Chapter 53 -
Han Li's POV
I watch her.
Jiang Yuxi is radiant under the golden afternoon sun, her expression lit with delight as she drifts from stall to stall at the open-air market, eyes wide with curiosity. She's absolutely enamored by every handmade trinket and artisanal craft she lays her eyes on, and I, being the indulgent fool that I am, carry her growing mountain of souvenirs without complaint.
Bracelets, shells, beaded anklets, woven scarves that we'll probably never wear—it's all hers.
>"Han Li, come quick!"
She calls out, motioning for me to hurry.
I shift the bags in my arms, sighing dramatically as I follow her deeper into the market. It doesn't matter how absurdly touristy this all is. She's smiling. Laughing.
For a brief moment, I forget why I even brought her here. Was it for my birthday? To escape the system's interference? To be away from the city, from Jiang Wei, from the tightening grip of the plot?
Maybe.
