Watching Shen Tangning's light and cheerful figure, Chi Yan couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Madam, would you like to buy some lanterns?"
These lanterns are different from the ones they won in the riddle-solving contest; they can be placed in water. People often use lanterns to express their best wishes for the future.
Shen Tangning carefully selected a lantern and turned to look at Chi Yan: "Would you like one?"
Not wanting to spoil the fun, he nodded: "Sure."
So Chi Yan also picked a cup.
The two went to the riverbank and found a less crowded spot. Shen Tangning bent down, held the lantern, and carefully placed it in the water, closing her eyes and making a wish.
She asked for too much, so she simply wished that everything would go smoothly.
Then, scooping up a handful of water in his palm, he slowly pushed the lantern away.
Chi Yan followed her example and placed the lantern on the water's surface. He then leisurely tilted his head and asked her, "What did you wish for?"
In the darkness, Shen Tangning blinked, her eyes reflecting the distant lights with astonishing brightness: "It won't work if I say it out loud."
He suddenly chuckled softly, "Alright."
Chi Yan thought about it carefully. Besides his parents' good health, he had no other desires, so he silently thought to himself:
Then let us bless Shen Tangning.
All your wishes have been fulfilled.
The tiny lanterns, carrying hopes and dreams, drifted away and gradually merged into the river of lights, their scattered lights resembling delicate ribbons of the Milky Way, slowly meandering into the distance.
The lake surface casts shimmering reflections, mirroring the cold stars of the night sky, making it difficult to say which is more dazzling.
The two watched the lanterns disappear into the distance in silence. Shen Tangning rubbed her numb legs and was about to get up when two children nearby, busy releasing lanterns, accidentally bumped into Shen Tangning while laughing and playing.
Under the shoving, her legs went weak, and she was about to fall into the lake. It goes without saying how cold it would be if she fell into the lake on such a day.
She instinctively closed her eyes, waiting for misfortune to strike, but Chi Yan quickly pulled her back.
Instead of the icy lake water, Shen Tangning was met with a warm embrace. She opened her eyes in a daze and found herself nestled in Chi Yan's arms, even feeling his breath on her head, rising and falling very gently.
All the surrounding noise faded away instantly, leaving only the deafening sound of a heartbeat, whether hers or his, she couldn't tell.
Chi Yan remained stiff, still holding onto Chen Tangning's arm, his eyes widening in slight surprise, as if he hadn't expected his strength to be so great.
The situation was rather awkward, and he was momentarily at a loss for how to react, a blush quickly spreading across his neck.
Um... she doesn't think he did it on purpose, does she?
The two children next to them realized they had caused trouble and apologized timidly, but the older brother and sister were so engrossed in their own world that they didn't give them any response.
The little boy mustered his courage and went to the opposite side of the pool. The two stared at each other, and the boy suddenly raised his voice: "Brother and sister! Can you separate for a while?"
"..."
The two realized what was happening and hurriedly separated.
Shen Tangning straightened her clothes, pretending to be calm, and stared down at her toes.
Chi Yan cleared his throat, glancing left and right but not daring to look at her.
The little boy tugged at the little girl next to him and honestly admitted his mistake: "Brother and sister, we didn't mean to, can you forgive us?"
My mother said that if you do something wrong, you should apologize and not be a naughty child.
Chi Yan straightened up, lowered his head and pinched the child's cheek, his tone serious: "Now you know you were wrong? That situation was so dangerous. If your sister had fallen, could you take responsibility?"
The two children looked dejected and dejected.
Shen Tangning coughed lightly, took a few steps forward and bent down: "The riverbank is not a place for children. It's dangerous to play here. Where are your parents?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
