Almost no one was in the forest, and from within the depths of the morning mist came the clip-clop of horse hooves.
As he walked down a path like that of a mountain slope, Dubian Che felt a sense of loneliness akin to marching alone on a vast prairie.
The fog was cool, and there were always birds singing nearby, occasionally accompanied by the sound of water or some other animal activity.
He passed several uninhabited villas with courtyards before arriving at a birch woodland.
He gently tugged the reins to the left, steering the horse onto a narrow path leading to a villa.
On the path, within the swirling mist of the forest, he could barely make out a figure.
The figure was bent over, examining the plants on the ground.
Hearing the sound of hooves, the person stood up, glanced over, and quickly ran back to the villa.
As Dubian Che rode closer, the thick fog cleared, and his vision became clear. He looked down and saw several beautiful mountain lilies.
He dismounted here, tied his horse to a tree, and walked toward the villa hidden among the birches.
Including the lawn, the property covered more than 10,000 square meters, much larger than an average villa.
Dubian Che approached and saw servants cleaning weeds and tidying up moss on the misty lawn.
Wild moss here had to grow in a shape the owner liked.
Dubian Che had come to collect dorayaki.
The villa's owner, a friend of Mrs. Jiutiao from Capital City, had arrived in Karuizawa the day before, bringing her favorite white jade dorayaki from Danbo.
"Are you Dubian Che, Miss Meiji's boyfriend?"
"Nice to meet you, I am Dubian Che."
"Mr. Dubian really is as handsome as the rumors say."
"Why are you here so early? The fog in the mountains can soak your pants, and if you slip, fall, and hurt yourself, it might be a while before anyone finds you."
"I rode here on horseback."
"We'll also be riding in a couple of days, so please take care of us then!"
While chatting with the mistress of the villa, Dubian Che glanced at a corner of the forest where a girl was eyeing this direction.
It was the same figure who had been squatting on the path looking at the mountain lilies.
"That's my daughter, please look after her in the coming days."
"I might not be able to, in our house Meiji has the final say."
"I am just a good-for-nothing son-in-law."
"Ha, I heard Dubian Che was quite talented."
After chatting for a while, Dubian Che received the dorayaki from the hands of the villa's mistress.
Back at the spot where he had tied his horse, the mountain lilies had been eaten by it.
"You idiot," Dubian muttered, as he mounted the horse.
"Go!" he flicked the reins, "Hurry up, or are you waiting for someone to come and catch us?"
The horse chewed on mountain lilies, happily sneezing, and briskly ran into the forest shrouded in fog.
On the way back, the morning mist enveloping the forest was dispersed by the sunlight.
Breaking through the dense branches and fog, the sun cast light columns through the forest.
At the end of these light columns shone the roots, moss, and paths illuminated by the sun.
Riding leisurely through the forest, Dubian Che enjoyed such a pleasant morning with the cool mist and the sound of birds chirping.
Scenes like these were captivating, no matter how often one saw them.
After returning the horse to the stable, he walked back to the villa where everyone was up except for Jiutiao Meijie. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novelFirｅ.net
"It's hard work, let me take that!" Mrs. Jiutiao blocked Dubian Che at the door, snatching away the dorayaki.
"We agreed it would be a rotation among the four of you each day, with Little Lian as he pleases. Why has it been only me from the last few days?"
Mrs. Jiutiao ignored Dubian Che's complaints.
"Chestnuts... red bean paste... white jade..." by the time she reached the dining table and set down the box of dorayaki, she had already chosen all her favorite flavors of chestnut and white jade.
"Are they that delicious?" Mrs. Kiyono felt she was making too much fuss.
"Try them and you'll understand, this is the taste of my childhood."
"Just leave me one each time."
"No way." After refusing Mrs. Kiyono, Jiutiao Zhenji thought for a moment and picked one of each flavor for Little Lian.
"I'm giving you special treatment because you're a child," she said.
"Thank you very much." Little Lian held the slightly smaller dorayaki to his chest and politely bowed.
"How about me, esteemed mother?".
Dubian Che changed his shoes and came in, "My clothes and hair are all wet from the fog, don't I get any?"
"There," Mrs. Jiutiao pointed to the portion left on the table.
On August 14th, breakfast for Dubian Che was the dorayaki he had retrieved from the thick fog.
When Jiutiao Meijie finally got up, it was almost noon.
Everyone decided to go out for lunch and then visit an art gallery.
"Mr. Dubian, I hope this visit clarifies your level of painting," said Mrs. Jiutiao cheerfully cycling along a sunlit forest path.
"Is my painting not good?" Dubian Che called out loudly, "I am willing to pay one million yen for that piece 'Kiyono Lin in Karuizawa'."
"Are you referring to the one nominated by you but painted by Meiji?" Mrs. Kiyono's voice resonated melodiously.
"Your logic is flawed, if it's nominated by me, naturally I painted it. How could it be nominated by me if Meiji painted it?"
"I'm still willing to allow it," Jiutiao Meijie said, wearing a stylish baseball cap with her hair neatly tucked under, adopting a cool and fashionable look today.
No matter the style, Dubian Che looked at her wanting to hug her three times.
"Meiji, you are the kindest to me, today's lunch is just for you."
"Stop changing the subject, we are discussing your painting skills!" Mrs. Jiutiao complained.