Nalan Yehen's words deeply moved Chu Lingzhi. She looked at him, a trace of tenderness flickering in her grateful eyes. He was very good to her, to her son, and to... Grandpa Hu!
Grandpa Hu gazed at Nalan Yehen, reaching out his scarred, ugly hand to touch his face. The hand, covered in wrinkles and scars, made Nalan Yehen's perfect face look even more handsome. Nalan Yehen didn't flinch from the trembling, unsightly hand. As it touched his face, he raised his own hand and gently covered it.
"The moment I saw you, I knew you were no ordinary child." "Lingzhi treats you with great respect. Give her the chance to honor you—come back to T City with us," Nalan Yehen said, looking at Grandpa Hu.
Grandpa Hu's expression softened. He turned to Chu Lingzhi. She was looking at him with hopeful eyes. He thought, if he didn't give her this chance to honor him now, there might never be another. He moved his lips, as if about to speak.
Just then, Nalan Yehen spoke before he could, "Grandpa Hu, whether you agree or not, I've already decided. On the day we leave, we'll tie you up and take you with us! T City is far from here—if you want to come back, you'll have to walk all the way from T City!" His tone was filled with a kingly authority.
Chu Lingzhi's eyes twitched, then a wave of emotion washed over her. His commanding demeanor was both handsome and cool.
Grandpa Hu was startled at first, then broke into a smile. Seeing him smile, Chu Lingzhi knew he had agreed.
That night, Chu Lingzhi made a bed on the floor at Grandpa Hu's house and stayed with him. The next day, she got up early to make breakfast for them. Grandpa Hu's house had little to offer, so she simply cooked some porridge.
After breakfast, Chu Lingzhi told Grandpa Hu to rest at home and that she'd come back in the evening. Then she and Nalan Yehen returned to Fu Chunyan's house.
"Mommy, Daddy." Chu Junyu and Nalan Yichen, who were playing with Zhong Xibing in the yard, rushed over when they saw them, hugging each of them and asking for kisses.
Fu Chunyan came out of the house and warmly asked if they had eaten. Chu Lingzhi replied that they had.
"There's a drought, and the only fish pond in the village is almost dry. The villagers agreed to go catch all the fish today. Do you want to come along?" Fu Chunyan asked, carrying a wooden bucket and holding a bamboo sieve and fishing net, smiling at Chu Lingzhi and the others.
Going to the fish pond to catch fish was the most fun thing for kids. Especially for Chu Junyu, who had never experienced such joy—he immediately clamored to go. Chu Lingzhi didn't want to go, so Nalan Yehen naturally stayed behind with her. In the end, Huo Luan accompanied the two little ones as they followed Fu Chunyan.
After they left, the yard, once filled with laughter, fell silent again. Chu Lingzhi glanced deeply at Nalan Yehen and said, "Let me check your wound."
They went inside, and she examined his injury. A few days had passed, and his wound had scabbed over and healed. Nalan Yehen stood still as she checked, then lowered his clothes, the fabric covering the scars on his back. Once again, he was the noble, tall, and imposing Young Master Nalan.
Standing behind him, looking at his straight back, Chu Lingzhi recalled how good he had been to her these past few days, and her heart swelled with emotion. His tall frame stood before her, making her feel like he was her pillar of support. She stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, and hugged him. Nalan Yehen froze, his eyes flickering.