Nan Zhiyun was held in Yu Jingchen's arms, their eyes meeting. In the glow of the setting sun, their hearts connected, their unspoken feelings carried by the wind. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the edges of their robes.
"Yun'er, are you willing to start anew with me?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent for a long moment, then finally offered a sweet smile and nodded gently.
"I have always been willing, I just never knew His Majesty had been waiting for so long, anticipating this day," Nan Zhiyun's eyes welled up with tears, feeling a strange sting. It must have been the wind.
"I was late... I almost lost my treasure, but now I have found her again, and I will cherish her forever," Yu Jingchen raised his hand to gently wipe away the tears from her eyes.
"Mmm..." Nan Zhiyun had never imagined this moment would arrive. It was like a dream, delayed but cherished, a moment she didn't want to let go of or wake from.
Yu Jingchen looked at her and kissed her lips. Nan Zhiyun slowly closed her eyes. As she did, a single, crystal tear escaped and fell. What this tear contained, perhaps no one would ever know, but it truly expressed Nan Zhiyun's grievances, heartache, and pain over the years.
After an unknowable amount of time, Yu Jingchen released Nan Zhiyun. He looked at the still-damp tear tracks on her face, his heart aching. He had indeed come too late, letting his little girl suffer so much injustice and torment.
Yu Jingchen took Nan Zhiyun's hand and stepped onto the path paved with flowers. Traversing this path led to an open expanse, revealing what appeared to be a hot spring.
"This area is a forbidden zone, no one is ever allowed to approach. Every year during the spring hunt, I would come here to escape and find peace. Here, one can let go of all weariness and quietly enjoy those fleeting moments of tranquility," Yu Jingchen told Nan Zhiyun.
"There's a small treehouse nearby. It's small, but it can accommodate us. May I show you inside?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun, who, feeling a sense of curiosity, nodded.
"Let's go," Yu Jingchen smiled gently at her and, holding her hand, led her towards the small wooden house.
It didn't look very large, and indeed, as Yu Jingchen had described, the furnishings inside were simple: two chairs, a bed, a tea table with tea sets, a small cabinet, and a stove. There was nothing else.
"Originally, there was only one chair here, but from now on, there will be two," Yu Jingchen said.
Two... Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen, "So, from now on, this place will belong only to the two of us?" she asked.
"Of course, from now on, this place will belong exclusively to the two of us," Yu Jingchen gently stroked her head.
"The hot spring outside is naturally formed. Would you like to try it?" Yu Jingchen longed to have Nan Zhiyun experience it.
Nan Zhiyun had never soaked in a hot spring before. During her time with Yu Jingchen, she had done many things she had never done, seen many new things she had never encountered. It was as if she had gained a new perspective on everything in the world. What had once been dull and monotonous now seemed to have become interesting.
"Okay... but, will I drown?" Nan Zhiyun wasn't sure why she asked such a question.
"You won't drown. It's not particularly deep, and besides, with me here, I won't let you drown," Yu Jingchen chuckled softly and gently massaged her head.