Soon, they moved to the west pavilion.
The wooden pavilion was lit with soft amber lanterns swaying gently in the cool evening breeze. The polished wooden table was set simply yet elegantly with steaming clay pots of chicken soup simmered with wild ginseng, sautéed river shrimp with spring leeks, tender stir-fried rapeseed greens freshly harvested that morning, and a small bamboo steamer of fluffy rice buns.
Wan Ruyi sat facing the glowing fields beyond the pavilion, her shawl wrapped snugly around her shoulders. The lantern light flickered across her delicate face, highlighting the fatigue hidden in her eyes despite her quiet smile.
Lu Zhi Hao poured warm chrysanthemum tea into her cup, his long fingers brushing hers lightly as he set the porcelain pot aside.
"Eat something," he said softly, his deep voice low with quiet insistence.
