Chapter 203
The next few days were unusually peaceful for Su Zhelan at Su Yan's residence. He slowly packed his bags each day, carefully wiping and categorizing the medical books and pharmacopoeias left by his master, and meticulously folding the new clothes his aunt had bought for him.
In the afternoon, he would accompany his aunt in the flower hall, listening to her rambling instructions on what to pay attention to on the road, her tone full of reluctance and worry.
“It’s so rare to have such a sensible and obedient child in our family, but he’s just like your master, with such a wild heart. He’s always out there living a rough life, nothing compares to the comfort of home.” His aunt held his hand, her eyes slightly red.
Su Zhelan felt a pang of sadness, but she just smiled gently and comforted her softly, "Don't worry, Auntie, I will write back often and take good care of myself."
Although his uncle didn't talk much, he would often pat him on the shoulder, give him some travel money and emergency medicine, and say in a deep voice, "The world is dangerous. Think things through before you act, and don't be a hero."
His older siblings often visited him, bringing him local specialties and trinkets from Beijing to keep him entertained on his journey. This warmth of family made Su Zhelan even more reluctant to leave.
However, these past few days have been unusually quiet, so quiet that it puzzled him. Neither Sheng Xuan nor Xiao Qiyun had come to see him even once. Given Sheng Xuan's personality, he should have barged in loudly long ago, clamoring to help him tidy up, or practically dragging him out to play.
Although Xiao Qiyun was rather composed, he would always send someone to deliver some exquisite snacks or novel books, or come over in person, using the excuse of "going by" to catch a glimpse of him.
This calm and tranquility left Su Zhelan feeling somewhat empty, and she even had a vague feeling that... something was not quite right.
But then he thought that perhaps they were all busy with their own things, or perhaps they had finally learned to respect his wishes and give him space to say goodbye and prepare. With that thought, he felt relieved and was happy to enjoy this rare moment of peace and quiet.
However, Su Zhelan was unaware that behind this "tranquility" was a "conspiracy" being carried out in full swing and quietly.
At this moment, in the most secluded and exquisite courtyard of the Prince Chen's mansion, a completely different scene unfolds.
Sheng Xuan indeed "moved in" earlier than Su Zhelan. Not only did he move in himself, but he also practically took over the role of host, directing the skilled craftsmen and trusted servants of Xiao Qiyun's mansion to quietly make the already extremely elegant courtyard even more... festive and grand.
"This red silk is hanging crooked! Move it a little to the left! Yes! Oh dear, you're so clumsy!" Sheng Xuan stood in the courtyard with his hands on his hips, directing the servants on the ladder to adjust the position of the lanterns under the eaves. He was even more self-righteous than when he was in his own mansion.
Xiao Qiyun sat at a stone table to the side, leisurely sipping his tea, with several scrolls of pattern designs and gift lists spread out in front of him. He would sometimes frown in thought, and sometimes make a few marks with his vermilion brush, seemingly already used to Shengxuan's hustle and bustle, even with a hint of indulgence.
"What do you think of this design? Isn't the dragon and phoenix motif too tacky? Wouldn't a twin lotus pattern be more elegant?" Xiao Qiyun looked up and handed Sheng Xuan a drawing with a beautiful design.
Sheng Xuan leaned closer, frowned, and examined it carefully for a long time. Unusually, he didn't object. Instead, he stroked his chin and said seriously, "Twin lotus flowers are nice! They are elegant and meaningful. Su Zhelan will definitely like them. However... the embroidery thread must be the best Suzhou embroidery thread, and the color must be pure, not bland."
He showed unexpected meticulousness in this regard.
"It has already been ordered that the silk thread used be of the highest quality, even if it is tribute-grade," Xiao Qiyun replied calmly, his tone carrying an unquestionable air of thoroughness.
These two individuals, one as fiery and direct as fire, the other as deep and meticulous as water, have reached a subtle and harmonious "consensus" for the same purpose.
They temporarily set aside all their past rivalries and infighting, and devoted all their energy to the preparation of this secret operation.
