Yin Shi searched the yurt’s vicinity but did not find any trace of his master. He did not think his master would venture too far, blind and in poor health as he was.

He stopped at the spot where his master and Qin Shu parted.

A thought occurred to him then. Master must have gone to that place to give himself some space to relax.

He moved with renewed purpose.

There was a slope in front of him. Master must be there.

However, when he walked over, there was no one there.

Yin Shi stood on the slope and surveyed the boundless grassland. Where did his master go?

Everything else was pushed to a side. The open plains were not as hospitable as they seemed, let alone for the blind.

Wolves prowled the open plains, far-flung from the reaches of civilisation. What if…

Yin Shi did not dare pursue the thought. He turned around and hurried back.

He needed to gather the others and expand the search area.

He had to find his master before dark.

Yin Shi pulled a horse over. Looking at the vast grassland, he could only choose a random direction and pray his master had gone that way.

…

When Fu Tingyu received his wife’s message, he heaved a sigh of relief. Qin Shu was alright.

He was not in a hurry to reply to the message because he did not understand what was happening with his wife.

He saw Xiao Jiu playing on the computer, so he beckoned for him to come over. “Find out where your mother is through her phone.”

He could have asked Ye Mo to check, but Xiao Jiu was the more convenient option since he was close by. Moreover, it was about time he assessed his son’s hacking progress. One never knows when such a skill might come in handy.

Xiao Jiu’s eyes lit up when he heard his father mentioning his mother. He stopped playing his game and hopped off his chair, bouncing over to his father’s side. He took the proffered phone and hurried back to his computer.

He traced the message’s origin to Mongolia’s international airport.

Fu Tingyu did not bring anything with him. He was going to pick up his wife and bring her home.

Noon…

The jet took off as soon as Qin Shu alighted. She was still more than 20 minutes away from the airport.

It was 12:30 pm when she finally arrived at the airport.

Just then, her phone rang. When she noted who was calling, she could not help but smile. Answering the phone, she heard a familiar voice, deep and magnetic, “Babe, I’m here to pick you up.”

Qin Shu was first stunned, then pleasantly surprised. She laughed happily, asking, “Where are you?”

“I’m at the airport. I’m waiting for you at the taxi stand,” Fu Tingyu said as he looked around.

The airport? Was he in Mongolia?

Qin Shu stopped in her tracks. Making an about-turn, she stepped out into the sunny Mongolian afternoon.

She held her phone against her ear as she cast furtive glances here and there. Eventually, she caught sight of a tall, slender figure standing by his lonesome. He was dressed in his usual suit and bore an elegance befitting nobility. He stood out like a sore thumb, a swan among pigeons.

They had not been apart for long, but it felt like forever, and she missed him dearly.

She hung up, hastily shoving her phone into her pocket and ran straight to him.

Fu Tingyu was about to give his wife more details but failed when the call disconnected. Qin Shu did not pick up despite him calling her twice. He eyed his phone suspiciously, wondering if he had a bad connection when he noticed a figure running towards him from the corner of his eye.

He turned fully and got a good look as to who it was, the sight of which brought a smile to his lips.

“Hubby!” Qin Shu threw herself into Fu Tingyu’s arms, locking him in a bear hug. She was so excited to see him that she could hardly contain her joy.

Fu Tingyu returned the hug, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. He pulled her to his chest, holding her as if he feared she would disappear. “Babe, I’ve missed you so much.”

Qin Shu leaned against her husband’s chest, listening to the strong rhythmic beat of his heart. It sounded like a jackrabbit, barely containing his excitement.

“I missed you too. I didn’t expect to see you here. Didn’t I say that I would be back in three days?”

She said she would be back in three days and told him to wait for her in Feng Yi.

She had not expected him to appear so suddenly.

Fu Tingyu let go of his wife and gave her a good once over. His slender fingers caressed her cheek, and his voice thrummed with warmth. “I couldn’t wait to see you. I rushed over as soon as I received your message.”

Qin Shu looked up at her silly husband, eyes sparkling with mirth. He was still the same as ever. Despite how long they had been together, he had never changed.

Fu Tingyu stared at his wife, the woman of his dreams, the lovely lady who occupied his every thought. His large hand found purchase in her silky locks while his gaze fixated on her supple lips. Without warning, he leaned forward and kissed her.

For Fu Tingyu, even a short time spent apart was too long.

His need, the unbearable longing, culminated in the very public kiss he planted on her lips. It was the accumulation of all his emotions, manifesting in that single act of intimacy. The world melted around them; only he and his wife existed.

Qin Shu did not mind. Instead, responding in kind.

Fu Tingyu pulled away and saw Qin Shu’s flushed cheeks, only to drag her back into his arms, seemingly discontented with the brief act of mutual affection. He would have kept kissing her if there were not so many people around.

He enjoyed seeing her apple-coloured cheeks, the breathlessness that came with their passionate kissing.

