Chapter 17: Climb Up Here

Su Ruyan's home was truly quite simple. There was only a single courtyard, and aside from a single evergreen tree, there were no other plants. Fortunately, there were two side rooms, which were enough to accommodate the two of them.

"How is it? Can you still live here?" Su Ruyan watched Yu Mei looking here and there with a curious expression, and he couldn't help but find it amusing; even his voice carried a hint of lightness.

Yu Mei was currently holding a ladle-like object, examining it from all angles. Hearing his question, she turned her head and saw that faint, lingering smile on his face. She knew in her heart that he was laughing at her, but it didn't matter; Yu Mei was in a good mood today and wouldn't hold it against him. "To have a place to shelter from the wind and rain is something I, Yu Mei, am already grateful for. How would I dare to be picky?"

"That's good then. Miss Yu Mei, you may stay here for the time being. Do not worry about having nowhere to go. I, Su Ruyan, may lack virtue and ability, but providing you with food and shelter is absolutely no problem; you can rest easy." After a pause, he pointed toward a room nearby. "You can stay in that room. Although it is simple, it is enough to keep you sheltered from the wind and rain. I will stay in the room next to it. If you need anything, you can come find me."

Yu Mei's lips curled up slightly as she nodded.

"Alright!"

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Night. The starlight shimmered.

Yu Mei lay on the eaves, her head resting in her hands as she gazed up at the starry sky. Her eyes were deep and distant, as if she were looking through the cosmos toward another dimension. At this moment, Yu Mei was so quiet that even the surrounding air seemed tinged with silence. Looking up at her from beneath the eaves, Su Ruyan actually felt a pang of heartache for this woman.

Beneath that strong exterior, just how fragile must she be?

"Miss Yu Mei, could you also let me sit up there with you?" After a moment of thought, Su Ruyan called out to her.

Yu Mei sat up and looked down, a wicked smile playing on her lips. She leaned back and said leisurely, "There is a ladder nearby. Climb up..."

Su Ruyan was speechless. His handsome features twisted together in frustration, and three drops of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Left with no choice, he had to follow her instructions, climbing up the ladder step by step...

"The bright moon is like a hook, just like a crescent bay; the bright moon is still as water, just like Su Ruyan." Before Su Ruyan could even finish climbing up, Yu Mei gazed at the crescent moon in the sky and murmured. She wasn't being pretentious, nor was she trying to be poetic; she was simply expressing her feelings for Su Ruyan in her own way.

"Miss Yu Mei, you possess such pride, so why do you feel so melancholy in the dead of night?" Su Ruyan, drenched in sweat, finally climbed up. He wiped the perspiration from his forehead and lay down beside her uninvited, mimicking her posture.

Yu Mei turned her head to glance at him, only to find herself deeply captivated. Damn it, this man's profile was truly beautiful. The lines of his face showed a perfect balance of strength and softness; his high bridge of the nose, his thin red lips, and his phoenix eyes—from this angle—possessed an infinite charm... Yu Mei had never seen a man like this. He could be beautiful so effortlessly, possessing a feminine grace yet retaining a subtle, resolute strength. Why was a man like this so pure?

"What is it?" Seeing that she was silent for a long time, Su Ruyan turned his head as well, only to coincidentally find her staring at him. A trace of confusion appeared in his clear eyes.

As their eyes met, the tips of their noses touched. His warm breath brushed evenly against her face, accompanied by a unique fragrance... Yu Mei's small face flushed instantly, and she hurriedly turned her head away. "No, it's nothing..." Perhaps even she hadn't realized that there was a hint of agitation in her voice.

How could she be like this? He was so pure, so untouchable. How could she? But perhaps even she hadn't realized that her tone held a trace of excitement.