They meticulously selected everything: from trimming every blade of grass and tree in the yard to replacing every piece of furniture inside the house; from the exquisite wedding dresses to be used at the wedding, which were secretly altered to Su Zhelan's measurements—more than one set was prepared, as Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun each had their own preferences regarding the style, so in the end they simply prepared one for each of them; to all sorts of auspicious objects; even down to the material of the wine cups to be used for the nuptial wine and the vintage of the wine…
Everything proceeded silently. The servants of the Prince's mansion were strictly warned not to leak a single word. This villa seemed to have become a carefully wrapped, sweet, and secretive cocoon, waiting for the still unaware butterfly to safely settle in.
"What do you think... his expression will be then?" Sheng Xuan took a break from her busy schedule and leaned close to Xiao Qiyun, her eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation.
Xiao Qiyun put down his pen, looked up at the courtyard gate, as if he could see through the layers of courtyards to the person who knew nothing about it. A deep smile appeared on his lips, his eyes filled with a determined tenderness and a hint of secret expectation: "He might be surprised. But..." He paused, his voice low and confident, "He will like it eventually."
This was a "surprise" they had prepared for him together, a silent declaration and a bond. They wanted to tie a legitimate and unbreakable knot between the three of them in the most traditional and solemn way.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan grinned and patted Xiao Qiyun's shoulder heavily: "Absolutely! We've put so much effort into the preparations!"
Surprisingly, Xiao Qiyun did not avoid his hand, but merely glanced at the non-existent dust on his shoulder, her eyes still filled with a smile.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly. Su Zhelan bid farewell to his aunt, who was full of reluctance and gave him endless advice, and his uncle, who silently patted him on the shoulder. He smiled at his older brothers and sisters who came to see him off, then shouldered his not-too-heavy bag and left Su Yan's residence.
His heart was filled with sorrow at parting, as well as anticipation and a touch of uncertainty about his future as a traveling physician. He took a deep breath and prepared to slowly walk along the familiar streets toward the Prince's Mansion.
Just as he rounded the street corner in front of the mansion gate, a seemingly ordinary yet unusually large blue carriage silently glided up beside him. Before Su Zhelan could react, the curtain was abruptly thrown open, and a strong arm shot out, precisely gripping his wrist with immense force and undeniable urgency!
"Ugh!" Su Zhelan gasped in surprise as a tremendous force yanked her off the ground. In a dizzying moment, she was swept around the waist and pulled into the carriage! Her luggage slipped from her grasp and fell outside the carriage.
The carriage was dimly lit. Su Zhelan, still shaken, struggled to lift her eyes, only to meet a pair of incredibly bright eyes, filled with a burning smile and a hint of nervousness—who else could it be but Sheng Xuan?!
"Sheng Xuan?! What...what are you doing?!" Su Zhelan was both shocked and angry, her heart pounding like a drum. She tried to break free from his iron grip. "You scared me to death! Let go! My things are still outside!"
Instead of letting go, Sheng Xuan chuckled and pulled him even tighter into her arms, rubbing her chin against the top of his head. Her voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of smugness: "Someone picked up the stuff! Don't worry about it! Just sit still!"
The carriage sped off almost the instant Su Zhelan was dragged onto it, the wheels rumbling rapidly over the cobblestones. Su Zhelan, disoriented and confused by the jolting and the confinement, was both angry and anxious: "You...you're crazy?! Where are we going?! Stop! Weren't we supposed to be going back to the Prince's mansion?"
"Don't worry! We're just going to Xiao Qiyun's residence!" Sheng Xuan quickly assured him, his arms still tightly wrapped around his neck. He chuckled, his tone carrying a childlike mystery and a hint of boasting, "I just wanted to give you a surprise! Hehe! Don't be angry, I promise you'll like it!"
Hearing that it was indeed to Xiao Qiyun's residence, Su Zhelan's tense body finally relaxed. The initial shock and anger slowly faded, replaced by a deep sense of helplessness and amusement. He rolled his eyes at Sheng Xuan and muttered irritably, "Surprise? More like shock! Who invites people like this? It's like bandits robbing a highwayman..."
Seeing that he had stopped struggling, Sheng Xuan smiled even more brightly, and took advantage of the situation to move closer. She pulled out a soft, smooth red silk from somewhere and waved it in front of his eyes like a treasure: "Since it's a surprise, of course I can't let you see it beforehand! Here, I'll blindfold you to prevent you from peeking!"
