“What is it?” Luo Yueguan’s eyelashes blinked lightly. “Did I catch you doing something I shouldn’t have again?”
Compared to Jiang Huai, Xu Qing, who was currently in his arms, was even more flustered and uneasy. She took a step back almost instantly, not even daring to meet Luo Yueguan’s eyes.
“Why do you always show up at the perfect moment?”
Jiang Huai suspected Luo Yueguan had placed some strange Daoist magic imprint on him. However, Luo Yueguan merely looked at him innocently, “I was just wandering around Qingmu Immortal Palace, sensed your presence, and decided to drop by. Coincidentally, I saw you.”
Jiang Huai was speechless.
“Do you have anything to explain?” Luo Yueguan crossed her arms, her eyes becoming increasingly playful.
There was no jealousy in her gaze, but rather the gleam of someone enjoying the show. Jiang Huai’s eye twitched slightly. He thought about a reason to explain, but upon reflection, there wasn’t much to explain. Xu Qing was in his arms of her own accord. As for the reason…? He could use the excuse of being drunk to fool others, but he couldn’t seem to fool himself.
Ultimately, it was the little greed in his heart that was at play.
Jiang Huai shook his head. “What you saw is the fact. No explanation.”
“So there’s nothing that needs explaining?” Luo Yueguan laughed even more freely.
“It seems I can’t explain it clearly now. I’ll tell you another day.”
After speaking, Jiang Huai suddenly leaned into Xu Qing’s ear. Xu Qing’s cheeks were flushed, flustered and uneasy. She didn’t know what to say, her body stiffening. Jiang Huai spoke again, “Shall we go then?”
“Oh.” Luo Yueguan gave him an innocent look but said nothing further. So, Jiang Huai and Xu Qing walked side-by-side, their footsteps quick.
After walking a considerable distance, Xu Qing finally looked up at Jiang Huai and murmured softly, “Sect Master Luo… will she misunderstand something?”
“She definitely misunderstood.”
“Then, why didn’t you explain…?”
“Because what she saw is true.” Jiang Huai and Xu Qing had arrived at the lakeside of Qingmu Immortal Palace. The lake’s surface sparkled under the moonlight. He said softly, “I held you of my own accord, not because you threw yourself into my arms.”
Jiang Huai bringing it up again made Xu Qing’s cheeks even redder. Her small, fair hands couldn’t help but gently pinch his waist, and she muttered, “Then… why did you suddenly hug me?”
“You were the one who almost fell into my arms at the first opportunity.”
“That, that was… I had too much to drink, and I was unsteady walking, so, so that’s why…”
“Then I hugged you because I also had too much to drink.”
Xu Qing’s lips pouted slightly, then, as if sulking, she bumped into him again. Jiang Huai turned his head to look at her, a smile in his eyes.
Xu Qing turned her face away and bumped him again.
The next second, she was forced into a warm embrace, and unease and panic filled her chest once more. The evening breeze brushed past her ear, seeming to cool her body, but as her back was gently touched, she couldn’t help but tremble, like a startled little deer.
Jiang Huai caught the faint scent of alcohol on her, mingled with her own fragrance. His hand touched her hair, smooth and soft. He seemed to hear Xu Qing’s rapidly beating heart, and in that moment, he felt as though he heard his own heart too.
The world seemed to suddenly quiet down, with only the sound of the wind remaining.
Actually, he couldn’t quite explain why he suddenly wanted to hug Xu Qing. Perhaps it was just a moment of madness. He always seemed to be like this, acting like a gentleman when sober, but when drunk, his true nature would be revealed. He was never truly a gentleman, otherwise, he wouldn’t have the name A Mumu.
Jiang Huai intended to scold himself severely in his heart, but then he suddenly remembered that he had only hugged her gently. He hadn’t done anything else. After a moment, he forgave himself, merely patting Xu Qing’s back, a gesture like coaxing a child.
