Even though Li Zhiyuan went to bed quite late last night, he still woke up at his usual early morning hour.

It wasn’t just the biological clock that woke him, but also the anticipation of a new day.

He opened his eyes and turned his head, only to see that figure standing at the desk with a paintbrush in hand.

In a moon-white short shirt, a misty green three-pleat skirt, and a white jade hairpin with a bamboo pattern, she became a scene in herself, enveloped in the misty rain.

Alii turned her body, and their eyes met.

Li Zhiyuan got out of bed and walked toward the painting desk.

On the painting scroll, the place where two children played was surrounded by a circle of flowers and grassy fields painted by Alii.

Li Zhiyuan had deliberately laid this painting open here last night. The two children on Tan Wenbin’s shoulders, Alii could always see, and naturally recognize.

However, merely giving them a landscape background was quite monotonous.

Li Zhiyuan pointed to the large blank spaces beside it with his finger and suggested:

"Here, here, and here, you can add a private school and paint a few old scholars holding rulers standing at the entrance."

Alii nodded, indicating she understood.

Li Zhiyuan continued, "You can also paint some foreign missionaries to teach English."

The originally joyful expressions of the two children in the painting suddenly turned sullen.

When Li Zhiyuan went out to wash up, he happened to meet Grandmaster, who was sweeping with a broom.

Li Sanjiang went to bed early last night, so he also got up particularly early today. He was sweeping the path laid out with yellow paper ash by Li Zhiyuan last night.

"I don’t know where this dust blows from; why is it a little sticky?"

"Grandmaster, let me pour some water for you."

With a "splash," the ashes quickly washed away under the water.

Li Sanjiang leaned on the broom and looked at the square below, where Liu Yumei was sitting, drinking tea.

It seems this worldly old lady is getting better.

A few days ago, Li Sanjiang was indeed a bit worried about her, considering age can unpredictably bring illness that might take one away suddenly.

After washing up, there was no chess game this morning because Alii was still busy painting the "cram school."

Li Zhiyuan finally had some free time. He opened the "Walking River Behavior Regulations" to summarize and organize them.

The morning breeze, carrying a refreshing coolness, blew in through the gauze window, bringing a slightly playful vitality.

After finishing his writing, Li Zhiyuan rubbed his wrist and walked over to Alii again. Several private schools and a small church were already present, forming the foreground.

There was still plenty of space for planning in the background, enough for the "moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor" all-around development.

Tan Wenbin treated these two children with deep fatherly love, including during their "posthumous education."

But for Li Zhiyuan, the world became much harsher. Mainly because, in Li Zhiyuan’s mind, "learning" and "burden," "fatigue," were completely unrelated concepts.

"Breakfast is ready!"

Going downstairs, it was time to have breakfast.

Run Sheng was already prepared. While others had a bowl of plain noodles garnished with chopped green onions, Run Sheng had a big basin, sacrificing elegance for a display of boldness.

Li Sanjiang remarked in surprise, "Huh, where is You Hou?"

Run Sheng replied, "Mr. Li, Ah You went to pick up Zhuangzhuang."

Li Sanjiang asked, "When is Zhuangzhuang coming back?"

Run Sheng answered, "I don’t know, Zhou Yunyun has also returned to Nantong."

"Then let’s not rush him," Li Sanjiang said, taking a bite of his noodles and questioning further, "Zhou Yunyun’s return to Nantong, what’s it got to do with You Hou, why did he go?"

Taking a sip off his chopsticks, Li Sanjiang solemnly advised:

"You all, remind You Hou properly; some things are absolutely forbidden."

...

"Achoo!"

Lin Shuyou let out a loud sneeze.

The two were sitting on the railing of Shijia Bridge; this bridge is on the highway. From the city to Shigang, this is the only road, and cars passing by are bound to see them.

Tan Wenbin handed Lin Shuyou a tissue and asked, "Your health, you can still catch a cold?"

Lin Shuyou found it odd too and said, "I don’t know either."

Tan Wenbin jumped off the railing, stood in front of Lin Shuyou, and reached out to tidy his collar.

"Come on, perk up, young lad. Looking good, add some sunshine and confidence to yourself."

Shuyou was handsome.

If you ignore the slight accent in his Mandarin, Lin Shuyou could practically be the male protagonist of those currently popular yellow-covered romance novels.

During big lectures, female students from other classes often approached Ah You.

At this moment, in response to Brother Bin’s encouragement, Ah You could only force a smile.

A white sedan quickly passed by.

Lin Shuyou’s vertical pupils flashed as he said, "Zhou Yunyun."

The sedan turned around at the front, turned back, and stopped by the bridge.

The first to get out was Zhou Yunyun, who had been in the front passenger seat. As soon as she got out, she threw herself into Tan Wenbin’s arms, tears streaming down unconsciously.

The anxiety and nightmares of recent days and the accumulation of various pressures in her heart could finally be completely let go once she saw Tan Wenbin.

Her two hands clung tightly to Tan Wenbin’s arm, and her ears listened intently to his heartbeat. She wanted to be sure that it was all real, not just her own dream.

Tan Wenbin wrapped one arm around her shoulder and gently stroked her hair with the other, resting his chin on Yunyun’s head, smelling the fragrance on her body.

People in their youth often have unrealistic fantasies about love, believing that the wedding vows of staying together through sickness and health or wealth and poverty are meaningless formalities.

But when you truly reach a certain stage, you realize how difficult and precious it is for a partner to be able to do that.

Some people spend ten or even twenty years cautiously trying to find the answer, while others don’t dare to test it at all.