The sky was filled with overcast rain, the heavy clouds looming low. The courtyard of the North Garden was both secluded and quiet, appearing drearily empty in the rain. The surrounding streets were deserted. Though it was still afternoon, there was already a faint evening-like ambiance.
Raindrops fell onto the soil outside the courtyard, splashing into water beads, imbuing the air with a faint, musty scent of decaying wood.
On the table, in the jade cup held by Xu Chang’an, the tea leaves floated in the water, taking their sweet time to slowly descend as if... time itself had slowed down.
Outside was wind and rain, yet under the eaves, it was sheltered from the wind and warm within.
What kind of soothing feeling is this?
At this moment, Xu Chang’an only felt a calmness of mind, as if his life was perfect, or rather, this serene and simple life was what he had always desired to pursue.
Brew tea slowly, age tea slowly, savor the myriad flavors of life slowly.
Xu Chang’an was a slow-tempered person, no matter what he did... he always moved step by step forward, because he had a wife to take care of. So, in places where crises lurked, if he encountered difficulties, he would never recklessly charge ahead but would first retreat to observe the situation.
In theory, for a young man who had experienced the peace and prosperity of Huaxia, perhaps the name Gu Chang’an would suit him better.
But he had his own reasoning, past events gave him no reason to look back.
This was true in his previous life, as well as on the isolated island where he lived with his wife.
Therefore, "Slowly Plan Chang’an" was his name, and not "Gu Wang Chang’an."
"..." Xu Chang’an curled his lips into a smile, his hand gently resting on Miss Yun’s cheek, his fingers feeling her gentle breath, proactively synchronizing his own breathing to match hers.
Invite a dear friend, sip leisurely, row across West Lake.
This lifestyle was wonderful, he would enjoy it.
Only, he currently had no dear friend.
"..." Yun Qian enjoyed the cushion of Xu Chang’an’s lap, looking at the hand in front of her, she gently blew into his palm, then asked, "What are you doing?"
"Me?" Xu Chang’an said, "I was thinking, Miss is my dear friend... hmm, confidant might be more fitting."
"Confidant?" Yun Qian blinked.
From Miss to confidant, it’s an upgrade.
From wife to confidant, it should be a downgrade.
"Are you trying to say you have few friends?" Yun Qian turned over while lying on Xu Chang’an’s legs and said, "If so, then go meet a few more people."
"Not necessary for now." Xu Chang’an shook his head.
He wasn’t a solitary person by nature, but for him at this moment, Miss Yun was both his wife and confidant, occasionally even assuming the title of "Miss," a perfect blend of three roles, better than anyone else.
His fingers brushed up Yun Qian’s long hair near her ears, Xu Chang’an’s gaze was very focused.
"You’re a bit strange today." Yun Qian thought that Xu Chang’an was unusually proactive today, unlike his usual self.
"What’s strange?" Xu Chang’an asked.
"In the past, when I asked for it, you’d give it to me." Yun Qian placed her hand on her face, saying, "Today, you initiated it."
"I am your husband." Xu Chang’an said helplessly, "If I’m always passive, doesn’t it make me seem unambitious?"
At this moment, thanks were due to Qinling. If not for her inadvertent words, Xu Chang’an wouldn’t have realized this matter.
"Don’t like it?" Xu Chang’an asked.
"I like it." Yun Qian thought for a moment and said, "Also like it on regular days."
Xu Chang’an felt quite helpless, thinking Miss Yun spoiled him a lot.
Would just a kiss on the cheek be called ambitious?
Clearly still a long way to go.
"Thank you, Miss, for your patience." Xu Chang’an shook his head, from the moment Miss Yun picked him up, his goal was to become a qualified steward, but when he worked hard to become a qualified steward, he suddenly found his role had changed from steward to the husband of a young lady... and felt a bit bewildered.
Thus he needed to start the hard work and learning process anew.
So Xu Chang’an believed he was still far from being a qualified husband.
"I am not patient, though you are a very patient person." Yun Qian took a deep breath, looking at the continuous rain outside the window, her heart slightly quickening.
Xu Chang’an’s shift from passive to attempting to take initiative, though it was a very, very small change, she liked it. This was something she hoped to see after accompanying him into the world.
"Time is a peculiar thing." Xu Chang’an followed Yun Qian’s gaze to the rain outside and said, "I always feel time passes very slowly."
On the island, it was slow, and when stepping out, it was slow too.
Xu Chang’an looked towards Yun Qian, lifting her hair beside her ear to reveal her delicate ear, and said helplessly, "I’ve only now realized, time passes slowly because I’m unambitious."
Because he wanted to spend more time with Miss Yun, each minute would feel like ten, Xu Chang’an constantly shortened his daily sleep time on the island, from five hours down to four and a half, then to three... though just small reductions, it allowed him to spend more time with Miss Yun each day.
To gain an extra two hours a day, after a hundred days, a thousand days, ten thousand days, it would amount to a lot more time.
Of course, he could now do without sleep.
Listening to Xu Chang’an’s words, Yun Qian’s eyes slightly closed.
Did he... realize it?
To her, time before meeting Xu Chang’an essentially didn’t exist. He was the one who endowed time with meaning for her.
When Xu Chang’an was away for three to five months, it was but a blink, no need to care or interfere.
But when he returned to see her, a mere day felt extremely long.
Because she wished for it to be even slower.
And since it was Miss Yun’s wish, others wouldn’t perceive time passing slower, no matter if it was a thousand times or ten thousand times slower, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.