In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

On the morning of August 31st, the sky over Beijing was a clear blue, with a few wisps of white clouds hanging lazily.

Yang Guangming was in his study reviewing the post-production plan for "Love" when his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was a Hong Kong Island number.

"Hey."

"Guangming, it's me." Chen Hong's voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of lightness before the journey. "I'm about to board the plane and will arrive in Beijing around 3 p.m.

Yang Guangming glanced at the wall clock; it was 9:30 a.m.

"Okay, be careful on the road. I'll have Lao Duan pick you up."

"Is it too much trouble for Brother Duan? I can take a taxi back by myself."

"That won't do. How long will you be staying this time?"

"About a week. The promotion for the new movie has come to an end, and the company hasn't assigned me any new work recently. President Shi told me to take a good rest."

Yang Guangming pondered for a moment: "Then stay in Beijing for a while longer, so you can spend more time with me."

A gentle laugh came from the other end of the phone: "Okay, whatever you say. I'll board the plane now, see you this afternoon."

See you this afternoon.

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming held the receiver and sat in a chair for a while.

The study was quiet, with only the faint chirping of cicadas coming from outside the window. In late August in Beijing, the summer heat had not completely subsided, but the morning breeze already carried a hint of coolness.

He walked to the window and looked at the old locust tree in the yard. The leaves gleamed with a glossy green in the sunlight, casting dappled shadows.

Chen Hong is coming back.

Zuo Xiaoqing is still at home and will stay here until the start of the Beijing Film Academy semester.

Two women, one arrived in the afternoon, the other was already at home.

Yang Guangming had considered this situation before, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly. He originally planned to deal with these relationships slowly after Zuo Xiaoqing started school and lived on campus, but now time was of the essence.

Deception and concealment have never been his style.

Having lived several lifetimes, he knew all too well what relationships that ultimately crumbled due to a lack of honesty looked like. Secrets can't stay hidden forever, especially in the entertainment industry where information flows so rapidly; no secret can last.

Instead of passively waiting for problems to erupt, it's better to take the initiative and control the situation.

He wanted to have a clear talk with Zuo Xiaoqing before Chen Hong arrived.

Yang Guangming walked out of the study and into the living room. Zuo Xiaoqing was sitting on the sofa, flipping through a book on acting theory, which Yang Guangming had recommended to her as an introductory text.

Today she wore a light pink short-sleeved shirt with white shorts, revealing a pair of straight and slender legs. Her hair was tied in a neat ponytail, with a few wisps of hair hanging down in front of her forehead, swaying gently as she turned the pages of her book.

Hearing footsteps, Zuo Xiaoqing looked up and smiled, "Brother Guangming, are you done with your work?"

"Hmm." Yang Guangming sat down beside her. "What are you looking at?"

"The book you recommended, Stanislavski's *An Actor Prepares*, is a bit difficult to understand in some parts; it's quite profound." Zuo Xiaoqing wrinkled her small nose, looking both earnest and adorable.

"That's how it is at first, no rush, take your time." Yang Guangming paused, "Xiaoqing, shall we go to the media room and watch a movie?"

"Now?" Zuo Xiaoqing glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's only ten o'clock in the morning."

"You'll really get into the movie in the morning." Yang Guangming stood up and held out his hand to her. "Come on, I've picked out a really interesting film."

Zuo Xiaoqing put down her book and placed her hand in his palm. His hand was warm and dry, and when he held her, it was always very gentle, yet it made her feel at ease.

The two walked hand in hand through the living room to the specially converted home theater in the backyard.

This home theater was specially designed by Yang Guangming, and it boasts excellent soundproofing with sound-absorbing treatment on the walls. The entire wall opposite the door is a screen, and opposite that are two large, electric leather sofas that can be fully reclined. There's a small bar in the corner with drinks and snacks.

Yang Guangming closed the door, turned on the air conditioner, and the room quickly cooled down. He drew back the heavy blackout curtains, plunging the room into a comfortable dimness.

"What movie are you watching?" Zuo Xiaoqing asked curiously as she sat down on the sofa.

Yang Guangming took a disc from the disc rack and put it into the DVD player: "The Deer and the Cauldron, the Stephen Chow version."

"Ah, I've seen this before, it's hilarious." Zuo Xiaoqing's eyes lit up.