Qin Shu bowed her head in embarrassment. Sending furtive glances at her surroundings, she caught sight of many people ogling them, making everything worse. She grabbed her husband by his collar and hissed, “People are staring!”

Fu Tingyu laughed softly. “If there weren’t so many people watching, I wouldn’t have been able to resist the urge to swallow you whole.”

Qin Shu was not too fond of the attention she was receiving, so she tugged Fu Tingyu by the hand and led him to the departure hall. “My flight is at 1 pm. Have you bought a ticket?”

“I haven’t bought a ticket yet.” Fu Tingyu fished out his phone to buy a ticket and followed his wife to the departure hall. He found a seat and sat down.

“Babe, the one o’clock flight is fully booked. Only the eight o’clock flight has any tickets left.”

Qin Shu was not in a hurry to leave now that Fu Tingyu was by her side. “Eight o’clock is fine.”

“Okay.” Fu Tingyu booked two tickets for the flight leaving at eight that evening. There were still more than eight hours before departure.

After he had booked their plane tickets, he put away his phone and held Qin Shu’s hand. “Let’s go and get some rest at a hotel nearby.”

Qin Shu blinked, following her husband’s lead. Seeing the anxious look he sported, she suddenly recalled the scene at a bus stop a few years ago. Fu Tingyu had hauled her to a hotel in a similar fashion.

“It’s broad daylight. I don’t think whatever you’re planning is a good idea.”

Her words must have sparked something in her husband. The next she knew, he had an arm around her waist as he all but dragged her with him. “What’s wrong with it still being day? Can’t you eat and rest during the day, or are those things you can only do at night?”

Qin Shu bit on her cheek, shaking her head awkwardly. Perhaps she had been overthinking things, allowing her imagination to run wild. Her husband had come to Mongolia for her on such short notice. He probably had not had the time to eat or rest.

She thought that when they met again, Fu Tingyu would think…

Before Qin Shu could finish her thought, Fu Tingyu cut her off in a voice only she could hear.

“Exercise is as important as eating. I’ll make sure you get some before you rest.”

Qin Shu no longer felt awkward. Fu Tingyu’s lust knew no bounds, and she was right to suspect his intentions.

The nearest hotel was a ten-minute taxi ride from the airport.

Fu Tingyu ordered their lunch, but before it was delivered, he dragged his wife to the bathroom for a shower.

They spent a long time together in the bathroom.

When they finally stepped out, lunch was ready and waiting. Fu Tingyu guided Qin Shu to the table and had lunch with her.

He picked his wife’s favourites. Over lunch, he casually broached the topic of her disappearance, “So… Who took you away?”

Fu Tingyu had compiled a list of potential names, but one stood out in particular.

Qin Shu paused and looked at her husband, whose hair was still dripping wet. They had just taken a shower, and he had not dried himself properly, leaving beads of glistening water in his hair and skin. She did not hide the truth from him. “Chao Yan.”

Fu Tingyu studied her carefully. It seemed he had guessed correctly. Chao Yan had always had his eyes (blind though he may be) on Qin Shu, and it was not the first time he had abducted her.

“Where is he?”

“He’s still having fun in the plains. He was going to let me go tomorrow, but he changed his mind. I’m not sure why he did, but I’m not going to complain,” Qin Shu said.

“If he didn’t let you go, he’d have me to contend with,” Fu Tingyu growled.

“It’s the last time we’ll meet. We won’t meet again in the future; he promised.”

Qin Shu believed Chao Yan’s words. The time they had spent together was testimony enough. Since Chao Yan had said he would never bother her again, Qin Shu was inclined to believe him.

Fu Tingyu, on the other hand, did not share his wife’s thoughts. He did not believe Chao Yan would give up so easily. He was like a cockroach, impossible to kill. Once he set his mind to a goal, he would carry it through to the end.

“Really?”

Qin Shu nodded. “Yes. I don’t think he’ll go back on his word.”

Fu Tingyu stared at his wife for a long time. He trusted his wife, but he did not trust Chao Yan.

After lunch, Fu Tingyu lost the losing battle against his primal urges. He draped his arms around her and stole kisses from her lips.

If he could not stop himself in public, what more while they had the privacy of a room?

He had plenty of fun with her, enjoying the pleasurable dance that was in itself a language unto its own. Truly, self-control was tiring for an individual who had none.

Qin Shu lay on the bed, completely spent. She rolled her eyes when she looked up at Fu Tingyu, who was still in high spirits. He looked like a large cat that had enjoyed a feast of fish as he gazed upon her contentedly.

His cheeks were rosy, and his lips plump and full. His phoenix-like eyes were dark, blacker than the depths of the ocean. Fu Tingyu was nothing short of being handsome.

She could not help but wonder if her husband was some incubus in disguise, seducing her with his every motion and word.

She quickly turned away, refusing to look at him.

Fu Tingyu held no such compunction for his wife. He eyed her hungrily as if he had not seen her in a long time. He noted how his wife turned away and wondered if he had gone too far. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he purred, “Babe, are you angry?”

