It was August, and the sweltering daytime heat was almost unbearable. Just like the stifling warmth of the city, but as night fell, the countryside turned cool and refreshing.

With midnight just moments away, the whole village lay in deep slumber, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.

Underneath a tree, Qi Yan stood, his gaze fixed on the distant mountain peaks, their outlines blurred by the night mist. His face was serene, but his eyes held a quiet detachment, much like the moonlight itself: gentle, yet indifferent.

Around him, even the usual sounds of cicadas and frogs seemed to fall silent. Only the occasional bark of a dog or the crow of a rooster could be heard from the village.

Although he had given Yan An ten minutes, barely five had passed when the faint sound of rustling reached his ears.

The sound grew closer, carrying with it a hint of energy.

Yan An jogged to a stop just three steps away from Qi Yan.

To avoid suspicion, she hadn’t shaken the water off her. No, not her leaves, but her hair. Her long black hair clung to her back, damp and heavy, with droplets trickling down the strands and splashing onto the ground.

As she watched Qi Yan’s back, an unexpected nervousness stirred inside her.

It was the same feeling she used to get in the cultivation world when facing the clan elders for an assessment. Back then, the elders were powerful, and she always felt a quiet anxiety around them.

But Qi Yan had no such abilities, he was just an ordinary man. So why did she feel the same way now?

It must be because I almost got caught earlier! Yan An quickly reasoned with herself.

She wiped the water from her forehead, adjusted her damp clothes, and softly called, “Mr. Qi, I’m here.”

“Mm.”

Qi Yan turned slightly, his gaze falling on her wet hair. His brows knit together as he asked, “Why were you in the water?”

To her, it wasn’t “getting in the water”, it was just lying in bed!

Yan An muttered inwardly but maintained a docile expression. After all, her two children were still in his grasp.

“It was too hot,” she said sweetly. “I just wanted to take a quick swim.”

“You’re returning to the city tomorrow. If you wanted to swim, why not go to a pool?” Qi Yan’s tone was calm, neither stern nor soft, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

Swimming alone in an unfamiliar lake at midnight, was she not afraid of an accident? Those who drowned were often the ones most confident in their swimming skills.

Yan An wiped her forehead again, lowered her gaze, and sighed with exaggerated melancholy.

“Pools cost money.”

Qi Yan: “…”

He looked at her in silence, memories from three years ago surfacing in his mind.

Back then, Yan An had always trailed after him in secret. After they got married, she had been the one to take the initiative.

Yet when he proposed divorce and offered her thirty million, she agreed without hesitation.

He had expected resistance, perhaps some reluctance. But instead, she had been overjoyed.

And the most ruthless part?

She vanished without a trace the very next day, taking the money and cutting off all contact.

No calls, no messages…she was completely unreachable.

Yet the phone he had bought for her back then? She was still using it.

Money, huh?

Qi Yan’s lips curled faintly, but whatever amusement he felt quickly faded.

Yan An was undeniably lively and round, but in comparison, the patch of Copper Coin Grass by the lake was equally captivating.

At least the Copper Coin Grass could be taken home and cared for, whereas a person… was far more complicated.

Qi Yan turned his attention away. “Let’s go.”

Yan An murmured an “Oh” and quickly caught up with him, following closely behind. In a small voice, she asked, “Mr. Qi, can I have my phone, lemon, and bitter gourd back?”

These were the three most important things in her life. Her two children and her only link to the outside world.

In this world, you could lose anything, but not your phone!

Qi Yan paused and turned to look at her.

Yan An met his gaze directly and flashed a bright smile. Her almond-shaped eyes curved slightly, long, thick lashes still glistening with water droplets.

Qi Yan’s expression stiffened slightly. He averted his gaze, looking into the hazy darkness ahead, and let out a quiet sigh.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the items and handed them over.

Yan An immediately reached out, cradling them carefully.

She cradled the lemon and bitter gourd with a motherly tenderness, like a parent constantly fretting over their children.

The two little ones, having narrowly escaped disaster, were on the brink of tears.

However, after everything that had happened today, this “bad uncle” didn’t seem quite so bad anymore.

That morning, when Qi Yan saw them, he had merely picked them up and set them on the table. Of course, when Yan Mengmeng, his short arms and legs struggling tried to climb down, he ended up landing hard on his bottom. The impact was so jarring that even the air seemed to carry a faint hint of sourness.

But as an older brother, he had to endure it. Brushing off the pain, he patted his backside, stood up bravely, and retrieved his little brother, the bitter gourd.

Just as Yan An was about to tuck the two children back into her pocket, Qi Yan suddenly spoke.

“If they’re really that important, why did you bring them with you for a swim?”

She froze for a moment before nodding without hesitation. 

“Mhm. I told you, they’re my lucky charms. Of course, I take them everywhere with me.”

Qi Yan’s lips curved slightly. “Is that so? Did you have them with you this morning?”

Yan An: “…”

Feeling guilty, she glanced at her two little ones before coughing awkwardly. “I… accidentally forgot them this morning. Haha. My memory hasn’t been great lately.”

