After midnight

An Yan knocked on Xiao Su's door early in the morning and handed her a book. The three words printed on the book were very simple, and Xiao Su happened to know them all. She moved her lips and gently read out the title of the book.

"little Prince."

"Xiao Su, you have to go to class tomorrow. I give this to you as a gift. Do you like it?"

"I like it." Xiao Su held it in her arms, her eyes full of joy. Then, she carefully opened it.

The first page of the book was a very cute little boy in light yellow. She turned the pages and read the Chinese pinyin of each word after reading the illustrations. She couldn't put it down and read it. An Yan just watched her quietly with gentle eyes.

Suddenly, Xiao Su looked up with a puzzled look. "Dad, where is France?"

"It's very far behind you, but you will reach it if you keep going forward. Xiao Su, do you want to go there someday?"

"I just want to be with my dad and Brother Ling forever." Xiao Su was a little flustered. She was extremely sensitive.

"Okay." An Yan patted her head. "Are you nervous about going to class tomorrow?"

"I'm not nervous, don't underestimate me, Dad."

"I don't underestimate you." An Yan said.

Monday arrived quickly, and it was Xiao Su's first day of school. On this day, An Yan did not accompany Su Ziling out for morning exercise, and Su Ziling also rushed back early at around six o'clock.

"Brother Ling, you came back so early today."

"Yes." Su Ziling pinched her face, "Today is your first day of class. Do you really not want me to go with you?"

"No need, Dad will go. Brother Ling, you just rest at home."

"Well, don't be afraid, just beat them up."

"Yeah." Xiao Su nodded with a smile.

"Don't teach Xiao Su a bad lesson, eat quickly."

"How could I?" Su Ziling said this, but he listened to An Yan obediently and wolfed down his breakfast.

At 7:30, Xiao Su packed up her textbooks and followed An Yan out with her big schoolbag. Her cram school was very close, and it only took about ten minutes to walk there. Although it was called cram school, it was almost the same as going to school. Wearing school uniforms, carrying textbooks, having deskmates and a class teacher, and even having a special place to rest and eat at noon, she had to wait until five o'clock in the afternoon before she could go home.

All the way, Xiao Su followed behind An Yan without saying a word. An Yan walked in front, secretly looking at Xiao Su with a tense face, thinking that she was still nervous.

"Xiao Su, we're here."

Xiao Su looked up and saw a square two-story house, similar to her home, simple and ancient. At the door of the house, many people dressed like her filed in. From time to time, she glanced at the lively faces of those who were about her age. There were boys and girls among them.

"Xiao Su, let's go in first."

"Yeah." She followed An Yan and walked forward obediently.

"Then, classmate An Xiaosu, come with me. Your parents can go back first." After arriving at the door of a classroom, Xiao Su watched his father confirm something with the teacher standing at the door, and then that person suddenly spoke.

Xiao Su looked at An Yan nervously.

"It's okay, your brother will come pick you up after class."

Xiao Su looked at An Yan, bit her lower lip and said, "Brother, goodbye."

"Okay, be good, Xiao Su. I'll pick you up after class, okay?" An Yan squatted down and hugged her.

"Okay." Xiao Su hugged him back, and his nostrils were full of the scent of his father.

"Then teacher, Xiao Su will be in your hands. I will go back first."

"Okay, walk slowly."

Xiao Su stared at An Yan as she left, and waited until An Yan went down the stairs and her back disappeared from the corner. Only then did Xiao Su look back reluctantly and let the teacher take her into the classroom.

"Xiao Su, let's go in. Don't worry, the classmates are very friendly. You will definitely make good friends here."

"Okay, thank you teacher." Xiao Su answered with his head raised, holding the strap of his schoolbag tightly with his right hand.

After entering the classroom, Xiao Su was arranged to sit in the front seat on the right side. The children around him kept chattering in Xiao Su's ears. Xiao Su looked at them curiously.

"What's your name? My mom brought me some candy, do you want some?"

Xiao Su turned her head and saw her deskmate, a very cute girl, blinking and looking at her shyly.

"My name is Xiao Su, An Xiao Su." Xiao Su suddenly laughed.

As soon as An Yan got home, he was stopped by Su Ziling who was waiting for him in the living room and kept asking questions. "Why did you come back so soon? How is Xiao Su? How is the environment there? Is the teacher good?"

"Don't worry, she can handle it. Didn't you go to bed?"

"No, I have to adjust my sleep schedule. It would be a shame to sleep the whole morning."

An Yan nodded. "I will probably only be able to teach you for 20 minutes when I send Xiao Su to school in the future."

