Chapter 48: Honey as bait, stealing kisses and having fun

Li Lianhua had a poor appetite and was frail, requiring exceptionally careful attention to her diet. Di Feisheng personally oversaw the small kitchen, ensuring the rice was the finest green glutinous rice, cooked until tender. Finely ground minced meat or fish was added to the porridge, keeping it at a temperature neither too hot nor too cold, just right for her palate. He learned to identify various warming and nourishing herbs, and each day he would have a different soup prepared. He would then dismiss everyone and bring it in himself, patiently feeding her, spoonful by spoonful.

At first, Li Lianhua ate slowly, often losing his concentration while eating, or getting startled by the slightest noise, shrinking back and refusing to open his mouth again. Di Feisheng never urged him, but simply waited quietly with the spoon in hand, or gently stroked his back and coaxed him in a hoarse but deliberately gentle voice, "One more bite, okay?"

He was afraid he'd be cold. Even in spring, there was always a heater in the house, silver charcoal burning silently in the corner, dispelling any chill. Li Lianhua always wore the softest, most comfortable brocade cotton robe, with snow-white fox fur sewn around the collar and cuffs, making his pale face seem even smaller. At night, Di Feisheng would first use his inner energy to warm the bed, then carefully carry him to it, tucking in the quilt. He would then lie down on the low couch beside him, fully clothed, and listen closely to his breathing.

He was afraid he'd get bored. He collected all sorts of odd little gadgets—smooth raindrop stones, a ringing nine-linked chain, crudely crafted yet adorable cloth tigers, even a few colorful fish in glass tanks...and placed them within his reach. Although Li Lianhua mostly just watched quietly, occasionally reaching out to touch them, the flute flew through his ears, happily changing the notes.

Li Lianhua's mind was like that of a child, his emotions coming and going quickly and inexplicably. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, he'd feel down, huddled in a corner with his knees hugged, staring blankly out the window, not saying a single word for the entire day. The sound of the flute wouldn't bother him, but he'd quietly wait by her side, or pick up a book and read quietly to her, some travelogue or local anecdote, regardless of whether he understood or not.

Sometimes, he would become extremely dependent. Di Feisheng would simply stand up to pour a cup of tea, and when he turned back, he would see him with his vacant, uneasy eyes, searching frantically. Only when Di Feisheng returned to his sight would his tense shoulders relax. Thus, Di Feisheng's range of movement became smaller and smaller, until he practically became Li Lianhua's shadow, always within his reach.

The most heartbreaking moments were the nightmares that plagued him. He would often be haunted by nightmares, crying and struggling, sometimes mumbling "pain," sometimes whispering "fire" in fear. Whenever this happened, Di Feisheng would immediately pull him into her arms, patting his back over and over again, reassuring him in a low, steady voice: "Don't be afraid, I'm here. It's all a dream. Wake up, it's okay..." until his breathing evened out and he fell asleep in her arms. The hand that once held the knife, bloodstained, now became the most gentle support.

The sound of the flute became an impenetrable wall between Li Lianhua and the outside world. No one except him—including Wuyan, Shishui, and Yao Mo—was allowed to set foot in the inner room.

He protected him very well, isolating him from all possible storms and disturbances. The Lotus Tower still had a great reputation in the martial arts world, and the disciples in the tower still acted efficiently, but deep inside the tower, there was a "child" who was carefully pampered and naive to the world.

Di Feisheng's gentleness is clumsy, with his unique and unquestionable strong background, but it also makes him more precious.

He learned how to comb his hair, using the wooden comb carved from the knife that once made the world tremble with fear, to comb his snow-white hair very gently and slowly. His movements were clumsy but extremely careful, for fear of hurting him in the slightest.

He was used to his unconscious dependence and closeness. Li Lianhua would sometimes unconsciously fall asleep clutching the corner of his clothes, would unconsciously rub her cold feet against his warm legs, and would even gently rest her head on his shoulder while he read quietly... Di Feisheng would always stiffen slightly at these touches, then relax and indulge, even a faint, almost invisible satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

The way he looked at him had long since shed its initial madness and violence, settling into a bottomless, focused tenderness. That gaze constantly lingered on him, filled with pity, pain, a cautious sense of loss and recovery, and even more so, a deep, unrepentant affection that was willing to remain in this prison.

The rivers and lakes faded away, and the bloody storm was kept outside the building.

Inside the building, there is only the alternation of morning and evening, the warmth of porridge and rice, and the quiet time when a Shura lowers all his edge, uses all his life's gentleness to carefully guard a faint but stubborn light.

He doted on him silently, but in a shocking way.

In the afternoon, sunlight filtered through the carved wooden windows, casting warm patches of light on the softly carpeted interior. The air was filled with the delicate aroma of soothing incense, mingled with a hint of the sweet, sticky fragrance of pastries.