Without waiting for Su Zhelan's consent, she enthusiastically but with unusually gentle movements covered Su Zhelan's eyes with the red silk and tied a tight knot behind his head.
Suddenly enveloped in warm darkness, Su Zhelan blinked instinctively, his long eyelashes brushing against the silk, causing a slight tickle. He was utterly exasperated by Sheng Xuan's series of childish antics, his sense of helplessness deepening, but he was too lazy to resist any longer, simply letting him do as he pleased.
He sighed, leaned back slightly to find a comfortable position, and said with a resigned indulgence, "...Whatever you want. The more mysterious... the better, it has to be a real surprise."
"It has to be a surprise!" Sheng Xuan assured him confidently, his voice filled with excitement.
He watched as Su Zhelan obediently leaned against the car wall with her eyes covered. Her fair lower half of her face and slightly pursed lips looked particularly alluring against the backdrop of the red silk. His heart warmed, and he couldn't help but lean over and steal a quick kiss on the corner of her lips.
Su Zhelan trembled slightly, his ears instantly turning red, thankfully concealed by the red silk. He turned his head and whispered, "...Stop fooling around!"
Sheng Xuan chuckled triumphantly, then sat down close to him with satisfaction, her arms still possessively wrapped around his waist, as she felt the carriage speeding towards the "surprise".
The carriage sped along, not stopping at the main gate of the Prince's mansion, but instead going around to the side gate and quietly entering, finally stopping outside an extremely secluded courtyard.
As soon as the car came to a stop, Sheng Xuan couldn't wait to jump out first. Then, he turned around, leaned into the car without saying a word, and carefully carried Su Zhelan, who was still blindfolded, out in his arms.
"Huh?!" Su Zhelan was caught off guard and instinctively wrapped her arms around Sheng Xuan's neck. The darkness in front of her made her uneasy. "We're here? Put me down, I can walk by myself."
"Don't move, it'll be done soon!" Sheng Xuan's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of nervousness. He carried Su Zhelan and walked steadily toward the closed courtyard gate.
Su Zhelan had no choice but to let him carry her. She could hear Sheng Xuan's slightly rapid breathing and the soft sound of his footsteps on the gravel path. She could sense that Sheng Xuan had stopped, as if their destination was just ahead.
Just then, Sheng Xuan gently put him down, and the feeling of his feet finally touching the ground made Su Zhelan breathe a sigh of relief. He instinctively raised his hand, wanting to tear off the red blindfold: "What are you trying to tell me all this mysteriously...?"
Before he could finish speaking, another slightly cool hand gently covered the back of his hand, tenderly but firmly stopping him from moving.
"Don't rush, wait a little longer, okay?" A deep, pleasant, and extremely familiar voice rang out in front of me, carrying a rare, almost coaxing tenderness.
It's Xiao Qiyun!
Su Zhelan paused, her doubts deepening. Xiao Qiyun was here too? And it sounded... his tone was unusually different, carrying an indescribable anticipation and solemnity.
"Xiao Qiyun? What exactly are you guys up to?" Su Zhelan couldn't help but ask. Being blindfolded made his other senses exceptionally sensitive. He could clearly feel that Xiao Qiyun was standing right in front of him, very close, close enough to smell the faint, unusually refreshing sandalwood scent on him today.
Xiao Qiyun did not answer directly, but chuckled softly, a laugh filled with pleasure and a certain profound meaning.
Su Zhelan heard a very faint but hurried footstep sound from the side, as if Sheng Xuan had run away quickly.
Just as Su Zhelan was starting to feel uneasy about the eerie silence and the waiting, Sheng Xuan, who had run away earlier, quickly returned to his side, slightly out of breath and full of energy.
"Alright, alright!" Sheng Xuan's voice rang out, even more excited than before, and he seemed to have moved to Su Zhelan's other side.
The next moment, Su Zhelan felt her hands being grasped. Her left hand was tightly enveloped by Sheng Xuan's large, warm, dry, and slightly calloused hand, the strength firm and full of unquestionable passion; her right hand was gently held by Xiao Qiyun's slender, slightly cool hand with distinct knuckles, the movement elegant yet equally tender.
