Ling Li woke up and tucked the sleeping Ah-Xuan into his quilt. He turned around and found Su Jingyang still in a daze. He sat next to him and asked in a warm voice, "What's wrong? You look like something's in your mind."

Su Jingyang heard Ling Li's voice and became a bit more focused, he curled his mouth into a smile, "It's nothing, is Ah-Xuan already asleep?"

"Well, he's asleep... are you really all right?" Ling Li asked uneasy.

Su Jingyang shook his head, "It's really nothing, I just didn't sleep well last night."

In fact, it was because of Rong Ci's tears that day before, his mind couldn't get off what had happened. When Rong Ci said "thank you for being in my life", his progress bar rose to 8.7%! Su Jingyang was shocked. He pondered carefully for a long time and had a guess on why Rong Ci became like that.

Maybe it was because he would no longer be by Rong Ci's side after 60 years, so...

No, not sixty years. Ah-Li will soon enter the Palace, he'll be able to leave soon, it might not take even half a year of waiting.

Rong Ci had already promised that he wouldn't force him to stay, but his heart must still be very uncomfortable with his decision, but because of his personality, he rarely showed it. That moment was only a fragment of everything, but when Su Jingyang realized that he was hurting, he felt like he suddenly couldn't breathe!

Su Jingyang rubbed his face vigorously, his expression was very distressed, and his heart seemed to have been soaked in vinegar, it was so sore and painful, he was so sad he didn't want to talk.

Ling Li looked at him for a moment and saw something. He looked out of the door and put a hand on his arm, asking, "Where's Rong Ci? There's nothing happening here, why don't you go back and accompany him more."

"He went to find Rong Hua." Su Jingyang asked Rong Ci yesterday what he planned to do. Rong Ci said that he would truthfully tell Rong Hua about the situation so that he wouldn't be entangled in some way, letting him make a decision on his own.

Su Jingyang couldn't guess on how Rong Hua would react once he learns the truth. Alas.

Ling Li nodded when he heard his words, "Why don't you just sleep here with me?"

Su Jingyang didn't tell a lie, he really didn't sleep well at night. Listening to Ling Li's words, he tilted his head and leaned on Ling Li's shoulder.

"I kind of want to sleep here, can I?"

Ling Li smiled and watched him endearingly. "Yes, but you won't be comfortable sleeping like this."

"I'm comfortable, really." Su Jingyang rubbed at his eyes and adjusted a little. After the gesture, he raised his gaze to meet a pair of smiling eyes. The two were very close, their breaths entangling together. Su Jingyang stared at him, and suddenly felt a little sad, "In the future, we'll be separated from each other, it'll be difficult to meet, let alone rely on each other." Ling Li's eyes dimmed after hearing this, he raised his hand and quietly stroked his back.

"But Ah-Li." Su Jingyang's dark pupils flashed brightly, he said with a very firm expression: "I believe that you have a prosperous road ahead of you, Ah-Xuan as well, yes! Definitely!"

Although he couldn't tell him what would happen in the future, it's fine to say some blessings. Ah-Li might be able to get some comfort from it.

Ling Li watched him, saying softly, "Thank you."

Su Jingyang leaned on Ling Li's shoulder, squinting, Ling Li was motionless, letting him lean on him. He waited for Ming Jiasheng to come to see Ah-Xuan, and when he did, Su Jingyang sat up straight dazedly.

Su Jingyang got up and sat back down to pour tea, he glanced at Ming Jiasheng who was talking with Ling Li from time to time. To be honest, even though he knew the truth of the matter, he still couldn't picture Ming Jiasheng as Ah-Xuan's son, after all, Ah-Xuan is still so young... But whether Ming Jiasheng was really Ling Li's grandson and Ah-Xuan's son, his attitude towards his 'elders' was undeniably respectful. It seemed so natural, it didn't seem out of place at all.

Looking at his calm appearance now, Su Jingyang couldn't guess if Rong Hua actually knew everything...

Ming Jiasheng found that that Ah-Xuan's fever had gone away, and that there would be no problems. He left after a while, and Ling Li watched him leave. Ling Li finally couldn't help but show a strange expression. This person seemed to care too much about Ah-Xuan, he was too unpredictable.

