“Wow! What’s that? It looks so interesting!”

　　After descending the mountain, the two entered a bustling marketplace. Yichen pointed excitedly at a sugar figurine.

　　Qing Nianli rolled her eyes. “That’s a sugar figurine. Can you not act like a child who’s never seen the world?”

　　Yichen was even more curious about the mortal realm than she was, leaving her utterly helpless. She even wondered which of them was truly from the Upper Realm.

　　He flitted from stall to stall, touching novel trinkets and crowding into lively scenes, exclaiming in wonder from time to time. Qing Nianli had no choice but to stay close behind to keep him from getting lost.

　　Suddenly, Yichen spotted a street performance and rushed over, eyes glued to the act.

　　“So amazing!” he clapped enthusiastically.

　　Qing Nianli tugged at his sleeve. “Enough—we should go. We still have things to do.”

　　He finally tore himself away, glancing back repeatedly.

　　She could only shake her head, half amused, half exasperated, wondering what else he might put her through along the way.

　　At an alley corner, they saw a beggar curled on the roadside. Beneath layers of tattered clothing, swollen ankles gleamed, and a gray film clouded his murky eyes.

　　Without breaking stride, Yichen reached into his robe and dropped a gold ingot into the beggar’s bowl.

　　The beggar stared wide-eyed in disbelief—never had he seen such generosity.

　　Yichen merely smiled, as if it were nothing at all.

　　Not far on, they encountered an old woman struggling to push a cart. Yichen hurried over to help and pressed the remaining bits of gold he carried into her hands.

　　Thus, wherever he saw someone in need, he gave generously, entirely unaware that his money was nearly gone.

　　Qing Nianli watched, both helpless and moved—helpless at his lack of financial sense, moved by the depth of his kindness.

　　At dusk, Yichen stood stunned as he saw the beggar from earlier, now dressed in fine clothes, swaggering into a luxurious tavern. In the attendant’s hand was unmistakably the gold Yichen had given him.

　　“This…” Yichen gaped in disbelief.

　　As night fell, he finally realized the consequences of his recklessness and began worrying about where they would stay.

　　Qing Nianli looked at his dazed profile, torn between irritation and laughter.

　　“Yichen, when you’re out in the world, you must always leave yourself a way out. And don’t trust people so easily.”

　　“I… I know I was wrong…” He blushed deeply and lowered his head. “I just thought…”

　　“That everyone was as sincere as you?” she finished for him.

　　She drew a purse from her sleeve. “All right. Fortunately, I still have some silver. Come—we need to find a place to stay. If we wait any longer, we’ll be sleeping on the street.”

　　They searched until Qing Nianli found a relatively clean inn and paid for two rooms.

　　That night, after reflection on the day’s events, both came to the same realization: kindness is precious, but in a complex world, wisdom is equally necessary.

　　Later, half-asleep, Qing Nianli suddenly saw a black shadow dart across her bed.

　　“A mouse!”

　　Her scream shattered the silence.

　　Yichen burst in at once. “What happened?”

　　“There’s a mouse!” she cried, pointing.

　　Yichen chased it out and reassured her gently. Though embarrassed, she felt comforted by his presence.

　　In the end, Yichen stayed by her side, soothing her fears until sleep claimed them both.

　　The night grew deep and quiet, their steady breathing mingling together as they awaited the coming dawn.