Close your eyes. Let me prove it to you.

Night fell upon the Yang Estate.

Yuer had slept for a while in the afternoon, leaving her wide awake by nighttime. Qiqi, though terribly sleepy, also got up upon seeing Yuer unable to sleep. She looked at Yuer and asked, "Sister Yuer, why aren't you sleeping? Are you worried about the Prince?" In the past, she had been oblivious to the romantic tension between Yuer and Zhao Chengxian, but having been through so much, she now understood. It turned out that Yuer and Zhao Chengxian had long ago pledged their hearts to one another.

Holding Qiqi's hand, Yuer replied, "He already knows who I am. Part of me had always hoped he would figure it out, but now that he truly knows, I have no idea how to explain it to me." Though it sounded a bit like a tongue-twister, it reflected just how complicated Yuer's feelings were at the moment. Although she understood that Zhao Chengxian did not blame her for the deception, she still felt it was wrong to lie to someone who loved her so deeply, and a profound sense of guilt weighed on her.

Qiqi patted Yuer's hand to comfort her. "Sister Yuer, you know the Prince won't blame you. If he resented or blamed you, he wouldn't have come looking for you in the first place. I grew up watching the Prince; I know very well what he looks like when he truly hates someone. Trust me, Sister Yuer—the Prince absolutely, without a doubt, still loves you deeply!" Over the past two years, Qiqi had grown up immensely, transforming from an ignorant little girl into a graceful young maiden. Indeed, if someone could not mature after experiencing life and death, they would be beyond hope, or perhaps simply a fool; otherwise, one would bound to gain some insight.

Yuer nodded and smiled. "Alright, Sister trusts Qiqi. Qiqi, I want to go out for a little while, so you go on to sleep first!" She figured Zhao Chengxian must have returned, and perhaps he would be waiting for her at their old spot. Yuer wanted to go and check.

With a mischievous grin, Qiqi asked, "Sister Yuer, are you going to find the Prince?" Seeing Yuer's cheeks flushed with a peach-blossom glow, she giggled. "Very well, off you go! Grand Uncle won't be doing night rounds, but just be careful on the way!" One was the older brother figure who had cared for her since childhood, and the other was the sister who had shared life and death with her; as far as Qiqi was concerned, seeing them together was the best possible outcome.

Yuer nodded and left the room carrying a lantern. Qiqi silently prayed for Yuer—praying she wouldn't be discovered by old man Yang, and praying that Yuer would successfully see Zhao Chengxian. The Yang Estate was some distance away from the grassland that served as their old haunt, so Yuer sneaked out, mounted a fast horse, and galloped toward the meadow.

Deep in the night, the grassland.

Yuer was not certain whether Zhao Chengxian would come here; she merely wanted to try her luck. As soon as she entered the meadow, she spotted a figure standing with his back to her. Though she could not see clearly, she could sense it was him. Yuer quietly dismounted and tiptoed closer, wanting to give him a fright. However, the moment she reached his back, the man whirled around and pulled her straight into his arms, saying with a teasing chuckle, "You underestimate my awareness far too much!" Those who practiced martial arts were exceptionally sensitive to their surroundings and could easily detect any movement. Naturally, this person was none other than Zhao Chengxian, the very person Yuer had hoped to encounter. Zhao Chengxian asked by her ear, "What brings you here?" He had been too restless to sleep and wanted to take a walk. The embrace Yuer had given him at the foot of the mountain had lingered in his mind, and before he knew it, his feet had carried him to the grassland where they used to spend time together. He had never expected Yuer to show up as well. Perhaps this was what they called a meeting of kindred souls.

Yuer smiled and murmured softly, "What? Are you the only one allowed to come, while I am not?" They had returned to the dynamic they shared two years ago.

Delighted, Zhao Chengxian coaxed her, "Not at all, not at all. Do you have any idea how happy I am just to see you?" Able to hold Yuer like this once more and listen to the coquettish tone in her voice, Zhao Chengxian's heart, which had been dead and dormant for two years, finally revived. Words could not describe the joy he felt.

Resting her head happily against Zhao Chengxian's shoulder, Yuer asked, "Don't you blame me for lying to you?" Yuer wished desperately that time could stop right here, remaining frozen at this very moment forever. Both of them knew that once dawn broke, Yuer would still be Yang Wentai; between them, there would remain only the relationship of superior and subordinate, and they could not show excessive intimacy—even a glance between them would require caution.

Good-naturedly, Zhao Chengxian patted Yuer's shoulder. "To be able to see you standing alive and breathing right in front of me still feels like a dream. How could I ever blame you? Besides, I know you had no choice." Right now, he only wanted to hold Yuer tighter, fearing that she might vanish the very next second if he let go.

Yuer gently pushed Zhao Chengxian away, looked up at him playfully, and said, "Would you like me to prove to you that you aren't dreaming?" She then shook her fist in front of him with a smile and said, "Close your eyes, and I'll prove it to you!" In truth, she had no intention of actually hitting him.

Zhao Chengxian also wanted to verify whether he was dreaming yet again, for dreams like this had visited him almost every night, only for him to wake up to absolute nothingness, accompanied solely by an endless void and melancholy in his heart. Thus, he truly closed his eyes and said, "Little Crescent Moon, go easy on..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Yuer pressed her lips to his. This was the first time Yuer had truly taken the initiative to kiss him. He instantly wrapped his arms around her slender waist and kissed her with wild abandon. At that moment, even the moon felt it should yield the space to these star-crossed lovers, slipping quietly behind a cloud.