After washing up and returning to the room, Li Yuheng pointed to the only bed and began to act: "Oh dear, this is a lonely man and woman... who's going to sleep on the bed and who's going to sleep on the floor?"
Shu Bai placed the sword on the table and began to remove his outer robe: "Everyone, sleep in bed."
Li Yuheng froze instantly, completely forgetting all the lines he had prepared: "...Huh?"
"What?" Shu Bai glanced at him. "You want to practice ground-lying boxing in the middle of the night?"
"No! This...this...isn't it inappropriate for two grown men to share a bed?"
Shu Bai had already stripped down to just her undergarments:
"If you have a bed but don't sleep in it, you're out of your mind. When you were hugging my leg, didn't you think it was inappropriate?"
"How can that be the same!" Li Yuheng's ears burned. "Holding onto someone's coattails is a tactical necessity, but sharing a bed is..."
"What is it?" Shu Bai lifted the covers and got into bed. "Afraid I'll molest you?"
"It's perfectly normal that you can't resist a handsome man like me!"
Shu Bai lay lazily flat: "Don't worry, even if I lose control, it's because I'm sleepwalking and beating people up."
“…”
…
Five minutes later, Li Yuheng lay stiffly on the edge of the bed, almost falling off.
Shu Bai kicked his butt: "Move in a bit, do you think you're Little Dragon Girl?"
"Don't you dare touch me!" Li Yuheng suddenly jumped up. "I'm warning you, I don't sleep well!"
“What a coincidence,” Shu Bai said, propping his head up with one hand, “I specialize in dealing with dishonest people.”
Li Yuheng: "I know! Have you been secretly in love with me for a long time? You deliberately booked a room just for this!"
Shu Bai looked at him like he was an idiot: "This is the only inn left, remember?"
"Then you can go to another place!"
"Other houses are full."
"Then we can sleep on the streets!"
“Oh,” Shu Bai nodded, “then go now.”
"...So all you do is talk back, huh?"
"If you don't like what you're hearing, you can cover your ears."
Li Yuheng said expressionlessly, "...Fine, you're awesome."
"Thanks."
Shu Bai lowered the hand that was supporting her head, turned over, and left Li Yuheng with only his slender and upright back.
The tense atmosphere that had just been building suddenly fell silent.
Li Yuheng stared at Shu Bai's slender back, the cynicism in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by an unfathomable darkness.
He gently stroked the warm jade pendant in his arms, his fingertips feeling the three characters "Li Yuheng" engraved on it.
Actually, this name doesn't belong to him.
The jade pendant wasn't his either.
Completely depleted of internal energy? Damaged meridians?
It was just a facade he created using his unique secret techniques.
Although he had lost his memory, his body's instincts and hidden internal strength remained, making it easy for him to fake his pulse.
The doctors, of course, couldn't see the flaw.
That day, he woke up in a secluded cave, his forehead throbbing, his mind blank as if it had been washed clean.
who I am?
Where did I come from?
Where are we going?
The three philosophical questions echoed in his mind, but received no response.
He struggled to sit up, looked around, and was stunned by the sight before him.
The cave may be small, but it has created a legend.
He was surrounded by all sorts of packages, leaving almost no room to move.
Dozens of packages and boxes of various shapes and sizes were scattered and piled up beside the cave walls, with silk and satin fabrics haphazardly intertwined with coarse linen clothes.
Gold and silver jewelry gleamed from the open box, with a few worn-out children's clothes or mud-stained terracotta figurines lying nearby.
These items are very different in style and have vastly different values, so they don't seem to belong to one person at all.
This scene, this setup...
He stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Three seconds later, he came to a conclusion.
He is very likely a notorious bandit.
"Looks like my business scope is quite broad!"
This is no ordinary den of thieves.
This is clearly a museum of exquisite collections that embraces all cultures and is inclusive of all things!
From luxury goods to everyday items
There's nothing he can't get, only things he doesn't want to get!
That's taste, that's vision!
The person I was before I lost my memory was truly amazing!
So he began to inspect his spoils with great interest.
Just as he was about to revel in his great achievements, a bundle carefully wrapped in indigo cloth caught his attention.
This bundle appeared somewhat cautious among the pile of unrestrained collections.
Curious, he untied it. Inside, there was no gold or silver, only two things: a jade pendant carved with a double fish pattern, and a marriage certificate with yellowed edges.
He unfolded the marriage certificate, his gaze falling on the handwriting:
“Li Yuheng (male) and Shubai (male) were betrothed since childhood, with the double fish jade pendant as proof.”
These days, why are same-sex marriage certificates being made so formally?
Wait, Li Yuheng?
He picked up the jade pendant, feeling its cool touch on his fingertips. The double fish pattern on it matched the description in the marriage certificate he had just seen.
It also bears the name "Li Yuheng".
Perhaps this is a new beginning for him.
…
He smelled the aroma of roasted fish as soon as he came out of the cave, and then he met Shu Bai.
Initially, he only wanted to use this seemingly cold-hearted young swordsman to lead the way out of the mountains.
Being a江湖人 (jianghu person, someone who lives a life of adventure and intrigue) is better than wandering aimlessly on his own.
Until the young hero revealed his name—
“Sparse and white”.
At that moment, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Sparse and white.
The name on the marriage certificate.
He couldn't help but recall the jade pendant he had inadvertently glimpsed in the other person's baggage while searching for food earlier.
The texture, the craftsmanship, and especially the unique double fish pattern, clearly indicate that it is a pair with the one he holds in his arms.
He subconsciously reached for the jade pendant and marriage certificate in his bosom, his heart filled with turmoil.
What a coincidence!
