Reborn in 2006, I met Mr. Zhou from the past.

The parking lot was quiet. Zhou Chenyu handed over a folded prescription, his fingertips slightly cool.

Su Fengnan took the paper and examined it closely for a full two minutes. The ink on the paper was vigorous and strong; it was a good prescription for regulating qi and blood. "Brother Zhou, was this prescribed by Old Master Chen?"

Zhou Chenyu coughed lightly, her gaze shifting slightly, but her ears involuntarily flushed red. "Hmm. He said you have a cold constitution and need to take good care of yourself."

Su Fengnan was unaware of the man's unusual behavior; her attention was entirely focused on something else—Mr. Chen had actually told Zhou Chenyu about her private ailment.

Her heart pounded like a deer, a mix of embarrassment and shyness overwhelming her; she wished she could disappear into the ground. But then she thought, he'd seen her at her most vulnerable; this little bit of privacy didn't seem like a big deal.

"Okay, I understand." Su Fengnan composed herself and carefully put away the prescription.

Seeing that she had put it away, Zhou Chenyu tentatively said, "That person from today will probably cause you trouble again."

Su Fengnan sensed the concern in his words. Although he had helped her during their encounters, she still didn't want to mention Yan Yun. Discussing things too intimately with casual acquaintances had never been her way of dealing with people.

"I'll handle it. This afternoon... Thank you."

In truth, Su Fengnan knew that a simple "thank you" was too inadequate. She was short of money and couldn't afford a lavish meal; perhaps only by cooking for herself could she express her gratitude.

Zhou Chenyu sensed the distance and rejection in her words, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. "If you need help, contact me anytime."

"Um."

"Where are you staying? Fasten your seatbelts, I'm starting the engine."

"Fourth Middle School".

Zhou Chenyu already knew this when he was investigating her, and he was only asking her again now because he wanted to hear her say it herself.

Su Fengnan quickly fastened her seatbelt. A brief silence fell over the carriage. Fortunately, the county town was small, and they arrived at their destination in just five minutes.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou. I'll contact you after my exams. I still owe you and Mr. Chen a meal. I guarantee you'll be satisfied with my cooking."

Su Fengnan originally wanted to say something modest, but to show her sincerity, she couldn't help but boast a little. After all, besides her cooking skills, she didn't seem to have much else to offer right now.

A hint of a smile flickered across Zhou Chenyu's usually calm eyes, and the knot in his heart instantly dissipated.

"Okay, I'm ready to hear from you anytime."

Su Fengnan realized he was mimicking her tone of voice. Why did it sound so... sycophantic?

"Um... thank you for bringing me back. I'm leaving now, bye-bye."

Embarrassed and ashamed, Su Fengnan pushed open the car door, got out, and fled in panic.

Watching the figure flee in panic, Zhou Chenyu felt a strange unease linger in his heart. Only after the figure completely disappeared did the smile in his eyes gradually fade. This time, he inexplicably sensed that Su Fengnan might be that "opportunity."

But how could this opportunity be with only one person?

His thoughts drifted back to before he left the capital, when he accompanied a friend to visit Master Miaoxuan at Baiyun Temple. At the time, he was merely a guest and didn't even have a chance to speak. However, upon parting, the master stared intently at him and said something that he still remembers vividly to this day.

"Are you going on a long journey soon, young friend?"

"Master Miaoxuan, you can even tell that?"

The master stared at him for a long time, then said calmly, "Young friend, you will face a calamity this year. If you are fortunate enough to overcome it, you can be assured of a smooth and peaceful life for the rest of your days."

Zhou Chenyu and his friends were all taken aback. Master Miaoxuan never spoke falsehoods; if he had uttered these words, they must be true.

Zhou Chenyu respectfully inquired, "Master, please advise if there is a way to resolve this?"

"The mountains of Guizhou are verdant, the rivers flow mightily; our destiny begins here and extends to the southwest. Young friend, do not let this opportunity slip away again." The master finished speaking leisurely, then flicked his whisk and departed.

At the time, he didn't understand its meaning. After leaving the Taoist temple, recalling the fleeting compassion in the Master's eyes, his heart grew even heavier. What was the Master lamenting?

Looking back now, although he still doesn't understand why, he has realized one thing—it all started here.

……

Su Fengnan returned to her residence but didn't see Su Fengxia. There were their previous photos on the table; she looked through them, and Zhou Chenyu's photography skills were indeed superb. Putting the photos down, she searched the next room and finally heard noises coming from a tenant's apartment on the second floor.

At the entrance, Su Fengxia was watching anime with a girl, the volume was quite loud, it was Inuyasha.

"Su Fengxia".

Su Fengxia turned around abruptly and saw that it was her sister. She quickly said, "Sister, you're back! I'll be back as soon as I finish watching this episode."

"Come out for a moment."

Su Fengnan retreated to the corridor, her face grim.

Su Fengxia got up and followed her out, but as soon as she stood still, she was completely humiliated by her sister's "death stare." She shrank back and sheepishly followed her sister back into the house.

As soon as she entered the room, Su Fengxia lay down on the bed, trying to fool everyone.

"Hey sis, you were really fierce just now."

Su Fengnan sat at her desk, her tone stern: "It's fine to play at other people's houses, but not too late. At least leave a message where you're going, don't make me worry. If something happens, it'll be too late to regret it."

"Oh dear, sis, aren't you being too sensitive? I haven't gone far, nothing will happen."

"You don't know that many bad things are committed by acquaintances. You shouldn't have the heart to harm others, but you can't be without the heart to guard against others. Always be careful in everything you do."

"I understand, I understand."

Seeing her younger sister's dismissive attitude, Su Fengnan sighed and softened her tone. She gave an example of a tragic case where a girl committed suicide after being assaulted by her neighbor.

Su Fengxia was so shocked she couldn't speak: "Sister, is this true?"

Su Fengnan glared at her: "It's true. Have you forgotten my junior high classmate? She was…"

"I know her, it's Caixia. The whole county was in an uproar; her father was sentenced to prison."

"Okay. Stop overthinking, hurry up and wash up and go to bed."

"Okay."

Su Fengxia obediently got up, took a basin, and went out to fetch water. Listening to the rushing water outside, Su Fengnan secretly vowed that he would protect his little sister for the rest of his life and never let her suffer the slightest grievance.

The next morning, a torrential downpour began. Raindrops pounded on the ground, splashing water, and the wind whipped the rain against the windows, making a loud clattering sound.

When Su Fengnan arrived at school, her shoes and trousers were half-soaked. Fortunately, the summer rain came and went quickly; after 10 a.m., the dark clouds dispersed, revealing a clear blue sky.

With only two days left until the final exams, the teacher has stopped teaching new lessons, and the whole class is frantically doing practice problems.

At lunchtime, Su Fengnan didn't see Yan Yun at the school gate and breathed a sigh of relief. But just in case, she bought two steamed buns and then wandered around several streets to make sure no one was following her before sneaking into an internet cafe.

At the intersection not far from the internet cafe, the red light came on, and Yan Lun's car slowly stopped in front of the zebra crossing.

The atmosphere inside the car was extremely tense. Yan Yun sat in the passenger seat, his face frighteningly gloomy.

"We've lost her. Where could she have gone in the middle of the day?" Yan Lun put one hand on the steering wheel and the other hand down the window, sticking his head out to search through the crowd.

"I didn't dare get too close," Yan Yun said through gritted teeth, tapping her knees in frustration with her fingers. "She seemed to have noticed, and deliberately tried to shake me off in a roundabout way."