The curtain rose, and the opening theme music began. Yang Guangming sat down next to Zuo Xiaoqing and naturally put his arm around her shoulder. Zuo Xiaoqing leaned into his arms and found a comfortable position.

The movie began. Stephen Chow, playing Wei Xiaobao, appeared, and his cunning and wit as a commoner quickly made Zuo Xiaoqing laugh.

Yang Guangming wasn't fully committed to the film; he was waiting for the right opportunity.

When the film reached the part where Wei Xiaobao was captured by Hai Dafu and forced to become a eunuch, Zuo Xiaoqing watched with great interest, occasionally letting out a crisp laugh.

"Xiaoqing," Yang Guangming suddenly spoke softly.

"Hmm?" Zuo Xiaoqing turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling in the dim light.

"What do you think of Wei Xiaobao?" Yang Guangming asked.

Zuo Xiaoqing thought for a moment: "He's very smart and quick-witted. Although he can be a bit sly at times, he's not a bad person at heart. And he's quite loyal to his friends."

"And what about his relationships with women?" Yang Guangming continued to ask.

"Regarding women..." Zuo Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment, "He seems to be quite a womanizer, liking one after another. But it's just a movie, for comedic effect, so a bit of exaggeration is normal."

Yang Guangming remained silent for a few seconds, the light and shadow on the curtain flickering on his face.

"If there were a man like Wei Xiaobao in real life, how would you view him?" His voice was calm, but Zuo Xiaoqing detected an unusual seriousness in his tone.

Zuo Xiaoqing sat up straight from his lap, looking at him with some confusion: "Brother Guangming, why are you suddenly asking this?"

"It just popped into my head, just wanted to chat." Yang Guangming smiled, but the smile was somewhat complicated.

Zuo Xiaoqing leaned back into his arms and thought for a moment before saying, "If there really were men like that in real life, they would definitely be called scumbags. Falling in love with every woman they meet and not being faithful in relationships, what woman could stand that?"

She spoke so naturally, and her thoughts were exactly what a girl her age should have.

Yang Guangming tightened his arms slightly, holding her even closer.

"Then what if..." he carefully chose his words, "if there were a man like Wei Xiaobao, who couldn't love only one woman, but was sincere to every woman he fell in love with and was willing to take responsibility for her, what would you think?"

This time, Zuo Xiaoqing remained silent for an even longer period.

In the movie, Wei Xiaobao is outwitting Princess Jianning, and the comical scene makes the audience laugh, but the atmosphere in the movie theater is inexplicably heavy.

"Brother Guangming," Zuo Xiaoqing's voice was very soft, "Do you... want to tell me something?"

She was very smart, or rather, she was very sensitive to Yang Guangming's emotional changes.

Yang Guangming didn't answer directly, but continued, "Xiaoqing, do you know who the first woman I ever loved was?"

Zuo Xiaoqing's heart skipped a beat. She looked up, trying to make out his expression in the dim light.

"Who is it?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“It’s you.” Yang Guangming looked down at her, his eyes serious and gentle. “When I first saw you on set, you had your hair in a ponytail, you were so youthful and lively, so beautiful. At that time, I thought, this girl is really special.”

Zuo Xiaoqing blushed, a sweet feeling welling up inside her, but at the same time, she felt uneasy. She vaguely sensed that after this confession, there might be things she didn't want to hear.

“I cherish this relationship very much.” Yang Guangming’s fingers gently stroked her hair. “So I don’t want to lie to you or hide anything from you. Many couples break up in the end not because they don’t love each other anymore, but because they are not honest enough, because of deception and concealment.”

Zuo Xiaoqing's heart sank. She clenched her fists.

"Brother Guangming, what exactly do you want to say?" Her voice was already tinged with sobs.

Yang Guangming took a deep breath and decided to stop beating around the bush.

“Xiaoqing, my personality… is probably a bit like Wei Xiaobao.” He spoke slowly, each word clear and firm. “I’m not the kind of man who is legally monogamous. My thoughts… are not bound by monogamy. That’s the real me.”

He paused, observing Zuo Xiaoqing's reaction.

The girl's face appeared pale in the dim light, her eyes wide open, filled with shock, confusion, and hurt.