"I'm fine." Su Ziling was stunned for a moment before he understood. He said it lightly, and he would never admit that he was jealous of Xiao Su.

"Then I'll go back to my room first. I have to review my homework."

An Yan glanced at him and let him go. After a simple lunch at noon, Su Ziling woke up and it was already two o'clock in the afternoon. He got up and sat on the bed for a while before deciding to go out.

The cafe was empty because it was Monday. When Su Ziling arrived, Yang Kewei was sitting quietly at the cafe table, looking at something with her head lowered, looking very absorbed.

Su Ziling walked over and sat opposite her, his heart beating faster for some reason. Yang Kewei looked up at him for several seconds, then suddenly smiled. Seeing her smile, Su Ziling felt a little guilty for some reason.

Hello, I’m Yang Kewei.

Yang Kewei picked up the pen and wrote it down. Then she thought for a moment and tore off another piece of paper and wrote: What would you like to drink? Still apple juice?

Su Ziling was choked, no matter it was Yang Kewei's response to his silly behavior yesterday or the three words "apple juice" that stood out today. He snatched the pen from Yang Kewei's hand, crossed out the three words, and then wrote the word "coffee" below.

He thought that what An Yan liked to drink must be right.

After he finished all this, he turned the paper over vigorously and showed it to her. Yang Kewei looked at Su Ziling in surprise, and just when Su Ziling was wondering if his action was too rude, Yang Kewei burst out laughing again.

Su Ziling couldn't help but laugh along.

That afternoon, Su Ziling stayed there for a long time. Except for Yang Kewei entertaining other guests in groups of three or four, the rest of the time, the two of them were communicating face to face with pen, ink, paper and inkstone. This afternoon was not enthusiastic but warm.

"An Yan, what time does Xiao Su finish class?" As soon as Su Ziling returned home from the coffee shop, he realized something was wrong.

"Five o'clock."

The clock on the wall showed exactly four quarter to five.

"An Yan, Anyan, let me pick up Xiao Su from school." Su Ziling volunteered.

Before An Yan could answer, Su Ziling rushed out again. He ran to the door to change his shoes and slammed the door loudly. The whole process was done in one go. Even An Yan couldn't help but laugh.

"Xiao Su, here!" Arriving at the door of the cram school on time, Su Ziling took advantage of his height and waved his hands in the air.

"Brother Ling! Why are you here?" Xiao Su ran over in two steps.

"I'm here to take you home~"

"Where's Dad?"

"You're already home preparing dinner."

"Then brother Ling, will you come to pick me up from school in the future?"

"Come on, of course you have to pick up my little princess from school."

"Keep your word. Don't change your mind for a hundred years."

"You learn really quickly. Kids of your age are still playing with this." Su Ziling looked a little disgusted, but still stretched out his little finger.

"Hey, Brother Ling, why do you look so happy today?" Su Ziling took Xiao Su and took her hand. At this moment, they were swinging their arms and playing.

"Really? I'm naturally happy to come and take Xiao Su home."

"Big liar." Xiao Su muttered but was very happy.

"Let's go, your father An Yan is waiting for us at home."

When they got home, the range hood was humming and the aroma of cooking filled the whole house. As expected, An Yan was already in the kitchen. As soon as Su Ziling helped Xiao Su take off his schoolbag, she went over.

"dad."

"How was it? Was school fun?"

"It's fun. My deskmate is a super cute girl."

"Really? But I think my little Su is the cutest." Su Ziling interjected while leaning against the kitchen door.

"I think so too. Let's wash our hands before eating." An Yan said to Su Ziling.

"As ordered!"

"Dad, I'm here to help too."

A new day, An Xiaosu and Su Ziling's lives have undergone small changes. At the same time, Lu Li and Lin Nuan's wedding is also approaching.

"Ah Nuan, here." Lu Li made an appointment with Lin Nuan for lunch at noon. The closer they got to the wedding, the more uneasy Lu Li felt. After much thought, he decided to make it clear and ask Lin Nuan for an answer.

Lin Nuan walked in and sat opposite him. As soon as she saw him, she smiled and asked, "I heard that you went to try on a dress yesterday. How was it?"

"It's OK, but it still needs some revision."

"Me too. One set is ready, but the other needs to be revised."

The bride's wedding dress is more delicate and complicated in design and materials than the groom's tuxedo, and both of their outfits are handmade with different progress, so the two have never stood together to see each other.

"Lin Nuan."

"What's the matter?" Hearing Lu Li calling her name seriously, Lin Nuan became cautious.

"Will you... blame me for not opposing this marriage?"

"Silly boy, what are you thinking about? Isn't this a natural thing?" Lin Nuan said with a smile, but unfortunately the smile did not reach her eyes.

