Charlie nodded and replied, “Alright, just be cautious going down the staircase; it’s quite steep.”

With a hint of shyness, Jasmine extended her delicate hand towards Charlie, softly asking, “Master Wade, could you hold my hand, please? I’m a bit scared I might fall…”

In reality, Jasmine wasn’t truly afraid of falling. Instead, she hoped to use this moment as a chance to draw closer to Charlie.

Charlie glanced at the stone staircase, which indeed appeared long and steep, leading down to the riverbank. Considering Jasmine was a girl dressed in a snug-fitting dress that restricted her movements, he thought it would be unfortunate if she were to slip. Therefore, he gently took her hand and guided her carefully down the stone steps.

As they reached the riverbank, they found themselves alone. Occasionally, a few illuminated ships passed by on the river, their rumbling diesel engines creating a loud noise that echoed in the otherwise serene setting of the empty riverbank.

Once they arrived on the riverbank, Charlie released Jasmine’s hand and smiled warmly as the cool breeze brushed against his face. “Wow, this place is really lovely.”

With a shy smile, Jasmine played with her long black hair near her ear and replied, “I loved coming here when I was younger. My dad was often busy with work, so it was always my mom who took me here every day.”

Then, her expression turned somewhat melancholic as she sighed and continued, “Back then, my mom would drive me here, park in the same spot, and carefully guide me down these stone steps while holding my hand, just like you did earlier.”

Charlie nodded in understanding.

He often reminisced about his parents during his time in the orphanage.

As a young boy, he hadn’t been as strong as he was now. Whenever he thought of them, he would hide under his blanket or in a quiet corner of the orphanage, letting his tears flow.

Over time, he learned to cope with his feelings and manage his emotions better.

The hardships he faced back then taught him many important lessons, such as, “May the departed rest in peace, while the living must continue with their lives” and “Let the past be the past.”

At that moment, Jasmine sighed beside him. “This morning, I visited my parents’ grave. It’s hard to believe they’ve been gone for over a decade. My childhood memories are still so clear; sometimes, I feel like I’m that 8 or 9-year-old girl again.”

Charlie chuckled softly and sighed, “At least you can visit your parents’ graves. I don’t even know where my parents are buried.”

“What?!” Jasmine exclaimed in surprise. “How is that possible? Is it because you can’t find it, or did something happen?”

With a bittersweet smile, Charlie explained, “I was just eight when my parents passed away. At that age, I couldn’t even take care of myself; I had no idea where I should sleep or when my next meal would be. I was completely unable to handle their funeral. By the time I tried to look for them, they were already gone.”

He paused briefly before adding, “It’s possible that my grandfather or someone else in my family took care of my parents’ remains. But I’m not entirely sure.”

Jasmine curiously asked, “Master Wade, do you still have any relatives?”

Charlie nodded, “Yes, I do, but I’m not ready to meet them just yet.”

Jasmine gently nodded, her beautiful eyelashes fluttering as she suggested, “Master Wade, let’s take a walk along the river.”

“Sure,” Charlie replied casually, and they began to walk side by side along the riverside.

Jasmine giggled before asking, “By the way, Master Wade, do you remember how we first met?”

Charlie laughed, “Of course! It was at Vintage Deluxe when my clumsy father-in-law accidentally broke one of your antique vases.”

Jasmine nodded and added, “I was so shocked by your repair skills! I wondered how a young man like you could master such an old restoration technique. It was impressive! But back then, I never imagined that was just the beginning of what you’d do for me…”