Xi Linxuan was reaching for flowers, but despite being about the same height as Wei Fengzhi, he couldn’t tiptoe like her. His hand was a palm’s width away from the flowers, unable to get closer.
Perhaps due to the dappled sunlight, Wei Linxia felt that Xi Linxuan had a subtle warmth, unlike his usual distant demeanor, prompting her desire to help him.
Wei Linxia approached softly, calling out gently, “Your Highness?”
Xi Linxuan was startled by the sudden sound. Turning, he saw Wei Linxia, a head shorter, smiling at him. Feeling inexplicably annoyed, he said curtly, “What?”
“May I borrow your wheelchair, Your Highness?” Wei Linxia, in good spirits, ignored his tone.
“For what?” He glanced at the wheelchair, debating whether to sit.
Wei Linxia pointed to a cluster of flowers. “I wanted to pick these yesterday but couldn’t reach them. If I stand on the wheelchair, I definitely can.” Her face was illuminated by scattered sunlight.
Xi Linxuan, disapproving of her attempt, nodded after a moment.
Wei Linxia raised her eyebrows, asking him to help arrange some leaves neatly on the wheelchair. She then carefully lifted her skirt, stepped up, picked a cluster, and thought about picking more for Xi Linxuan’s room.
Carrying many branches, she spotted another large cluster higher up. Tiptoeing, she grew excited and forgot the wheelchair wasn’t stable.
As she jumped, Wei Linxia grabbed the flowers, but the wheelchair rolled back, causing her to lose balance and fall backward. Suddenly, she felt arms around her waist—strong enough to pull her back, but then she fell forward…
She landed on a warm body, her bouquet of flowers in front of her. Through the flowers, she saw a familiar face with a beautiful forehead, mountain-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, and a high nose bridge. He seemed more handsome than when he first arrived, Wei Linxia thought.
“Wei Linxia, you’ve crushed your flowers,” he said.
Realizing their predicament, her face turned as red as a sunset, and she struggled against his hold. “Your Highness, your arm!” she stammered.
When Xi Linxuan finally released her, she hurriedly stood up and ran away, leaving a few flower petals behind. Xi Linxuan tried to sit up but felt a small stone pressed against his waist, leaving him momentarily immobile. This place was rarely visited, so he decided to enjoy the sun for a while longer.
