The solemn temple, the dark red courtyard walls, the deep gray ridges of the halls, and the ancient towering trees with bare branches were all bathed in the misty sky. Outside, the cold breeze fluttered, making one feel bone-chillingly cold from the heart. In front of the thatched house, two men seemed to feel nothing of the chill, their faces calm and composed. The old monk took a sip of tea and left a remark. "This matter cannot be rushed; it requires slow recovery." Bao Shaojin’s face was gloomy, a hint of darkness in his black eyes. The old monk looked at his nephew, let out a long sigh. The next second, he saw a young girl strolling joyfully from the corridor pavilion. The young girl came gracefully, her steps light and slow. Even in her fitted long coat, one could see her slim and graceful figure. Her long, smooth hair flowed down, and with each step, it swayed in the air, drawing a small arc. In a trance, the old monk seemed to return to the past. The beauty was like a charming flower, gentle and lovable, yet when she acted recklessly, she always drove him half to death with anger. The past seemed so much like yesterday. Bao Shaojin noticed the person beside him seemed trapped in a nightmare and spoke in a deep voice. The old monk’s body trembled, his gaze scattered. When he looked ahead, he saw the young girl with skin as fair as snow standing beside his nephew. The two, a talented man and a beautiful woman, looked like a perfect couple. "Bao Shaojin, look, these are the branches I picked. Aren’t they beautiful?" An Yin held up the branches in her hand, her bright eyes clear and pure like a tranquil autumn pool. Bao Shaojin looked at her with a somewhat murky gaze, and after a long time, he merely hummed softly. An Yin, being sensitive, noticed the man’s lack of interest, and the smile on her face gradually faded. "Do you like plum blossoms?" The old monk looked at the young girl holding the plum branches, unwilling to part with them, and asked aloud. "So fragrant, so beautiful." An Yin ignored the disappointment in her heart and looked at the kindly old man before her. Hearing this, the old monk’s indifferent pupils quivered slightly, "There are plenty here. If you want, I can have someone pick some for you?" "No need." An Yin hurriedly shook her head. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 When Bao Shaojin heard the words "pick some," his eyes gradually became sharp. He stood up silently and walked behind the young girl. He had somewhat heard of his second uncle’s fondness for plum blossoms. "Second Uncle, I’m sorry for disturbing your peace today." The old monk averted his gaze, casting a glance at his nephew. When their eyes met, there was an implicit understanding of unspoken thoughts within them. Some words need not be spoken yet had long formed a deep understanding in their hearts. The old monk stood up but looked at the young girl, "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come find me." His words were spoken with weight and clarity, resembling a solemn and serious promise. An Yin was puzzled by his serious tone, yet despite her doubt, she vaguely detected the goodwill in his words, "Alright, thank you, Second Uncle." The old monk stared at her, wanting to say something, but in the end, he turned around, waved to the two, and started walking indoors. His steps were light, giving an illusion of celestial grace. Until the old monk’s figure was no longer visible, An Yin leaned beside Bao Shaojin, chirping like a little bird, murmuring, "Is he your real second uncle? He helped read my pulse earlier, is he a doctor? He..." Bao Shaojin interrupted her incessant chatter. An Yin pouted in dissatisfaction, several plum blossoms falling from her hand as she walked, and she looked regretfully at the branches she held. After walking a long path, they finally reached the gate. Standing before the desolate front, An Yin felt an indescribable sensation. The inconspicuous gate belied the hidden depths within the temple, layers upon layers, surrounding the halls, making it feel like an immortal realm, giving an unreal and elusive feeling. Assistant Lin had been waiting at the parking spot. After seeing them through the rearview mirror, he swiftly got out of the car and opened the door to the back seat. Once everyone was in the car, Assistant Lin noticed a hint of melancholy on Mr. Bao’s face. Despite hiding his emotions well, he had been by Mr. Bao’s side for years and had an intuition about certain matters. An Yin held the branch in her hand, almost all the plum blossoms had fallen off, leaving only two or three blooms stubbornly blooming on the branch. She reached out and gently touched the soft petals with her fingertips. The scene turned awkward. The remaining few blossoms fell onto the car’s carpet under her touch. After a few seconds of stiffness, An Yin stretched her neck, trying to search for the fallen plum blossoms at her feet, but someone got there first. The man bent down, his slender fingers picked the petals off the ground and threw them into the car’s trash can. An Yin frowned but dared not voice any complaints. The young girl holding the bare branch felt it was awkward, neither throwing it away nor holding it comfortably. An Yin gradually began to feel uneasy in her seat. After some contemplation, she plucked up the courage to look at the man, "Bao Shaojin, are you in a bad mood?" Since she took a stroll in the Plum Garden and returned, the man’s expression had turned cold. An Yin couldn’t decipher the man’s thoughts or what he had talked about with his second uncle earlier. Under Bao Shaojin’s high brow, his eyes flashed with a deep and profound darkness. He moved his firmly set lips, his voice hoarse, "No." "Really?" An Yin’s voice was soft and weak, with a hint of concern in her inquiry. Bao Shaojin leaned his head to overlook her, his gaze intense. The man’s action made An Yin’s heart pound, her face flushed instantly, and she quickly turned her head away. The car drove along the mountain road, which was paved with asphalt, very convenient for driving. To quell her inner panic, An Yin looked out the window, watching the rugged mountains, where the leaves on the trees had fallen, leaving only the thick, bare branches. Compared to the young girl’s carefree attitude, the man beside her appeared much more recluse and somber. Bao Shaojin rested his hand on the car’s armrest, his fingertips lightly tapping on it, making a subtle sound. The old second uncle’s diagnosis still lingered in his ears, and after hearing his words, Bao Shaojin remained silent for a long time. Even when the old uncle offered some comforting words, it seemed not enough to dispel the gloom in his heart. The young girl’s frail health was something he knew about, and when she was in the hospital before, they had done some tests, revealing no major issues. However, today’s pulse reading revealed some other conditions, not life-threatening but enough to be troubling. The man exhaled a heavy breath, and seeing her lying by the window, carelessly appreciating the outside scenery, he felt a pang in his heart. He couldn’t help but sigh silently in his heart: Little ingrate!