After Yu Yao fell asleep quietly, Jiang Zhonglin took a blanket from his seat to cover her, slightly closed the window, and lowered the volume of his conversation with friends.

Seeing his actions, his two old friends first teased him but then couldn’t help but deeply sigh.

Such a situation was hard to describe. The person had returned, which was a good thing, but for their old friend, this seemingly timeless lover was also a source of heartache. The lingering regrets were hard to smooth over.

But as outsiders, they couldn’t judge the situation, only the individuals involved could know their own feelings.

The journey was peaceful, with Jiang Zhonglin and his two friends occasionally speaking softly. Other passengers only greeted them when boarding, and only a few curious glances were cast at Yu Yao, without any intrusive questions.

When they finally arrived at the destination, Yu Yao woke up on her own, yawned, and handed the blanket back to Jiang Zhonglin.

As everyone got off the bus, a young student who had come with the teacher approached Jiang Zhonglin enthusiastically to help with his luggage.

“Mr. Jiang, you’re here alone this year, right? Let me help you with your luggage.”

The enthusiastic student, Chen Guoyan, who had also joined the Literary Association trip three years ago, had taken good care of Jiang Zhonglin and the other elderly attendees who were traveling alone. Jiang Zhonglin liked this cheerful young man and smiled as he waved his hand, “No need. Just look after your teacher. I don’t need any help.”

Chen Guoyan laughed, “Mr. Jiang, don’t be so polite!”

At this point, Yu Yao had arrived with her suitcase. Jiang Zhonglin took one of her bags and was about to help with another when Yu Yao casually tossed it towards him, “You don’t need to carry that.”

Chen Guoyan looked at Yu Yao with some surprise and asked after a moment, “Ah, Mr. Jiang, did you bring a student this time?”

Jiang Zhonglin didn’t answer but pointed to a chubby old man in another car, “Your teacher is calling you. Go over there quickly.”

Chen Guoyan had no choice but to smile at them and hurry back, glancing over his shoulder as he went.

Yu Yao and Jiang Zhonglin each dragged a suitcase towards their accommodation at the farm. Modern suitcases were excellent with their folding and storage capabilities. Even though they contained many items, they looked quite small, and pulling them was effortless.

Their stay at the farm was planned for three days in wooden cabins. Although the exterior was modest, made of round logs, the interior was comfortably furnished with wooden furniture, fully equipped, and spacious. Their assigned room had two beds, a small partitioned living area, a bathroom, and a balcony with views of lush nearby woods, an orchard, and a large lotus pond.

Yu Yao and Jiang Zhonglin shared a room, sleeping in separate beds. After unpacking and exploring the room, Yu Yao lay down on her bed.

Jiang Zhonglin sat on the other bed, looking concerned, “What’s wrong? You slept a lot on the bus, but are you still tired? Did the wind give you a headache?”

Yu Yao felt uncomfortable and a bit tired, despite having slept a long time. Perhaps the long bus ride contributed to her discomfort. She sat up and rubbed her face, “I’m fine. I’m in good health; how could a bit of wind give me a headache?”

“The air here is good. See, there’s a lotus pond outside,” Jiang Zhonglin said, noticing her interest. He pointed to the large floor-to-ceiling windows where they could clearly see the vast lotus pond. It was part of the farm’s land, reportedly covering dozens of acres. Unfortunately, it was the end of the season, so most of the flowers had wilted, though some lotus pods remained.

“Once we’ve rested, we can go check it out,” Jiang Zhonglin said, seeing her interest. He took out a thermos from their luggage and handed it to her, offering some honey-sweetened hot water.

Soon, someone knocked on their door—it was a young person from the association, announcing that lunch was ready in the main hall.

It was just past noon, and they were indeed hungry after a morning of travel. Yu Yao and Jiang Zhonglin went to the hall. As they entered, they heard a loud, hearty laugh from an elderly man.

The chubby, round-faced old man was chatting with others when he saw Jiang Zhonglin enter. He waved energetically and called out with a booming voice that echoed through the hall, “Old Jiang, you’re here! Come sit over here. It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Finally decided to step out for a change. Oh, you might not know, but this year Cao Qingling is coming too. She’s got something going on, so she’ll arrive later. You must be thrilled to see her, right?”

The old man winked at Jiang Zhonglin in an insinuating manner. His expression was so suggestive that Yu Yao couldn’t help but squint her eyes.

Jiang Zhonglin frowned slightly and gently reprimanded the old man, “Stop talking nonsense.”

Then he turned to Yu Yao, adjusted his glasses, and hesitantly said, “No…”

Yu Yao, with a half-smile, responded, “No what? I didn’t even ask, and you’re already denying it.” With that, she walked into the hall and found a seat.