He couldn’t explain why, compared to Mu Yao, he felt Xu Qing was more like a child. Mu Yao only looked young, but her heart seemed to understand matters of men and women. Jiang Huai inexplicably disliked this about her. On the other hand, Xu Qing, despite appearing gentle and mature, was completely clueless about love. She didn’t understand those techniques that could stir one’s heart. She seemed clumsy, but her heart was pure and transparent.
Thinking of this, Jiang Huai suddenly felt like a scoundrel for hugging Xu Qing at this moment. Just a few days ago, he had politely rejected Miss Xu Qing, and now he was holding her in his arms.
Indeed, those who are favored are often presumptuous. If Jiang Huai knew that hugging Xu Qing would result in a slap from her, he definitely wouldn’t dare.
“Want to sit for a while?” Jiang Huai softly asked in Xu Qing’s ear.
“Mm…” Xu Qing’s voice had become very, very soft. When Jiang Huai let go, her body felt soft and somewhat weak. Jiang Huai and Xu Qing sat down on a bluestone by the lake. Above them was the bright moon, its light sprinkling onto the lake surface, creating glistening ripples. Xu Qing leaned her body slightly against his shoulder.
“Are you drunk?” Jiang Huai asked softly.
“Mm.” Xu Qing nodded lightly.
“Then tomorrow, will you hold me accountable and blame me for taking advantage of you while you were drunk?”
“How could I…?” Xu Qing turned to him with a wronged look, her eyes so pure that Jiang Huai’s guilt inexplicably increased.
Then Xu Qing rested her head on his shoulder.
Her eyes were also looking at the distant lake. The water swayed with the evening breeze, and everything in front of Jiang Huai’s eyes became slightly blurry. He had also drunk a lot of wine, but at this moment, he wanted another drink.
He took out the spiritual wine he had brewed himself from his System Backpack, opened the wine pot, and took a big gulp. He turned and realized Xu Qing was looking at him expectantly. Jiang Huai was stunned, then winked at her, “Do you want to drink more?”
Xu Qing nodded.
So Jiang Huai handed her the wine pot.
After all, it’s always good to have someone to drink with.
The two sat by the lake, enjoying the evening breeze, the wine pot being passed back and forth. They drank until the entire pot was empty. Xu Qing’s eyes became particularly hazy, yet they seemed to shine faintly. Her cheeks had become so red. When she reached up to cup her face, she realized how hot it was.
“I’m drunk,” she said.
“Shall I take you back then?”
But Xu Qing shook her head, her eyes hazy as she looked at him. “I want to be held for a while longer.”
So Jiang Huai reached out and gently embraced her waist. Xu Qing moved closer. She suddenly whispered, “You didn’t even hesitate.”
“Mm? Let’s do it again. Ask me again, and I’ll hesitate before agreeing. Wouldn’t that make me seem more reserved and polite?”
Xu Qing was stunned for a moment, then let out a chuckle.
“I find you different from what I imagined, humph.” Her voice became soft and tender.
“Are you imagining me to be that kind of righteous gentleman, who puts on a facade with all women he doesn’t love, at most offering seemingly gentle comfort but never crossing boundaries, pure and untainted?”
Xu Qing nodded several times in agreement.
“When I’m sober, I should be able to,” Jiang Huai replied helplessly. “But not when I’m drunk.”
He suddenly turned his face and looked into Xu Qing’s eyes. “Are you very disappointed?”
Xu Qing was taken aback at first, then gently shook her head. “No…”
But Jiang Huai just continued to stare at Xu Qing innocently for a few more seconds. Then Xu Qing said very, very softly, “I think… I am a little bit.”
Jiang Huai smiled, not surprised at all.
“But this should have been expected long ago,” Jiang Huai blinked innocently at her. “Otherwise, why would I have two Dao Companions? Actually, I have three, and one has a marriage engagement finalized and is still in the Western Region.”
“There’s… another one?” Xu Qing’s voice became a little stuttered.
“Mm, her name is Bai Li.”
“You never mentioned her…”
“Do you want to hear about her?”
Xu Qing nodded, and Jiang Huai began to tell her about Bai Li. Xu Qing’s mind became a little confused, and she poked his chest a few times with her finger.
