An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

After returning from Leizhou, they stayed in Zhaoqing Prefecture for seven or eight days to bid farewell to their relatives before the sisters finally returned to Qiantang County in a grand procession.

However, I wasn't as happy as I was when I arrived.

Apart from Jing Chunxi and the young Xiaoyu, everyone else looked listless, like wilted eggplants, lacking any energy.

Xiaoyu was overjoyed to see her sisters again, whom she had spent so much time with. She was so happy that she didn't know what to do. Her small figure seemed to want to turn into a piece of chewing gum, sticking to her sisters every moment and every second, sharing the joy and intimacy of their reunion.

However, this joy was soon overshadowed by another layer of gloom—someone who shouldn't have come arrived. From that day on, just like back at Green Mountain Manor, my sister was once again firmly "possessed" by that noble Crown Prince.

Moreover, this time, His Highness the Crown Prince went even further, to an extreme. It could be said that, except for the night when they had to sleep separately, he stayed by Xi-jie's side almost every step of the way, as if he was afraid that she would disappear into thin air in the blink of an eye.

How could the sisters, who had originally planned to travel together, be happy in such a situation? An indescribable sense of loss and a hidden dissatisfaction spread among them.

"His Highness is absolutely detestable! I don't like him at all." Jin'er stomped her feet angrily, flicked her sleeves, and the fine silk fabric drew a rapid arc in the air. Although she was already twelve years old, she still acted like a child.

"They're not even officially married yet, and he's already acting like this! If my sister really gets married into that deep palace, what will happen? Wouldn't it be like climbing to heaven for us sisters to even see each other?" The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she felt, and her eyebrows furrowed tightly.

“Exactly!” Mingzhu chimed in, her lips pouting and her face showing indignation. “The old saying goes that men and women should not touch each other. We’re not even married yet, and he’s always holding my sister’s hand so intimately when we go out. What kind of behavior is that?”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Her heart felt like it was stuffed with cotton, making her feel suffocated. "His Highness is so disregardful of etiquette and my sister's reputation. He must not be allowed to do this again."

“Your Majesty’s actions this time were indeed inappropriate.” Even Ling’er, who was usually the most gentle and quiet and rarely spoke ill of others, couldn’t help but express her dissatisfaction in a low voice. She felt that her cousin’s actions were too hasty, lacking his usual sense of propriety and manners, and were almost offensive.

“Every time he invites my sister out to enjoy the lake or handle some so-called business, he never thinks of taking us sisters along. He completely leaves us aside. It’s really… very impolite.” She carefully chose her words, her tone tinged with grievance.

"Oh dear, you guys are really something!" It was Xiaoyu, the youngest of the group, who blinked her clear and bright eyes at her older sisters with a puzzled look on her face, but her words were surprisingly insightful.

"Don't you even consider how long His Highness and his sister have been separated? It's been a very, very long time! Now that they've finally met, he naturally wants to be closer to her. Why are you all trying to stop him like this?"

She tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over everyone, her tone innocent yet hitting the nail on the head, "Do you all hope that after you get married, your husbands won't treat you well, but will instead spend all their time being nice to other sisters?"

This question was like a drop of cold water falling into boiling oil, instantly exploding, or like a fine needle precisely piercing through the thin shell of discontent, leaving them speechless and looking at each other in bewilderment.

That makes sense when you think about it. Besides, it would probably be another year or two before we could reunite after this separation, which is really troublesome.

For Xiaoyu, things were that simple—His Highness the Crown Prince was good to her sister, and her sister felt happy because of it; that was her greatest hope and comfort. As long as her sister always held a place for them in her heart, what else mattered?

"That's right, you all see that Third Brother is the same. Even with Third Sister-in-law, he didn't force us to stay a few more days." Yan Jie'er said sullenly, seemingly unwilling. It was her first time traveling far from home, and her first time seeing the sea. She didn't even get to play for a few days before being sent back.

On a sunny day with gentle breezes and rippling blue waters, an exquisite painted boat glides slowly across the mirror-like lake.

Inside the boat, Xu Zize held Jing Chunxi tightly in his arms, his chin gently resting on the top of her head, feeling the warmth that had been lost and regained.

Jing Chunxi tilted her head slightly, carefully examining the face so close to hers. Her fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly as she gently stroked his cheeks, which had become noticeably thinner. His once handsome face now appeared somewhat dark, and his cheekbones were more prominent.

Her heart felt as if it had been clenched by something, and a tender feeling spread through her, turning into a barely audible sigh: "How... have you lost so much weight?" Before she could finish speaking, she was already moved by his emotions. She took the initiative to stand on tiptoe and gently pressed her soft, thin lips, filled with pity and longing, to his slightly dry lips.

Xu Zize was startled by her rare initiative, and his arms around her slender waist tightened unconsciously. Through the thin autumn fabric, he could clearly feel the graceful curves of her body beneath his palm, which had become even more alluring and charming than before they parted.

His Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably as he tried his best to suppress the surging impulses and desires within him, his deep eyes churning with emotion.

After a long while, he managed to suppress the heat and squeeze out a few comforting words: "It's alright, Xi'er, don't worry. Just... just a few more months to determine the location of the last connection between the north and south water systems, and make sure everything is foolproof, then Brother Xiaokang... can go back and stay with my Xi'er for a long, long time."

He deliberately slowed down his speech to make his voice sound as steady as possible.

The most crucial engineering phases, those requiring his personal oversight and decision-making, have now been finalized one by one, and the projects already determined in the early stages are largely complete. He mentally calculated the time, estimating that once the final interface was confirmed, it would be about time for him to retire and return to the capital.

Moreover, in his recent letters, his father has repeatedly urged him to return to the capital as soon as possible. In addition to expressing concern for the project, his words also conveyed a strong desire for more people around him to discuss matters.

He himself had been missing this girl so much that he was almost going crazy, and it was time for him to go back.