Watching her fidget and stumble over her words, Qi Yan suddenly found her amusing. On a whim, he asked, “Yan An, how about selling them to me? I just so happen to need some lemons for my water. The bitter gourd… can be a bonus, buy one, get one free.”

Yan Mengmeng: !!!

Yan Kuku: QAQ

Yan An’s mouth fell open as she looked up at him, struggling to find her voice. “I…”

Qi Yan drawled, “One million. How about that?”

Her breath hitched. Then, she straightened her back and righteously refused. “I’m not selling them. Mr. Qi, they’re my lucky charms! They can’t be sold!”

A single seed had cost her ten million, not to mention all the candies and snacks she’d bought over time. And he wanted to take her two babies away for just a measly one million? No way!

“Alright, then name your price. How much would it take for you to sell them?”

Yan An looked at him, pressing her lips together. It took all her willpower to resist the temptation. Finally, she mumbled, “Mr. Qi, please don’t joke with me. They’re just little things, not worth you spending so much money. If you really want some, I can buy a few kilos of lemons and bitter gourds for you next time…”

“That works too,” Qi Yan nodded before turning to leave.

Yan An stared after him, dumbfounded.

!!!

She was just being polite! What did he mean by “that works too”? Was she really supposed to give them to him? Was he joking, or did he actually expect her to follow through?!

Yan An clutched her damp hair in distress, frowning as she trailed after him.

Qi Yan was tall, with long strides, and walked fast. She struggled to keep up and had to jog just to match his pace.

After a while, she got tired of running.

Three years ago, when they first met, she had chased after him just like this. Back then, she had been eager to have children, and when she finally found someone with excellent genes, she wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away.

Being proactive was never a bad thing. If she wanted something, she had to go for it.

But now that the kids were born, it didn’t really matter anymore.

Yan An gradually slowed her pace, only to find Qi Yan stopping ahead of her.

He turned slightly and instructed, “Keep up.”

She pouted, puffing out her cheeks. “But you’re walking too fast…”

Qi Yan glanced at his phone and stated matter-of-factly, “It’s already midnight. The sooner you get back, the sooner you can rest.”

“Oh,” Yan An responded absentmindedly.

His gaze flickered to her still-damp hair, and he let out a quiet sigh. “Dry your hair as soon as you get back. You’ll catch a cold if you don’t.”

Yan An instinctively reached up to touch her hair but merely gave a nonchalant nod. She wasn’t worried at all.

How could she possibly catch a cold? She’s a Copper Coin Grass! Who had ever heard of Copper Coin Grass getting sick just because its leaves were wet? Impossible. She literally slept on water!

Qi Yan was clearly dissatisfied with her nonchalant attitude. His brows furrowed, and his sharp features took on a suddenly imposing edge.

Yan An even felt the temperature around them drop slightly.

His voice turned cold. “Keep up.”

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

Yan An bit her finger in frustration. She really didn’t want to chase after him, but at the same time, she didn’t dare not to.

It felt just like back in the clan when the elders assigned her a task. One she didn’t want to do but had no choice but to complete.

Resigned, Yan An sighed and jogged after him.

Soon, they arrived at their destination.

Yan An followed Qi Yan to the second-floor staircase.

He stopped and looked at her. “Go dry your hair first.”

She lowered her gaze and obediently replied, “Okay.”

“Mm. Go on.” Qi Yan nodded and turned to leave.

But just as he was about to go, Yan An suddenly called out, “Mr. Qi!”

He paused, looking back at her. “Hm?”

She hesitated for a moment, then clasped her hands together and spoke in a small voice, “Um… about the online comments… thank you.”

Though she didn’t particularly need anyone to handle those things for her, she knew Qi Yan had done it out of goodwill.

Yan An rarely thanked people seriously. Even with her friends, gestures of kindness were acknowledged internally, but on the surface, they still bantered endlessly.

So saying these words now made her feel a little embarrassed, her expression tinged with shyness.

Under the dim staircase light, she looked unexpectedly endearing.

Qi Yan’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, the depth of his eyes shifting subtly, like an unfathomable galaxy.

Meeting his stare, Yan An’s face gradually turned red. She grew flustered and mumbled, “I-It’s nothing. I’ll be heading in now…”

But before she could leave, Qi Yan suddenly asked, “How are you going to thank me?”

She blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

Wait a minute. Wasn’t “thank you” just a polite gesture? Shouldn’t the normal response be “You’re welcome”?

Qi Yan asked, “Did you see that patch of Copper Coin Grass by the lake?”

Why was he suddenly bringing up Copper Coin Grass?!

Yan An’s emotions quickly shifted from confusion to wariness. She looked at him cautiously, her breathing subconsciously growing lighter. “Y-Yeah, I saw it… Why?”

Qi Yan curved his lips slightly. “Before you leave tomorrow, go to the lake and bring me that patch of Copper Coin Grass, roots and all. Consider it your thanks to me.”