During this time of year, the summer sun showed no mercy to those who wandered out of the shade. Although it was still early and noon was still a few hours away, the scorching sun spoke volumes. Even the summer wind offered no relieving breeze, only a warm breath instead. The late morning sun blazed down on Ping'an as sweat dripped from the sides of her face to her chin. Although she knew that wiping her sweat with her dirty palm would smear dirt on her face, she also knew no one would look at her even if she wore a goddess dress.
Ping'an put all the chopped wood on the wheelbarrow and tied the rope tightly. Standing between the handles, she wrapped the support rope around her shoulders and began to push the wheelbarrow back toward town. Suddenly, the rope snapped, and the firewood spilled everywhere. She knelt on the ground and began to re-tie the rope. Her morning worsened with every passing minute, yet it was a day like any other in her typical, arduous life. She paid no attention to the world around her, for the world had never paid attention to her. She simply minded her business, needing to return to the inn as soon as possible before her father went on a sword-slashing rampage.
A pair of white boots slowly approached, then stopped before her. Ping'an's gaze crawled upward from the pristine footwear, past a pristine white and blue outfit, until she met the eyes of what seemed an angel. The handsome face of a young man with fair, flawless skin, his silky black hair neatly tied back, combed with a white piece of jade.
"Miss, may I ask how far Peace Town is from here?" Guo Baiyu's voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the harshness Ping'an usually heard.
Ping'an looked up, a flicker of surprise in her eyes at being addressed by such a refined stranger. She quickly lowered her head, resuming the task of tying the broken rope.
"My name is Guo Baiyu. I am visiting family in Peace Town for the first time," Guo Baiyu continued, a hint of curiosity in his tone as he watched her. He wondered why this young woman avoided eye contact. Usually, when he spoke to or walked past young women, they would stare at him or make him feel uncomfortable. But this lady was different. He felt at ease, a strange pull drawing him to her. He wanted to have a conversation with her.
Hearing the family name "Guo" was enough to keep her eyes down, her gaze fixed on the tangled rope. In Peace Town, the Guo family was not only the wealthiest but also renowned for their impeccable manners, making her own plight feel even more glaring.
"It's not too far from here," Ping'an murmured, pointing down the road with a dirt-smudged finger. "About an hour's walk that way." She continued to mind her business, still diligently avoiding Guo Baiyu's gaze, a shield against potential judgment.
"Thank you." Guo Baiyu took a few steps away, then found himself turning back to look at Ping'an, an inexplicable force halting him. His heart hammered in his chest, a frantic drumbeat. His eyes fixed on her, he felt a sensation he'd never experienced before. It was as if everything he had been missing his whole life was now standing before him. He didn't know why, but the feeling of longing was incredibly strong. He walked back to Ping'an, who was still on the ground binding her broken rope.
"Let me help you," Guo Baiyu offered, his voice softer now as he bent down, his elegant clothes contrasting sharply with the dirt. He helped pick up the scattered firewood on the ground, his movements surprisingly efficient. Together, they returned the wood to the wheelbarrow, and he expertly tied the rope tightly. Guo Baiyu took one handle of the wheelbarrow, and Ping'an, still hesitant, held the other.
"Thank you so much," Ping'an whispered, her gaze still averted, a hint of genuine gratitude in her voice.
"You are most welcome," Guo Baiyu replied, a warm smile gracing his lips, hoping to convey his sincerity.
The two strangers walked side by side until they reached Sunset Street. On the walk back to town, they moved in a comfortable silence, both keeping their eyes fixed forward, a quiet understanding passing between them. When they reached Sunset Street, a young man in his twenties suddenly ran toward them, waving vigorously at the two figures with an excited grin.
"Baiyu! Baiyu! Over here!" Guo Longtong called out, his voice carrying clearly above the street's bustle.
Guo Longtong ran up to Ping'an and Guo Baiyu, almost out of breath, his chest heaving slightly.
"Longtong," Guo Baiyu acknowledged, a slight smile touching his lips at his cousin's boisterousness.
"I am so sorry... I lost track of time and my train of thought. I was standing in line waiting for a table," Guo Longtong panted, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
"Why are you standing in line?" Guo Baiyu asked, a puzzled frown creasing his brow.
Guo Longtong explained, flapping his fan up and down frantically to cool himself. "You have no idea, brother! There's a saying: 'If you pass through Peace Town and don't dine at Sunrise Inn, it was never worth the trip!'" Guo Longtong continued fanning himself, his eyes wide with enthusiasm. "The beauty who lives there is out of this world! I knew you would be here today, that's why I went and stood in line for a table."
Guo Baiyu gave Guo Longtong a polite smile, but his eyes drifted, turning his head to gaze at Ping'an, who stood quietly beside him. Deep in his heart, he wondered who could be more beautiful than the person standing next to him at that moment.
"Baiyu... Baiyu..." Guo Longtong's voice grew insistent as he looked at Guo Baiyu, whose eyes were clearly fixated on Ping'an's face. Guo Longtong then patted Guo Baiyu's right shoulder, a little harder than necessary. "Baiyu..."
"Sorry..." Guo Baiyu apologized, blinking back to reality, a faint flush on his cheeks. He turned to Guo Longtong, shaking his head slightly.
"You scared me. I thought you were possessed," Guo Longtong joked, a teasing glint in his eye. "Come... hurry. I've already got a table for us. My three friends are already there."
"Thank you, young master," Ping'an said softly, her voice barely audible as she quickly wheeled the cart of firewood toward the Inn's back, eager to escape the awkwardness.
Guo Baiyu started to walk after her, his gaze still drawn, but his cousin, Guo Longtong, stopped him with a firm grip.
"Sunrise Inn is this way," Guo Longtong stated, grabbing Guo Baiyu's right wrist. The two men then walked toward Sunrise Inn down Sunset Street, leaving Ping'an to her solitude.
Ping'an pushed the wheelbarrow down the backstreet toward the back door of Sunrise Inn. She felt her heart ache, a sharp, unfamiliar pang. Her whole life until now, no one had ever treated her with such respect, with such casual kindness. This was the first time someone had given her a helping hand. She was the town's favorite subject of gossip. Everyone who knew her considered her bad luck, especially since her fiancé had died in an accident the day after their engagement. Except for her grandmother, everyone else regarded her as nothing more than dust.
Ping'an knew long ago that the most fearsome weapon was a person's mouth. If someone's dog died, it was her fault. If she walked by and someone got hurt, it was her fault. Indeed, anything bad that happened to others was attributed to her presence. She had considered running away long ago, but then, she still had her grandmother. Without her grandmother, she could have started a new life in another town, perhaps even changing her name and never setting foot in Peace Town again. When she reached the back door, she quickly dried her tears with the back of her hand, smearing dirt across her face, and pushed the firewood into the kitchen. Xiong Grandma was still sitting in the same place, and the pile of bedsheets was higher than when Ping'an had left it.
"Grandma, I am back," Ping'an announced, trying to keep her voice steady despite the lingering ache in her chest.
"Did you eat?" Xiong Grandma asked, her voice soft with concern.
Ping'an lied, "Yes." To be honest, she wasn't hungry. She felt utterly defeated and overwhelmed, her heart brimming with sorrows and pains, a new kind of pain now mingled with the old.