Thedaysfollowingtheirescapewereabluroftravelandsecrecy.SukieandHanFenglingmovedfromtowntotown，ayingioolong，alwayswaryofbeingdiscovered.Thenightswerespenthuddledtogetherforwarmth，sharingwhisperedversationsandstolesofaffe.Eachpassingday，Sukie，sfeelingsforHanFenglingdeepened，andshecouldsensehisfeelingsmirroredherown.

Theyfinallysettledinaquietvilgeledinthemountains，farfromthereachoftheirehevilgeicturesquehaven，withlushgreeneryandcrystal－clearstreams.Thesimplelifeofferedastarktrasttotheopulenddaheyhadleftbehind.Forthefirsttimeinwhatfeltlikeay，theyfoundasembnceofpeace.

Oneevening，asthesundippedbelowthehorizon，castingagoldenglowoverthevilge，Sukiesatbythewindowoftheirsmallcottage，herthoughtsawhirlwind.HanFenglingwasoutside，choppingwoodforthefire.Shewatchedhimthroughthewindow，hisstrong，gracefulmovementscaptivatihesightofhimbroughtawarmthtoherheartthatshecouldn，tignoreanylonger.

Ashefinishedandcameinside，Sukiegreetedhimwithasoftsmile.＂Youworktoohard，＂sheteasedgently.

HanFenglingchuckled，wipingthesweatfromhisbrow.＂It，sgoodtostaybusy.Keepsmymindoffthings.＂

Sukie，ssmilefadedasshelookeddownatherhands.＂Fenglialk.＂

Hesetthewooddownandjoihetable，hisexpressionserious.＂What，sonyourmind?＂

Takingadeepbreath，Sukiemethisgaze，herheartpounding.＂Fengling，I，tkeeppretendingthateverythingisnormalbetweenus.Iknowyoufeelittoo.This...ewehave.It，smorethanjustsiblings，morethanjustfriendship.＂

HanFengling，seyessoftened，andhereachedouttotakeherhandinhis.＂Iknow，Sukie.I，vefeltittoo.ButI，vebeentryingtoprotectyou，tokeepyousafe.＂

Tearsfilledhereyesassheshookherhead.＂Idon，tneedprotefrommyownfeelings.Ioknowthatwe，reinthistogether，thatwe，renotaloneinhowwefeel.＂

Hesqueezedherhand，hisvoicegefirm.＂You，renotalone，Sukie.I，velovedyouforalongtime，lohanIevenrealized.Butourworldisplicated，andoursituationisdangerous.＂

＂Idon，tcareaboutthedanger，＂shesaid，hervoicebreaking.＂Icareaboutyou.I，tkeeppretendingthatI，mnotihyou