After the divorce, he went on a motorcycle trip, and his ex-wife and daughter were filled with regre

The door closed.

Soon, Han Qingru pushed open the door and came out again.

She changed out of her expensive business trench coat.

She wore a simple pair of light blue jeans, a loose and soft beige knitted cardigan over her top, and a pair of flat white canvas shoes.

This outfit completely shed the queen-like aura she exuded during the day, making her seem unapproachable.

She is exactly like a gentle, homey older sister next door.

The two walked down the stairs one after the other and exited the hotel.

The town at night, having completely shed the hustle and bustle of the day, appears exceptionally peaceful and serene.

There were no glaring neon lights like in big cities.

There was no constant flow of traffic or piercing horns.

A bright moon hung overhead, casting its gentle light.

The dim streetlights cast a warm glow, stretching the two people's shadows long on the bluestone path.

The shadows sometimes overlapped and then separated.

Most of the shops along the street were already closed.

But some grocery stores and late-night food stalls still stayed open, emitting enticing aromas.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of roasted sweet potatoes, the smoky fragrance of chestnuts roasting in a large iron pot, and the faint scent of firewood wafting from farmhouses in the distance.

This smell, a blend of earthy and smoky aromas, makes one feel particularly grounded and at ease.

Han Qingru casually put her hands in the pockets of her beige knitted cardigan. She walked briskly beside Jiang Ye.

A gentle breeze carried her pleasant fragrance.

The two walked side by side on the bluestone path, chatting casually.

The conversations were no longer about the company's multi-million dollar projects, nor about the ups and downs of the stock market.

They talked about their childhood.

They talked about how Jiang Ye would always fall asleep in a haystack when playing hide-and-seek in his hometown, making the whole village anxious and searching for him with flashlights.

They talked about how one summer they secretly went fishing in the river without their grandfather's knowledge, and the two of them got covered in mud. When they got home, their grandfather chased them and beat them with a bamboo stick.

They talked about the happy times when they went to pick wild fruits in the back mountain in autumn, and the siblings chased each other for half a hill to grab the sweetest red fruit.

Those childhood memories, long buried deep in my mind, are now being awakened little by little in the night breeze of the small town.

When Han Qingru talked about something happy, she couldn't help but let out a heartfelt, light laugh.

The laughter echoed through the empty streets, crisp and melodious, catching everyone off guard.

At this moment.

All those heavy business reports, those intricate calculations of profit, and all the emotional betrayals and painful entanglements experienced during this period—it all seemed to have been swept away completely by the gentle evening breeze of this small town!

Jiang Ye turned his head slightly.

Looking at the woman walking beside me.

Looking at her profile, softened by the streetlights, and at her radiant smile, and listening to her carefree laughter, Jiang Ye felt a long-lost sense of peace grow stronger and stronger.

This feels really good.

There's no need to suspect who's stabbing you in the back, no need to weigh any gains or losses.

They were just an ordinary young couple from the town.

Wandering aimlessly under the moonlight, enjoying this slow-paced life that requires no pretense and no constant vigilance.

Jiang Ye took a deep breath of the cool night air, his gaze gradually becoming deep and lingering, as if he wanted to etch Han Qingru's current appearance into his mind.

At this moment, Jiang Ye even secretly hoped for something.

He hoped that this bluestone path, paved with moonlight, would never end.

He wished time could stand still in this moment, so that he could walk side by side with the older sister who was willing to protect him for a lifetime.

Get away from all the noise and troubles.

. . . .

As night deepened, the streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow, stretching the two figures into long shadows.

Ahead was a crossroads without traffic lights. Because it was located in the old city, most of the streetlights were broken, making the lighting rather dim.

Jiang Ye subconsciously moved closer to Han Qingru, his tall figure blocking the direction from which the traffic might come, protecting her as she walked forward.

Just as they stepped off the curb, preparing to cross the road.

A sudden change has occurred!

"Boom boom boom—"

A deafening roar, like that of a broken-down tractor engine, suddenly erupted from the corner on the right!

A farm tricycle loaded with baskets of vegetables burst out of the darkness like a wild boar that had completely lost control!

This beat-up car not only didn't have its headlights on, making it a deadly invisible killer in the dark, but it was also going ridiculously fast, completely speeding!

The driver seemed completely unprepared for anyone to be at this dilapidated intersection in the middle of the night. He jerked the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes.

"squeak--!"

The screeching sound of brakes instantly shattered the silence of the night sky. The tires rubbed against the rough asphalt, producing a strong smell of burning and even emitting a puff of white smoke.

But the vehicle was going too fast, and it was loaded with heavy goods. The huge inertia caused the tricycle to crash into the two of them!

Han Qingru had never seen anything like this before.

Faced with this sudden life-or-death crisis, she froze instantly.

My mind went blank, my legs felt like they were made of lead, rooted to the spot. I had lost even the instinct to dodge, and could only watch helplessly as that huge, black vehicle came crashing down on me.

The tricycle was about to hit Han Qingru's frail body!

At the critical moment!

Jiang Ye's eyes instantly became incredibly sharp, and all the muscles in his body tensed up, like a cheetah poised to pounce.

With lightning speed, he grabbed Han Qingru's slender wrist tightly and exerted force with his arm!

"come over!"

With a low growl, Jiang Ye forcefully pulled Han Qingru into his arms.

Immediately afterwards, he pushed off the ground with both feet, and holding Han Qingru, he took two big steps backward, steadily retreating back to the safety of the curb.

The very next second after they stepped back, the farm tricycle almost grazed their clothes, whistling past with a biting cold wind!

The rough canvas tied to the carriage even snagged on Jiang Ye's shoulder, making a dull "smack".

The tricycle wobbled along for more than ten meters before finally coming to a stop. The driver stuck his head out and cursed a couple of times. Seeing that he hadn't hit anyone, he stepped on the gas and sped away.

Under the streetlights, Han Qingru, still shaken, kept her eyes tightly shut, her hands instinctively clutching Jiang Ye's shirt. She leaned against Jiang Ye's broad, muscular chest, her body still trembling slightly uncontrollably.

too close.

For a split second, she really thought she was going to be thrown into the air.

At this moment, nestled in this warm embrace, Han Qingru could clearly hear the voice coming from Jiang Ye's chest.

Jiang Ye held her soft hand tightly, his palms covered in cold sweat.

God knows how scared he was just now!

The lingering fear of almost watching her get hurt and nearly losing her is like a huge net tightly gripping his heart, making it hard for him to breathe even now.

He didn't loosen his grip for a long time; instead, he held on even tighter, as if the person in his arms would disappear if he let go.

Han Qingru slowly opened her eyes and raised her head.

Their eyes met unexpectedly under the dim streetlights.

Jiang Ye's eyes were filled with tension and worry, as well as a hint of burning passion that he himself was unaware of.

Han Qingru's cheeks flushed instantly, and her heart skipped a beat.

The two stood quietly under the streetlight, holding hands.

The surrounding noise seemed to fade away at that moment, and even the sound of the wind became gentle.

An indescribable feeling of attraction, like a tender bud breaking through the soil in spring, quietly spread between the two of them.