The scorching sun at noon in late spring had already shown its fierce power, making the carriage hot and stuffy. Because there was no suitable place to set up camp, they had to keep moving during the day, and in order to arrive at the planned destination by dusk, there was no scheduled time for the whole team to rest together on the road all day, but whoever was tired or had other things to do would drive their carriage out of the team and rest before catching up again.

  The ride was long, and even her legs were numb. Mei Li got off the horse-drawn carriage and walked slowly along the roadside trees, stretching her limbs while breathing in the fresh air. With many women in the group, they didn't move very fast, so she wasn't worried about falling behind. It felt quite pleasant.

  The horse carriage not far in front also pulled over to the side, and Su Ying got out of the carriage. She was obviously unable to bear staying inside any longer and had come out for some fresh air. As she helped her two maids down from the carriage, she inadvertently caught sight of Mei Li walking behind them. She hesitated for a moment before smiling at her faintly.

  Mei smiled back at her politely.

  Unexpectedly, Su Ying sent the empty car to follow the team and move forward. She stood by the road and waited for her to approach. Mei Li was somewhat surprised, but Su Ying's frowning and contemplative expression made her seem to have an epiphany. Su Ying... probably had something to say to her, Mei Li smiled faintly.

  Su Ying's two maids were clever and intelligent, able to infer their master's intentions from every move they made. When Mei Li and Hong Ling approached, they simply greeted them before one of the maids took Hong Ling's left arm and the other her right, whispering a few words in her ear as they drew back to create some distance between themselves and their masters.

  Meili and Suying smiled at each other and walked side by side under the shade of trees. Because the road was narrow, the passing vehicles barely brushed past them, and Suying, who was walking on the outside, felt a little scared. Meili smiled and changed places with her, and Suying thanked her with a sweet smile without refusing.

  "Mei... nee-sama." This was their first time talking alone, and she seemed a bit awkward calling Mei by the affectionate term.

  Walking shoulder to shoulder, the fragrance on Su Ying's body was even more intoxicating, and Mei Li subtly raised the corner of her mouth. She recalled the ambiguous contact she had with Jing Xuan last night, when his fingers stroked her chin, leaving a strange feeling in her heart. It was after being close to this beautiful woman walking beside him that he coldly scolded her, making her feel ridiculous.

  "You..." Su Ying hesitated for a moment, feeling that there was nothing to chat about, so she raised an eyebrow and asked straightforwardly, "Do you still like Jingxuan?"

  Meili looked at her and asked if it made sense. Whether she liked Jingxuan or not was never the key to the problem, but her own thoughts and feelings had always been ignored.

  Su Ying felt embarrassed by her gaze and glanced away, pretending to look at the distant scenery.

  "When you're young, everyone makes mistakes." Mei Li smiled faintly, "As you grow up, it'll be fine, and you won't overestimate yourself."

  Su Ying's eyebrows didn't relax because of her words, she looked down at the road under her feet, seemingly walking very attentively. "Sorry, Mei Li sister," she suddenly apologized sincerely, "I know I shouldn't ask you that." She raised her eyes and stared straight at Mei Li.

  Meili smiled and shook her head, indicating she didn't mind.

  A sudden rush of horseshoes, Meili stepped back and yielded the road, unintentionally raising her eyes to see Jingxuan bringing Yonghe rushing from the rear.

  Jingxuan slowed down the horse, glanced at Meri who had already lowered her eyes, and smiled slightly at Suwen. "Why did you get off?" he asked in a low voice, his tone somewhat gentle.

  "The carriage is so stuffy and hot." Su Yan pouted, complaining to him who sat tall on his horse. After several days of rushing along the road, his skin had become darker, adding to his strong masculine charm. His handsome and refined features paired with his wheat-colored complexion made him look like a majestic war god from heaven, making people's breathing quicken unconsciously.

  He smiled, and his dismounting posture was also so handsome. When he passed by Mei Li's side, he glanced at her again, but found that she had already turned her head to smile at Yong He. That smile! That gentle and affectionate smile! She had cried and laughed with him, gazed deeply into his eyes, coquettishly pouted at him, but never looked at him with such warmth in her eyes!

  If she had looked at him with such eyes... why would he have been so disgusted with her in the first place?!

  When she smiles so brightly, her small lips curve into an arc that intoxicates men, even without dimples. Her eyes will slightly narrow due to the smile, and the bright pupils under her long eyelashes will sparkle with a seductive light that makes men want to rush over and kiss her.

  She is no longer the silly and annoying girl she used to be, but a gentle and emotional water-like young lady.

  Isn't she fond of him? Isn't it always "no one but him" on her lips? Why doesn't she ever look at him like that?!

  It was she who had made a mistake, yet he ended up looking like a heartless person!

  He gave a cold glance, pulled the reins hard, and the horse suddenly stopped in pain, its front hooves screaming loudly. Mei Li was startled, took a step back, bumped into the tree trunk by the side of the road, winced slightly, and her smile disappeared. He grunted, feeling relieved.

  "You must be hotter, with the wind and sun beating down." Su Yan said sympathetically, following in his footsteps.

  "It's okay." Jingxuan replied casually.

  Su Ying was choked by the dust raised by the horse and coughed lightly several times, her slender shoulders shaking slightly. Jing Xuan looked at her with a soft heart, took off the water bottle tied to the saddle and handed it to her. Su Ying sweetly received it, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pull out the wooden plug. Jing Xuan chuckled and teased her for not having enough strength to tie a chicken, helping her open it.

  Su Ying was drinking water while gazing at him with a smile. Jing Xuan looked puzzled and followed her gaze, only to find that Mei Li was wiping the sweat from Yong He's forehead, and the tall Yong He was bending down slightly to match her height, smiling faintly.

  Meili glared at Yonghe, worried sick about him, but he didn't care. She gently pulled open his collar to take a look inside, checking if he had any rashes. "Don't be careless, really, you got blown by the wind... how did I end up giving you so many baths with mugwort water on the way..." she muttered to herself, but her hand was suddenly yanked down from his collar by Yonghe.

  She was somewhat puzzled, but when she went to see him, she found his slightly red face. She was stunned and also realized that her actions were too ambiguous, her face also flushed with embarrassment, and she turned away in dismay.

  Seeing her blush, he burst out laughing.

  Meili rolled her eyes at him and ran to her car, Yonghe laughed for a while before chasing after her. The road was narrow, and when he passed by Jingxuan's horse, he smiled at him and Su Yan as if greeting them. After being coldly stared at by Jingxuan, he secretly pouted, thinking that even Brother Jingxuan himself was accompanying his future wife, so he shouldn't be blamed for being distracted and lazy!

  "Yonghe and Meri get along really well." Su Ying gazed at Yonghe, who was walking beside Meri's carriage, holding the reins of the horse, as he whispered and laughed with Meri inside.

  Meili handed him a small jug, Yonghe tilted his head and drank it, letting out a satisfied sigh that was audible to those several steps away, "Drinking sour plum soup at this time is especially refreshing..."

  Su Ying felt a bit uncomfortable, "Mei Li sister is very good at taking care of people."

  Jingxuan snorted coldly, "Her?!" She's useless! All she'll do is cause trouble for him!

  He gazed at Mei's beautiful profile with a calm eye, but his expression, which was smiling at Yonghe, inexplicably stirred up a surge of anger.