姜澄看着沈知意那背影， accelerating pace to catch up with her in no time.

She seemed to be in a good mood now, maybe because she’d finally got what she wanted from him. He wouldn't admit it, not out loud at least, but the thought did twisted something in his stomach.

"Hey, slow down!" He managed, catching up to her with a couple of strides.

Said girl didn't even pause, just kept walking, though her pace was less brisk now. "What's the matter?" she asked, without turning around. "Can't keep up?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Not even close. But don't walk so fast, especially not on this path. It's uneven." He pointed ahead to a cluster of thorny bushes. "See? Tripped over something, you'll be yelpin'."

She finally stopped, turning to face him. The夕阳 casted long shadows on the ground, making the outlines of their figures blurry. Her cheeks were flushed, not entirely from the walk, he suspected.

"Fine," she relented, adjusting the straps of her bag. "But don't follow too closely. I need to... think."