After Sheng Jun Chapter 48 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 48 Are You Happy? (part 2)
A hand suddenly grabbed his sleeve, pulling him out of Yunzhi Workshop. Jiang Xingzhi turned his head to speak to him, "We don't have anything to do today, so we won't return to Kunlun. How about that?"
The two returned to the streets of Liu City, with more pedestrians around them.
More gazes fell upon them.
Zhong Ming was struck by the sudden sense of fulfillment, his head feeling a bit dizzy. He looked down at the hand tugging at his sleeve: Deng Deng seemed to be much closer to him than before...
"You don't want to?" Jiang Xingzhi asked.
"No." Zhong Ming quickly pulled his attention back, "If we're not returning to Kunlun, where shall we go?"
The two wide sleeves, one deep and one light, were placed together, as if they were walking hand in hand. Jiang Xingzhi pointed ahead, "When we came earlier, I think I saw a lake with pleasure boats. The autumn scenery was quite beautiful."
Just hearing this made Zhong Ming happy, "Shall we go then?"
Jiang Xingzhi smiled, turning to look at him, "Aren't we already going?"
Zhong Ming was made to flutter by his smile, "Mm... yes."
Today's Deng Deng was also very gentle.
Zhong Ming subconsciously turned to look around: Was this the mortal realm or the heavenly realm?
****
The lake with pleasure boats was a famous scenic spot in Liu City.
At this time of year, the lakeshore was at the peak of maple leaf season, with large patches reflected on the lake surface. Fallen leaves accumulated along the shore and floated on the water, rippling with the gentle breeze.
Jiang Xingzhi rented a flower boat. The boat wasn't large, just right for the two of them to sit.
The boat and its surroundings were decorated with all kinds of flower clusters, maintained in a fresh and delicate state with spiritual power. As soon as the two stepped into the boat, it was like falling into a sea of flowers floating on the lake.
With a movement of spiritual power, the flower boat was pushed through the lake waves into the lake.
The two sat facing each other, with the lake surface around them reflecting the azure sky and soft clouds floating in the lake light.
A few flower petals, pink and blue, had scattered on Jiang Xingzhi's knees and sleeves, quite beautiful. He didn't brush them away, just sat casually like this, producing a small wine pot from his storage bag like magic, "Want to drink?"
Zhong Ming reached out to take it, "Where did the wine come from?"
Jiang Xingzhi said, "I forgot where I bought it, probably brought it from my hometown. It's not intoxicating, try it."
The wine had a fruity fragrance mixed in. Zhong Ming lowered his head to smell it and immediately recognized it as from the shop Jiang Xingzhi often visited, "This is..."
"What is it?"
Zhong Ming's tongue twisted and he almost bit his teeth! He carefully pulled together his little disguise, "It's fruit wine."
Jiang Xingzhi didn't seem to notice his slip-up and praised, "Listening to you speak is like listening to you speak. You really know how to taste wine."
"......"
The flower boat gently swayed with the waves on the lake surface.
Jiang Xingzhi only brought the wine pot without cups. Zhong Ming tilted his head back and poured some down his throat. As soon as he put down the wine pot, Jiang Xingzhi took it and tilted his head back for a couple of sips.
Neither of their mouths touched the spout, but Zhong Ming still felt secretly sweet in his heart.
They had now drunk from the same pot and traveled on the same boat.
Indeed, so joyful.
He was savoring this sweetness when his thoughts suddenly stalled. Wait, this scene felt familiar... where had he experienced this or mentioned it before?
"What's wrong, Ah Zuo?" The voice from across interrupted his recollection. Jiang Xingzhi put down the wine pot and looked over, "Why are you frowning? Are you unhappy?"
Zhong Ming immediately smoothed his brow, "How could I be? I'm very happy."
He couldn't let Deng Deng mistakenly think he didn't like going out to play with him, or there might never be another chance to go out together.
Jiang Xingzhi was pleased, "That's good then."
The pot of wine was quickly finished, and neither was drunk. Only the boat was filled with mixed floral and fruity fragrances, refreshing to the heart.
Jiang Xingzhi propped his head on his hand, resting on the boat's edge, his gaze slowly moving to Zhong Ming across from him. A few months ago, who would have thought there would be a day when he could sit leisurely like this with Xu Jian, sharing wine and conversation, drinking together on a pleasure boat.
Thinking this, he sighed: It was all because they were both skilled at acting, having acted themselves into enemies.
Before the sigh was finished, a nervous voice came from across, "Why are you sighing? Are you unhappy?"
Jiang Xingzhi, "......"
He sucked that sigh back in, "How could I be? I'm also very happy."
Zhong Ming breathed a sigh of relief and continued immersing himself in this warm and sweet atmosphere. A breeze swept across the lake surface, blowing apart the flower clusters covering the surroundings.
A flash of blue caught Jiang Xingzhi's attention.
He looked toward the Moon-Holding Pearl at Zhong Ming's waist—ever since he had given him the tassel pendant last time, the other had switched out the Moon-Holding Pearl. He probably put it back on today to match this new outfit, showing off.
Jiang Xingzhi couldn't help but remember the last time he had suffered from extreme cold qi, and it was Xu Jian who had helped him dispel the cold and heal his injuries.
At that time, Xu Jian had held him in the cave, and his own soul had been carefully tended to inch by inch by the other...
Jiang Xingzhi's ear tips reddened again.
In the sea of lake light and flowers, the person in front of him slightly tilted his head, revealing reddened ear tips through his black hair. Zhong Ming looked at Jiang Xingzhi and felt the wine's intoxication suddenly rush to his head.
With such red ear tips and eye corners, he must be thinking of himself.
Thinking this, he cleared his throat and spoke with feigned jealousy, "Deng Deng, being with me, who are you thinking about?"
Jiang Xingzhi had just pulled his thoughts back from memory when he saw this person starting to act pitifully again, "......"
Hehe, fishing on the lake—quite fitting.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Zhong Ming continued casting his bait with a forlorn expression, "Are you thinking it would be even better if you were here with him in such beautiful scenery?"
Jiang Xingzhi, "......"
This melodrama—two days ago, he probably would have felt sorry watching it.
"Don't overthink." He interrupted, leaning forward from among the flower clusters, speaking softly, "I told you before, you are you, you are Bai Mu. When I'm with you, how could I think of other people?"
Zhong Ming paused, "Mm."
This development... something felt off somewhere?
He stared at Jiang Xingzhi's sincere face, carefully pondering, "...Then what are you thinking about?"
In the shortened distance, every nuance of expression could be clearly seen.
Jiang Xingzhi leaned toward Zhong Ming, his eyelashes lowered, surrounded by blooming flowers. His gaze swept past the other's waist, then with a flushed face, he took out another Moon-Holding Pearl from his bosom.
"I was thinking, this Moon-Holding Pearl really does complement the new clothes. Should I wear one too?"