“You go first, and I’ll accompany you to get familiar with the place. Next time, I won’t come along.”

As they stepped outside, it was a bright, sunny day. The neighborhood was mostly inhabited by the elderly and children, with fewer young people. Sunlight filtered through the tall plane trees, casting patches of light on the ground. Yu Yao walked along the quiet path, stepping on the sunlit spots.

She walked slowly, occasionally glancing at the yards on either side. After about ten minutes, Jiang Zhonglin gently remarked, “It’s a short distance. I usually walk it quickly—generally, it only takes about ten minutes to reach the fruit and vegetable store.”

Yu Yao: “…” Oh, I was deliberately walking slowly for you, and now you’re complaining I’m too slow.

She picked up the pace and soon reached the neighborhood supermarket. Nearly every neighborhood now had a dedicated convenience store, making shopping much more convenient than before. Yu Yao had previously checked out various stores and buildings in the area, and now that she saw it in person, the vegetables and fruits looked fresh and abundant—quite tempting.

She grabbed a small cart, like the middle-aged women chatting nearby, and headed towards the meat section. Jiang Zhonglin was supposed to help her get familiar with the place, but Yu Yao naturally knew what to buy and where to find it. Even though there were many new types of vegetables and fruits she hadn’t seen before, she wasn’t particularly surprised.

Jiang Zhonglin watched as she confidently chatted with the fishmonger, and he suddenly remembered that in their youth, Yu Yao was the one who adapted better. When they arrived in a new place, while he was still figuring out the route, she would already be familiar with several streets, knowing where to buy food and drinks, and even recognizing the neighbors within three days.

Compared to her, Jiang Zhonglin had always been more reserved. He could immerse himself in academics but lacked the practical skills to adapt quickly to new environments and people. Now, with age and experience, he appeared more capable than in his younger years.

He recalled a trip they took before they got married. It wasn’t far, just a famous ancient town within the country, as they both had limited time. His senior colleagues had warned him that this trip was a test from his girlfriend to see if he was suitable for marriage, making him anxious. He meticulously planned the itinerary, fearing that a poor performance might lead to a breakup.

However, when they arrived, he realized much of his research was useless. In contrast to his meticulousness, Yu Yao was relaxed. Even though it was their first time there, she quickly found a bus to the hotel and, after dropping off their luggage, took him out to find food. Jiang Zhonglin had followed his itinerary to a highly rated restaurant, only to find it overpriced and unsatisfactory. Yu Yao didn’t care, finding a small eatery nearby that smelled good and turned out to be delicious.

During the trip, Yu Yao made most of the decisions. Jiang Zhonglin only carried the luggage and enjoyed the trip without worrying. By the end, he forgot his initial anxiety and had a great time exploring famous and lesser-known landmarks, even finding a scenic spot with few people to spend an afternoon.