Chapter 116: An Even Greater Burden

"All right."

"Sweet or savory?"

"Savory."

"That's good. I don't care for sweet things."

Si Nuosang quickly ordered two bowls. The two sat at a roadside table and began to eat.

"Delicious." This tofu was definitely freshly ground and organic. It felt wonderful in her mouth.

"Boss, another bowl!" She hadn't even finished a few bites before calling for seconds.

Ye Xuan watched Si Nuosang, surprised that a single bowl of tofu could make her so happy. Naturally, his own heart felt light. He had thought things through clearly yesterday. His feelings for Si Nuosang were nothing more than a one-sided infatuation. He had no intention of revealing anything; it was just a crush, and there was no possibility of them ever being together. Therefore, there was no need for any tests.

He should just relax. He had overthought things yesterday.

However, regarding his mother's death, he still hated his father. He could not accept a man who, instead of protecting his own woman, chose to strike out at her. He could never accept that. Knowing the truth did not make him feel any kinder toward his father; on the contrary, he found it unforgivable that a man would treat his woman that way rather than guarding her.

They enjoyed their breakfast, and Ye Xuan was in no rush to return to the Night Manor.

"Do you plan to stay at the Night Manor, or will you return to the capital with me?"

"I haven't planned anything. Why don't we just wander around and look at the scenery?"

"That sounds nice. But where shall we go?"

"There is a river nearby; our little creek is fed by its waters. How about we go boating?"

"Is that so? That's a wonderful idea. Worth considering. But I don't know how to row."

"I know how to row, that's enough!"

"I was waiting for you to say that. Alright, let's go."

They set off, breaking into a light jog. After about half an hour, they arrived. Both were in good physical condition and did not even pant from the run.

"Old sir, may I rent your boat?" Ye Xuan handed a generous amount of silver to the nearby farmer.

"Come up." Ye Xuan stepped onto the boat and reached out his hand to pull Si Nuosang aboard. "Careful."

Si Nuosang put too much force into her jump, causing the boat to sway.

"It's fine, it's fine. Look, there's mist on the river. Wow, it’s like a fairyland! Hurry, row forward! Quick!" She sat on the chair in the boat while Ye Xuan rowed slowly. Seeing Si Nuosang in such a good mood, he felt his own spirits lift.

However, not far away, a woman was watching them. This woman was Qin Shuang.

"You two still have the mood to play? No matter. As long as I get the stone, the rest is up to you. Si Nuosang, when will you return?" When would she return to the Mulberry Residence? Only then could Yiyi be put to use. Perhaps she was being a bit impatient, but she had no other choice.

She had to pin all her hopes on Yiyi. If something went wrong with Yiyi, all her previous efforts would be wasted. She could not let that happen. She had to resolve this quickly.

On the river, Si Nuosang and Ye Xuan were having a great time. Si Nuosang had even brought snacks.

"Would you like some?" She brought out the fruit she had just bought.

"No thank you, you have it. I just finished breakfast; I can't eat anything else."

"Oh." She began to eat. "Ah!" She let out a loud exclamation.

"What is it?"

"There's a fishing rod here! You should fish! There's even bait." Everything was provided.

"Hmm, let me try. But do you think the fish are sleeping?"

"Ha? What kind of joke is that? Even if they are sleeping, they’re still up earlier than us. Don't make excuses just because you’re about to fail at fishing." Whenever she was with him, her common sense seemed to vanish. When did she become so dim-witted?

Ye Xuan began to fish. After a while, the line moved. He pulled it up quickly, landing a medium-sized fish.

"Quick, bring the bucket over!" He pointed to the wooden bucket nearby.

Si Nuosang kicked it over, too lazy to get up from her comfortable seat. She was a natural-born idler.

"Well done. When we get to the shore, we'll roast it. How about an outdoor barbecue?"

"Certainly, of course."

Ye Xuan always tried hard to keep up with Si Nuosang's pace, as her thoughts jumped too quickly, and there were many things she mentioned that he knew nothing about. But walking beside her, he felt very happy and not tired at all. Ye Xuan liked this rhythm.

Their luck continued, and they caught four or five more.

"Wow, poor fish. The early fish are the ones that get caught and eaten." Si Nuosang teased, looking at the fish swimming in circles.

"Indeed, it’s their misfortune to run into us early risers. But can we even finish all these?"

"It doesn't matter. We'll give a few to the man who rented us the boat. These are his tools, after all." Si Nuosang said generously. She couldn't eat them all anyway, so giving them to the fisherman was a nice gesture.

"That's fine." Ye Xuan nodded. In front of Si Nuosang, he could completely relax. He wished this feeling could last a lifetime, but "a lifetime" was such a long time.

It was impossible. On the river, they talked about many things from their childhood. Si Nuosang listened, fascinated, and Ye Xuan spoke happily. Although there were many unhappy memories, there were plenty of happy ones too.

When you meet the right person, happy memories surface. When you meet the wrong one, you only feel more hatred.

The two rowed the boat back and built a fire on the riverbank. They gave half the fish to the fisherman, who, seeing this, brought them bowls and chopsticks from his home before leaving.

With the right tools, everything went smoothly. The fire was lit quickly. Si Nuosang's habit of carrying seasonings was quite useful. In truth, she just wasn't used to the local food and found that a little seasoning made things much better.

The two ate the roasted fish while watching the beautiful scenery in the mist. It was real mist—nothing like the polluted haze of the modern world she remembered. She truly experienced the feeling of the mist.

She knew she was being a bit dramatic, but at this moment, her feelings were genuine. In such an environment, it was perfect for a clean, simple romance.

The weather and the mood were right, but the person was not.

She lowered her head, and memories played out like a film. There were so many people who had left marks on her life. To her, they were all precious.

Ye Xuan watched her silently from the side. In her life, his role was only that of a friend. He would not try to possess anything; keeping his feelings in his heart was a kind of beauty.

To speak his love would only be a burden, and for Si Nuosang, it would be an even greater one. To love someone was to let them live their life happily and lightly.