"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and hold on to me! I'm about to fall into the river." Lü Zhi was still running desperately, and just as she was about to plunge into the river, she suddenly leaped up, bypassed Ye Xiu, and caught the kite. Although this action achieved the desired effect, it certainly wasn't graceful. Lü Zhi was now destined to fall into the river along with the kite.

Seeing this, Ye Xiu felt a surge of panic. He thought it was too late to intervene; letting Lü Zhi fall into the river would be incredibly awkward. Unexpectedly, a flash of light suddenly appeared before his eyes, and he immediately felt Lü Zhi's descent slow down. Ye Xiu turned his head to see that the Purple Mist Chain on his left hand was emitting a wispy smoke. A wave of joy washed over him, and he rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Lü Zhi's waist and dragging her back with sheer force.

"Ah! My kite…" Lü Zhi was completely preoccupied with the kite and paid no mind to her own safety. The kite in her hand had snapped as Ye Xiu pulled her back; a large piece drifted away with the current.

"Damn it, Miss Lü, are you trying to kill yourself?" Ye Xiu wiped the cold sweat from his brow and shook his head. "A mere kite, is it worth risking your life to retrieve?"

"A kite? I don't know what you're talking about." Lü Zhi was so heartbroken she was close to tears. "You have no idea how much I love this kite. My father gave it to me at the lantern festival last year. Now it's just… gone like that. It’s all your fault!"

Ye Xiu stared, pointing at himself in disbelief, and roared, "My fault! If I hadn't held you back, you would have fallen into the river yourself, maybe dead, maybe alive!"

"Hmph, it’s your fault!" Seeing Ye Xiu agitated, Lü Zhi turned and struck a triumphant pose. "So what are you going to do now? You have to compensate me for my kite."

"Compensate…"

Seeing Lü Zhi throw such a tantrum, Ye Xiu was instantly reminded of Mei Yi’s past hysterics—this was like looking at a carbon copy.

"What are you looking at! Hurry up and think of a solution." Lü Zhi stamped her foot in frustration when Ye Xiu remained silent.

Ye Xiu had just been basking in the pure tenderness of Lü Xu, and now he was suddenly hit by Lü Zhi’s storm. Yet, perhaps it was his roguish nature that made him want to tease a beautiful woman when she acted spoiled.

"Hmph!" Lü Zhi was growing impatient, stamping her foot repeatedly in front of Ye Xiu.

"Alright, alright, a kite it is. How about I make you a new one?" Ye Xiu mused that he could make such a simple thing when he was very young—it just required some bamboo strips and paper. However, he realized he hadn't seen any paper used since he arrived here.

Lü Zhi immediately clapped her hands in delight upon hearing this and grabbed Ye Xiu’s hand. "Good, good! Let’s go make it right now. What do we need?"

Ye Xiu, slightly overwhelmed by Lü Zhi's exuberance, plopped down onto the grass and commanded, "Go get me some bamboo strips, poles, anything like that. And paper—wait, you probably wouldn't know what paper is. Just go fetch the red satchel from my room."

"Okay, okay, wait for me!" Lü Zhi then ran off.

Ye Xiu watched her retreating figure with a wry smile. Though this girl appeared undeniably noble and wealthy, why was she so completely unreserved around him? Could it be that this Lü Zhi had taken a liking to him too? Ye Xiu almost slapped himself—it seemed modern men were utterly irresistible to everyone in ancient times.

After a long while, Lü Zhi returned, struggling under the weight of Ye Xiu’s backpack while dragging a thick bamboo pole, nearly exhausted.

Ye Xiu stood up and looked at the pole. It was so thick and sturdy it would be better used for beating someone. Using that to make a kite? He frowned deeply and snapped at Lü Zhi, "Hey, Miss, have you ever seen a kite that could lift a pole this thick into the sky?"

"Then what should we do?" Lü Zhi looked utterly bewildered.

"Find something to shave it down into thin strips!" Ye Xiu was nearly speechless. "What are you still standing there for? Go find something!"

Lü Zhi was about to turn back, but then she seemed to remember something. She turned back to Ye Xiu with a cunning smile. "You want me to run around for nothing? Don't you have a sword strapped to your back? Use that to shave it."

"I give up on you." Ye Xiu swayed his body, unbuckled the sword from his back, and then pretended to try and shave the thick bamboo pole. But everyone knew Ye Xiu's sword was wooden; how could a wooden sword cut through bamboo, especially one so thick?

"Hahaha, hey! Hahaha." Lü Zhi burst into laughter, completely amused by Ye Xiu's act. She couldn't help but push him lightly.