“Mm?” Jiang Huai looked at her, puzzled.
“Why do I always feel like there’s still… something else…”
Jiang Huai was stunned. A woman’s intuition was indeed a terrifying thing. But he couldn’t tell her about what else there was, so he just blinked innocently, playing dumb.
Xu Qing stared at him for a few seconds, her cheeks puffing out slightly, then she said softly, “Jiang Huai.”
“Mm?”
Xu Qing gently poked his cheek with her finger. “I don’t think I like you that much anymore.”
Jiang Huai wasn’t disappointed but found it both funny and exasperating. “That’s good.”
But Xu Qing immediately looked wronged. “You’re not unhappy at all…”
“So?”
“I’ve lost face.”
“Then how about I cry for you?” Jiang Huai blinked innocently.
Xu Qing’s small fists lightly pounded his shoulder a few more times. After a brief bout of playful fussing, she was pulled into Jiang Huai’s embrace again. He said slowly, “Many times it’s like this. When you like someone, you’re filled with fantasies about them. But as you gradually get to know everything about them, you’ll discover traits you dislike. Love at first sight is common, but so is falling in love at first sight, then parting ways when the passion fades and the illusion is broken.”
“That sounds cruel…”
“Cruel?” Jiang Huai’s fingertip tickled Xu Qing’s waist. Xu Qing immediately burst into laughter, curling up and glaring at Jiang Huai angrily.
She puffed out her cheeks, but then deflated when Jiang Huai poked her again. Xu Qing couldn’t help but murmur, “You’re too much.”
“Where am I too much?”
“You said you don’t like me… but you’re still holding me…”
“If the time Luo Yueguan walked in on us was too much, then this time doesn’t count.”
“How, how doesn’t it count?”
“You knew that bumping into me would result in me holding you, yet you still bumped into me. You came to me for a hug.”
Some things are embarrassing to say out loud.
“Then, then, then couldn’t you have pushed me away?” Xu Qing suddenly became like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her voice filled with an indescribable guilt.
“You could have also chosen not to bump into me. It’s unreasonable to blame me.” Jiang Huai suddenly leaned in towards Xu Qing. Xu Qing was startled. Jiang Huai in front of her suddenly leaned in very, very close, so close that they could see each other’s faces in each other’s eyes.
He reached out and gently cupped Xu Qing’s chin, his other hand lightly supporting the back of her head.
“It’s like if I say I’m going to kiss you now, I’ll give you five breaths. If you push me away… I’ll obediently back off.”
“Five.”
“Four.”
“Three.”
Xu Qing’s lips trembled slightly, her shoulders shaking more and more. She tried to reach out, but her body felt so weak it was almost devoid of strength. She didn’t understand what was happening to her. Clearly, Jiang Huai’s true self was already somewhat different from her fantasy, yet her mind was a complete mess. She was captivated by those eyes, and at this moment, she couldn’t muster any strength. Her mind suddenly conjured images of a kiss… Her hands didn’t know where to rest, her clenched fists damp like the sea.
Jiang Huai counted down to one, and Xu Qing made no move. In the final second, she couldn’t do anything and simply closed her eyes in a panic.
He winked at Xu Qing. “See? Everyone can talk about grand principles, but when many small emotions surge up, people can’t control themselves.”
His face moved away from Xu Qing’s, but he casually slung an arm around her shoulder.
… This was to avoid getting hit.
Xu Qing slowly turned her head, her eyes filled with extreme resentment, then turned to look at the lake again. “I thought you were really going to kiss me.”
“I considered it, but kissing would be hard to undo. Just a hug is understandable, but after a kiss… it would be over.”
“Bastard.” Xu Qing slowly reached out and grabbed the soft flesh at Jiang Huai’s waist. Jiang Huai turned his head to look at her, warning, “It’ll hurt.”
“It won’t hurt me, anyway.”
“Then I’ll let you pinch me. Just once. No more pinching, alright?”
“Okay.” Xu Qing’s fingertips tightened.
Jiang Huai’s scream echoed by the lake.
