But such days, from today onwards, no longer exist.
She closed her eyes, savoring everything before her.
What she didn't know was that while she was enjoying all this beauty, someone was constantly watching her every move. Even less did she know that her every move tugged at that person's heartstrings.
On the second floor, by the floor-to-ceiling window.
The man, dressed in a suit and wearing glasses, had a sparkle in his eyes, his gaze fixed on the person lying on the lawn. A smile, exceptionally doting, curved his lips.
She deserved the best of everything in the world.
The man's hand rested on the red string on his arm, as if touching something incredibly precious.
Yet, that red string seemed out of place with everything else about the man.
But it was clear that to him, it was of great importance.
Chen Ma stood by, watching her young master gaze tenderly at the person lying on the grass.
"Young Master, since you care so much about Miss An, why don't you appear before her?"
"If Miss An knew you saved her, she would surely be very grateful."
"Besides, Young Master is so handsome, what woman wouldn't be moved upon seeing him? As long as Miss An sees you, she will definitely fall for you."
The more Chen Ma spoke, the happier she seemed, her face beaming with smiles. "Miss An is also beautiful, and if Young Master and Miss An get married, the young masters they have will surely be very handsome too."
A smile flickered across the man's lips, as if Chen Ma's words had improved his mood considerably.
"Chen Ma, next time, please don't say such things." Although he said this, his tone held no reprimand.
Chen Ma, however, was unperturbed and continued, "Young Master, if Miss An is going to leave, where will Young Master find another person as good as Miss An? If you miss this village, you won't find this shop."
Chen Ma spoke earnestly.
The man shook his head helplessly, looking at the person on the lawn, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. "Chen Ma, some things are not so smooth sailing."
In fact, what Chen Ma said was precisely what he himself thought.
But such beautiful things were ultimately only suitable for daydreaming.
Chen Ma didn't understand what her young master was hesitating about. With his standing, she believed no girl could refuse him, and she was even more confident that Miss An certainly wouldn't refuse him.
"Young Master, Miss An wants to thank you in person," Chen Ma stated dutifully. She was even more convinced that her young master would not refuse. She had witnessed firsthand how much he cared for Miss An over the past month.
At times, Chen Ma even felt that her young master actually knew Miss An.
Her young master was decisive and resolute in everything he did, yet when it came to Miss An, he was always hesitant.
"Young Master, you..."
The man's gaze never left An Nuan's face as his magnetic voice finally spoke, "Chen Ma, is this not the right time yet?"
"Since she wishes to leave, then let her leave."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ma's heart was filled with reluctance. "No, Young Master. How can you let Miss An go? If she leaves, then Young Master..."
The man adjusted his glasses and said, "Chen Ma, there's no need to worry. I will handle it."
"But..." Chen Ma wanted to say more, but meeting the man's gaze, she finally chose to back down.
The man seemed to recall something, a smile touching his lips. "Chen Ma, don't worry. Everything will eventually be sorted out."
Chen Ma's mood, which had seemed so good moments ago, now turned sour.
She had thought her young master would surely go to see Miss An, and that Miss An would definitely not leave.
But she never expected that her young master wouldn't see Miss An, and that Miss An would still be leaving.
For a moment, she found it hard to accept such a turn of events.
The man sighed helplessly, and after a long pause, he finally spoke, "Chen Ma, believe me, it won't be long before we meet her again."
"Really?" Chen Ma's mood somewhat softened.
The man nodded. "Mm."
Chen Ma, hearing this, was finally relieved.
As long as she could return, it was fine. Even if she left now, it was presumably for a better life in the future.
Chen Ma left.
The man stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching Chen Ma go down and speak with An Nuan.
An Nuan's previously joyous little face vanished instantly at that moment.
The man felt an urge to rush down and comfort her.
Her face was meant only for smiles.
The man clenched his fist at his side, finally suppressing the urge to act immediately.
"Miss An, the young master has gone on a business trip and we don't know when he'll be back..." Chen Ma said this with a pained expression.
Clearly, the young master was at home, yet she had to say this.
An Nuan was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered. Her eyes held a trace of disappointment, but she soon regained her composure.
"Then... Chen Ma, I'll be going now."
An Nuan picked up her luggage and finally left.
The car arranged for her departure was already waiting.
An Nuan desperately wanted to know who was helping her. But the person seemed to not want her to know.
She leaned back weakly, closed her eyes, and rested.
Perhaps, heaven saw how pitiful she was and decided to compensate her.
To allow her to encounter a sweetness amidst such a bitter life.
...
An Nuan had returned.
She returned not for Shen Xizhou, but to retrieve something she deeply cared about. Once she had it, she could leave with peace of mind.
Everything here would then have nothing to do with her.
An Nuan stayed in a hotel.
Having been away for so long, the house she used to live in was likely no longer accessible.
Initially penniless, when she left, Chen Ma had insisted on pressing money into her hands.
She had returned it to Chen Ma, but at some point, Chen Ma had pressed it back into her hands again.
Looking at the money Chen Ma had given her, tears welled up in her eyes again.
If it weren't for Chen Ma giving her money, she would probably be sleeping on the streets by now.
Actually, she didn't want to leave.
But she carried too many burdens, and she had no choice but to do what she had to do.
When Chen Ma tried to persuade her to stay, how she wished she could have stayed. But in the end, she didn't tell Chen Ma: "I'll stay."
She was in such a hurry to leave because she was afraid that if she delayed any longer, she might truly be unable to leave.
Everything there was too good, so good that she wondered if she could live there her entire life.
But she knew she had no connection to that place, and it was already good enough. She truly couldn't be greedy anymore.