Shocking! The actress was dragged to the regent's bedchamber every night.

Her hands were a little cold, so he warmed his palm with his thumb and gently rubbed it against the back of her hand.

Su Wuli snapped out of her thoughts and looked down at the two people's clasped hands.

Yu Chen pulled her a step toward the stone table and showed her the lamps on it.

The candles are all in place.

Su Wuli looked at it, then stammered, "I didn't release any river lanterns..."

"Mm," Yu Chen replied.

Chuhe and Qiaosheng, standing beside them, lowered their heads even further, trying their best to suppress the corners of their lips.

It was completely dark.

The moon hadn't risen yet, but the sky was already filled with stars.

The road on the back mountain wasn't particularly rugged; it was clearly man-made.

Su Wuli walked ahead, carrying the river lantern.

Chuhe and Qiaosheng were originally holding it, but Su Wuli wanted to take it herself.

Several lamps were stacked in her arms, and pink petals covered her face, revealing only the top of her head.

She walked slowly, making sure each step was firm before taking the next.

She was afraid of stepping on her skirt and breaking the lamp.

After walking for a while, she still stepped on the hem of her skirt.

She reflexively stumbled forward a step, and the lamp flickered in her arms.

Yu Chen reached out from behind her and supported her arm, while taking the river lantern from her arms with his other hand.

He took the lamp, and her arms felt empty.

My hands hung down at my sides, my fingers slightly curled up, and I didn't know where to put them.

She wiped her hand on the hem of her skirt, as if to say that it was an accident.

However, when she met the man's eyes, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

In the end, it turned out that she was the one following behind him.

Looking at the tall figure, his robes were blown up and then fell back down by the mountain wind.

She walked on his shadow as if it were a game, a bit like hopscotch.

After walking for a while, my breathing became a little heavy.

She didn't speak, but her pace slowed down.

However, the sound of his breathing was more noticeable than usual in the quiet night.

Yu Chen turned his head and glanced at her. Starlight fell on his profile, outlining a pale silver edge.

Su Wuli raised her head to meet his gaze and spoke before he could make a move.

"I can walk."

After saying that, he paused for a moment.

Thinking back, she realized that she hadn't walked much since leaving the Regent's Palace.

Either Yu Chen carried him on his back, or he held him in his arms.

His confidence vanished instantly, and his voice lowered, "We're almost there..."

"Alright." Yu Chen said, "Go by yourself."

He slowed his pace as he spoke, so slow that he had to wait half a step for every step Su Wuli took.

She followed behind him, looking down at his shadow, which stretched out very long.

Her shadow's shoulders, the back of her head, her toes...

His footsteps slowly overlapped with his shadow.

Suddenly, I stepped on my shadow and lost my footing.

He turned a corner but she didn't, her foot landed on the edge of the stone slab, and she tumbled forward.

He reached out and quickly grasped her hand.

A cool mountain breeze blew up from the valley floor, carrying the scent of grass, trees, and earth.

Su Wuli sneezed.

Yu Chen turned his head and glanced at Chu He.

Chuhe quickly followed from behind, holding an outer robe in her hands.

He took it, unfolded it, and draped it over her shoulders, then adjusted the collar.

The wind can't get in.

Then tie the straps.

Su Wuli looked down at the knot she had tied and smiled. "A bow."

"Isn't this the kind of knot you like to tie?" Yu Chen said.

Upon hearing this, Su Wuli was slightly taken aback and looked up.

It's not that she likes tying bows, but nowadays most people tie bows when they wear clothes or tie their shoelaces.

But I never imagined how he would notice it.

The mountain wind blew again, but it couldn't move her outer robe; it could only stir the stray hairs at her temples.

She turned her head to look at their clasped hands; his fingers were intertwined with hers, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged slightly in the starlight.

Yu Chen pulled her along as they continued walking.

We arrived at the riverbank.

Feng Xi held a tinderbox and lit several lanterns for illumination.

A halo of light shone through the lantern and fell onto the water's surface.

Chuhe then carefully arranged the river lanterns one by one.

Su Wuli walked over and squatted down, looking expectant.

Yu Chen took the tinder from Chu He, opened the lid, and blew on it.

Flames leaped up.

He then picked up a lamp, lit a candle, and the flame flickered briefly in the lamp before settling down.

He handed it to her.

Su Wuli held it in both hands, her palms touching the slightly warm wooden base.

Then, he carefully placed the lamp on the water's surface. Due to the flowing river water, the lamp swayed and tilted to the left.

She reached out to help, and just as her fingers touched the petals, Yu Chen's hand reached out from the side.

I took her hand and gently pushed her forward.

The light drifted away, gently swaying on the water as it floated further and further away.

The firelight flickered on the water's surface, like stars fallen into the water.

Having learned from her experience, she lit another lamp.

This time, she didn't ask Yu Chen for help, but instead held the lantern and squatted by the stream herself.

The light wobbled slightly when it was lowered, but it stabilized.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Su Wuli then placed another lamp.

When she lit the fourth lamp, she subconsciously looked up at Yu Chen.

Meeting his gaze, Su Wuli smiled at him.

He then lowered his head and placed the lamp on the water.

The light floated out.

Watching the lamp slowly drift away, its flames danced on the water's surface.

She turned to look at him, silently repeating in her mind.

I hope Yu Chen is safe and sound.

As the lamps drifted further away, their light grew smaller and smaller, blending in with the other lamps in front, making it impossible to distinguish one from another.

She glanced at him again as she put down the fifth lamp.

He was looking down at her.

Su Wuli quickly withdrew her gaze and stared at the lamp that had drifted away.

She mentally repeated the words she had just spoken.

The sixth lamp, the seventh lamp.

They continued until ten lamps were lit.

I squatted by the stream, watching the lights line up in a crooked line on the water.

Her legs felt a little numb when she stood up, so Yu Chen reached out and held her arm until she was steady before letting go.

"What did you wish for?" he asked.

Su Wuli shook her head, "I can't say it, it won't work if I say it."

Yu Chen glanced at her but didn't ask any further questions, seemingly agreeing with her words.

Then he took a lamp from Chuhe, lit it, walked to the stream, and placed the lamp on the water.

The light spun on the water's surface and drifted downstream with the current.

Su Wuli asked instinctively, "What did you wish for?"

"no."

"You're lying, I don't believe you," she said.

"It won't work if you say it out loud."

Upon hearing this, Su Wuli was taken aback.

The eyes that had just been scrutinizing Yu Chen widened slightly.

She snapped out of her daze. "You're copying me."