"What...what do you mean?" Zuo Xiaoqing's voice was very soft, almost inaudible.

"What I mean is, I may not have only one woman in my life," Yang Guangming said directly and frankly. "But I will be responsible for every woman I love and do my best to be good to them. You are the first person I have ever liked, and that fact will never change."

He took her hand in his; it was cold and trembling slightly.

"I promise that as long as you don't leave on your own, you will always have a place in my heart, and there will always be a room for you in this house." Yang Guangming's tone was sincere and solemn. "I don't want to lie to you, so I'm choosing to tell you now. You can be angry, you can scold me, you can even hit me, but please don't doubt my feelings for you."

The only sound in the home theater was the movie. Wei Xiaobao was using his smooth talk to coax his seven wives, creating a hilarious effect, but at this moment it sounded strangely ironic.

Zuo Xiaoqing's tears finally fell.

She wasn't unfamiliar with men's infidelity, nor was she unfamiliar with seeing her friends betrayed. But she never imagined that such a thing would happen to her, let alone to Yang Guangming.

This was the man she deeply loved and admired, the man she thought was perfect.

"You..." she choked, unable to finish her sentence, "How could you do this..."

"I'm sorry." Yang Guangming pulled her into his arms, letting her tears soak his shirt. "I know this isn't fair to you, but this is the real me. No one in this world is perfect. I'm not perfect. I'd rather tell you now so you can choose, than have you find out from someone else in the future, which would hurt you even more."

Zuo Xiaoqing cried in his arms for a long time.

Her sobs were soft, a suppressed, heartbroken whimper.

Yang Guangming didn't say anything, but gently patted her back, as if comforting an injured child.

The movie ended sometime during the film, and the screen was now a blue screen.

The air conditioner made a soft whirring sound, and the room was cool, but Zuo Xiaoqing felt a chill in her heart.

After crying for about ten minutes, Zuo Xiaoqing's sobs gradually subsided. She lifted her head from Yang Guangming's arms, her eyes red and swollen, and the tip of her nose also red, looking both pitiful and adorable.

“You…” she sobbed, “Why did you tell me all this? If you hadn’t told me, I might never have known…”

“That’s disrespectful to you.” Yang Guangming wiped away her tears with his hand. “Xiaoqing, I love you, so I should respect you even more. You have the right to know what the real me is like, and then make your own choice.”

Zuo Xiaoqing stared at him blankly, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

There is love, there is resentment, there is sadness, there is struggle.

“I never thought about these things…” she murmured. “I thought… I thought we would be like any other couple, that we would get married, have children, and stay together forever…”

“We can stay together forever.” Yang Guangming held her hand. “It’s just that the form might be different from what you’re thinking. But my feelings won’t change, and my love for you won’t change either.”

Zuo Xiaoqing fell silent.

She just turned eighteen this year and is in her first relationship with someone as dazzling as Yang Guangming. She has always felt that she is not good enough for him and has been trying her best to become better so that she can stand by his side.

She never imagined that such an option would exist in the world of relationships.

“I know men are all fickle…” After a long while, Zuo Xiaoqing finally spoke in a low voice, her voice still a little hoarse, “My father used to be like that… but my mother chose to forgive him. At that time, I thought that if I encountered this situation in the future, I would never forgive him, and I would leave.”

She looked up at the bright sunlight, and tears welled up in her eyes again: "But it's you now... I don't know what to do... I can't bear to leave you..."

“You can take your time to think it over, there’s no rush to make a decision.” Yang Guangming’s tone was gentle. “Whatever your final choice is, I will respect it. If you want to leave, I will give you enough compensation so that you can live without worries in the future. If you want to stay, I will treat you well for the rest of my life.”

These words were so sincere that Zuo Xiaoqing, who had finally managed to stop her tears, started crying again.

"Can't you just say you'll change?" she asked, crying. "You said you'd change for me, that you'd only love me for the rest of your life, even if you're lying to me..."

"I don't want to lie to you." Yang Guangming shook his head. "You can fool someone for a while, but not forever. If I lie to you now and say I'll change, and you find out later that I haven't, that will be the real hurt."

Looking at him, Zuo Xiaoqing suddenly realized that this man's honesty was itself a cruel kind of tenderness.

