Yaelle finished working in the vegetable garden and returned to her room. It was already time for dinner. Two busy but fulfilling days passed like this.
Two days later, before lunch, the jade pendant she ordered arrived, complete with a delicate wooden box that looked very high-end.
That evening, she went to wash early and did a full skincare routine from face to toe in her space. By seven or eight, she was already lying in bed, sleeping for beauty.
She didn't know if it was the skincare, the ancient air, the good quality of sleep, or the pure natural food without pollution, but she had no worries. The next morning, she woke up looking radiant, far better than she did in modern times.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face in the space, she washed her hair too. Once dry, she left it loose, not very skilled at styling, so she let someone more professional do it.
After Attendant Sam combed her hair, she secretly applied a subtle fake no-makeup look inside the space, making sure the people in this ancient time wouldn't notice. She sprayed some perfume in the air, walked around a few times to make sure she smelled good, then came out of the space.
Yaelle arrived at the east side gate on time. She saw Maxim was already there, standing by the carriage waiting. She hurried to meet him.
"Maxim, why didn't you send someone to notify me? I waited a long time!" Maxim smiled and shook his head. He said, "I just arrived not long ago. No need to mind it."
His gaze fell on Yaelle's face, and he was slightly stunned. He silently sighed, "After just a few days, she's even more beautiful and charming."
Yaelle blushed slightly and lowered her head, whispering, "Let's go." Because Maxim was with her, she only brought the more steady Attendant Sam out.
Maxim only brought a book boy. They all wisely sat outside the carriage.
They got into the carriage together, where a faint fragrance filled the air. Maxim took out several boxes of delicate snacks from a hidden compartment and placed them on the small table in the carriage.
He poured her a small cup of tea and said, "Yaelle, I'm not sure what you like, so I picked some recommended by the shop. I hope they suit your taste."
Yaelle was pleasantly surprised. Are men in this world all this warm and thoughtful? He even bought snacks to prevent boredom during the carriage ride.
She said, "Thank you, Maxim. These are all very good." She picked one at random and put it in her mouth.
It was soft and chewy, not too sweet, with a decent flavor. They chatted and laughed all the way, feeling very happy.
The carriage slowly stopped, wheels softly scraping the ground. Maxim stepped down lightly.
He stood tall and moved gracefully like a gentleman. Then, he carefully reached out his hand and gently helped Yaelle down.
Yaelle's eyes were drawn to the beautiful scenery ahead. Before her was a wide, flat meadow, like a green velvet carpet stretching out.
On the meadow, many wildflowers bloomed in various colors, competing for attention and spreading a pleasant fragrance, adding lively color to the scene.
At the edge of the meadow was a huge lake. The water was clear and sparkling under the sunlight.
A breeze stirred ripples across the surface, as if nature was dancing to a melody. However, the carriage could not continue.
To reach the other side of the lake, they had to walk along a pebble path.
The narrow path curved and twisted, flanked on both sides by lush trees and thick bushes, giving off a peaceful and calming vibe. The cobblestones underfoot were round and smooth, and walking on them felt like touching the warmth and strength of the earth. Maxim and Yaelle walked side by side, their steps light and in sync as they admired the scenery and chatted quietly, enjoying this rare moment of peace.
By the lake, a medium-sized boat was docked. The hull was about four meters wide and eight to nine meters long. The boat had a smooth, natural shape that gave off a simple but elegant feeling.
Although it wasn't a large luxurious cruise ship, it still had a unique charm. Maxim said to Yaelle, "This is the boat I arranged. It's pretty simple. Let's get on first."
After he spoke, he stepped onto the boat and held out his hand to help Yaelle up. Attendant Sam and the others boarded after them and took charge of rowing. Inside the cabin, there was a small room, probably just over twenty square meters.
Even though the space was limited, it was decorated with great care. The furniture was arranged neatly, with each piece placed just right. Several beautiful paintings hung on the walls, adding an artistic touch.
In the back, there was a small couch with a neatly folded blanket on top, giving a warm impression. Near the window stood a small desk with a few books and some stationery, as if showing the owner's diligence and love of learning. There were also a few small green plants on the windowsill, bringing a bit of life and freshness into the space.
In the middle of the room stood a square table with several chairs around it. On the table were some dried fruits and preserved snacks, along with a small brazier. The burning charcoal inside gave off a bright red glow, warming up the whole room.
A small copper kettle sat on top of the brazier, boiling tea. The aroma floated out along with the steam, filling the room with a refreshing scent. This must have been prepared earlier by the boatman Maxim had arranged.
Maxim pulled out a chair for Yaelle and let her sit first, then sat down beside her and poured her a cup of tea. He said, "Yaelle, I'm really happy you could come with me today. I've invited you a few times in the past and you always refused."
"I didn't expect you to ask me out this time." Could she say she didn't remember? It felt like the original version of her was depressed.
Going from the precious daughter loved by everyone to someone who could only rely on her brother must have been hard to accept. So she replied, "I guess I was stuck in a bad place before. I met one of my old friends, and she said we're just two pitiful siblings who don't understand anything and will lose all our family's property someday."
"I felt like everyone was just waiting to laugh at us." This world is like that. When someone falls, there are always people ready to kick them while they're down.
Luckily, her brother held everything together. Hearing this, Maxim felt very upset. Back then, he was in Fucheng for exams and didn't get the news in time to be with her, and he deeply regretted it.
They must have felt so helpless then. Yaelle was only thirteen, and Michael was just fifteen. By the time he came back to visit, Yaelle had changed completely.
She had lost her energy, looked lifeless, barely spoke, and had even grown distant from him. It made his heart ache.