In Shigang Town, we found a long-established noodle shop. It’s not very large, and having passed the morning rush, there aren’t many patrons inside.

Tan Wenbin: "Come and try it out, I used to come here often when I was a commuting student."

"Binbin, gosh, it really is you, Binbin, it’s been ages since I last saw you!"

"Yes, Aunt Zhao, it’s me."

"And this is..." Aunt Zhao pointed at Zhou Yunyun and asked.

"The mother of my child."

"Wow, so soon?"

"Indeed, we’ve had two already."

"You rascal, still love to banter and babble without keeping it together."

Tan Wenbin laughed, ordering noodles, wontons, and some buns and fried dough sticks.

The atmosphere inside was a bit greasy, particularly towards the back, where the walls were darkened.

Lin Shuyou was just about to suggest to Chen Lin that she sit outside while he sat inside.

But Chen Lin spoke first: "I’ll sit inside, you sit outside."

After saying that, she sat down first.

It was apparent that she came from a well-off family, yet she had a strong ability to adapt to the environment.

Tan Wenbin: "Sorry, this is a small place, after all, the conditions are basic."

Chen Lin: "This is where you and Yunyun have lived and studied. It’s part of your story. Going out to have fun is about exploring these things, isn’t it?"

Lin Shuyou: "Even the most beautiful scenery can get boring without a story."

Chen Lin looked at Lin Shuyou, picked up a small steamed bun, and said, "Here, to you, a bun."

Lin Shuyou bashfully accepted the bun and started eating. Actually, this was something Brother Xiao Yuan said when they went to other places within Jiangsu Province.

Because the attractions in Jiangsu Province, lacking famous mountains, rivers, or magnificent scenery, relied on the poetic legacy of predecessors, drawing streams of tourists eager to imagine them.

Tan Wenbin: "After the meal, I’ll take you to the city for a stroll and maybe climb Wolf Mountain."

When it comes to provincial tourist resources, Nantong can claim to be the second to last without any other city daring to claim being dead last.

Chen Lin shook her head: "No need to make it so troublesome. I checked the elevation of Wolf Mountain, running up it wouldn’t even make me break a sweat."

Tan Wenbin: "That’s what you call easy mountain climbing. Too high it gets tiring."

Chen Lin: "You all can go wherever you wish, even returning home is fine, just prepare a room for me to rest, oh, with good soundproofing."

Zhou Yunyun: "Linlin, here, have a fried dumpling."

Chen Lin took a bite of the fried dumpling, observing Zhou Yunyun’s expression with curiosity: "You guys, haven’t done that yet?"

"Ahem..." Tan Wenbin choked on his soy milk, rarely hearing such a direct question, especially from a girl.

Zhou Yunyun’s face flushed, as she lowered her head.

Normally, the two got along naturally, yet for some reason, since arriving here, Linlin seemed to have changed.

Lin Shuyou: "Adults need to understand responsibility."

Chen Lin chuckled: "A willing and joyous matter for both sides, making it sound like someone is owed something—a real old-fashioned mindset."

Lin Shuyou hesitated to speak, knowing Brother Bin was protective toward Zhou Yunyun and hadn’t gone that far, concerned about his own demise on the river.

Tan Wenbin’s eyes suddenly narrowed, a snake-like gaze flashed by, and he asked: "So how many partners have you had?"

Chen Lin shrugged: "Quite a lot, can’t count, only recently I’ve had free time, with Yunyun by my side. I’m not lonely."

Holding back his smile, Tan Wenbin looked down to eat his wontons, realizing she carried the innocence of someone without experience, akin to inexperienced boys boasting about their love lives in dorms.

Tan Wenbin finished eating first and went to settle the bill, with Lin Shuyou also finishing quickly and following him out.

"Brother Bin..."

"It’s okay, no burden, we didn’t see each other that way anyway."

Next, Tan Wenbin drove everyone to Zhou Yunyun’s home.

Having returned, visiting family was a must. Even if Zhou Yunyun didn’t have to, Tan Wenbin felt compelled to maintain rapport.

The prospective father-in-law and mother-in-law worked at a textile factory, while Zhou Yunyun’s grandmother, happy to see her granddaughter and future grandson-in-law, hurriedly kicked her elderly husband to call them home from work.

Then, she busied herself with preparing the meal.

The village had a butcher who only sold in town at night; grandma went to get some meat, caught the chicken right in the coop, and fished from the pond behind their home.

The lunch was lively, and afterward, Chen Lin began her afternoon nap, as traveling overnight had left her tired.

Tan Wenbin, meanwhile, held Zhou Yunyun’s hand as they strolled through the village.

Tired out from walking, they sat by a small river and started talking.

Tan Wenbin talked about amusing stories from his engineering travels, and as he chatted, Zhou Yunyun lay in his arms, falling asleep amidst the warm afternoon sun.

Gently brushing the hair from her cheek, Tan Wenbin’s lips curved into a smile.

At that moment, he sentimentally wished time could stand still forever.

Lin Shuyou genuinely had nothing to do; he couldn’t join the nap nor accompany Brother Bin for a stroll. Eventually, he simply picked up a hoe and followed Zhou Yunyun’s grandfather into the fields to work.

This left Zhou Yunyun’s grandfather in a quandary—while the young man had plenty of energy, there was the issue of him helpfully working at their home without much credit.

Chen Lin napped till dusk, and Lin Shuyou worked till dusk.

Leaving the elderly couple feeling a bit embarrassed.

Chen Lin walked out of the room to the second-floor balcony, from where she could see Lin Shuyou busy in the fields.

She couldn’t quite grasp what he was doing there, yet the view was somewhat amusing.

Chen Lin took a thimble from her pocket—silver, engraved with seven coiled pythons—and with a flick of her finger, a slender needle rose from the ring.