He could have easily concealed it, lied, or, like many men, had one wife at home and another outside. But he chose the most difficult path—to be honest and then give her the choice.

This left her with no reason to even hate him.

"You..." Zuo Xiaoqing bit her lip and asked a question she already knew the answer to, "Do you... already have other women outside?"

When she asked that question, her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by a hand, and the pain made it hard to breathe.

Yang Guangming did not avoid her gaze.

“Yes,” he said calmly. “In Venice, I won the Best Actor award. I was so excited that night that I celebrated with Chen Hong. We both drank… and then we had sex.”

Zuo Xiaoqing's breath hitched.

Chen Hong.

That woman was breathtakingly beautiful.

She had seen photos of Chen Hong and Yang Guangming walking the red carpet together in the newspaper, and at the time she thought they were a good match. She felt a little jealous, but didn't think much of it.

So they had been together for a long time... "She was your first woman?" Zuo Xiaoqing asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes," Yang Guangming admitted. "You are the first person I've ever liked, but she was the first woman I've ever been with. These two things don't conflict; they are both facts."

Zuo Xiaoqing closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.

This fact is harder to accept than she imagined. If it were a woman she didn't know, perhaps it would be easier. But Chen Hong... so beautiful, so famous, standing next to Yang Guangming, they looked so well-matched.

What does she have to compare with others?
"Does she know I exist too?" Zuo Xiaoqing opened her eyes and asked.

“I know,” Yang Guangming said. “I won’t hide it from her either. You are all people I love, and I won’t let any of you suffer without knowing the truth.”

Zuo Xiaoqing suddenly felt that it was absurd.

This man loved two women at the same time, yet he could so confidently utter the word "love." Even more absurdly, she didn't seem to suspect he was lying.

He truly loved her, and he truly loved Chen Hong.

"You..." She didn't know what to say; her mind was a complete mess.

Yang Guangming gently cupped her face and wiped away her tears with his thumb.

"Xiaoqing, I know this is hard for you to accept. You can be angry, you can scold me, you can not want to see me for a while. But please believe me, my feelings for you are real. You are the first person I have ever liked in my life, and that fact will never change."

His eyes were so sincere, his voice so gentle, that Zuo Xiaoqing's defenses crumbled little by little.

There's no doubt that she loves him.

From the first time she met him on set, to later when he taught her acting, accompanied her through her period of confusion, and supported her in applying to the Beijing Film Academy... this relationship has taken deep root in her heart.

If you pull it out, it will come with blood and flesh.

"If I choose to stay..." Zuo Xiaoqing's voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, "What would you do to me?"

"I will do everything I can to be good to you," Yang Guangming said without hesitation. "I will support your career, take care of your life, and give you everything I can. You will always have a place in this family, and you will always be my Xiaoqing."

"What about Chen Hong?" Zuo Xiaoqing asked. "What will happen to her?"

"She has her place too. I won't favor anyone or neglect anyone. You are all independent individuals and shouldn't be compared. I love you each as you are, not who is better than whom."

This sounded idealistic, but Zuo Xiaoqing was actually somewhat convinced.

Perhaps it's because she's too young and her imagination about love isn't realistic enough. Or perhaps it's because she loves him so much that she's willing to lower her standards for him.

"I need to think about it," Zuo Xiaoqing finally said. "Give me some time, okay?"

"Okay." Yang Guangming kissed her forehead. "No rush, you have a lifetime to think about it."

The movie had long since ended, and the theater was completely silent.

Zuo Xiaoqing leaned against Yang Guangming's chest, saying nothing more. Yang Guangming didn't explain anything either, but gently patted her back, as if comforting a frightened little animal.

After a long while, Zuo Xiaoqing suddenly spoke up: "Brother Guangming."

"Ok?"

"Will you... fall in love with another woman in the future?" she asked, her voice muffled.

Yang Guangming was silent for a few seconds, then honestly said, "I don't know. I'm a director, and the temptations I face are too great. But I can guarantee that no matter what the future holds, your place in my heart will never change."

This isn't the best answer, but it's at least honest.

Zuo Xiaoqing sighed, a sigh that carried a heaviness that an eighteen-year-old girl shouldn't have.

"I envy Chen Hong so much," she whispered. "She was your first woman."