The two people, one on each side, guided him forward in perfect unison.
"Slow down... there's a threshold." Xiao Qiyun whispered a reminder, his voice close to her ear.
"Lift your foot, it's okay, I'm helping you!" Sheng Xuan said at the same time, using his arm to help him step over the threshold.
Completely dark, relying entirely on the guidance of the two people beside him, Su Zhelan was filled with an unprecedented sense of wonder and an indescribable flutter in his heart. He could feel himself passing through a doorway and entering a space where a faint, pleasant sweet fragrance seemed to permeate the air, like some kind of precious spice, mixed with the elegant scent of fresh flowers.
The texture underfoot changed from a stone path to a soft carpet, absorbing all footsteps. The surroundings were so quiet that you could only hear your own heartbeat gradually quickening and the clear breathing of the two people beside you.
Finally, they stopped.
"Alright." Xiao Qiyun's voice rang out again, still gentle, but with a hint of tension and anticipation that was barely perceptible.
Sheng Xuan also took a deep breath, as if preparing for some momentous occasion.
Just as Su Zhelan was about to ask again, he suddenly felt four hands gently but irresistibly reaching for his clothes and belt!
"What...what are you doing?!" Su Zhelan froze, like a startled rabbit, instinctively shrinking back and frantically blocking with his hands. His voice was filled with genuine panic and embarrassment, "Don't...don't do anything rash!" He was caught off guard by this sudden "attack," and his cheeks instantly burned red.
"Don't be afraid," Xiao Qiyun paused, but did not withdraw his hand. His voice was deep and gentle, with a soothing magic, "I'm just changing your clothes."
“Yes! Change into something even better!” Sheng Xuan quickly agreed, his tone urgent yet coaxing, trying to reach out again.
"I can change my clothes myself!" Su Zhelan was both embarrassed and anxious, her heart pounding. She reached out to pull off the red blindfold, "Let me go first and take off the blindfold!"
Sheng Xuan gently grasped his wrist, while Xiao Qiyun patted his back reassuringly.
Xiao Qiyun's voice was very close, his warm breath brushing against his ear, carrying a heart-fluttering tenderness and an undeniable insistence, "Let us do it, okay?"
Sheng Xuan leaned closer to the other side, her voice softening, with a rare hint of coquetry and pleading: "That's right, let us do it, okay? I promise I won't hurt you."
Their voices carried a deep affection and expectation that he found hard to refuse. That unwavering commitment, wrapped in ultimate tenderness, left Su Zhelan's resistance feeling like it was being thrown into cotton wool, finding no foothold.
He stood frozen in place, his heart pounding, his cheeks burning. In the darkness, his other senses were amplified; he could clearly feel the intense gazes of the two people beside him, hear their slightly rapid breathing, and feel the careful yet unwavering touch of their fingertips.
Finally, his tense body relaxed slightly, and with a kind of reckless, embarrassed, and helpless indulgence, he gave a very soft "hmm," his voice so faint it was almost inaudible.
This subtle compromise is like a permission.
A look of wild joy flashed across Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun's eyes simultaneously. Their movements became gentler, yet more fluid. Their fingertips carefully unfastened his plain outer robe and removed his soft inner garment.
The cool air touched his skin, sending a shiver down his spine. Su Zhelan kept his eyes tightly shut, his long eyelashes trembling violently beneath the red silk, all his senses focused on the fingertips that roamed over his body, filled with endless tenderness and affection.
The entire process was quiet and lengthy, filled with an indescribable intimacy and an almost reverent sense of ritual.
The delicate, smooth fabric, with its intricate patterns, clung gently to his skin, carrying a slight coolness that was quickly warmed by his body heat. Su Zhelan could feel that Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun were extremely careful in their movements; their fingertips occasionally brushed against his skin unintentionally, and the way they tied his belt was exceptionally gentle and slow.
A faint, festive yet solemn sandalwood scent filled the air, mingled with the delicate fragrance of new clothes. The surroundings were so quiet that one could hear the rustling of fabric and the slightly hurried yet deliberately hushed breathing of the two people beside them.
