164: Chapter 164 When the Plums Ripen: Childhood Sweetheart Male Lead 42

Time slipped away silently in those ordinary and warm days.

The next moment, the scene shifted to the eve of the Spring Festival.

Lin Xi reluctantly bid farewell to Nan Li and went home to celebrate the New Year.

Qinghe Garden was also decorated in festive colors, but unfortunately, there were fewer people around.

Meng Zhu still hadn't returned; he and his parents spent the New Year abroad.

When they were on a video call, Nan Li wore a smile on her face.

The cold screen could not stop the warmth between them.

Nan Li wasn't actually very disappointed; she counted down the days accompanying her grandma and also counted down the days waiting for Meng Zhu.

After all, the days were getting closer and closer.

On the other end after hanging up the phone, Meng Zhu was on the hotel balcony.

The little girl always called him after Meng Zhu finished work at night on his side.

Looking at the countless photos of Qinghe Garden sent by Nan Li, as well as the happy New Year group photos of her, Grandma, and Auntie Hua,

Meng Zhu selected one and posted it on his Moments, paired with a line of poetry.

"When shall we meet again in our mutual longing? This hour, this night... how embarrassing."

...

After New Year's Eve, all that was left was waiting for Meng Zhu to return to the country.

From the bitterly cold deep winter, to the early spring when grass grows and warblers fly, and then to the early summer with the sound of cicadas chirping,

Nan Li's longing was crushed into more than 180 days and nights, brewing into an increasingly rich and mellow wine.

Fortunately, fate was also sensible, and the days that followed were repetitive and useless.

Thus the plot accelerated.

Time.

skipped.

Ever since Meng Zhu went far away overseas.

Time didn't speak, years were silent, and in a flash, half a year had already passed.

In mid-April in Suzhou, the breath of spring was coming to an end.

Early that morning, after Nan Li finished breakfast, Auntie Hua was beaming with joy.

"Miss Zhaoyu, the plums in the back garden are ripe."

She held two bamboo-woven baskets in her hands.

"This year's plums, we'll keep all of them and make plum wine."

Hearing this, Nan Li was slightly startled.

The plums were ripe?

She turned her head to look out the window, only to suddenly realize that without her knowing, so much time had already passed.

Time easily discards people, turning cherries red and plantains green.

And turning the plums all over the garden green.

It had genuinely been half a year since Xiujie Brother went abroad.

Although he hadn't returned yet, calculating the days, it should be soon.

Thinking of this, the corners of Nan Li's mouth unconsciously curved up high.

She stood up and eagerly went to greet Auntie Hua.

"Auntie Hua, let's go pick plums together!"

In the back garden, the old plum trees with some age to them had lush branches and leaves, and heavy plums hung on the branches, emitting an alluring fragrance.

The servants had already started bustling about.

Nan Li didn't rush to start; instead, she took out her phone and took a photo of the branches hanging full of green plums.

Then she sent it to someone.

"Xiujie Brother, the plums are ripe."

After typing this sentence, her fingers paused on the screen.

Actually, she still had half a sentence in her heart that hadn't been typed out.

She wanted to ask: The plums are all ripe, why haven't you returned yet?

The so-called flowers on the path are blooming, you may return slowly.

But she didn't ask; she didn't want to rush him, nor did she want to give him the slightest bit of pressure.

She was willing to keep waiting.

After sending the message, Nan Li rolled up her sleeves and joined Auntie Hua in enthusiastically harvesting the plums.

The little girl was full of vigor, and crisp laughter rang out from time to time.

This busy work lasted for the entire morning.

Until the sun tilted westward.

Nan Li was sitting at the table, helping Auntie Hua wash the plums.

Her phone suddenly vibrated, and it was a reply from Meng Zhu.

Just a simple sentence:

"Zhaoyu, I am coming back soon."

Nan Li's eyes grew hot.

The plums were ripe, and the person she was waiting for was finally coming back.

Her brows curved, and she revealed a bright smile again.

She quickly typed her reply on the screen.

"Mm, I know, I'm waiting for you in Qinghe Garden."

[He's coming back!]

[We're going to reunite!]

[Happy, me who foresaw the ending is not panicked at all]

[The confession is a done deal]

[Wait wait wait, don't you think the conversation just now was a bit strange?]

[I think so too, could Nan Li think that Meng Zhu meant the day he returns is near?]

[I also feel that Nan Li isn't as happy as imagined, eh]

[This silly girl, when Meng Zhu said he's coming back soon, it means he's already packing his things, right? Did she not understand?]

[Stop, stop, stop. This is fine too; having a surprise isn't a bad thing]

[Sitting back and waiting for Nan Li's dumbfounded look]

The bullet comments wore a God's-eye view, but unfortunately Nan Li didn't.

She accompanied her grandma as usual, and then began preparing for her national music competition two months later.

The next day.

Nan Li went out today to get her zither repaired.

That zither was a gift from Meng Zhu a long time ago, and it had broken a bit in the past few days.

It wasn't until the afternoon that she returned to Qinghe Garden.

She had intended to continue helping Auntie Hua process the plums picked yesterday.

Who would have thought that when Auntie Hua saw her, her eyes were shockingly bright.

"Miss Zhaoyu! The Young Master has returned!"

Nan Li's smile suddenly froze, and her brain stopped working.

"Xiujie Brother has returned?"

Her eyes widened, and her voice was a bit shaky.

"When?"

Shock, wild joy—the emotions that had just surged up were interrupted again by grievance and doubt.

Why didn't Meng Zhu tell her? Why didn't he let her go pick him up?

Subconsciously, Nan Li turned around and was about to run toward Lanyue Pavilion.

"Hey, hey, Miss, don't rush!"

Auntie Hua grabbed her and explained with a smile.

"The Young Master arrived at Qinghe Garden at noon and wanted to give you a surprise, but it turned out you weren't there. Seeing that it was still early, the Young Master went to the company, saying that after more than half a year overseas, there were quite a few things piled up domestically."

Hearing this, Nan Li's steps finally stopped.

But knowing was one thing; from then on, she didn't have the slightest mind to process plums anymore.

After struggling for a long time, she still left Auntie Hua behind.

"Auntie Hua, Xiujie Brother just came back, he must be very tired. I'll go invite him to dinner to welcome him back!"

Saying that, without waiting for Auntie Hua to reply, she slipped away and ran off.

Returning to Tingyu Pavilion, Nan Li immediately opened her wardrobe.

She took out those beautiful clothes one by one, measuring and comparing them in front of the mirror over and over again.

After lingering for a full hour, she finally changed into a moon-white embroidered long dress, put on an exquisite and elegant makeup, and went out with satisfaction.