I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

But... she was still a little unwilling.

I've clearly met someone worthy of my affections, and I'm supposed to be spending the best days with him. Shouldn't two happy things combined make for an even happier experience? Why did it turn out this way?

But what can you do if you're unwilling to accept it?

She forgot about it during the day, and there was no need for her to bring it up again.

She didn't want to waste his time.

and……

"Sister, are you thirsty? There's a place over there selling plum juice, would you like a cup?"

"Sister, there are ice packs over there, can I buy one?"

"Sister..."

"Sister..."

One concerned voice after another rang out, and the people in front of her circled around her, causing Nian to unconsciously put on a smile.

Even if he forgets her birthday, it doesn't matter. As long as he is still willing to be with her and to be good to her, such companionship is a hundred or a thousand times better than any birthday celebration.

"Don't waste money, we don't have much money left."

She took the initiative to speak to Bai Zhou.

"It's alright, sister."

During the day, he took her hand and led her to the juice stall.

"It doesn't matter how much money I spend on my sister."

"Hey buddy, two cups of plum juice, one room temperature and one iced."

After paying, Bai Zhouxiang shook his money bag.

"Besides, if I don't have any money, I can just withdraw some from a money exchange. I still have over a hundred million in savings. I can easily support two more older sisters."

"Silly Ah Xi, you want to raise more older sisters? Isn't one older sister enough?"

Nian took the iced drink, smiled, and patted his shoulder.

"Yes, I'm satisfied with just one older sister."

During the day, carrying another cup of plum juice, he took her hand and prepared to go hiking.

###

Climbing a mountain doesn't require a very high one; as long as you can look into the distance and see the scenery in the distance, that's enough.

Because today is the Double Ninth Festival, there are many people climbing the mountain, some in groups and some alone.

They came here to remember their hometown and relatives.

Even during the daytime is no exception.

He arrived early and, taking advantage of the still-sparse crowds, found a spot with a wide view and excellent scenery. He then laid out mats, wine, and snacks, and sat down opposite Nian to share this wonderful time.

"Hmm, it's chrysanthemum wine."

The moment the drink touched his lips, Nian could taste its origin.

"Yes, Sister is right. This is newly brewed this year, and the taste is even better."

Take a sip to warm yourself up, and look up at the distant sky during the day.

That direction leads to the capital city.

His only... no, his only three relatives are there now.

He has been away from the capital for almost a year now. I wonder how that kid Adu is doing now? Is he still in control of the court? Is he satisfied with those "traitors" who make people want to smash their heads against the palace pillars?

I wonder if the little one has been born yet? Is it a boy or a girl? What has been chosen for them?

Did that girl suffer? Ten months of pregnancy and childbirth is no easy feat.

Things I hadn't thought much about in the past are now flooding my mind, which is quite fitting for the season.

"Sister."

The daytime call to the year drew the attention of the immortal who was engrossed in dealing with a piece of jujube cake.

"what's wrong?"

She swallowed the pastry in her mouth, took a sip of wine to clear her throat, and then responded to him.

"Does your older sister miss her other relatives?"

Bai Zheng's words made Nian fall into deep thought.

Missing those brothers and sisters who never do anything serious?

"Of course I miss them. When you're away from home, who wouldn't miss their family?"

Nian propped himself up on his arms, leaning back and looking up at the sky.

Probably because of the old man's unreliable nature, there weren't many reliable brothers and sisters among them. Some of them were truly heartless and would never consider such things.

Some guys are too busy, wanting to get involved in this and do that, always busy, so they naturally forget about missing each other.

Therefore, even if she were to come here and tell Bai Zhou how much she misses her brothers and sisters, she would only be wasting her emotions.

"But it's you, Ah Xi."

Nian turned her head to look at him.

She knew that Bai Zhou had a brother who was still alive, and that he only had one brother.

Do you miss home?

"Just as my sister said, when you're away from home, you naturally miss home."

Bai Zhou readily admitted it.

He missed his brothers, his nephew who might never have been born, and his father, mother, second uncle, and aunt who had long since passed away.

“I didn’t go to offer sacrifices to my second uncle this year. He will definitely complain to my father and then appear in my dream to brag to me that he is waiting to see me get a beating from my father.”

“But I’m not afraid. I know my stubborn second uncle will stop my father before he hits me.”

"Then take me out to play..."

He smiled brightly in the daytime and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

"That's great."

Looking at the daylight, Nian laughed along with him.

Being able to be so close to one's loved ones is surely a wonderful memory in this world.

After drinking some more wine, he found the daytime somewhat dull, which led to the arrival of wind and clouds.

He then used clouds as mud and wind as hands to transform them into different shapes to please everyone.

Such an amazing move naturally drew cheers from the audience, and the onlookers were relieved of some of their worries and brought with them joy.

"Today is a really good day. Isn't it, October 1st?"

Watching the people coming and going outside, the older brother slowly sipped a cup of goji berry tea.

This tea stall is doing quite well; it has already sold a lot of herbal tea today.

"What's so interesting about it? It's just an ordinary holiday. After living this long, why do you still feel anything about this?"

The artist is sketching and painting on the paper.

She is preparing for something big to come.

She also wanted to sit quietly to the side, drink tea, and watch the clouds drift by.

But there was nothing she could do; after all, she was fighting with ink and brush.

Unlike the stall vendor who's skilled in swordsmanship and can charge in without hesitation, the artist focuses on the elegance and composure of the battle.

Why be foolish enough to go up and fight hand-to-hand with a sword when you can just use heavy firepower to kill the opponent?

"But it's you."

The artist looked at his elder brother, who seemed to have already entered a period of retirement and health preservation, with a slight doubt.

"Are you sure you're okay staying here?"

My brother holds a position in the imperial court, yet he's always away on official business and doesn't come back. Doesn't he care about his performance?

"We're resigning from our posts, we're quitting."

The elder brother became very indignant whenever this matter was mentioned.

He was doing a good job as an official, neither embezzling nor breaking the law. But the new emperor, after listening to someone, kept finding fault with him and demoting him again and again. Finding it troublesome, he resigned before losing face.

Ah, Ah Xi is the best, I trust him so much.

"A string of lies."

The artist, however, did not believe it at all.

"As you said, that true dragon is Ah Xi's brother. And you are... someone who has been with him for a long time. How could he not have told that true dragon to trust you before he left?"

"Huh? Mine is real, I'm really being targeted."

The elder brother tried to argue, but the painter found him annoying and simply hid inside the painting, refusing to listen.

"Wow, they run really fast."

The elder brother sighed.

Okay, okay, what he said isn't entirely true.

But it is true that he was demoted.

However, he wasn't framed; rather, he was to take charge of Bai Zhou's grand undertaking. Since his previous official position wasn't suitable for open appearances, he accepted the blame, relinquished the more restrictive official post, and, as a commoner, gathered his brothers and sisters to secretly assist Bai Zhou.

"Yes, of the twelve demons lurking within the Great Yan territory, seven remain."

The older brother counted on his fingers.

He can take on two without a problem.