“But you are the first person to live in my heart,” Yang Guangming corrected. “Both are important, and neither is more important than the other.”

Zuo Xiaoqing raised her head and looked into his eyes in the dim light.

His eyes were clear, without any evasion or guilt, only honesty and gentleness, and a hint of masculine strength and domineering nature.

Perhaps it was because of this honesty, or perhaps it was because of the man's strength that she could sense, yet not overtly so, that she couldn't bring herself to hate him.

"Hold me tight," Zuo Xiaoqing said.

Yang Guangming tightened his arms and held her tightly in his embrace.

Zuo Xiaoqing buried her face in his chest, inhaling his familiar scent. This embrace was warm and safe; it was the most comforting place she had ever felt in her eighteen years of life.

She didn't want to lose it.

“If…” she whispered, her voice almost inaudible, “If I could accept it…would you think I’m stupid?”

"No." Yang Guangming kissed her hair. "You're willing to accommodate me because you love me so deeply. I'm just touched."

These words warmed Zuo Xiaoqing's heart.

She was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to see her."

"Who?"

"Chen Hong. I want to see for myself what kind of person she is."

Yang Guangming was somewhat surprised, but still nodded: "Okay, she'll arrive this afternoon. But if you're not ready yet, you don't have to see her."

"No, I want to see them." Zuo Xiaoqing's tone became firm. "I need to know who I'm facing."

Looking at her, Yang Guangming suddenly realized that this girl was stronger than he had imagined.

“Okay, then let’s have dinner together,” he said. “But promise me, if you feel uncomfortable, you can always leave. Don’t force yourself.”

"Mm." Zuo Xiaoqing nodded.

The two sat in the video room for a while longer until Zuo Xiaoqing's emotions had completely calmed down.

Yang Guangming checked the time; it was already past 11 a.m.

"Are you hungry? I'll go ask Sister Wu to prepare lunch."

"A little." Zuo Xiaoqing touched her stomach and forced a smile. "Crying is also physically demanding."

Yang Guangming was amused by her and ruffled her hair: "Silly girl."

The two stepped out of the home theater, where the sun was shining brightly. The flowers and plants in the yard were vibrant in the sunlight, and cicadas were chirping—a typical late summer scene in Beijing.

At lunchtime, Zuo Xiaoqing didn't have a good appetite and only ate half a bowl of rice before putting down her chopsticks.

Yang Guangming didn't force her; he just asked Wu Fang to cut some fruit.

After finishing their meal, Yang Guangming said to Zuo Xiaoqing, "This afternoon, I'm going to pick up Chen Hong, you..."

Zuo Xiaoqing shook her head: "I'd better wait at home. It would be too awkward to suddenly go to the airport."

"Alright. What are your plans for this afternoon?"

Zuo Xiaoqing thought for a moment and said, "I want to buy some clothes. School starts soon, and I need to get some new clothes."

Yang Guangming's eyes lit up. That was a good idea. Let Zuo Xiaoqing go out for a walk, clear her head, and avoid the awkwardness she felt when she first met Chen Hong.

“I’ll have Sister Wu go with you,” Yang Guangming arranged. “Buy whatever you want, don’t worry about the price.”

Zuo Xiaoqing glanced at him, her expression somewhat complicated, but in the end she nodded: "Okay."

At 1 p.m., Wu Fang accompanied Zuo Xiaoqing out. Yang Guangming asked Huang Bo to drive them to Wangfujing, where there are many shopping malls and a wide selection.

After seeing Zuo Xiaoqing off, Yang Guangming returned to his study, but he had no interest in reading the documents.

He was thinking about how to talk to Chen Hong that afternoon.

Chen Hong is different from Zuo Xiaoqing. She is not yet 27 years old this year, but she has been working in the entertainment industry for several years and has been in Hong Kong for so long. Her experience and thinking are much more mature than Zuo Xiaoqing's.

She wouldn't naively believe in the supremacy of love like Zuo Xiaoqing, nor would she be easily swayed by sweet words.

Yang Guangming needs a more direct and realistic way of communicating.

At 2:30 p.m., Huang Bo returned from Wangfujing and reported Zuo Xiaoqing's shopping to Yang Guangming.

"Miss Zuo bought several sets of clothes, as well as some skincare and cosmetic products. Sister Wu accompanied her, and she seemed to be in a good mood; she even ate ice cream," Huang Bo reported in detail.

