Mountain Road

  Yuan Longqiao and Xia Tian walked on the mountain path that couldn't be called a road, they didn't return to Ling Wang Fu, nor did they go to the Protector General's mansion, but instead went straight out of the city gate. Living to twenty-three years old, he was still being so willful for the first time, what heaven, imperial throne, responsibility, he didn't want any of it, just wanting to spend a few peaceful and quiet days with her, this might be the best days he could give her, or perhaps the best days he could give himself.

  I've already climbed over one mountain and crawled up another. In the summer heat, I'm panting like a cow, with a big patch of sweat on my back, and my hair is all disheveled. I glanced sideways at Yuan Longqiao, who seemed completely carefree, and felt annoyed - it looked like she didn't even know how many more mountains we'd have to climb! Is today's trip supposed to be a hike? Her feet were killing her, and she was probably already getting several blisters!

  Yuan Longqiao slightly shook her head, she was still so stubborn! Although exhausted, she gritted her teeth and followed in her own footsteps, not falling behind a single step. The corner of his mouth twitched upwards as he squatted down in front of her, saying lightly and casually: "Get on, I'll carry you."

  Summer was stunned for a while, staring at his back, wondering if she had misheard.

  "We still have two more mountains to climb, aren't you tired?" He tilted his cheek and smiled teasingly.

  Are there still two more mountains?! Summer is thoroughly shocked! Although the mountain that was just crossed wasn't very high, looking ahead, all the tall mountains are towering into the clouds. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have saved him; who has ever heard of saving someone and then having to pay with one's own life?! Being a good person isn't as easy as it seems, and it's also her own fault for not learning from being tricked by Xia Yu before, and now she's been tormented by Yuan Longchuan until she's left with only half a life.

  Since it's come to this, why be polite anymore! Xia Tian pouted and directly pressed herself onto his body.

  A wave of heat spread across his back, and there was a sticky feeling when their bodies touched. It seemed she was really exhausted! Yuan Long's heart softened slightly, and he couldn't help but feel some sympathy. Carrying her on his back, he stood up, his footsteps still steady and light.

  "How did you get to know your seventh brother?"

  Summer lay on his back, eyes rolling silently.

  "You've already spoken! Aren't you tired of pretending to be mute?" He didn't turn his head, but with one sentence, he grasped her concerns and expression thoroughly.

  Xiatian rolled her eyes, although she didn't want to bother with him, but was quite curious about his phrase "Seventh Brother".

  "Why are you dressed like this today?" He asked persistently.

  "I feel stuffy, I'll go out for a walk." She thought of her big brother lying in bed and couldn't bear to see him, her mood suddenly sank.

  Yuan Longqiao fell silent for a moment, "So you met Xiao Qi?"

  "Is he really your seventh brother, Yuan Longpan? Damn it, and he even deceived me into calling him Dragon Seven!"

  His left eyebrow twitched slightly upwards, his voice devoid of emotion: "You also deceived him, why say your surname is Fang?"

  "I'm on a secret visit, if I say my surname is Xia, wouldn't that reveal my identity?"

  What a little shameless thing! Yuan Longqiao almost laughed out loud, but thanks to his good mental quality cultivated over the years, he only slightly curled up the corner of his mouth. "You shouldn't say your surname is Xia, as a woman takes her husband's surname after marriage, you should say your surname is Yuan instead."

  Xiatian rolled her eyes, although bickering with him wasn't very atmospheric, but her guard against him decreased a lot because of this. Her hands naturally wrapped around his neck, and she said disdainfully: "Hmph, you think I really don't understand? Yuan is the national surname, if I told outsiders that my surname is Yuan, it would only expose me faster."

  "So you say your surname is Fang, not Yuan but Fang." His voice was warm and careful listening still carried a hint of joy.

  For some reason, Xia Tian's face suddenly turned red. It was as if someone had pierced his secret, and also as if he felt a little guilty.

  The two of them stopped talking and watched as the sky slowly darkened.

  After a long time, she couldn't help but ask: "Aren't you tired?"

  He lifted her up slightly and smiled faintly, his voice low and magnetic: "You can be a bit heavier."

  I don't know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up in the summer, I was lying on a kang with my hair scattered all over my face. My body was covered with a coarse linen quilt. I sat up with sleepy eyes, and inside the house, an oil lamp was like a bean, surrounded by a dull gray mist, and it was really impossible to see anything clearly.

  The creaking sound of the wooden door being pushed open from the outside echoed through the silent night, its slightly sharp tone unusually clear and piercing.

  Summer was already afraid of the dark, and at this moment she was even more tense, curling up her legs and shouting: "Yuan Longqiao!"

  The person who came in didn't expect that Xia Tian had already woken up and was clearly startled.

  As she watched the dark figure move towards her, Xia Tian's heart was so tense it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.