The night holds a slight chill, and Su Jiuyi takes a deep breath, not quite understanding why her heart feels as if it's stuffed with something, blocked to the point where she can't breathe.
Perhaps it's just bad weather, she thinks.
"What are you doing here?" A familiar voice comes from behind. Su Jiuyi quickly turns her head, Shi Aoju is leaning against the doorway, looking at her intently.
"I'm... enjoying the view." She suddenly doesn't know how to answer, feeling as though she's been caught doing something wrong, and quickly turns her face away from him.
Seeing her inexplicable fluster, Shi Aoju's eyes flicker with a smile. He walks over and sits beside her on the steps.
Apart from the grape trellis ahead, there's really nothing to see here. The nearby flowerbeds and fountain are obscured by thick leaves, and even the starry sky, which had been clear for several days, has vanished without a trace.
