Leah is not someone who gossips or pries into others’ privacy. Although she has some doubts about Richard Shaw’s identity, she doesn’t pay it much attention.

Over the days they’ve spent together, this man shows integrity and self-discipline, which extends to the young and disciplined Casimir Shaw. She trusts the father and son greatly. Having spent a long time in the South Seas, she’s curious about the cabin they’ve mentioned, so she nods and says, "Sure, I’ll go with you, and take the opportunity to relax."

Richard Shaw sees how quickly she agrees, her straightforward personality, not even asking him about his background. He feels a subtle movement in his tea-colored eyes. The closer he gets to her these days and the more he learns about her, the more he feels her intense, pure heart. Years ago, if he hadn’t avoided her, if he had understood her a little better, there would never have been such a situation today.

The man feels a deep regret within, unwilling to deceive her any longer. With a slight movement of his face, he softly says, "Leah, you’re really wonderful."

After speaking, Richard Shaw feels somewhat improper, lightly coughs, and awkwardly retreats, his handsome face slightly red, leaving Leah bewildered and Casimir Shaw dumbfounded.

"Mommy, old Shaw likes you." Casimir Shaw exclaims, clenching his small fist, his eyes shining brightly, "In cartoons, after confessing, they always ask for a kiss. Old Shaw is just shy."

Leah strokes her forehead, looking at the exceptionally clever Casimir Shaw. Being confessed to by a widower with paralyzed legs, only for him to flee, she surprisingly feels no distress, only a hint of sweetness mixed with some unease.

She senses a quirky change in her tastes and aesthetic. This man, always dressed in cotton and linen, prayer beads in hand, reciting sutras, abstaining from meat, somehow stirs her heart.

She’s spent these years living on the edge, yearning for a stable life, craving ordinary happiness. Yet the other party is just an ordinary person, with inconvenient legs, making things rather tricky.

Ah, indeed spring is here, stirring thoughts of love. She’s unexpectedly developed feelings for an old man with kids.

With Qingming approaching, Leah agrees to accompany the father and son to Imperial City, returning to Squire Manor once, seeing Griffith Squire hasn’t returned for days, and unable to reach him. She contacts Cornelius Turner and asks: "What has my brother been up to these days?"

"The boss has been in Vatican these days, because a munitions trade channel encountered an issue, the boss went to resolve it. Miss needn’t worry, the boss took plenty of men with him." Cornelius Turner remains stationed in Golden Triangle; these years Griffith Squire avoids drugs, avoids mines, only deals with munitions. A problem occurred in Eastern Europe, naturally needing personal attention.

"Just let me know when you get hold of my brother, so I can rest easy," Leah says before hanging up the phone.

The South Seas are tumultuous lately, with Cloud Family’s upheaval just settled, Delphine pregnant, detained by Ignatius Leclair in the Northern Town house. Leah wishes to visit, but needs Ignatius Leclair’s approval.

With Griffith Squire also absent from the South Seas, Leah feels a bit uneasy, seizing this chance to visit Imperial City, to sweep the tombs for Qingming.

Two days later, Leah flies with the father and son to Imperial City.

Upon arrival, Richard Shaw is met by Swayer, who has been waiting with a car outside, seeing the Major-General finally returning to Imperial City with the young master, and even having brought home the madam, couldn’t help but smile widely, happy to be back on home turf.

"Would you like to go back to the cabin or the Shaw Family?" Swayer cheerfully asks, purposely omitting the term ’Major-General’, even sending the previously modified SUV from South Seas to the Military District. After all, not knowing the madam’s identity initially, chasing her car throughout town, fearing punishment if the madam holds them accountable.

These years, the Major-General nearly abandoned everything for the madam, which they know clearer than anyone.

"To the cabin," Richard Shaw softly says. Although he’ll tell Leah his identity eventually, it needs to be gradually brought up to avoid shocking her. The relationship between the Military District and Golden Triangle remains sensitive; there are times when his position and Griffith Squire’s remain opposing, needing careful handling.

"Alright." Swayer deftly loads the luggage into the car, responding cheerfully.

Leah recognizes Swayer, seeing him also in Imperial City, coming to pick them up in a Hummer, she teasingly asks Casimir Shaw, clutching his book, "Thomas Shaw, is your family really poor?"

Casimir Shaw quickly nods, his pretty face seriously saying, "Poor, old Shaw is the poorest."

Leah squints her beautiful almond eyes, pinching his little face, humming, "So poor, yet someone drives a luxury car to pick you up, hmm?"

"But cars don’t cost money." Casimir Shaw blinks his innocent big eyes, reaching out his little hand to tug Leah’s clothes, softly saying, "Mommy, don’t be mad. I’m not poor, I’ve saved a lot of red envelope money every year, I’ll hand it over to you, okay?"

Leah is amused by him, her heart carrying a vague notion. Seeing the father and son with discrepancy after discrepancy, how did she initially perceive them as country bumpkins? 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

It’s not entirely Leah’s fault. Richard Shaw spent years training in the Military District. If he wants to disguise his identity, most people would find it difficult to see through it, especially since the man truly lived modestly and diligently over the years, not completely pretending as a noble of Imperial City.

The car drives all the way to a suburban cabin, Leah sees a cabin amidst an old residential area, blinking as she looks at the little cabin adorned with flowers and green trees, barely believing she’s seeing the green vegetable field behind the house.

"Mommy, we’re home now." Casimir Shaw has already jumped off the car, pulling Leah, opening the wooden gate in the courtyard, and heading inside.

The courtyard is decorated in a rustic, Zen style, with a stream flowing through the middle, jagged rocks, bamboo plants and rose flowers adorning the corners. As far as the eye can see, there’s no trace of modern artifacts. Even the washstand in the courtyard is made of assembled wood, with the water faucet cleverly replaced by tied bamboo, Leah feels like she’s traveled back in time.

The cabin is built entirely of wood, not large, with two or three gable rooms, just enough for living, including the main dwelling and the kitchen behind.

Leah enters the house, noting it lacks floor heating and air conditioning. Thinking of Casimir Shaw’s winter days warming by the charcoal fire, it turns out to be true.

This man, living in the most splendid Imperial City, yet leads the most primitive, simple life, like a monk undergoing worldly penance. Leah stands in the living room, her heartbeat inexplicably intense; what kind of past has this man experienced, to abandon everything, self-inflict such hardship?

Richard Shaw stands in the courtyard, watching Casimir Shaw lead Leah to tour the rooms, letting Swayer move all belongings inside. Sitting in the yard, his inner thoughts turns tumultuous, unable to calm, tea-colored eyes faintly reddened, six years, she’s finally returned.