The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

On the bridge not far away, Wang Fang and Song Anting were having a private conversation when they caught a glimpse of Li Kaixin walking away out of the corner of their eye.

The two stopped immediately and looked at each other.

As if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding, they walked hand in hand toward Zhou Zhiming.

Upon approaching, Wang Fang gestured with her eyes in the direction Li Kaixin had left, and spoke first: "Zhiming, why did Master Li leave?"

Although Song Anting didn't speak, her eyes were fixed on Zhou Zhiming, clearly waiting for his answer.

Zhou Zhiming felt extremely uncomfortable under their gazes and quickly stood up.

"Xiaofang, Sister Anting, can you please stop looking at me like that? My master only told me he would be back soon, and I don't know what he went there to do."

"Really?" Wang Fang was still a little skeptical and continued to ask, "You didn't say something that made Master Li angry and leave, did you?"

"Xiaofang, you've wronged me!"

Zhou Zhiming became anxious, his face full of grievance:

"If I really anger my master, he'll just hit me. Besides, Sister An Ting is still here; if my master leaves, he'll definitely take her with him."

After listening, Wang Fang nodded subconsciously: "Yeah, it seems that's really the case!"

"That's true!" Zhou Zhiming muttered, then turned to Song Anting beside him and called out:

"Sister An Ting, please don't stand there, sit down and wait."

"No, Zhiming, you sit down!" Song Anting smiled and shook her head, her gaze drifting in the direction Li Kaixin had just left.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhiming turned to Wang Fang with a smile and said, "Xiao Fang, why don't you sit down for a while?"

"Sit down?!" Wang Fang rolled her eyes at him, annoyed. "Can't you see our teacher's wife is still standing? How could I possibly sit down?"

"That's true!" Zhou Zhiming scratched his head sheepishly.

Then the three of them stood there, staring in that direction.

A few minutes later, Li Kaixin finally appeared in their sight, carrying a bag of things.

Song Anting quickly let go of Wang Fang's hand and ran up to her.

Watching this scene, Zhou Zhiming was filled with envy and couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Sister An Ting, she's so clingy to her master. If it were me..."

Before I could finish speaking, I felt my waist being pinched hard.

Immediately afterward, Wang Fang's sinister voice rang in my ears: "Zhiming, it seems like you quite like her. Why don't you go find another one?"

Zhou Zhiming felt a chill run down his spine.

"Xiaofang, what are you saying! I was just remarking on how good the relationship is between Master and Sister Anting!"

He quickly turned his head, revealing a deeply affectionate expression: "I will only love you in this life, how could I possibly find someone else?"

"You, why are you so chubby!"

Wang Fang blushed at his words, loosened her grip, and rubbed his hand, saying, "I'm sorry, Zhiming, did I pinch you too hard?"

"I'm fine, Fangfang!" Zhou Zhiming grasped both her hands, his voice gentle. "Hopefully I didn't pinch your hands too hard just now!"

"Brother Zhiming!!" Wang Fang was deeply moved and instinctively leaned her head against his chest.

Zhou Zhiming then wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head, and quietly exhaled.

Over here, Song Anting approached and immediately threw herself into Li Kaixin's arms.

"An Ting, what's wrong? Did you not enjoy your chat with Xiao Fang?" Li Kaixin held her firmly with one hand.

"No!" Song Anting buried her head in his chest and rubbed against him, her voice soft: "Brother Kaixin, I just missed you."

Li Kaixin was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "An Ting, we've only been apart for a few minutes, and you're already thinking like this?"

"I want to even think about it for a few minutes." Song Anting hugged her even tighter.

She looked up and met Li Kaixin's smiling face, her face immediately turning red: "You, you're not allowed to laugh at me."

"Okay, okay, okay."

Li Kaixin freed the hand that was carrying the things and gently stroked her hair: "An Ting, let's go to Zhiming's place first. I have something important to tell him."

Song Anting hummed in agreement before getting off him.

When the two walked hand in hand to the bench, they saw Zhou Zhiming and Wang Fang embracing each other.

Li Kaixin coughed lightly twice, and Zhou Zhiming and Wang Fang immediately separated as if they had been electrocuted.

"Master, you're back." Zhou Zhiming scratched the back of his head, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Wang Fang blushed and lowered her head to straighten the hem of her clothes, not daring to lift her head.

Li Kaixin didn't respond to that, but instead looked at his eldest apprentice with a half-smile: "Zhiming, you're quite good at saving time!"

"Please stop teasing me."

Zhou Zhiming chuckled awkwardly, then, noticing the bag in his hand, quickly changed the subject: "Oh, what's in that bag?"

"Cigarettes, alcohol, and some candy!" Li Kaixin replied, handing the bag in her hand to him.

Zhou Zhiming didn't reach out to take it; instead, he asked in confusion, "Master, what's this?"

"Of course it's for you. Didn't we agree that you were going to your father-in-law's house today?"

"Master, I already said it, clearly..." Zhou Zhiming was only halfway through his sentence when he felt the force coming from his hand.

Looking down, I realized that Wang Fang, whose eyes were already red, was beside me.

"Xiaofang, what's wrong with you?"

"Zhiming, do you think I'm cheap, that I'm so eager to date you?" Wang Fang looked up, tears welling up in her eyes.

"How is this possible!"

Zhou Zhiming's voice trembled with anxiety, "Xiaofang, if I, Zhou Zhiming, ever thought that way, I'd be in big trouble..."

"Don't say that, I believe you." Wang Fang covered his mouth with her hand.

At this moment, Li Kaixin, who was on the other side, couldn't stand it anymore and told Wang Fang about his eldest apprentice's concerns.

After listening, Wang Fang looked at her boyfriend again: "Zhiming, is this why you've been hesitant to come over?"

This time, Zhou Zhiming didn't run away; he nodded, his face flushed.

"Xiaofang, I..."

"Zhiming, I understand." Wang Fang wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and pleaded:

"When I get back, I'll tell my dad not to scare you. Next time you have time off, can you come over?"

"No!!" Zhou Zhiming took the bag from his master's hand, his expression becoming resolute: "Xiaofang, I'll go with you today."

Wang Fang had already taken ninety-nine steps toward him. If she didn't take the initiative, would she still be considered a man?

"That's more like my apprentice!"

Li Kaixin chuckled and patted his eldest apprentice heavily on the shoulder, urging, "Alright, stop dawdling and go now!"

"Thank you, Master!"

After bowing deeply, Zhou Zhiming didn't linger and strode away with Wang Fang.

Li Kaixin and Song Anting did not leave and continued to stroll around Nanhu Park.