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Chapter 414: 192 Knowing Autumn (Second Revision)

Yunmeng Villa also has another name, Sijun Mountain Villa.

The name alludes to the Four Gentlemen, the four plants traditionally held in high esteem in China: the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.

To the east of the villa, a variety of plum trees are planted. These include mirror water plum, golden spray plum, palace powder plum, green calyx plum, jade butterfly plum, and an abundance of other varieties of plum blossoms. Every chilled winter season, the garden bursts into bright blooms, full of icy beauty and heavenly bones, earning its name, Rugu Garden.

To the west lies Yueduo Garden, which, as the name suggests, is full of chrysanthemums. Amid September’s chill dew, forest layers are dyed a myriad of colors while autumn chrysanthemums floridly blanket the ground. At sunset, one can look up to a sea of golden splendor and reflect on the tranquil beauty of the South Mountain as depicted in an old Chinese poem.

Bamboo and jade trees, subtle orchid fragrances, dried lotuses wrapping around hibiscus, one thinks of their love but cannot see them.

Today, the sky is high and the clouds are pale. The autumn colors are pleasant. One luxury car after another passes under the large row of maple trees at the foot of Fenghuang Mountain. Frosty leaves like flowers, the maple forest is aflame. Tires roll over the carpet of red leaves, stirring up layers of crimson.

A delicate jade hand stretches out from a partially lowered car window, catching a falling maple leaf.

The slender fingertips holding the maple leaf highlight the white hand and wrist, as pure as snow and frost.

“A falling leaf heralds the arrival of autumn.”

From early spring to mid-summer, and now late autumn.

Unconsciously, half a year has passed since their return to Jiangzhou.

Ming Chen sticks her head out of the car window, catches a maple leaf like Ming Jing does, and plays with it, “When we go back, we can make this into a bookmark. It will be beautiful.”

Ming Chen and Ming Ti sit next to Ming Jing. Ming Chen is wearing a pink dress, Ming Ti a blue one. Their styles are identical, but the pink iris embroidery on Ming Chen’s dress is vivid and passionate, while the orange orchid embroidery on Ming Ti’s blue dress is subtly fragrant.

Both girls have delicate facial features, yet their temperaments differ greatly. Ming Chen is lively and charming, while Ming Ti is reserved and peaceful.

Ming Ti fondles her dress nervously. At school, she had heard classmates talk about the Shen family’s banquet. It seemed to be quite a sensation, with many people wanting to attend, but few were actually qualified to do so.

She had never expected her second elder sister to bring them along.

In such a grand event, would she embarrass her sister?

A warm palm lands on the back of her hand. Ming Ti turns her head and sees Ming Jing smiling softly, “Don’t be nervous. Your second sister is with you.”

Ming Ti nods her head vigorously. Unlike the carefree and naive Ming Chen, Ming Ti is much more mature and understands what the banquet represents for them as sisters.

Ming Ti clings to Ming Jing’s arm and leans in lightly, reminiscent of their days as children. Reflecting on their shared past in the mountains, she murmurs, “Second Sister, the big city is bustling, but I still miss the days in the temple. Master was strict when he trained us to practice our skills. The oldest sister would chase after the mischievous Xiao Wu all over the courtyard. You used to sit in the garden drying herbs. Ming Chen would step on your herbs, but you never blamed her. I, on the other hand, would be memorizing scriptures with a sorrowful expression.”

Those were lively times. Yet, she knows, they can never go back.

The wake from a dream always brings melancholy.

Ming Jing smiles and ruffles Ming Ti’s hair, “You have grown up.”

“Second Sister, when will our oldest sister come back? I miss her.”

“Soon…”

The car drove into the villa’s gate. The parking lot was full of luxury cars. Ming Jing timed her arrival just right.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, Shen Ke greeted her with a cheerful smile, “Ms. Zhu, you have finally arrived.”

Ming Jing smiled and nodded.

“Elder Theodore Shelby has been waiting for you for quite some time. Please come with me.”

Ming Jing leads Ming Ti and Ming Chen, following Shen Ke.

Not far away, Zhu Wentao, Lin Qing, and Zhu Xiangxiang step out of their car. Zhu Xiangxiang spots a few figures in the distance and knits her brow, “Isn’t that Ming Jing? The two smaller ones must be Ming Ti and Ming Chen. It appears that Ming Jing was also invited to Elder Theodore Shelby’s birthday banquet.”

Lin Qing gazes at Ming Jing’s retreating figure and lets out a deep sigh.

A cold glance flits through Zhu Wentao’s eyes.

Zhu Shaodan gets out of the car, stretches lazily, and then his gaze fixes on something. “Master Xiao…?”

A young man in casual wear steps out from a luxury car parked a space away. The only person who would wear casual attire to the Shen’s banquet is him.

For a moment, Zhu Wentao looks startled. He then walks over and greets the young man respectfully, “Master Xiao, you’re here too.”

Although Zhu Wentao is more than a decade older than Ran Tengxiao, that doesn’t stop him from treating the young man with utmost respect.

Zhu Xiangxiang looks surprised and mumbles to herself, “Master Xiao? Which Master Xiao?”