Su Zhelan's initial embarrassment and panic gradually subsided in this silent, loving, and solemn moment. His heart slowly calmed down, but his senses became more acute. His fingertips traced the extremely delicate raised embroidery on the lapel, feeling the extraordinary, tribute-quality softness and drape of the fabric... A vague yet astonishing guess, like a pebble thrown into a still lake, rippled through his heart.
They... were...
Combining Sheng Xuan's unusually excited and mysterious attitude, Xiao Qiyun's unusual gentleness and hidden tension, and the carefully prepared, exquisitely textured clothing... all the clues come together.
Just as Su Zhelan was about to confirm his guess, a soft red silk, carrying the same elegant fragrance, was gently and solemnly placed over his already blindfolded eyes, then slowly moved down to cover his mouth and nose, finally completely isolating his vision in a warm, festive, and perfect red.
It's a headscarf.
The last shred of doubt vanished.
Su Zhelan paused slightly, and then a smile, both gentle and warm, spread uncontrollably across his lips, which were covered by red silk, growing ever wider.
He guessed right.
It turns out that their "quiet" these past few days was a secret preparation for this.
Su Zhelan sensed that Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun seemed somewhat at a loss because of his sudden silence and obvious smile. They stopped moving, as if holding their breath and waiting for his reaction.
In the silence, Su Zhelan took a soft breath, her voice coming through the red silk, muffled yet exceptionally clear and gentle, even carrying a hint of relieved laughter: "...So, that's what you've been busy with."
He raised his hand, not to pull off the veil, but precisely grasped Sheng Xuan's slightly trembling hand, which was still lingering on his belt, and Xiao Qiyun's cool fingers, which were supporting his arm.
“You don’t have to blindfold me like this, and you don’t have to be so careful…” His voice was gentle yet firm, carrying an unprecedented sense of composure and initiative, “I… am willing.”
These three simple words, like the most moving melody, instantly struck the hearts of Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun.
Sheng Xuan suddenly gripped his hand tightly, so excited she almost jumped up, her voice choked with emotion: "You...you really want to?!"
Although Xiao Qiyun didn't speak, Su Zhelan could feel his hand tighten suddenly, his fingertips trembling slightly. His other hand gently stroked her cheek through the veil, the gesture filled with indescribable excitement and tenderness.
"Yes, I'm willing."
Su Zhelan smiled and nodded firmly. Through the red silk, she gently pressed her forehead against Xiao Qiyun's palm, then turned her head and rubbed against the back of Sheng Xuan's tightly clenched hand.
"Just next time... don't pull me into the car like that again, it almost scared me to death." He complained softly with a smile, but his tone was full of indulgence and sweetness.
Sheng Xuan chuckled sheepishly. Xiao Qiyun also laughed softly, his chest heaving with pleasure.
Overwhelmed with emotion, the two carefully supported Su Zhelan, one on each side, and led him slowly to the wedding bed in the center of the inner room, which was covered with a bright red brocade quilt, and made him sit upright on the edge of the bed.
Inside, red candles burned brightly, their light filtering through the wedding curtains and casting a warm, hazy red glow over everything. The air was filled with a sweet fragrance and a solemn tranquility.
Xiao Qiyun and Sheng Xuan exchanged a glance and tacitly walked together to the sandalwood table to the side. On the table were two ebony wedding scales tied with red silk.
The two men solemnly picked up one of the handles, turned around, and walked steadily back to the bedside, standing on either side of Su Zhelan.
Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and gentle, filled with utmost solemnity: "Let us use two scales to weigh the red silk together, so that from now on we may be content and forever united in heart."
Sheng Xuan also unusually restrained his laughter, holding his breath and focusing intently, his voice carrying a hint of nervous excitement.
After saying that, the two men raised their wrists simultaneously with extremely steady and light movements. The two smooth ebony scale rods, carrying a hint of coolness and utmost caution, slowly reached under the veil from the left and right sides, precisely touching the edge of the veil.
Their movements were extremely gentle, synchronized and coordinated, slowly and inch by inch lifting the bright red silk upwards and towards the center together.
Su Zhelan could feel his veil being gently lifted, and beyond the red silk blindfold, a brighter light seemed to penetrate, but he still couldn't see anything and could only rely on his senses and sounds. He could hear the suddenly clear and suppressed breathing of the two people beside him, and he could feel their body temperature and faint aura mixed with tension and joy as they got closer.