"That's good." Yang Guangming nodded. "Get ready, we're going to the airport."

"Yes."

On the way to the airport, Yang Guangming remained quiet. Huang Bo glanced at him several times in the rearview mirror, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Say what you want to say," Yang Guangming said.

Huang Bo hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Guangming, Miss Chen and Miss Zuo are both here, is this... alright?"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Problems need to be solved. We can't keep running away from them."

Huang Bo fell silent. Having been Yang Guangming's assistant for so long, he knew the young man's style well—decisive, direct, and disliking beating around the bush. He was probably the same way when it came to matters of the heart.

The airport expressway was clear, and they arrived at the Capital Airport at 3:10.

The international arrivals hall was quite crowded, and Yang Guangming found a conspicuous spot to stand and wait. He was wearing sunglasses and a mask, but his outstanding appearance and demeanor still attracted a lot of attention.

At 3:20, Chen Hong's flight landed on time.

After waiting for about twenty more minutes, people started coming out of the exit. Yang Guangming quickly spotted Chen Hong.

Today she wore a beige casual suit, her hair tied in a low ponytail, large sunglasses, and a mask, pushing a small suitcase. Even in such a simple outfit, she still stood out in the crowd.

Chen Hong also saw Yang Guangming, and a smile immediately appeared on her face as she quickened her pace.

“Light!” She walked closer and naturally opened her arms.

Yang Guangming hugged her, smelling her familiar perfume. The hug was brief, but intimate enough.

"Are you tired from the journey?" Yang Guangming let go of her and took the suitcase.

"It's alright, I got here after a nap." Chen Hong looked him up and down, her eyes filled with concern. "You seem to have lost some weight, is filming too tiring?"

"It's alright, but there are a lot of things to worry about." Yang Guangming smiled. "Let's go, the car is outside."

The two walked out side by side, and Chen Hong naturally took his arm. She did this very skillfully, and Yang Guangming did not object.

In the car, Chen Hong asked about the filming of "Love".

"Filming has wrapped up, half a month ahead of schedule. The performances of Teacher Lan Tianye and Teacher Qin Yi were amazing; they basically nailed everything in one take."

"That's great. I've read the script, it's really excellent, but it certainly won't be easy to film. Are the two veteran artists physically up to the task?"

"Director Han has made very thoughtful arrangements; the filming time each day is short, ensuring the teachers get enough rest." Yang Guangming paused, then asked, "And you? How's it going in Hong Kong?"

Chen Hong leaned back in her chair and sighed softly, "Busy, but fulfilling. 'The Golden Age' is a huge box office hit, breaking 30 million. President Shi is very happy. Asian cinema has had a great start."

"Congratulations." Yang Guangming said sincerely, "Your performance in it was also excellent; I saw the sample footage."

Chen Hong turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling: "Really? What do you think?"

"Very good, she brought out that gentle yet strong temperament, and some of the makeup and styling were also very beautiful," Yang Guangming commented.

These words brought a faint blush to Chen Hong's face. She was no longer a little girl, but being praised by her beloved still made her happy.

As the car entered the city, Chen Hong looked at the street scene outside the window and suddenly sighed, "Baidu is still more comfortable. Hong Kong Island is too crowded and the pace of life is too fast."

"Then stay a while longer. We'll keep your room in the courtyard house."

Chen Hong turned to look at him, her eyes gentle, and Yang Guangming squeezed her hand.

The action was natural, but Chen Hong keenly sensed that Yang Guangming seemed a little different today. She couldn't quite put her finger on it; it was just a gut feeling.

The car drove into the hutongs of Xicheng District and stopped in front of a courtyard house.

After entering the house, Chen Hong put down her luggage and said to Yang Guangming, "I want to take a shower and change my clothes first. I always feel like I smell bad on the plane."

"Okay, go ahead, I'll wait for you in the yard."

Chen Hong went back to her room, while Yang Guangming strolled around in the courtyard. In late August in Beijing, the afternoon sun wasn't so harsh anymore, and the shade under the trees in the courtyard was quite cool.

He walked to the old locust tree and looked up at its lush foliage.

What we're about to discuss won't be easy. (End of Chapter)