Chapter 34 Releasing Sky Lanterns: Two sentences, two invitations, simultaneously landed in the forest…

A huge bonfire was lit in the open space in the center of the village. The orange-red flames leaped and crackled merrily, and the warm and bright light illuminated every face that was filled with joy and satisfaction. The lively atmosphere spread freely under the night sky of Longquan Village. The air was filled with the aroma of roasted meat, the sweetness of rice wine, and the unique warmth of burning grass and wood.

People naturally formed a large circle around the bonfire, singing and dancing to the cheerful folk music. Laughter and conversation blended into a sea of ​​joy. Lin Yuwei was also deeply infected by this enthusiastic atmosphere, and a relaxed smile unconsciously appeared on her lips as she swayed gently to the rhythm of the music.

In the surging crowd, to make way for a villager carrying a large plate of fruit, she naturally took a small step back to the side. Just then, someone else moved in another direction, and her back gently bumped into a firm and warm chest.

Lin Yuwei subconsciously turned around, wanting to apologize, but suddenly met a pair of deep eyes. The flickering campfire cast shadows in his eyes. It was Gu Qingyan. He had also been standing in this position at some point. Her retreat stopped right in front of him, so close that she could almost feel the warm breath of him.

"I'm sorry," Lin Yuwei said quickly in a low voice, instinctively trying to take a step forward to create some distance.

"It's nothing." Gu Qingyan's voice was low and clear, even amidst the noisy music and laughter around him.

Their eyes met briefly in the leaping firelight. The surrounding noise and music seemed to recede into the distance, becoming a blurred background sound. She saw the flame reflected in his eyes, and also saw a trace of elusive, complex emotion deep within those flames.

"It's so lively tonight. This is my first time attending an event like this." He looked away from the crowd and commented casually, as if it were just a casual remark, but his gaze wasn't really focused on anything in particular.

"Yes, everyone is very happy." Lin Yuwei responded softly, turning back to face the campfire. She felt her cheeks burning from the flames, and her heart skipped a few beats for no apparent reason.

At this moment, Zhou Xubai naturally walked to a slightly outer position beside her, using his body to separate her from the surging crowd behind her, forming a polite and considerate protective circle. Gu Qingyan's gaze swept over this scene, her eyes moved almost imperceptibly, but her lips were pursed, and she ultimately said nothing.

Just then, some enthusiastic villagers came over with their homemade sweet fruit wine to greet them. Gu Qingyan naturally took two cups and handed one of them to Lin Yuwei.

However, before the glass even reached Lin Yuwei's hand, Zhou Xubai smiled and took it from her: "Thank you, President Gu, but Yuwei has a low alcohol tolerance, so I'll drink this one for her." He took a sip and nodded in praise: "Indeed, it's mellow, sweet, and refreshing; it's a good wine." Then he turned to Lin Yuwei and said gently: "Yuwei, it would be safer for you to have some soft drinks."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyan smiled faintly, took a sip of her own wine, and turned her gaze to Lin Yuwei. Her tone was calm but pointed: "President Zhou is truly considerate. However, as far as I know, President Lin's alcohol tolerance should be more than this. This fruit wine has a unique flavor and a low alcohol content. Taking a small sip to experience the local customs is not considered overindulging."

Director Liu suddenly appeared out of nowhere, smiling and trying to smooth things over, her voice booming: "Oh dear, President Zhou is right! Safety first. It would be such a pity if she got drunk and missed the even more exciting activities later!" As she spoke, she affectionately took Lin Yuwei's arm and pushed her towards the crowd dancing around the campfire: "Come on, don't just stand there talking, go dance! Join in and really feel the atmosphere of Longquan Village!"

Lin Yuwei was caught off guard and pushed into the crowd dancing around the bonfire. Zhou Xubai subconsciously wanted to follow, but saw Gu Qingyan take a long stride and naturally follow to Lin Yuwei's side. To the cheerful rhythm, he reached out and naturally took Lin Yuwei's hand, guiding her to keep up with the crowd.

His dance steps weren't exactly skillful, but they were composed and calm, and he maintained his unique elegance. Occasionally, when Lin Yuwei hesitated slightly or almost stepped out of rhythm because she wasn't familiar with the steps, he would quickly signal her with his eyes to turn around, or lightly and quickly support her elbow or waist with his hand. The force was just right, providing both guidance and support, and then quickly withdrawing without any hint of intimacy.

After a lively dance, Lin Yuwei was slightly out of breath, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her smooth forehead. She shook her head at Gu Qingyan, released her hand from his, fanned herself with her hand to indicate that she needed to rest, and then walked to the side of the field.

Zhou Xubai immediately stepped forward, handing over a thermos cup that he had prepared beforehand, and said in a gentle tone, "Are you tired from dancing? Drink some warm water to soothe your throat."

Unexpectedly, Gu Qingyan came over almost at the same time, handing over a clean and soft tissue. His tone was ordinary and natural, like the concern between ordinary colleagues: "Teacher Lin, wipe your sweat."