Even after the veil was completely lifted and removed, the view was still blocked by the red silk blindfold.
Su Zhelan tilted her head slightly, as if "looking" at the person in front of her, her long eyelashes trembling gently under the red silk.
Although he couldn't see them, he could clearly "feel" that Xiao Qiyun and Sheng Xuan were standing in front of him, gazing intently at him. Their gazes were intense, focused, and filled with indescribable love and excitement; even through the silk fabric, they seemed to possess a tangible warmth, soothing his skin.
Xiao Qiyun took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and said in a gentle voice, "Alright."
Sheng Xuan couldn't resist any longer and leaned closer, her voice filled with excitement: "Ze Lan, you look absolutely stunning in this outfit!"
Xiao Qiyun gently took one of Su Zhelan's hands, and Sheng Xuan immediately took the other. The two of them sat down again on the edge of the bed, one on each side of Su Zhelan.
The three sat side by side, quietly completing the "sitting in the tent" ceremony.
No words are needed; simply sitting side by side in silence, feeling the warmth of each other's hands and the beating of each other's hearts, symbolizes that the couple is of one mind and will remain steadfastly by each other's side through thick and thin, spending the rest of their lives together.
The red candles crackled, illuminating the three figures huddled together, filling the air with a peaceful and warm feeling. Although it was dark before Su Zhelan's eyes, the scene in her mind was incredibly clear and warm.
After sitting quietly for a moment, Xiao Qiyun turned slightly to the side, reached out his hand, and gently reached his fingertips to the back of Su Zhelan's head, untying the red silk that had been covering her eyes for so long.
Her vision suddenly cleared, and light flooded in. Su Zhelan blinked subconsciously, adjusting to the candlelight.
Su Zhelan looked at them, at their exquisitely bright red wedding attire, identical to hers, and at the festive decorations filling the room. Her cheeks flushed instantly, but she couldn't help but smile. Her eyes sparkled with happiness and a touch of shyness.
Xiao Qiyun smiled gently at him, his voice deep and pleasant: "The ceremony is mostly complete, now... it's time to drink the nuptial wine."
Sheng Xuan couldn't wait any longer and jumped up, ran to the table, and carefully brought over a tray with three small and exquisite jade cups tied with red ropes on it. The cups were filled with clear and bright wine, which gave off a sweet and mellow honey aroma.
Xiao Qiyun took one cup, and Sheng Xuan took another cup, and handed them to Su Zhelan at the same time.
Su Zhelan looked at the two cups presented to her, smiled slightly, and stretched out her hands, taking the cup from Xiao Qiyun with her left hand and the cup from Sheng Xuan with her right hand.
Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun each took another cup.
The three women's arms intertwined, forming a tight and unique bond. Su Zhelan's arm overlapped with Xiao Qiyun's and Sheng Xuan's, their jade cups lightly touching their lips. Their gazes met in the air, tender and passionate. They simultaneously tilted their heads back and drank the sweet wine in their cups, symbolizing their shared joys and sorrows, their intertwined flesh and blood, and their eternal inseparable bond.
The wine is mellow and warm as it slides down your throat, as if it also carries that solemn promise and deep love into your heart and soul, etching it into your very bones.
After finishing his drink, Sheng Xuan put down his wine cup with astonishing speed. The burning light in his eyes was almost overflowing, and his face showed undisguised, impatient desire. He suddenly leaned down, spread his arms, and with a hearty and eager laugh, pounced on Su Zhelan, who had just put down her wine cup and whose face was still slightly flushed from drinking, and threw her onto the wedding bed covered with a bright red brocade quilt!
"The ceremony is complete! A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold! We can't waste this beautiful time!" He said urgently and excitedly, lowering his head to find Su Zhelan's lips. His hot breath instantly stirred up the solemn and quiet atmosphere brought by the ceremony, making it passionate and enchanting.
Su Zhelan gasped softly as he pounced on her, falling into the soft bedding. Looking at Sheng Xuan's face, so close to hers and filled with eager love, she felt the bed sink slightly on the other side as Xiao Qiyun approached with a gentle yet undeniable aura.
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