When Lu Jinnian woke up, the other side of the bed was already empty .  

He frowned, bolting up . When he was about to find Qiao Anhao, he caught sight of a set of clothes at the corner of his pillow . It was a simple white s.h.i.+rt and a pair of long black pants . On the floor, there was a bucket of water, beside which was a Thermos flask and a small towel .  

Lu Jinnian's frown disappeared instantly . He walked towards the bucket and poured some hot water in . He placed the towel into the bucket before wringing it dry to wipe himself . Turning back to the bed, he put on the clothes and walked out of the room with the bucket .  

The living area outside was empty, the door slightly ajar . He walked over and was mesmerized by the comforting and peaceful sight .  

There was a large tree in the courtyard . He didn't know what species it was, but it was filled with pink flowers, its trunk thick and coa.r.s.e, showing its age .  

Qiao Anhao sat below the tree, a little girl about seven years old beside her, leaning against a short table . The little girl had a pen in her hands and appeared to be practicing writing .  

Qiao Anhao was focused on the white paper, her tone soft and gentle when she spoke .  

"No, it's wrong here . . . Nope, still wrong . . . Let me show you one more time…" As she spoke, she covered the little girl's tiny hands, patiently writing the words out slowly .  "There, you can try again… Yes, that's great! It's really pretty, you did well . . . " 

The little girl tilted her head up to smile sweetly at Qiao Anhao before lowering it back down to continue practicing .  

It was nearing dusk, the sun casting a reddish glow on the tree, the rays spilling onto Qiao Anhao and the little girl .

Qiao Anhao had already removed her costume . She had on a simple white dress, her hair tied into two long plaids .  

Her face was clean, without any makeup, her white skin gleaming under the sun's rays; it was flawless .

The wind blew softly, causing a few petals to fall onto her and the girl's dark hair .  Qiao Anhao reached out to pinch the petals away carefully .  

Lu Jinnian held onto the bucket, leaning against the door as he stared at the image ahead, mesmerized . His heart clenched, it felt full and at ease .

The little girl was the first to notice Lu Jinnian's presence . She held onto the pencil, her head tilted to the side as she stared at him, blinking slightly .  

When Qiao Anhao realized that the girl was in a daze, she lightly called out to her "Nan Nan . " She towards her line of sight, and when she saw Lu Jinnian at the door, she straightened and asked, "You're awake?" 

Lu Jinnian snapped out of his daze .  "Yea…" He took large strides forward and poured the water away before heading to the tree .  

Qiao Anhao turned to smile at him .  "She's Nan Nan, the daughter of the family .  Brother Chen and his wife went to farm, and since she was reading, I decided to teach her a few words . " 

Lu Jinnian nodded his head lightly, looking down at the white paper .  

When Qiao Anhao had covered the little girl's hand, the words were neat, but when the girl had written herself, they started to curve weirdly in every direction .  

When Lu Jinnian woke up, the other side of the bed was already empty .   . . .

He frowned, bolting up . When he was about to find Qiao Anhao, he caught sight of a set of clothes at the corner of his pillow . It was a simple white s.h.i.+rt and a pair of long black pants . On the floor, there was a bucket of water, beside which was a Thermos flask and a small towel .   .

Lu Jinnian's frown disappeared instantly . He walked towards the bucket and poured some hot water in . He placed the towel into the bucket before wringing it dry to wipe himself . Turning back to the bed, he put on the clothes and walked out of the room with the bucket .   .

The living area outside was empty, the door slightly ajar . He walked over and was mesmerized by the comforting and peaceful sight .   .

There was a large tree in the courtyard . He didn't know what species it was, but it was filled with pink flowers, its trunk thick and coa.r.s.e, showing its age .   . . .

Qiao Anhao sat below the tree, a little girl about seven years old beside her, leaning against a short table . The little girl had a pen in her hands and appeared to be practicing writing .   .

Qiao Anhao was focused on the white paper, her tone soft and gentle when she spoke .   .

"No, it's wrong here . Nope, still wrong . Let me show you one more time…" As she spoke, she covered the little girl's tiny hands, patiently writing the words out slowly .  "There, you can try again… Yes, that's great! It's really pretty, you did well . "  .

The little girl tilted her head up to smile sweetly at Qiao Anhao before lowering it back down to continue practicing .   . . .

It was nearing dusk, the sun casting a reddish glow on the tree, the rays spilling onto Qiao Anhao and the little girl

Qiao Anhao had already removed her costume . She had on a simple white dress, her hair tied into two long plaids .   .

Her face was clean, without any makeup, her white skin gleaming under the suns rays; it was flawless

The wind blew softly, causing a few petals to fall onto her and the girl's dark hair .  Qiao Anhao reached out to pinch the petals away carefully .   .

Lu Jinnian held onto the bucket, leaning against the door as he stared at the image ahead, mesmerized . His heart clenched, it felt full and at ease

The little girl was the first to notice Lu Jinnian's presence . She held onto the pencil, her head tilted to the side as she stared at him, blinking slightly .   .

When Qiao Anhao realized that the girl was in a daze, she lightly called out to her "Nan Nan . " She towards her line of sight, and when she saw Lu Jinnian at the door, she straightened and asked, "You're awake?"  .

Lu Jinnian snapped out of his daze .  "Yea…" He took large strides forward and poured the water away before heading to the tree .   .

Qiao Anhao turned to smile at him .  "She's Nan Nan, the daughter of the family .  Brother Chen and his wife went to farm, and since she was reading, I decided to teach her a few words . "  .

Lu Jinnian nodded his head lightly, looking down at the white paper .   .

When Qiao Anhao had covered the little girl's hand, the words were neat, but when the girl had written herself, they started to curve weirdly in every direction .   .