Su Jingyang felt Ling Li's confusion, he poured him a cup of tea, served it to him, and said, "Perhaps its really as he said, he views you as a relative."

Ling Li took the teacup, he looked down and thought for a while before taking a sip. He slowly said to Su Jingyang: "Actually, I've always been puzzled. Rong Hua also said that that I was very similar to one of his relatives, but the two of them don't seem to be related by blood. It's very probable that the two of them have a common relative who look very much like me, or that one if them isn't a relative of that person but considered himself to be so. Hao Jiasheng had always pestered Rong Hua. Although Rong Hua looks tired of him and actively avoids him, he had been injured but is still unwilling to let go. What really happened? Perhaps, between the two of them... there's also one more thing that I don't understand. Hao Jiasheng changed too much from before, there's an inexplicable strangeness..."

Su Jingyang was stunned when he heard what Ling Li said. Ling Li furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head, sighing, "Forget it, I can't guess it."

He lowered his head and took another sip as Su Jingyang stared in shock, shouting in his heart: No, no, you already have a pretty solid guess!

Ling Li raised his head and found Su Jingyang staring at him intensely. He couldn't help but smile and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Su Jingyang stretched out his hand and said, "Do you still want to drink tea? I'll pour it for you."

Su Jingyang thought, if Rong Ci hadn't told him the truth directly, he would only think that Hao Jiasheng was a crazy stalker, he'd definitely not analyze it like Ling Li and catch a glimpse of the truth... Su Jingyang sincerely despised his brainpower.

Su Jingyang stayed with Ling Li until the afternoon before going back. When he met Rong Ci on the road, Su Jingyang hurriedly asked what happened to Rong Hua.

Rong Ci sighed and said, "He went back to Rongcheng."

"Back to Rongcheng?" Su Jingyang was surprised, he thought that Rong Hua would go to Hao Jiasheng and confront him to thoroughly understand the cause and effect of the matter. He never guessed that he would just leave like that!

"Yes, he should've gone back to the Grand Wizard."

"Then he... what was his reaction after hearing it?"

"Ugly, he didn't want to believe it, but he has no choice. In fact, he already had a faint hunch."

Suddenly finding out something like that would definitely be a big shock. Su Jingyang felt very sorry for Rong Hua, he hurriedly asked: "Then, is Ming Jiasheng still chasing after him?"

Rong Ci answered, "He wanted to, but he was caught by Rong Hua. He took a few whips relentlessly but still didn't catch up."

Although Rong Hua had already left, Ah-Xuan's injury still wasn't healed. They definitely couldn't leave at the moment. Su Jingyang could only silently worry about Rong Hua.

After a few more days of resting, Ah-Xuan's spirit recovered a little, he was able to get out of bed. Even though his injured arm couldn't be lifted without aggravating the wound. Su Jingyang and Xu Mei often brought their children over to play with him, the days weren't as boring.

Ming Jiasheng didn't succeed in chasing Rong Hua that day, but he still stayed behind, stopping by to see Ah-Xuan and Ling Li almost every day. Ling Li knew that Rong Hua had left by himself, he saw the persistent loneliness in Ming Jiasheng's expressions but only sighed inwardly, deciding to not ask.

After more than half a month like this, Ling Li suddenly told to Su Jingyang that Ah-Xuan's injury was almost healed and that he could return to Rongcheng.

Su Jingyang also felt that he had bothered their host for too long, so he told Xu Mei, Mu Jin, and the others that he planned to leave the next day.

Xu Mei couldn't keep them, but luckily the two places weren't too far from each other. He promised to go to Rongcheng and look for them in the future.

The next morning, they packed up and got on the carriage with Ming Jiasheng following along.

Xu Mei and Mu Jin came out to send them off. When they were saying their goodbye to them, Song Hui who was guarding the Ling Li's carriage suddenly received an urgent report. A smile full of joy bloomed on his face. After sending the messenger away, he turned around to face Ling Li, saying, "Madame, the Master had already sent someone to pick you up, he'll be able to reach Liyang in more or less ten days."

