The ancient return was exposed by his sister's live stream.

Cai Jingwen thought for a moment: "It is said that there were several major floods later, but none were as severe as the one during the Jiaqing era. Some people say it was because a real dragon was suppressing the flood, and the dragon dared not come. Others say it was just an ordinary flood and had nothing to do with the dragon."

She smiled and said, "I don't really believe it. My grandma told me this when I was little, as a bedtime story. I only learned when I grew up that there was indeed a great flood during the Jiaqing era, which is recorded in historical books. But whether there were any dragons involved, I don't know."

Yang Wanqing sighed, "I thought it was true." She turned to Chen Hao, "Brother Chen Hao, what do you think?"

Chen Hao was drinking tea. He put down his cup and said calmly, "It's most likely fake."

Chen Siyao looked at him curiously: "Why?"

"Because if there really were dragons, it wouldn't be possible to defeat them with two real dragons." Chen Hao's tone was very calm.

It's like stating a common-sense fact: "A true dragon is simply a more advanced form of a flood dragon after its evolution. A flood dragon will be suppressed by a true dragon's bloodline and won't even be able to raise its head. One true dragon is enough to subdue it; two are not needed."

Chen Siyao blinked: "So you think this story is made up?"

Chen Hao didn't answer, but glanced at the distant Longdun outside the window, his gaze lingering for a moment before returning to his seat: "Let's eat, the food's getting cold."

Chen Siyao sensed something was off about her brother's expression, but she didn't think much of it. Yang Wanqing had already picked up a piece of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish and put it in his mouth, mumbling, "So hot! But so delicious!"

Cai Jingwen poured her a glass of water and said with a smile, "Eat slowly, no one will take it from you."

Chen Siyao also picked up a piece of fish, chewed it a couple of times, and her eyes lit up: "It's so delicious! Sister Jingwen, what other good food is there in Suzhou? You'll take us to eat all the good things these next few days!"

Cai Jingwen nodded: "Okay, let's try them all."

The group chatted and laughed, their conversation shifting from the dragon to food, and then to the garden they planned to visit in the afternoon.

The lively atmosphere at the dinner table had not yet dissipated when a cool rain breeze brushed against everyone's cheeks, carrying the unique moisture of Jiangnan.

It wasn't the kind of torrential rain that blankets the sky; it was the kind of drizzle unique to the Jiangnan region, fine and dense, like someone had sprinkled a layer of gauze from the sky.

Raindrops fell on the green tiles, dripped down the eaves, and hit the stone pavement, making a "drip-drip-drip" sound.

Yang Wanqing leaned against the window, looking at the rain outside, and sighed, "We finally managed to get out for some fun, and now it's raining."

Cai Jingwen smiled and poured her a cup of hot tea: "The rain in Suzhou isn't heavy; it'll stop in a little while."

Chen Siyao was taking pictures of the scenery outside the window with her phone when a comment suddenly appeared in the live chat:

[Old Wu from Suzhou: Yao Yao, you can go boating! The picturesque scenes of bridges, streams, and houses in our textbooks are best experienced boating on a rainy day!]

Chen Siyao's eyes lit up, and she turned to Cai Jingwen, asking, "Jingwen, is there a place nearby where we can go boating? I want to go!"

Yang Wanqing perked up: "That's right! Boating in the rain, isn't that just like in the movies?"

Cai Jingwen thought for a moment and nodded: "I know there is an old dock nearby with awning boats that go river cruises. It's not far from here, we can get there in about ten minutes."

Yang Wanqing stood up happily: "Then let's go quickly!"

Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing, being the most lively, immediately shared a white parasol and walked side by side in the direction Cai Jingwen pointed. Their skirts fluttered in the wind, exuding youthful energy.

Li Li glanced at the umbrella in Cai Jingwen's hand, then at the umbrella in her own hand, her eyes darting around.

She grabbed her umbrella and hurried after Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing, calling out as she ran, "Yaoyao, Wanqing, wait for me!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she ran forward without looking back, completely leaving her best friend Cai Jingwen behind.

Cai Jingwen was stunned for a moment, looked down at the umbrella in her hand, then looked at Chen Hao, and her face turned red.

She opened her mouth, her voice barely audible, like a mosquito's hum: "Chen Hao... let's go too."

If Chen Hao hadn't had good hearing, he almost wouldn't have heard it. He looked at Cai Jingwen with her head down and her fingers gripping the umbrella handle, and reached out to take the umbrella from her hand.

"I'll take care of it."

Cai Jingwen softly hummed in agreement and moved closer to him. The umbrella wasn't large, just right for the two of them. Raindrops fell on the umbrella, making a soft sound. The stone path was wet, glistening in the sunlight.

Ahead, Li Li caught up with Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing and winked at them.

Chen Siyao turned around and saw her brother and Cai Jingwen sharing an umbrella, walking in the misty alley. Blue tiles, white walls, a small stone bridge, and raindrops like smoke.

The older brother wore a light gray light jacket, and Cai Jingwen wore a beige trench coat. The two walked side by side, their pace neither fast nor slow, like people in a painting.

She couldn't resist taking out her phone and secretly snapping a picture.

"Let's go, let's go faster," she whispered, pulling Yang Wanqing and Li Li to quicken their pace.

The dock is located by a small river, where several covered boats are quietly moored on the water, their bows slightly raised, like resting birds.

The banks are lined with old houses with white walls and gray tiles, the walls covered with vines, and raindrops fall on the river, creating ripples.

Chen Siyao walked around the dock: "There are boats, but where are the people?"

Yang Wanqing pointed into the distance: "Someone's coming over there!"

An old man walked out from the other end of the alley, wearing a straw raincoat and hat, old rain boots, and carrying a long bamboo pole.

An elderly woman followed behind him, holding an umbrella and carrying a thermal lunchbox.

The old man walked to the dock, propped the bamboo pole against the side of the boat, turned around and saw the old woman, frowning: "I told you not to bring food, I haven't finished the one I brought this morning."

The old woman shoved the insulated lunchbox into his hand: "Can that little bit of food fill you up? Rowing is hard work; you won't have the strength on an empty stomach."

"There are hardly any customers on a rainy day. You're running around like this, aren't you tired?"

"Look, we have guests now." The old woman pointed at Chen Siyao and the others. "Hurry up and greet the guests. I'm going back now."

She shoved the food into the old man's hands, turned, and walked into the rain. After a few steps, she turned back: "Remember to eat! Don't let it get cold!"

"Okay, okay." The old man waved his hand, and only after she had walked away did he lower his head, open the insulated lunchbox, take a look, and then hold it in his arms.

In the live stream:

[Snowflakes falling heavily: This scene is so heartwarming.]

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood: This is true love, isn't it?]

[Xiao Ke: Compared to today's fast-paced relationships, the older generation's relationships are truly enviable.]

[A Fudan University underachiever: In the past, travel was slow, and a lifetime was only enough to love one person.]

The old man straightened his raincoat and came over to greet them: "Would you like to take a boat ride?"

Chen Siyao nodded: "Yes."

Upon hearing this, the old man deftly untied the boat rope from the stone post, and with a gentle pull, the awning boat steadily docked at the pier, its hull stable without the slightest sway.

Cai Jingwen and Chen Hao also arrived at the pier. Li Li winked at Cai Jingwen as if she wanted to take credit. The weather was slightly cool, but her face was still as red as an apple.