The "Scorching Sun" had fully risen, and the entire sky was filled with an eerie atmosphere, as the surrounding space shattered into fine black seams, spreading across the galaxy like pairs of eerie eyes, sending a chill down oneâs spine.
Yet this terrifying, so-called "sun" was trembling as it floated above the mountains and seas, replacing the usual sunâs position and casting down gentle rays upon the earth.
The light of the scorching sun could pass through any barrier, defying the laws of physics, shedding its glow upon various secret realms and chambers, capable of dispelling all darkness.
But...
The shadows beside the lady were not ones the light could dispel.
Intense firelight in the sky illuminated Xu Changâanâs body, casting a long shadow in front of him, with Yun Qian conveniently nestled within the shadow cast by Xu Changâan.
The rain had long since stopped, leaving only the sound of quiet breathing inside the cabin.
Xu Changâan held a wine cup, enjoying Yun Qianâs service. Watching her bend down to pour him another glass, he sighed softly.
"Miss, what... are you doing?"
"Nothing," Yun Qian said, rolling up her sleeves to reveal her fair, slender wrists.
She held the cup and once again offered it to Xu Changâan.
"..."
Xu Changâan wasnât a fool; Yun Qian was acting peculiarly.
It was morning, yet the lady hadnât asked for breakfast.
Earlier, while watching the sunrise, she hadnât stayed in a daze for too long before quickly coming around.
Even now, pouring him wine, she hadnât mentioned wanting to drink with him.
For a moment, Xu Changâan felt like a child trying to make up for something done wrong.
But Yun Qian wasnât a child, and she certainly wouldnât do anything wrong, making Xu Changâanâs expression increasingly enigmatic.
Finally, after drinking the last sip of wine, Xu Changâan set down the cup and said, "Itâs already daylight; we should head back."
"Mm." Yun Qian responded, gently standing up.
"Did Miss enjoy yesterdayâs boating and todayâs sunrise?" Xu Changâan asked.
"I liked it," Yun Qian nodded, thinking to herself she liked todayâs scenery even moreâreferring to her husband.
"Liking it is a good thing." Xu Changâan shook his head.
He had always found it difficult to grasp Yun Qianâs thoughts, so he didnât dwell on it, simply tidying the cabin before taking up the boat oar to steer toward the North Garden shore.
With a mind full of thoughts, Yun Qian didnât follow him to the stern but sat quietly inside the cabin.
She lifted her head slightly.
The fierce sun outside the window gradually brightened, but as she looked up, its radiance suddenly mellowed, not dazzling at all, allowing her to gaze directly at it as she wished.
Thus, the belief that the sun after sunrise cannot be looked at directly... is unfounded.
"Huh?"
Rowing the boat, Xu Changâan looked up in surprise, as if the lightbulb had flickered, dimming the entire sky for a moment.
He glanced at the other senior sisters boating around and found them gathered, discussing the sun, with conversations mostly revolving around the Sect Leader of the Chaoyun Sect.
"Again with... the Sect Leader?" Xu Changâan blinked, thinking the words "Chaoyun" and "sunrise" indeed had some connections.
But who cares?
Such high-level matters had nothing to do with him, someone in the Open Source Realm.
It was more important to go home early to prepare breakfast for Yun Qian, let her eat plenty, and have a good nap.
Otherwise...
Xu Changâan glanced at the cabin and smiled.
Otherwise, sheâd be foolishly silly.
â
The scorching sun wasnât dazzling when Yun Qian looked at it because it lacked courage.
But Yun Qian knew her husband certainly wasnât lacking.
As long as Xu Changâan was determined to do something... no matter who or what means were used, he wouldnât change his mind.
It was his resoluteness that made her unable to look at him directly, reflecting in her eyes as the "Great Sun" that pained them.
Thus, sometimes when watching the sunrise, even when he was alone, Yun Qian couldnât even turn to look at him...
Yun Qian gently picked up the wine cup Xu Changâan had just used, her fingers brushing against the rim.
"..."
After a moment of silence, the lady slowly lowered her eyelids.
Life on the island was too warm; he pampered her too much... This gentle haven made Yun Qian intoxicated, and todayâs sunrise made her realize that continuing to "fall" like this was not an option.
If a woman can only use her looks and figure to keep her husband... that would be the lowest, most useless type.
And unfortunately, she was precisely such a useless wife, with nothing to her name but beauty and figure.
Xu Changâan liked her very much now, Yun Qian knew that.
But his constant restraint... inevitably bred unease.
â
No other way.
Xu Changâan cherished Yun Qian greatly, so he didnât want Miss Yun to use self-degrading means to please him.
Yet in Yun Qianâs eyes, this was, in fact, a form of distancing.
â
Yun Qian looked towards Xu Changâan, who was rowing, and quickly shifted her gaze away.
Indeed, she was far from being an "adequate" wife capable of holding her husband.
She needed to become more captivating.
The books said that to capture a manâs heart, you must first capture his stomach, but Xu Changâan wouldnât let her cook, so it was her stomach that was captured.
"I canât let this continue." Yun Qian thought, as her fingers stained with wine brushed her lips, thinking she must learn all the Six Arts for Women.
And also...
"Wine?"
Yun Qian sniffed the faint aroma in the wine cup.
She had just asked Xu Changâan if the wine was good, and he said it was.
Xu Changâan thought it tasted good because Yun Qian had poured it. In that kind of atmosphere, even if Yun Qian handed over something other than water, he would say itâs delicious.