The bright moon hung high in the sky.
Wu Peng stood alone in the wind, his thoughts in turmoil.
It took a long while before he managed to pick himself up. His head hung low and his hands were clasped in front of him, a bone-deep chill seeping into his very being.
Tears fell silently.
Once, under this sa moon, we were young n. Filled with nothing but courage, we dared to raise our hands and question the heavens! But now… not only have I lost all my principles, I've even betrayed a friend for personal gain. To win the admiration of others, I've shalessly groveled, stopping at nothing. What on earth should I do?
Wu Peng kept shaking his head, a bitter smile blooming on his face. This great era was prosperous, yet it could crush a man so thoroughly he couldn't even lift his head.
***
Chen Yang's original plan was to drop Xia Chu off and then rush to Lingjin City overnight.
However, his plans were interrupted when Zhao Siyan called. She complained that the previous gathering had been a bust and that they hadn't had nearly enough to drink, insisting on another round.
Much to Chen Yang's helpless resignation, her words had the opposite effect on the already tipsy Xia Chu. Not only did Xia Chu's eyes light up, but her spirits were also instantly rejuvenated.
In fact, she even agreed on Chen Yang's behalf.
They ended up at a roadside food stall, where the wafting aroma of the dishes was enough to whet anyone's appetite.
As soon as they were seated, Zhao Siyan stared at Chen Yang, her tone leaving no room for argunt. "Let's get one thing straight. We aren't paying for this al. You're treating, Chen Yang!"
Chen Yang simply smiled. "Order whatever you want!"
"That's more like it!" Satisfied, Zhao Siyan sat back down and began discussing the nu with Hu Tao.
Chen Yang watched them with a smile, saying nothing.
It was only with these people that he could feel such a complete and comforting sense of ease.
mories of their ti together at the orphanage gradually surfaced in his mind.
After a few drinks, Zhao Siyan started teasing Xia Chu again, insisting that tonight would be a sleepless night.
Xia Chu kept flailing her fists in protest, declaring she wasn't worthy of Chen Yang.
The small gathering dispersed only after midnight.
After bidding their farewells, Zhao Siyan and Hu Tao exchanged a look before making a swift escape.
It was clear they were leaving the now completely inebriated Xia Chu in Chen Yang's care.
Chen Yang wore a helpless expression.
"Can you still walk?" he asked, supporting Xia Chu.
There was no response.
Yang Hu was waiting in the van.
When Chen Yang approached, Yang Hu hurried out of the vehicle. Upon seeing Xia Chu, his expression froze for a mont before he threw his hands up. "Looks like we'll need two rooms tonight."
"Get lost!" Chen Yang glowered at him irritably.
Yang Hu gave a foolish grin. "Boss, don't tell you're planning to take her ho? I don't an anything by it, but do you even know her address?"
"Besides, it's the middle of the night. How would her family react to a strange man bringing her ho?"
Chen Yang was speechless.
He had to admit, that was indeed the situation.
"We have to go to a hotel," Yang Hu said, shrugging. "One room for you two, one for ."
"Hurry up, I'm so cold."
Suddenly, Xia Chu muttered a sentence, leaving Yang Hu dumbfounded. Is this woman even drunk? And that urgent tone... the more I think about it, the fishier it seems.
"See? The lady's getting impatient! Let's go. I'll find you the most high-end hotel around, and I guarantee you'll both be comfortable," Yang Hu said with a mischievous grin, getting into the car first.
Inside the van, Xia Chu collapsed into Chen Yang's arms. The flush on her cheeks made her delicate face seem all the more enchanting.
A faint scent of perfu drifted to his nose, and the warmth of her heavy breaths washed over his face, leaving him flustered.
With just a slight dip of his head, his gaze could fall right into her wide-open collar.
Chen Yang stared out the window, not uttering a word.
Yang Hu occasionally glanced in the rearview mirror and giggled foolishly to himself, lost in who knows what thoughts.
Finally, at Chen Yang's instruction, the van stopped outside the gates of the orphanage.
The mont the vehicle ca to a halt, Xia Chu's body visibly relaxed.
Chen Yang shook his head inwardly. How could he not understand what she was thinking? Whether it was her past admiration or her present love, she intended to give herself to him tonight. But... there was no need. It was better to preserve this as a beautiful mory. If he hadn't been taken into the Martial Departnt by Ren Tong back then, if he had just entered society like everyone else after coming of age, their story might have had a different ending.
With a creak, he opened the car door, lifted Xia Chu into his arms, and t Granny Fu, who was already waiting outside. He followed her straight to his old room.
After placing Xia Chu on the bed and chatting briefly with Granny Fu, Chen Yang turned and left.
"I really don't deserve him," Xia Chu murmured as she sat up, a lonely expression on her face.
Granny Fu was speechless.
So the girl was just pretending to be drunk?
After a mont, Granny Fu walked over to Xia Chu and patted her on the shoulder. "Chen Yang has always been a boy with strong principles. So things might seem normal to others, but he just can't bring himself to do them."
"Perhaps it's that very trait that has allowed him to get to where he is today."
Xia Chu bit her lip, silent as tears stread down her face.
"Granny Fu, do you think I'll ever have a chance to see him again?" Xia Chu asked, her face filled with bewildernt as she gazed into the night outside the window.
Granny Fu remained silent.
As the saying goes, all happy people are alike; each unhappy person is unhappy in their own way.
In life, timing is everything.
This is especially true when it cos to matters of the heart.
Besides, who didn't know by now that a great battle awaited Chen Yang?
A battle against the Imperial Clan.
To put it bluntly, whether Chen Yang could even survive it was still up in the air.
After leaving the orphanage, Chen Yang's van got on the expressway, heading straight for Lingjin City.
The car radio was playing a midnight show.
It was a song by Li Si.
The gentle lody was like an elfin spirit in the night, carrying one's thoughts away to run wild and free.
Chen Yang leaned back in his seat, his eyes tightly shut.
He just listened in silence.
The lody faltered and then ceased. The song was over.
Has she fulfilled her dream of becoming a music teacher? Perhaps I was the one who was too selfish.
On this very day, a great tremor shook Cangyun City, thousands of miles away.
The Imperial Clan had made their move.
An Elder of the Imperial Clan led a party of several hundred into Cangyun City, settling into Zuo Fan's Qingyuan River Estate.
They issued a public statent, declaring that their visit would not interfere with the fair duel between Tu Su and Chen Yang. They were rely here to observe, and they hoped that various circles wouldn't over-interpret their actions.
But who didn't know they were here to back Tu Su?
Inside the Qingyuan River Estate.
"Third Uncle, is such a commotion really necessary for so trash from the mortal realm?" Tu Su asked with a shake of his head, his expression as indifferent as the wind.
Across from him sat an old man in a gray robe. Despite his white hair, his face was youthful. He lightly blew the steam from his teacup and remarked casually, "The fact that he dared to move the date forward ans he must have so confidence."
"Besides, your n couldn't keep tabs on him when he left Cangyun City, could they?"
Tu Su fell silent.
"There's another thing," the Elder, whose na was Tu Shen, continued calmly. "The Chen Family is in the process of absorbing the three great royal families, and I have no fondness for them whatsoever."
"And things one has no fondness for are better off erased."
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