Fortune Across the World

Chapter 111: Ascending Affection on Wan Mountain (Part 3)

Fu Ruqing, who had been eagerly anticipating, readily agreed, "Yes, okay." She hadn't hidden her excitement earlier, and Ding Qiyu's initiative in inviting her gave her plenty of face. This thoughtful consideration warmed Fu Ruqing's heart.

After greeting the women inside, Ding Qiyu, fond of the littlest one always trailing behind her, picked her up with one arm, holding the kite in the other. Together with Fu Ruqing and Yinsuo, they led the children out of the courtyard to an open space behind the yard to fly the kite.

"Kids, don't run off," Ding Qiyu instructed, then turned to Yinsuo, "Sister Yinsuo, please keep an eye on them so they don't scatter." Fu Ruqing wasn't adept at handling children, and she needed to watch the kite, so the children required Yinsuo's supervision.

"Don't worry, Mr. Ding," Yinsuo replied.

Sister Yinsuo? Fu Ruqing was surprised by this address, glancing between Ding Qiyu and Yinsuo. When had they become so familiar? Why was Yinsuo "sister" while she was "little girl"? Yet... she found herself preferring "little girl" over "sister"...

At the mountain clearing behind the courtyard, Ding Qiyu set down the little girl, instructing the children to stand nicely with Sister Qing and Sister Yinsuo. She moved to the center of the clearing, gauging the wind direction, and began running with the ink butterfly kite, adjusting the string as she went.

As the butterfly soared higher, the children were thrilled, shouting excitedly, "Brother Yu, faster, faster!" "Run faster, Brother Yu!" "The butterfly is flying!" The littlest one joined in, calling, "Brother Yu! Brother Yu!"

The children's infectious joy spread to Fu Ruqing, whose heart leaped with happiness. Her beautiful eyes stayed fixed on the butterfly she had painted, soaring ever higher, her mood rising with it. After the one faded memory, no one had ever taken her kite flying again.

The butterfly finally took to the sky, and Ding Qiyu, sweaty from running, guided the kite towards the children. Turning, she noticed Fu Ruqing gazing dreamily at the butterfly, and offered her the string reel, "Little girl, do you want to try holding it?" This adorable innocence always stirred her protective instincts.

"Me?" Fu Ruqing snapped out of her daze, looking at the reel in Ding Qiyu's hand, tempted but hesitant, "I don't know how."

"Haha, I'll teach you. It's easy," Ding Qiyu assured her, placing the reel in Fu Ruqing's hands. She stood behind her, one hand loosely holding the reel, the other guiding Fu Ruqing's hand on the string, as if encircling her.

The unexpected warmth enveloped Fu Ruqing, causing her heart to skip. She heard the "daring" voice softly at her ear, "And if it falls, no worries. I'll just run a few more laps to get it back up. Don't feel pressured; play however you like." The warm breath on her ear, coupled with the indulgent tone, left Fu Ruqing dazed, her thoughts drifting from the kite, simply following Ding Qiyu's lead in managing the string.

Ding Qiyu, too, was distracted, enchanted by the subtle fragrance and the sight of Fu Ruqing's reddening ears, a smile playing on her lips as her heartbeat quickened.

Yinsuo widened her eyes; Mr. Ding was quite bold! To embrace the young lady like that, and she wasn't resisting at all!

Distracted, the two let the ink butterfly kite dip significantly, affected by the wind.