After listening to this, Lu Li picked up the water cup in front of him and took a sip of water. He knew her too well. Lin Nuan still had resentment towards him, but she had been trying hard to suppress herself.

At this moment, Lu Li suddenly felt that he was too stupid. What would happen if he asked? Could he expect Lin Nuan to deceive him? He already knew the answer, didn't he? If he asked, could he let go? Even if he had the heart to let go, things had already developed to this point, and the two parents would definitely not agree.

Lin Nuan would never look back. No one knew her better than him. Whether actively or passively, once Lin Nuan made a choice, she would never look back. She was particularly stubborn on this point.

But was he wrong? Lu Li drank the water, mouthful after mouthful.

Lin Nuan also fell silent. This was just a very common action of Lu Li, but Lin Nuan had to lower her eyes. Just as Lu Li knew her very well, she also knew Lu Li very well.

"Lu Li, I can't blame you. We will continue to move forward together." Lin Nuan felt bad too, because she did not give Lu Li a sense of security.

"it is good."

Lu Li had understood long ago that it was enough for him to just accompany Lin Nuan. Even though their relationship was about to undergo a substantial change, he never dared to ask for anything. Just treat this as the last time he would be stupid.

"Shall we go try on dresses together tomorrow?" Lin Nuan asked.

Will the two of them be able to prove it to Lu Li if they stand together? Lin Nuan thought and became arrogant. "Tell me, do you want to go together?"

"Yes." Lu Li smiled dotingly, and the atmosphere quietly eased.

"Lu Li~ I'm hungry, is there anything delicious here?" Lin Nuan stretched out her voice and acted coquettishly.

Lu Li and Lin Nuan have been childhood sweethearts for more than ten years, and they are always different in front of each other. No matter what the situation is, they can always find the most suitable way to get along.

The storm in Xidu had not yet reached Jiudu, but it was still brewing in Xidu. Every person who came and went brought immeasurable changes.

Zhou Chen lowered his head and quickly shuttled through the alleys of Xidu. When he turned into the next alley from the intersection, Zhou Chen suddenly stopped and quickly hid himself. He saw a person gradually disappearing from his sight. He recognized that person, it was Qing in the dark night. He wanted to follow him, but he had his own things to do.

He emerged from the darkness, followed the road ahead of him to its end, and then walked in the opposite direction.

It had been a while since the elders' meeting of the Song family was held, but the situation in the entire Western Capital had not improved but had become even more chaotic. In this chaos, the revolutionary army wanted to take a share of the spoils, so he was responsible for coming to negotiate.

Lu Xian stood in the study and opened the window, letting the breeze in through the window and bringing in the fragrance of flowers from the courtyard. Not long after, he met another general of the revolutionary army, Zhou Chen.

Before meeting Zhou Chen, he had exchanged letters with Lu Lang. The current situation in Xidu is that the big fish eat the small fish, and the small fish eat the shrimp. Some powerful people who are not from the three major families have chosen to take sides, whether they want to seek a little protection or use this opportunity to move to a higher level.

Lu Xian did not regret adding fuel to the fire at the beginning. After all, what he got was real. Therefore, he chose to meet Zhou Chen of the Revolutionary Army tonight.

The Song family has already taken advantage of the chaos and started to take action, but he will never sit idly by and watch.

That day, Zhou Chen didn't return to his residence until the middle of the night. He closed his eyes and let himself sink into the bed. He had always followed Lin Xuanfeng closely, and this time was no exception. As soon as Lin Xuanfeng left Xidu, he came over immediately.

After a while, Zhou Chen opened his eyes, and his vision gradually became clear. The night in Xidu was dark and the air was thin, but he definitely wanted to prove something to Lin Xuanfeng.

"Brother, you're finally back. I missed you so much."

In Jiudu, Song Xin came to welcome Song Yu home early in the morning. Song Yu left Xidu without stopping last night, and only Song Xin knew that he was coming back.

"I miss you too." Song Yu smiled dotingly.

"Brother, you won't blame me, will you? It's father who doesn't allow me to see you." Song Xin looked at Song Yu eagerly and pulled his arm to act coquettishly towards him.

"What are you looking at? Xidu is so far away. What father did is right. Besides, it's so chaotic out there right now."

"What happened in Xidu? Everyone is in chaos." Speaking of this, Song Xin was full of confusion.

"Why do you care about this? I'm so tired, let me go back and rest."

"Okay, I've cleaned your room. By the way, brother, aren't you going to visit father when you come back?"

"Wait until I wake up."

"Okay." Song Xin took Song Yuyuan away.