After the proposal succeeded, Xu Xingguang immediately stood up.

She jumped from the corridor to the yard, picked up a corn stalk, and broke off the tender corn. She said to Huo Wen’an, "You’re not feeling well, let’s have corn mush for lunch."

After saying this, Xu Xingguang asked Huo Wen’an, "Have you ever had this stuff?" It’s rare to find authentic corn mush now.

Huo Wen’an said, "I had it when I was little. Back then Grandma Zhong was still alive. Her family had an old stone mill, and every time the corn was ripe, she would make some. Her family had a little granddaughter who was five years old at the time and got along with my sister. I went to pick my sister up from her place and had it there."

Huo Wen’an couldn’t clearly remember the specific taste of that bowl of corn mush, just that it was particularly sweet.

"Being handsome is just appealing," Xu Xingguang said.

Huo Wen’an shook his head, "With a mom like that, they wouldn’t dare get too close to me."

If anyone showed too much concern for Huo Wen’an, Mrs. Huo would become sarcastic and would punish Huo Wen’an when he returned. Therefore, the neighbors in the town didn’t dare openly treat Huo Wen’an well.

Occasionally, when Huo Wen’an went to school, riding his bicycle past their houses, they would secretly give him a handful of candy, some peanuts, things they felt suited a child.

Consequently, Huo Wen’an had an incredibly deep attachment to this small town. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

No matter how large and luxurious Divine Concealment Island was, it could never surpass the small town in Cangshan beneath his memories.

He couldn’t forget the refreshing sweetness of lotus seeds, nor the rich aroma of corn mush, nor could he forget the chubby, dark girl next door who, though naughty, always loved to stand in the courtyard and look up at him with a sweet smile, calling out softly to him as Brother A Zui.

Originally, Xu Xingguang had planned to go inside to cook.

But now, she didn’t want to leave, wanting to stay and hear Huo Wen’an talk more about his childhood and youth.

Xu Xingguang got up and went indoors, fetching a basket from Huo Wen’an’s kitchen.

After coming out, she sat down on the floor in front of Huo Wen’an’s toes, her long legs dangling below the corridor.

Xu Xingguang hugged the small basket, peeling corn kernels while chatting casually with Huo Wen’an.

She asked Huo Wen’an, "Have all the people in the town moved away?"

Huo Wen’an said, "Pretty much, a lot of the elderly people are no longer around." Like Grandma Zhong, who had him drink corn mush at her house.

"On Dragon Boat Festival this year, Uncle Xie came looking for you, wanting to invite you to the town’s annual gathering. But you went back, and I was busy during that time, so we didn’t go."

Xu Xingguang asked Huo Wen’an, "Will you go for Dragon Boat Festival next year?"

Next year, tomorrow, the future. Originally, these words would cause deep resistance from Huo Wen’an, but now, hearing the phrase "next year" filled him with anticipation and longing.

"Sure." A smile grew in Huo Wen’an’s dark eyes as he gazed at Xu Xingguang’s flawless profile, suddenly saying, "Shall we hold our wedding in Cangshan Town, okay?"

He stated seriously, "By then, I’ll invite all the townsfolk who moved away to attend our wedding. So they can see how outstanding the wife of the Huo Family’s kid is."

Xu Xingguang felt her ears slightly redden at this. "You don’t need to flatter me like that."

"You’re already very outstanding."

There are many outstanding girls in this world, many beautiful girls too. But among those who are both beautiful and outstanding, and deeply cherished by Huo Wen’an, Xu Xingguang is the only one.

"Back then, you were small, you might not remember," Huo Wen’an told Xu Xingguang, "When your mother lived here, no one knew she was the famous writer Mo Yinshu, they thought she was just a single mom. At that time, many town grannies wanted to introduce someone to your mother."

Huo Wen’an recalled something amusing and said, "I remember, there was a doctor Ying in town who ran a Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall; he was quite smitten with your mom, visiting your courtyard every now and then to bring things."

"Later, upon learning your mother was a married woman, he moped for a long time. When the town was acquired by the government, he was among the first to leave this heartbroken place. When I first returned to Cangshan Town, they even discussed Doctor Ying, saying he is still single to this day."

"Really?" Xu Xingguang truly couldn’t recall these gossip details.

She asked Huo Wen’an, "Was Doctor Ying handsome?"

Huo Wen’an thought for a moment before saying, "He was alright, but not quite on my level."

"You’re so vain."

Huo Wen’an chuckled, and continued, "When we get married, we must invite Doctor Ying to come and see. But he’s working at a Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall in Xia Country now, so he may not have time to come back for our wedding."