"Since we've run into each other by chance, why not hang out together for a while?" Xie Yan said.
He had a good impression of Fu Zhen. Moreover, as she was Chen Tingfeng's cousin, his words were less formal and more casual.
Fu Zhen hesitated. "My aunt and I just took a stroll around here..."
"So what?" Xie Yan thought she had been to all the attractions here and didn't know where to go next. He said excitedly, "In half an hour, there'll be a fireworks display on the other side of the river. If we climb up the city tower now, we'll have a perfect view of the fireworks!"
"You're new to the capital, so you might not know. When the fireworks explode, they're extremely gorgeous, and when they fall, they're like shooting stars. It's really unforgettable." Xie Yan's eyes sparkled. They were very beautiful.
Fu Zhen was a bit tempted by his words. After all, she had never seen such a grand fireworks display. But she remembered that Mrs. Bai had said they should go back to the mansion. She found it hard to make a decision for a moment and couldn't help looking at Mrs. Bai.
Mrs. Bai was scolding Chen Tingfeng, but she also had an ear out for Fu Zhen. Seeing her looking over, she glared at Chen Tingfeng and then smiled at Fu Zhen. "You've never seen such a sight, Zhenzhen. I'm sorry I forgot about it. If you want to watch, then go ahead. It's good that your cousin is here. I'll feel at ease if he accompanies you."
Hearing this, Fu Zhen couldn't help glancing at Chen Tingfeng, who was keeping silent.
Chen Tingfeng looked calm and showed no reaction. After feeling her gaze, he slowly looked up.
Mrs. Bai gave him a push from behind and whispered through gritted teeth, "I'm leaving Zhenzhen in your care. You're usually sensible, so I'm not worried that she'll come back with any injuries. But there's just one thing."
"If you dare to give your cousin a cold shoulder during the New Year, just wait and see how I'll deal with you when we get back!"
She wasn't blind. How could she not notice Chen Tingfeng's subtle hostility towards Fu Zhen?
But her son was grown up and had a willful personality. It was really hard to discipline him. She could only give him more warnings on such occasions.
Chen Tingfeng stared at Fu Zhen, who was whispering to Xie Yan. After a while, he nodded.
Mrs. Bai knew that he would definitely do what he promised. Only then did she feel relieved. She said goodbye to everyone.
As she walked away muttering, "Shao Chuan isn't as close to Zhenzhen as the Second Prince. I don't know who's really her cousin..."
Fu Zhen watched her leave. Then she turned to Chen Tingfeng beside her and said politely, "Thank you for your trouble, cousin."
"Yeah." Chen Tingfeng replied indifferently, as if admitting that she was indeed a bother.
Xie Yan shifted his gaze between the two of them. He sensed something at this moment and quickly squeezed in. He said with a grin, separating the two of them, "It's no trouble at all. I was the one who suggested it first. Don't worry. Your cousin and I will protect you well. We won't let you get hurt at all!"
Fu Zhen covered her mouth and chuckled. Seeing that she seemed okay, Xie Yan said, "Let's go then. It's the perfect time to go now!"
The three of them walked against the crowd towards the city wall. Ordinary people were not allowed to climb the city wall, but with Xie Yan, the Second Prince, around, the guards immediately let them through as soon as they saw the token. They were respectful throughout the process.
Fu Zhen witnessed this scene and sighed silently in her heart. This was the power.
Xie Yan led the way up the stairs. As he walked and talked, he quietly slowed down a few steps, letting Fu Zhen walk half a step ahead of him. He subtly winked at Chen Tingfeng.
What's with the bad temper? Isn't she your cousin?
Chen Tingfeng gave him a look full of implications. Xie Yan tried to decipher that look. For a moment, he thought Chen Tingfeng was mocking him, and then he thought he was... pitying him?
Even though he had been able to read Chen Tingfeng's looks for so many years, he was a bit confused at this moment. He didn't understand what Chen Tingfeng really meant.
When they reached the top of the city tower, Fu Zhen took a far - reaching look. Most of the capital city was in sight.
The bustling crowd below was like a flowing river, slowly surging on the streets. Faint noises of excitement could be heard.
Looking down on the world from such a high position, she felt that everything was within her sight. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. All the caution and flattery in her daily life seemed to disappear like dust, leaving only a feeling of comfort.
No wonder poets loved to climb high places.
She had only been looking for a short while when suddenly the end of the river lit up. A firework shot up like a burning sword, instantly piercing through the dark sky and exploding with a bang!
This seemed to be a signal. The rest of the fireworks followed one after another. Continuous crackling sounds were heard. Fireworks exploded in the distance, and the sky became as bright as day.
The noise below the city tower grew louder. The common people all looked up in that direction. Occasionally, a child was lifted onto an adult's shoulder and laughed excitedly, clapping their hands.
One firework after another exploded. At the moment of explosion, they seemed like twinkling stars, just like the line in the poem, "The east wind blows open thousands of blooming trees at night, and then scatters stars like rain."
It was truly breathtaking.
Fu Zhen looked up in admiration, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
Chen Tingfeng turned his head and saw a firework rising in the distance and suddenly exploding in her eyes.
For a moment, his mind went blank.
But it was only for a moment. The next second, he suddenly came to his senses.
Thinking of his momentary distraction just now, his face gradually turned ugly. When he caught a glimpse of Xie Yan's gaze from the corner of his eye, he finally couldn't maintain his calm appearance. He stared at his friend with a pair of dark eyes.
Xie Yan might not even have noticed that he was looking at Fu Zhen and the firework reflected in her eyes.
Chen Tingfeng's sleeves twitched. Xie Yan woke up as if from a dream. When he looked up and saw Chen Tingfeng's dark face, he shuddered.
He had known Chen Tingfeng for many years. How could he not know that he was angry?
But what on earth was he angry about?
Could he get angry just because he was looking at the fireworks?
Xie Yan scratched his head. He was really confused.
The commotion in the distance gradually died down. The fireworks gradually disappeared into the endless night without leaving a trace. Only the sudden silence after the excitement could make people suddenly realize that they had once appeared.
Fu Zhen was still eager for more. This was the first fireworks display in her life. Even though it wasn't for her alone, she was very satisfied.
Chen Tingfeng beside her had a deep look in his eyes. He secretly hated himself for being captivated by her beauty.
Xie Yan couldn't figure out what Chen Tingfeng was thinking, so he simply put him out of his mind. "So, how was it? Wasn't it beautiful?"
Fu Zhen's eyes sparkled, as if the firework was still lingering in her eyes. "It was really beautiful. I've never seen such a grand fireworks display!"
"This fireworks display was set off by a wealthy merchant in the capital. It's said that he did it to mourn his late wife." Xie Yan looked at her and said slowly, "He was poor when he was young and wanted to do business. It was his wife who sold her dowry to raise a sum of money for him. She accompanied him on his business trips for many years. Finally, his business grew bigger and bigger. He thought he could finally live a good life with his wife and children, but his wife fell ill and never recovered."
"The doctor told him that it was the early years of hard work that had ruined her health, and finally she died of a serious illness. Before she died, his wife told the merchant that she didn't regret marrying him in this life. She just regretted that she could no longer see the firework he had lit at their wedding."
"After his wife's death, the merchant was seriously ill. Since then, he has come to the riverside to set off fireworks every year. The number of fireworks has increased, and they have become bigger and bigger."
Fu Zhen was stunned. She felt a complicated emotion in her heart. "He's really... a devoted lover."