“I’m not angry. Bring my phone over. I took a picture of the plains for you to see.”

Qin Shu was not angry. She was afraid he would flirt with her again, and she knew she would have no choice but to comply.

“Okay.” Fu Tingyu flipped over and reached out with his long arms. He picked up Qin Shu’s phone from the bedside table and handed it to his wife. He took the opportunity to press himself against her, reducing the space between them to less than an inch. They were so close that the tips of their noses touched, and he could smell the soap his wife had used.

Qin Shu rested her head on Fu Tingyu’s arm. She held the phone in one hand, opening the photo album to show him the photos she had taken while camping in the plains.

“Wild and domesticated horses abound the plains. The fields and sky stretch further than the eye can see, and the air is crisp and clean. We should bring Xiao Jiu camping the next time we’re here.”

“No, no. It should be just the two of us. Xiao Jiu is too young. We’ll bring him camping when he is older.”

Fu Tingyu wanted to go horse riding with Qin Shu and spend as much time as he possibly could in her company. He did not want Xiao Jiu around to ruin his time with Qin Shu.

It would be best if Xiao Jiu stayed at home while they were out.

“Xiao Jiu will be sad if you’re so mean to him,” Qin Shu sighed helplessly.

Fu Tingyu suddenly closed the distance between them, whispering in her ear, “We should try riding a horse together. I bet it would feel great.”

Qin Shu glared at her husband, whose eyes shone with anticipation. “You scoundrel!” She cursed.

Fu Tingyu was unperturbed. “Babe, we’re husband and wife. We share an almost telepathic connection. I’m sure you guessed my meaning. How about it? You want to try it too, don’t you?”

“Who would want a telepathic connection with you?” Qin Shu blushed and ignored him, scrolling down her album of photos.

Fu Tingyu could already picture it in his mind, which made him smile. He could not wait to try it out.

He had tried just about everything with her already. Whether it was a desk, on a balcony, the sofa, or even the washing table…

Riding a horse was fun.

Exciting.

As she flipped through the photos, Qin Shu flipped to the photo of Chao Yan. Her hands paused as she stared at the photo of Chao Yan in a daze.

She had taken this photo for Chao Yan. It was a picture of him at sunrise taken from multiple angles.

She had forgotten to send it to him.

Fu Tingyu saw it as well, and the smile on his face froze. Any man who saw more than one photo of another man on their wife’s phone would be a little unhappy.

“Whose photo is this?”

“It’s Chao Yan’s. I took it for him when I was watching daybreak with him. I want to send it to him. He can see it when his eyes are better.”

Qin Shu forwarded the pictures to Chao Yan.

Fu Tingyu was jealous. How could Chao Yan have watched a sunrise with his wife when he had not even watched one with a girl before?

Why had Chao Yan gotten his wife to watch daybreak with him?

Back on Mount Qi, he had tried to watch the daybreak over the eastern skies with Qin Shu, but being the glutton for sleep that she was, she never woke up in time.

Once, he had tried to wake her, but she continued sleeping like a log, dead to the world.

He had no choice but to carry her while bundled up in blankets to the top of the mountain.

However, the delay caused them to miss the perfect time to watch the sun climb into the sky.

“You watched a sunrise with him? What else did he do with you?”

“Don’t be such a grouch. We ate together and sat on the grass to bask in the sun.”

Qin Shu felt quite guilty because Chao Yan kissed her.

Men were always jealous…

Fu Tingyu said fiercely, “What right does he have to ask you to do this?”

Fu Tingyu vowed to kill Chao Yan if he dared to show his face again.

A pop-up appeared on her screen. It said that the pictures had failed to be sent.

Did Chao Yan blacklist her?

She remembered what Chao Yan had said. He said he would never appear in front of her again and would not disturb her. A gentleman’s word was unbreakable.

Now that her number had been blocked, she knew that Chao Yan would never disturb her again.

She should be happy. Yet, for some reason, she felt crushed. It was as if something was squeezing her heart, constricting her chest and making it hard for her to breathe.

It made her uneasy.

At this moment, Fu Tingyu snatched the phone out of Qin Shu’s hand and tossed it aside.

He whispered into Qin Shu’s ear, “Babe, there are still two and a half hours before departure. We can’t waste it.”

Fu Tingyu drowned her in kisses and passionate forays at love.

He did not allow her to think of anything else.

In that regard, Fu Tingyu had always had a way of making himself the centre of attention, calling her, enticing her, stealing all control of her emotions from her.

–

The sky gradually darkened, and the temperature dropped substantially.

Chao Yan had sat on the horse’s back for six or seven hours. He could not sit still any longer. He lay on the horse’s back, exhausted. He almost fell off on a few occasions. Thankfully, he had had the strength and reaction time to grab hold of the horse’s mane, narrowly avoiding a hard fall to the earth each time.