Ling Li held Ah-Xuan in a daze for a while before whispering: "I see."

Song Hui continued: "We shouldn't delay the City Lord's family, we should stay here temporarily."

Su Jingyang heard their voices and hurriedly handed over the children to the wet nurse. When he heard what they were talking about, he looked at King Li blankly.

Su Jingyang knew that there would be a day when they'd go on separate ways. He prepared in his heart, but when the day really came, he was still caught off guard. His throat seemed to be blocked, he couldn't say anything.

Ling Li and Su Jingyang looked at each other for a moment, his mouth trembled, he said, "No, I'll stay here for two more days before going."

Song Hui naturally didn't dare to express any opinion, he respectfully responded.

Ming Jiasheng also got off the carriage, his eyes locked onto Ling Li and Ah-Xuan, his expression was slightly complicated. Xu Mei and Mu Jin looked at each other and didn't say a word.

Ling Li got out of the car with Ah-Xuan and turned around to say to Xu Mei: "I'm sorry, I may have to disturb you for a few more days."

Xu Mei smiled and said, "Ah-Li, why are you being so polite to me? I wish you could stay even longer, don't stand outside now, everyone go in."

So the group of people went back to the villa,, its just that they were talking and laughing when they came out, but when they came back no one said a word. Even the two children were quiet and didn't make much noise.

Su Jingyang walked beside Ling Li, turning his head to look at him from time to time, the two were silent.

When night fell, Su Jingyang gave the child for Rong Ci to watch, he then went out and found Ling Li in the agreed place.

He was dressed in a light blue shirt, standing with his back on the side of the red fence. His black hair and hem swayed with the wind, his figure looking particularly cold under the shine of the bright moonlight.

Su Jingyang slowed down and walked towards him. With every step he took, the beautiful memories of the two people after meeting each other kept flooding into his mind.

Although he knew that this was good for him and his future, at this moment, he still couldn't help but feel sad at the upcoming separation.

When Su Jingyang finally walked up to Ling Li's side, he found that Ling Li was holding a lantern in his arms. He immediately remembered something, his expression changed slightly.

"Ah-Li..."

Ling Li turned his head to looked at him, his light brown eyes flashed with a gentle light, "I said at the time that I would light sky lanterns at the next Lantern Festival with you, but... I'm probably going to break my promise."

Su Jingyang's eyes moistened as soon as he said this.

"So, let's do this today." Ling Li smiled, Su Jingyang looked at him and nodded vigorously, "Let's go!"

Ling Li took the brush and asked Su Jingyang to write his wishes first. Su Jingyang hesitated for a long while and ended up not writing anything in the end, he said to Ling Li: "Ah-Li, you go first."

Ling Li watched him hesitate, ripples appeared in his ever-gentle eyes, when he heard what he said, he responded gently. He took the pen and wrote on the lampshade: I wish that Su Jingyang's wish comes true.

Su Jingyang looked at it and couldn't help but say: "Ah-Li, you said last year you wanted to write your own wishes, why is it about me again?

Ling Li said, "This is about myself, your wishes are my wishes."

Su Jingyang's wet eyes watched him for a moment, he had to endure extremely hard to not let the tears fall. Ah-Li, who was even closer to him than his real relatives, will soon lose the chance to see him again in the future.

What Su Jingyang wrote was: I wish that Ah-Li and Ah-Xuan can live a good life, safe and sound.

"This is my wish this year, I believe that it'll come true."

Ling Li stared at painted words on the lamp's side, his slightly pale lips gave him a small smile stained with tears.

They lit the lamp together, and let go of the lamp together. The lonely lamp flew into the vast night sky cautiously, slowly turning into an orange dot.

Su Jingyang frowned, looking up slightly sadly and lost. Ling Li turned around and watched him with eyes full of tears, he suddenly reached out and hugged his neck.

Su Jingyang retracted his gaze, he hugged him back and whispered: "Ah-Li..."

"Jingyang." Ling Li choked up: "This is... where we really say goodbye."

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