Since the incident ten years ago, Jian Anning had felt somewhat uncomfortable with uncontrollable events that occurred in the night.
Yu Zexiao watched her still slightly pale face but pretended to be composed, and couldn’t help but find it amusing, "Really? I wonder who it is that’s holding onto me so tightly right now!"
As soon as his words ended, Jian Anning immediately let go, recoiling as if she had touched some pathogen, "Not at all, it was clearly you who was holding me!"
Seeing Jian Anning act so shamelessly was something Yu Zexiao rarely encountered. At that moment, he thought it was both novel and amusing. As he watched her gently release him and wander leisurely on the island, he couldn’t help but laugh and follow her.
This little island was like a miniature "Penglai Immortal Realm," surrounded by lush greenery. Although it didn’t welcome outsiders, there were gardeners and maintenance staff who would come regularly to prune and clean, which is why the plants and trees here were so beautiful.
Especially the waterside pavilion here, a quaint two-story structure painted red, leading upwards from the ground floor. Perhaps because it was often cleaned, the pavilion wasn’t as dirty as those found in typical tourist spots, though, of course, there was still some dust. Looking out at the railing, one could see the entire Houhu shrouded in a thin mist, as though it was part of an otherworldly realm.
She and Yu Zexiao stood amidst this light mist, amidst the expanse of Houhu, as if they were cut off from the rest of the world.
"It’s so beautiful," Jian Anning turned around and exclaimed involuntarily.
Yu Zexiao approached leisurely from behind and slowly wrapped his arms around her slim waist, hugging her from the rear. Seeing her so excited, his mood also brightened considerably.
Originally, Yu Zexiao had arranged to visit Houhu at night. Although he had intended to relax and enjoy the scenery, he had never imagined that Jian Anning would take such delight in everything!
"Do you like it that much, hmm?"
"Yes," she nodded. In truth, as the Cheng Family’s stepdaughter, she also inherited a substantial fortune, and appeared to live a life of wealth and privilege. However, her life in the Cheng Family was like being under someone else’s roof; her father’s fortune was under the control of her guardian—her mother Jian Panying—until she turned twenty-four. Although Jian Panying wouldn’t spend her money, she did keep an eye on it, which always made it difficult for Anning to spend freely.
Every winter and summer vacation, the Cheng Family organized a family trip—given her status, Anning naturally wouldn’t join. So, the happier others were while traveling, the more desolate she felt staying alone at home!
Therefore, the fact that Yu Zexiao took her out and provided so many surprises made the joy and sweetness in her heart even more profound!
"If you like it so much, how about I take you out more often?" Should he just buy this boat? After all, Jian Anning seemed to enjoy boating so much; it was a bit of a hassle always asking Yichuan to rent a boat for them.
But the boat was indeed a bit old; maybe he should just buy a new one.
Unexpectedly, the usually serious Jian Anning suddenly nodded her head with the eager and excited manner of a little girl and said, "Yes, please."