the river.
The moment he opened his eyelids a crack, his fingertips felt the texture of the fabric—it was Xu Zhuohua's moon-white long robe, carrying her usual faint scent of gardenia soap. Last night, he had slept clutching this robe, as if it would keep her firmly by his side.
But there was nothing beside him.
My heart suddenly clenched, as if gripped by an invisible hand, and even my breath caught in my throat.
He didn't even have time to rub his sleepy eyes before he stumbled and rushed out of the cabin, his bare feet touching the cool floor.
My mind was a jumble of thoughts, filled with "She's gone" and "She's abandoned me again." The warm touch of our reunion last night, her smiling eyes, all seemed as ephemeral as the moon's reflection in water, like a fleeting dream.
The sky was already bright, and the golden sunlight spread across the deck, illuminating the grain of every plank clearly.
A gentle breeze blew across the river, carrying a moist warmth. Several workers leaned lazily against the railing, slurping down their porridge from rough porcelain bowls, occasionally exchanging a few words of laughter, their voices carried away by the wind.
This ship doesn't carry cargo; it only takes people to Xinhai City. The workers are happy to have some free time, and their figures in the morning light exude a relaxed air.
But Cheng Muyun couldn't see any of this.
Like a beast that had lost its way, his gaze swept anxiously across the crowd, his Adam's apple bobbing. He grabbed a steward who was wiping a table and asked, his voice hoarse from just waking up and trembling uncontrollably: "Where is your young lady? Have you seen her?"
The steward was startled by his hurried manner and pointed towards the stern of the ship: "He's at the stern, having breakfast with Young Master Xu."
The word "stern" was like a reassuring pill, but it couldn't completely suppress the panic in his heart.
Cheng Muyun thanked him and turned to run in that direction. It was only a few dozen meters, but he felt a tightness in his chest, his heart pounding like a drum against his ribs, and the wooden planks under his feet thumped loudly.
He was terrified.
I fear this hard-won reunion is just a mirage, and that if I relax even slightly, that figure will disappear into the crowd again.
Only when he circled around the stacked wooden crates and saw that familiar, beautiful figure through the wooden lattice of the stern window did his running steps suddenly stop, as if a pause button had been pressed.
Xu Zhuohua sat at a small table by the window, the morning light falling on the ends of her dark hair, giving them a soft golden edge.
She was listening to the person opposite her, a faint smile playing on her lips, and the curve of her eyes as gentle as jade immersed in water.
Sitting opposite him was Xu Jixin, a young man with relaxed eyebrows and eyes, who was handing over a piece of lotus leaf pastry with a hearty smile.
"...Did you sleep well last night? I saw you didn't wake up during the night, and I was worried that the rocking of the boat might make you uncomfortable." Xu Jixin's voice drifted out through the window, filled with concern.
“It’s fine,” Xu Zhuohua’s voice was light and cheerful, like a mountain stream. “It’s just a bit windy, and my throat was a little dry when I woke up this morning.”
"Then drink more tea. This Longjing tea is freshly picked."
The two chatted back and forth, their laughter mingling with the river breeze, as clear and crisp as wind chimes.
Xu Zhuohua had a perfect blush on her face and was full of energy; even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes looked vibrant. Xu Jixin also smiled broadly, clearly genuinely happy for his sister.
Cheng Muyun stood outside the window, watching that figure and listening to that laughter. His heart, which had been pounding wildly, gradually slowed down and returned to its original position.
He raised his hand and pressed it against his burning forehead, his fingertips trembling slightly.
It's not a dream.
She really is here.
Cheng Muyun didn't go in; he just watched quietly.
Xu Zhuohua's neck was slightly raised, and her eyes were full of smiles as she looked at Xu Jixin. She would occasionally reach out and cover her mouth, just like the scene in Cheng Muyun's dream.
Cheng Muyun loved every aspect of Xu Zhuohua. He wished he could bring a camera over and capture Xu Zhuohua's smiling face, then treasure it to his heart.
Because that's the closest place to the heart.
The wind on the deck suddenly stopped for a moment, and Cheng Muyun heard light footsteps behind him, hesitant, as if he were walking on cotton.
It's an apricot blossom.
When the little girl saw him turn around, her shoulders twitched almost imperceptibly, and her eyes quickly glanced down at the tray in her hands, avoiding his gaze.
Cheng Muyun knew perfectly well that this girl was Chen Hede's spy planted next to Zhuohua. She had been hiding the truth from him for the past six months, so how could she not be afraid when she saw him now?
Cheng Muyun's gaze first fell on the things on her tray, and then his eyes slowly moved to Xinghua's face.
Actually, this girl wasn't bad-looking. She had delicate features and fair skin typical of girls from Jiangnan. However, she was too young, and her features still had a touch of childishness. In the past, when she was with Zhuohua, she always seemed like an inconspicuous shadow.
Cheng Muyun used to only have eyes for Xu Zhuohua and hardly paid any attention to her.
But things are different now.
This girl has been following Zhuohua for a full six months, inseparable day and night. How did Zhuohua spend those six months? Where did he live? Did he suffer any grievances? She must know many details that he doesn't.
Cheng Muyun's eyes narrowed slightly, and the light in his pupils deepened, as if hiding an undercurrent.
"Young Master." Xinghua's voice was barely audible, tinged with obvious timidity, causing the tray to tremble.
Cheng Muyun twitched the corner of his mouth, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "I remember, Zhuohua tore up your indenture a long time ago." His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, "You're no longer a member of the Xu family, so there's no need to call you 'son-in-law' anymore."
Cheng Muyun leaned forward, casting a shadow on Xinghua's face. His tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable sense of pressure: "If I remember correctly, after you left the Xu family, you went with Chen Hede, right?"
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