It made her feel at ease, and also quickly helped her forget the discomfort brought by Yu Zexiao.
It has to be said that this was the poise, considerateness, and gentleness expected of a mature man. It didn’t make one feel sad at all, but rather served as a pleasant form of enlightenment.
At least, for Jian Anning at that moment, her mood had improved significantly.
The two stood at the bridgehead, quietly watching a stretch of clear waves. The autumn breeze swept by, taking away the summer’s sultry heat, as well as the irritation in her heart.
Especially when Situ Xuan took the opportunity to speak during a slightly oppressive moment, "Would you like to sit somewhere? The view here is good, but changing perspectives can also be nice."
Although he never mentioned Yu Zexiao in any of his sentences, every word implied that she should not expend too much energy on Yu Zexiao.
Jian Anning understood. If it had been before, she might have pretended not to understand Situ Xuan’s words. But today, she was clearly very downcast and really didn’t want to think too much about Yu Zexiao. However, she wasn’t the type of woman to seek comfort from another man when feeling low. She still had some reservations about Situ Xuan, "Is this, perhaps, not appropriate?"
"Anning, we are friends," Situ Xuan said with pure and warm eyes, "Friends should help each other. I don’t have any other intentions, just to sit down and chat."
Jian Anning hesitated for a moment, but after hearing Situ Xuan’s suggestion and considering it was just a chat, she nodded, "Alright. Then I’ll trouble you."
"No trouble at all." This time, Situ Xuan was genuinely a bit happy. With Jian Anning, no matter how much effort he put in, no matter the flowers, clothes, or jewelry he gifted, she never seemed to grow any closer to him. The more he couldn’t obtain, the more he wanted.
It was rare for her to feel disheartened, and if he didn’t seize the opportunity now, Jian Anning might be coaxed back by Yu Zexiao again.
"With your company, I can only feel happy," Situ Xuan said with a tender smile, his eyes brimming with boundless affection, yet not feeling the slightest bit sleazy, only comforting to the heart.
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Indeed, once they got into the car, Situ Xuan was well-behaved, driving all the way up to the West Mountain in the western part of Shangcheng. Halfway up the mountain, there was an elegant tea house, quaint and reminiscent of an ancient pavilion, full of delicate beauty and rich cultural atmosphere.
They climbed the steps to a terrace overlooking a cliff and sat down at a tea table. A tea master promptly came forward, "What tea would you like?"
Situ Xuan looked at Jian Anning, who was naturally indifferent. So, he smiled and said, "At this season, drinking Tieguanyin is the best. We’ll have a pot of top-quality Tieguanyin."
"Certainly." Soon, the tea master brought over a purple clay teapot and a small lidded bowl of tea leaves. After brewing a pot of tea, Jian Anning took a sip and immediately felt the tea’s fragrance wafting, relieving her fatigue.
The tea master here brewed a pot of tea and retreated courteously, letting the beaded curtain fall. In the distance, downstairs in the hall, a guqin player was playing the zither. The piece was quite in harmony with the season, "Autumn Wind Lyrics."
Gazing into the distance, verdant greenery filled her view. Built on the edge of a cliff, you could even see a waterfall not too far away, accompanied by melodious bird calls, giving a sensation of refreshing delight.