Unexpectedly, Ye Xiu was standing very firmly. This slight push actually sent her stumbling back a few steps, right into a small mound of dirt. Her whole body suddenly tilted backward, and she was about to fall flat onto the ground.

Ye Xiu had just been mocking his own actions when he saw this troublesome young lady about to fall again. He immediately dropped the bamboo pole and took small, quick steps toward her, gathering her into his arms once more. This embrace was so sudden that Ye Xiu worried his sword, upon touching the ground, might injure Lü Zhi. He quickly lowered his body so that his other hand could properly support Lü Zhi. In that instant, their faces were almost pressed together, and their eyes held nothing of the world but each other.

Though it was only a fleeting moment, Lü Zhi felt this scene was her eternity. The playful smile had left her cheeks, replaced by a look of gentle serenity. This was the second time she had been held so closely by Ye Xiu. The first time, she had nearly fallen off a stool; this time was the same. In her entire previous life, no man other than her father had given her such a solid sense of security. She began to gaze unconsciously into Ye Xiu's eyes, deeply convinced that she could see herself reflected in those equally bright eyes. She firmly believed Ye Xiu felt something for her too, so she gently brought her lips closer. The moment her soft lips met Ye Xiu's, her time stopped. That indelible mark of love was fiercely etched into her heart.

Ye Xiu was stunned—not by a woman's kiss, but by how suddenly everything had happened. He truly hadn't realized how deeply Lü Zhi was in love with him. The Guigu Heart-Reading Technique was utterly useless when facing matters of the heart. Why did Lü Zhi fall for him? And why couldn't he refuse her? Worrying about the future was useless now. Whether she would become Liu Bang’s wife or the famous Empress Lü, none of that mattered right now. All he knew was that the woman before him was Lü Zhi, and this Lü Zhi loved him. So, Ye Xiu leaned forward slightly, savoring this pure and romantic moment.

However, at that precise moment, standing on the covered walkway outside the pavilion by the river, someone watched Ye Xiu and Lü Zhi, clenching his fists fiercely. Yet, soon after, he broke into a relaxed smile, letting it go. Indeed, facing such an unacceptable sight, Liu Bang didn't fly into a rage; instead, he smiled crookedly. He did not linger to destroy the quiet enjoyment of Lü Zhi and Ye Xiu. He knew his destiny lay far beyond this; he needed not marriage or women, but unparalleled power.

"I'll go tell Father right now…" Lü Zhi was flustered, starting to turn back but stopping herself just in time.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault." Ye Xiu felt a bit sheepish. His feelings for Lü Zhi were so complex; he wasn't even sure if it counted as 'liking' her.

Lü Zhi stood alone by the river, watching the ceaseless flow of water, lost in thought. After a while, she turned back, smiling warmly at Ye Xiu. "Brother-in-law, you must treat my sister Xu'er well in the future, or I won't let you off easily."

Ye Xiu was startled at first, then gave a faint smile. "I know, Miss."

"Still calling me Miss?" Lü Zhi laughed heartily again and nudged Ye Xiu, not with much force this time. "Shouldn't you change how you address me now, Brother-in-law?"

"Heh heh, Sister," Ye Xiu breathed out in relief. He had initially expected Lü Zhi to impulsively run off and make a scene with Lord Lü. He hadn't expected this woman to possess such broad tolerance and insight. Lü Zhi had quickly assessed the consequences of impulsively confronting Lord Lü: Lord Lü would never agree to such a foolish action; Liu Bang would surely hold a grudge against her for it; and her sister, Lü Xu, would be heartbroken by her rash behavior. Thus, she chose the most effective path.

Lü Zhi seemed much lighter after making her decision and walked away happily. Before leaving, she didn't forget to instruct Ye Xiu, "You still owe me a kite, Brother-in-law."

"Alright," Ye Xiu agreed with a smile.

Lord Lü’s arrangements for the wedding were proceeding briskly. After several days of dull routine, Ye Xiu had expected awkwardness upon running into Lü Zhi at the estate, but he had worried unnecessarily. Lü Zhi was truly a woman who knew how to accept and let go—a quality that already hinted at her future role as Empress Lü. Liu Bang was busy during this time with the tedious and thankless tasks of his lesser official post. The only free time he had was Ye Xiu's time with his Lü Xu. When idle, Ye Xiu would often invite Lü Xu to go into the city for a stroll, and she always agreed.

Along the way, there was nothing but the usual cries of small vendors and some street performers. Ye Xiu soon lost interest. He leaned toward Lü Xu and whispered softly, "Xu'er, do you think I should be holding your hand? That’s how people in love usually act."