The still lake reflected the lights from the Swan Castle, appearing as another expanse of shimmering starlight.

Curtains of deep crimson velvet veiled the night.

Two lamps cast a gentle glow beside the bed in the bedroom.

The sound of running water drifted from the bathroom, where Ou Chen sat on the edge of the bed. He stared intently at the flower crown she had worn at their wedding; the lilies and daisies still bloomed with pristine beauty, their white petals seemingly holding the lingering scent of her presence.

His heart hammered wildly, like that of a young boy.

He tentatively extended a finger.

He softly brushed against the petals of the crown.

Scenes of dreamlike wedding day happiness flashed through his mind again and again: her, walking towards him in a snow-white gown down the candlelit aisle; her soft-spoken marriage vows before the priest; her tossing the bridal bouquet high into the blue sky amidst the cheers of the guests...

The petals were cool and soft.

Just like her fingers when he fastened the green lace for her—a slight tremor, a touch of chill.

The sound of the shower stopped.

Then, the bathroom door opened.

Ou Chen’s fingers froze instantly. He slowly drew his hand back from the flower crown, then slowly raised his head. Yin Xia Mo stood there in a white bathrobe, her hair wrapped in a white towel. The steam from her recent bath seemed to emanate from her person; her eyes shone like stars in the mist, her cheeks flushed pink, and her lips were full and tender...

"You..."

His voice was unexpectedly rough. Ou Chen abruptly turned his head away in embarrassment, afraid to look at her again. After a long pause, he cleared his throat and continued:

"You're done."

A subtle, awkward tension filled the air.

"Yes," Yin Xia Mo replied softly. She had lingered in the shower for a long time. Although she had braced herself for everything, knowing it was a duty incumbent upon a wife, she simply couldn't turn off the faucet and step out. She only realized how ridiculous she was being when the steam threatened to overwhelm her; hesitation and struggle were meaningless now.

"You... you should go take your shower..."

As she finished speaking, the nape of her neck suddenly flushed pink as well.

"You must be tired. Rest early," Ou Chen stood up, gazing at her. "If you need anything, you can ring for a maid, or you can call me. I'm in the room right next to yours."

"..."

She looked up, startled!

"Goodnight."

He gave her one last, deep look, walked past her, and headed toward the door.

"Wait a moment!"

She suddenly called out.

Hearing his steps falter to a stop, she bit her lip, then turned to face him, a resolute clarity in her eyes.

"You don't have to do this..."

She looked steadily at Ou Chen.

"Stay. We... are husband and wife now..."

Husband and wife...

Ou Chen stared at her, using every ounce of strength to control the violent beating of his chest. In the soft, bright light, she was as beautiful as a goddess, radiating a holy luminescence and an enticing fragrance, yet the hands hanging at her sides were clenched unconsciously and rigidly.

"We need to prepare for Yin Cheng's surgery tomorrow; you must rest well tonight. And we... we have plenty of time ahead of us..."

A slow smile began to form at the corner of his lips. It seemed he was still unaccustomed to smiling; his usually reserved features were somewhat mismatched with such tender warmth, yet it possessed a strange allure. Foam of Summer III