A soldier’s education never included methods for sneaking around. And yet, here Qing Xue was, clinging to the shadows with practiced ease, making little noise as he took the most secretive paths to reach his true home.
This was not the first time he had made this roundabout journey towards the place he and his beloved used to share. He first developed the habit the winter they separated, going back and forth to care for the garden to fulfill Bai Ruyi’s request.
But even when that task was done, he continued to return. At first it was only to maintain the rest of the residence in its owner’s absence, but as time went on, he stopped making excuses to himself.
The truth was that he simply wanted to be there. Despite the pain of longing, despite the sorrow from all the uncertainties, it w
