Near the lotus pond was Lunar Heart Lake whose vast surface was half-covered by lotus flowers over the clear water. Some boatmen nearby were clever enough to develop the lake’s tourism, renting out boats to visitors or rowing boats to show them around.

  After Qianqian had left, Ye Xiaoxian went to find Xiao Baoshan. Xiao Baoshan was waiting for her in a shady spot by the lakeside. He had rented a boat, waiting to tour the lake with her.

  “Everything’s done?” he asked with a smile when she came up to him.

  “Yes! They will make a sweet couple!” Ye Xiaoxian announced the good news in excitement. Then, she told him everything that happened from beginning to end.

  Her vivid narration amused him. “You’re so capable and admirable!”


  “I couldn’t have done it without your help.”


  “It was you who came up with the idea.”


  “Well, this is one of my rare merits,” she said as she noticed the boat behind him. It was neither too big nor too small, just the same as the one in The Legend of White Snake, a romantic TV play. A canopy arched over the boat, providing shelter from rain or sunlight.

  “Baoshan, are you planning to row the boat?” Ye Xiaoxian asked.

  Xiao Baoshan stretched out a hand and said, “Come with me. It will be an impressive day.”


  Ye Xiaoxian had a slightly dirty mind as she mistook “impressive” as “caressive”.

  She considered that she had become so weary from helping Liu Qianqian these last few days, so it was reasonable for her to have auditory hallucinations.

  Xiao Baoshan helped her aboard and followed behind. To her surprise, he was such a skilled rower that it took him only a short while to reach the middle of the lake.

  Just then, Ye Xiaoxian faced a dilemma over whether to enjoy the scenery fully or to avoid sunburn under the canopy. Although she had applied some of the sun cream that she had made to her skin, she would still get burned if exposed to intense sunlight.

  After a mental struggle she finally said, “Alas, I love my skin better. I think I should stay under the canopy.”


  Seeing her slightly frowning face, Xiao Baoshan felt that she was more adorable than ever before. Since they had got on the boat, Xiao Baoshan had been rowing hard away from the shore. Several boats had been with them on the lake at the beginning, but the lake was so expansive that they couldn’t see any of them after turning a corner.

  A few moments later, Ye Xiaoxian heard something rustling against the wooden hull. The boat was brushing past the lotus leaves. Immediately, the light faded as she found herself surrounded by lotus flowers and leaves. Xiao Baoshan had steered the boat deep among the lotus flowers.

  “Baoshan, why are you taking the boat in here? We may get lost!” Ye Xiaoxiao got a bit nervous.

  Xiao Baoshan put down the paddles and squatted down to pick several seed pods. Then, he moved under the canopy and handed the seed pods to Ye Xiaoxian. “These are edible.”


  Ye Xiaoxian’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Lotus seeds!”


  Lotus seeds were thought to have medicinal use in relieving the accumulation of excess yang energy. They could be used to simmer the soup or be eaten raw.

  When she was about to peel the lotus seeds, she found that Xiao Baoshan didn’t go out to row the boat. Curiously she asked, “Why are you still here?”


  “I want to stay with you for a while,” he said. “Little Ye, I feel so comfortable here. It’s just like we’re hiding in a haven of peace. Don’t you think so?”


  Hearing that, Ye Xiaoxian also looked around. The lotus flowers and leaves surrounding the boat isolated them from the outside world. The secluded space was indeed a peaceful haven and it was so quiet that she could only hear the melodious gurgle of the water and the tender wind.