Two items were handed to her at the same time. Lin Yuwei looked at the scene before her and sighed inwardly, but on her face she could only put on a neutral smile. First, she took the thermos from Zhou Xubai, thanked him softly and took a sip. Then she naturally took the tissue from Gu Qingyan and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Zhou Xubai maintained a gentle smile as he looked at Gu Qingyan: "President Gu, you dance quite well, very uninhibited."

Gu Qingyan replied calmly, "Just moving around casually, I wouldn't call it dancing. It's mainly about getting into the atmosphere." His gaze swept over Lin Yuwei's flushed cheeks before moving away, as if he were truly just doing it on a whim.

Just then, the village chief's booming voice came through the laughter and announced that the next activity would be the wishing lantern ceremony. The villagers enthusiastically began to distribute plain white lanterns and writing implements to everyone.

Seeing this, Director Liu enthusiastically stepped forward and suggested with a smile, "Xiao Zhou, Xiao Lin, these wishing lanterns have a good meaning, why don't you write one together? It's a perfect way to pray for the smooth progress of our cultural corridor project!" Zhou Xubai readily picked up a pen, his gentle gaze fixed on Lin Yuwei, his tone carrying a questioning tone and a hint of barely perceptible expectation: "Shall we write one together?"

Almost simultaneously, Gu Qingyan on the other side silently picked up a set of sky lanterns and a pen. He looked up at Lin Yuwei, his tone calm and natural, but his reason was equally impeccable: "Director Liu's idea is indeed good. President Lin, shall we write one too? We wish for a smooth cooperation between Shiguang and Qichen, and for the project to be a complete success."

Two sentences, two invitations, landed on Lin Yuwei at the same time.

She looked at the pens handed to her at the same time, and at the two men's expectant gazes; the air around her seemed to freeze for a moment. The campfire still crackled, the music still flowed, but a subtle silence permeated the small space, and all eyes seemed to be subtly focused on the decision she was about to make.

Lin Yuwei felt an invisible pressure, as if the air around her had frozen for a moment, and the heat of the campfire seemed to become even more intense. But she quickly calmed herself down and suppressed all her chaotic thoughts.

She took a deep breath, her lips curving upwards into a slightly apologetic yet impeccably polite smile. Her gaze swept gently over Director Liu and the two people beside him, her voice clear and steady enough for everyone watching to hear: "Thank you for your kindness, Director Liu, President Zhou, and President Gu. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but the most important thing in a wish is sincerity. I'd rather write one by myself and silently make my wish."

As soon as she finished speaking, she subtly moved her feet and gracefully turned to the long table next to her. She took a plain white lamp and a calligraphy brush from the table. The whole process was natural and smooth. She expressed her gratitude for the invitation and cleverly avoided the awkwardness and bias that would come from directly accepting the invitation from either party. She placed herself securely in a completely neutral position that belonged only to herself.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xubai's eyes flickered slightly, then transformed into deeper understanding and tolerance. He calmly withdrew the pen he had offered, a gentle smile playing on his lips as always. He said softly and agreeably, "Yuwei is right. Sincerity moves mountains, and the wishes you write down yourself are the most genuine." He gracefully stepped back half a step, giving her ample space, his demeanor generous and considerate, without a hint of reluctance.

On the other side, Gu Qingyan watched as she subtly avoided making a choice. A fleeting, almost imperceptible, darkness flashed across his eyes, but his handsome face remained impassive. He merely twitched the corner of his lips slightly, as if it were a knowing smile, before putting down his pen and speaking in a calm, even tone: "President Lin's consideration is correct." He said no more, turned, picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and began writing on his lantern. His profile appeared exceptionally tall and imposing in the flickering firelight, yet it also exuded an unapproachable aloofness.

Seeing this, Director Liu opened his mouth as if he wanted to try to mediate, but in the end he just smiled and shook his head, his tone a mix of helplessness and knowing teasing: "You young people, you're all so full of ideas! Alright, alright, you can write it yourselves! Sincerity is key, sincerity is key!"

The subtle ripples seemed to subside, and everyone's attention returned to writing their prayers. Lin Yuwei held her pen, turned slightly to the side, her back to the noise, her gaze fixed on the plain white paper for the sky lantern. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, yet she was finally able to protect her own small moment of tranquility amidst the clamor, a tranquility she did not want to be swept up by others.

The three of them each occupied a space, heads down, focused on the sky lanterns in their hands.

Zhou Xubai wrote quickly, his pen gliding smoothly across the paper, a gentle smile playing on his lips, as if his heart was filled with beautiful and certain wishes. Gu Qingyan, on the other hand, frowned slightly, his pen pausing for a moment, seemingly deliberating for a long time, before finally putting pen to paper, his handwriting steady and powerful. Lin Yuwei held her pen, her thoughts seemingly drifting far away. After a moment of silence, she finally wrote a few lines carefully, stroke by stroke.

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Author's note: Hehe