Li Lianhua curled up on a soft couch by the window, wrapped in a snow-white fox fur blanket. His silver hair draped loosely, his complexion appearing even more translucent. He lowered his head, intently fiddling with a nine-link chain. His slender fingers clumsily attempted to untangle the intricate metal rings, his brow furrowed slightly, his expression as serious as a child trying to solve a puzzle. The sunlight fell on his eyelashes, casting a faint golden hue on them.

Di Feisheng sat on a low stool not far from him, a book in hand, but his gaze wasn't fixed on the pages, but rather on that tranquil, yet naive profile. The surface of his heart, calmed by days of guarding, was suddenly ruffled by a breeze, creating an indescribable, itchy ripple.

He wanted to be closer to him. Not just to stay with him, but to get closer, to touch the warmth he had lost and regained, to confirm his presence, to soothe the anxiety and longing that still surged deep in his heart.

His eyes swept over the plate of crystal-clear sweet-scented osmanthus cakes that had just been served on the small table. Li Lianhua seemed to have shown some interest in sweets recently, although she still didn't eat much.

A thought quietly grew like a vine and entangled his heart.

He put down the book, stood up, took the plate of cakes, and sat down on the edge of the couch, closer to Li Lianhua. Li Lianhua was startled by his movement, raised her head from the nine-linked ring, and looked at him blankly. Her eyes were quickly drawn to the cakes in his hands, and a little light seemed to light up in her empty eyes.

Di Feisheng picked up a small piece of sugar cake with a silver skewer and passed it to his lips, saying in a low voice, "Try it, it's sweet."

Li Lianhua hesitated for a moment, sniffed the sweet fragrance, slowly opened her mouth, took a very small bite, held it in her mouth, narrowed her eyes slightly, as if she had tasted something she liked.

Di Feisheng's heart melted at the sight of him. His fingertips gently wiped away a speck of candy from the corner of his lips, his movements perfectly natural. Li Lianhua didn't flinch, just blinked.

"Is it delicious?" Di Feisheng asked in a low, coaxing voice.

Li Lianhua nodded slowly, her eyes still following the plate of cakes.

Di Feisheng fed him another small piece. Watching him sip it, his obedient and contented expression, the urge to get closer grew stronger.

He put down the silver stick, looked at him deeply, and suddenly pointed to his cheek. In an extremely serious and even slightly aggrieved tone, he whispered, "It hurts a little here..."

Li Lianhua stopped chewing and looked blankly at the place he pointed at - the lines on Di Feisheng's cheeks were cold and hard, and there was nothing unusual.

"Give me a kiss," Di Feisheng lowered his voice, with a barely perceptible hoarseness and tension, as if sharing a secret known only to them, "Give me a kiss... and it won't hurt."

He said it extremely naturally, as if it was a matter of course, and his eyes were full of frank...expectation.

Li Lianhua was stunned, tilting his head, as if trying to understand this strange request. He looked at the place where Di Feisheng felt pain, then looked at Di Feisheng's eyes, those clear yet ignorant eyes filled with confusion. He seemed to not understand the connection between "pain" and "a kiss."

But he had complete trust and reliance on Di Feisheng. He hesitated, slowly lowered the Nine-Link Ring in his hand, leaned forward slightly, and with a hint of uncertainty, touched Di Feisheng's cheek very lightly and quickly.

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, a feather brushing past.

A cool, soft touch with the sweet scent of osmanthus.

Instantly separate.

Li Lianhua immediately shrank back and lowered his head. A very faint pink color appeared on his ears, which he himself could not understand. His fingers unconsciously twisted the corners of his clothes, like a child who had done something wrong and didn't know where he went wrong.

Yet, that brief, insignificant touch was like the strongest liquor, instantly igniting Di Feisheng's blood! A huge, numbing shudder shot through his body from the point of the kiss, rushing straight to his head! He froze in place, his breathing suddenly stagnating, his heart pounding wildly, nearly bursting through his chest!

He turned his head suddenly, staring at the person who lowered his head shyly with burning eyes, his eyes filled with turbulent ecstasy, incredible excitement, and a tenderness that was almost painful.

He succeeded. He used a clumsy lie to steal a pure kiss from an ignorant soul.

Although it was as short as a meteor, it instantly illuminated all the haze and desolation in his heart.

He tried his best to suppress the sob that threatened to burst out, reached out his hand, and very gently, with a slight tremor, stroked Li Lianhua's white hair, his voice hoarse: "...Yeah, it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Thank you... Lotus."

Li Lianhua looked up at him, seemingly confused as to why he looked so...excited. But he could sense the warmth and reassurance emanating from him, and his shyness quickly faded, returning to his naive demeanor. He even subconsciously licked the lingering sweetness at the corner of his lips.

Di Feisheng took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions deep in his heart. He picked up a larger piece of cake and handed it to his mouth, his eyes filled with unbreakable love and doting.

"A reward for you." He said in a hoarse voice, as if he was giving the most precious treasure in the world.

The sun was still warm, and the room was quiet and peaceful. A clumsy trick, a simple kiss, silently nourished the two souls that were tightly connected.