Having just taken over Li Yuheng's identity, she encountered Li Yuheng's fiancé?
A sense of absurdity swept over him, followed by an almost morbid fascination.
He wanted to see if Shu Bai knew about this matter, and how he would treat him, "Li Yuheng".
He feigned madness and foolishness throughout, doing everything he could to test them.
Stealing fish, pestering, feigning weakness, and using provocative language...
He wanted to elicit Shu Bai's true reaction, to see if there were any clues related to the marriage certificate hidden beneath that cold exterior.
But Shu Bai seemed to genuinely not recognize him, nor did she know of the existence of the marriage certificate.
This marriage certificate was arranged by the elders of Lijia and Shujia, without informing the couple themselves.
Or... is it all part of another conspiracy?
But no matter what
he,
This petty thief who stole his identity
now,
She was sleeping in the same bed with her fiancé, the "real deal".
This absurd cause and effect fascinated him even more than destiny.
He originally only wanted to use Shubai to find a way out, then disappear completely, live on as "Li Yuheng", or explore who he really was.
But now, he doesn't want to leave.
Not only did he not want to leave, he also wanted to hold onto the person in front of him tightly.
Who cares about their true or false identities, who cares about the origin of the marriage certificate.
"Li Yuheng"?
He decided to use this name.
What Li Yuheng sets his sights on is his.
As for the blank space...
The marriage certificate lists both of them, so Shu Bai should naturally belong to him as well.
Shu Bai suddenly turned to face him: "Li Yuheng."
"What's wrong, young hero?" Li Yuheng instantly switched to a bright and cheerful expression.
Do you snore when you sleep?
"...I won't fight."
Do you grind your teeth?
"No grinding."
Are you talking in your sleep?
"I won't tell!"
"Oh," Shu Bai closed his eyes with satisfaction, "then you can go to sleep."
Li Yuheng: "..."
He sat up abruptly and reached out to shake Shu Bai's shoulder: "Get up! Go back to sleep!"
Shu Bai felt dizzy from being shaken around and opened her eyes impatiently: "What's wrong with you?"
Li Yuheng pointed at himself, "I'm such a handsome guy lying next to you, and you just sleep like that? That's so disrespectful!"
"Then what do you want?" Shu Bai asked coldly, "To sing you a lullaby?"
“There should at least be a bedtime ritual!” Li Yuheng sat up straight cross-legged. “For example, saying goodnight to each other, or telling me a story.”
Shu Bai looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at someone mentally challenged: "Are you three years old?"
"I have amnesia! Maybe my mental age is only three! Quick, tell me a story."
“Okay.” Shu Bai lay down again. “Once upon a time, there was a fool, and then he died.”
"...That's it?"
"Otherwise what?" Shu Bai closed his eyes peacefully. "The ending is very satisfactory."
Li Yuheng lay back down silently, then his eyes darted around. Suddenly, he nimbly rolled over, rolled up the entire quilt, and wrapped it tightly around himself.
Shu Bai, with her eyes closed, gave him a precise kick: "The blanket."
"No." Li Yuheng squirmed inside, his voice muffled, clearly showing his scoundrel attitude. "Unless you tell me a decent bedtime story to lull me to sleep."
Shu Bai was too lazy to argue with him, so she simply reached out and pulled the blanket off.
Li Yuheng, however, clung tightly to the corner of the blanket while it was rolled up inside: "Come on, if you manage to grab it, you don't have to say anything, I'll tell you instead."
The two instantly started wrestling on the bed, one pulling hard from the outside while the other held firm from the inside.
The wooden bed frame creaked under the weight.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
An unbearable pounding sound came from the wall next door, accompanied by an angry roar: "In the middle of the night! When will this end! Can't you just shut up for once?!"
Li Yuheng paused, then immediately raised his voice and shouted towards the next room in a tone that was both apologetic and inexplicably irritating:
"I'm so sorry, brother! My wife is throwing a tantrum! I'll be right back! Please forgive me!"
Shu Bai didn't even bother to grab the blanket anymore. She suddenly reached out and covered his mouth tightly, her eyes wide: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Li Yuheng deftly pulled away Shu Bai's hand covering his mouth, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
A warm palm suddenly covered the back of Shu Bai's neck, and with a little force, pressed him down.
Caught off guard, Shu Bai's entire face sank into the soft pillow, her chin resting precisely on Li Yuheng's shoulder.
"Shh, keep your voice down." Li Yuheng leaned close to his ear and said, "It's a draw this time, we'll play again next time."
Before Shu Bai could react, Li Yuheng used his arm to flip him over, turning him from a prone position to a supine position.
With a few movements, he shook out the tightly rolled-up quilt, splitting it in half, and covered Shu Bai with it, not gently but accurately.
Li Yuheng lay down as well, pulled the other half of the blanket over himself, turned his head, and met Shu Bai's angry gaze in the dim light, his smile particularly irritating.
He silently mouthed, "I'll share the blanket with you, don't be too touched."
Shu Bai stared intently at him, her chest heaving slightly. In the end, she didn't say a word, but simply turned over forcefully, leaving her back to him once again.
With this action, the last sound in the room disappeared, leaving only the faint chirping of insects coming from outside the window.
…
The martial arts tournament was bustling with activity.
Li Yuheng grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from somewhere, nimbly squeezed next to Shu Bai, and casually stuffed a handful into his palm: "Here, I'll share half with you."
Shu Bai looked down at the handful of melon seeds in his hand, which was noticeably smaller than Li Yuheng's, then glanced at the full handful in the other's hand, and commented expressionlessly:
"You're really generous with your share, why didn't you just give me a sunflower seed shell as a token?"
"Why are you being so polite with me?" Li Yuheng cracked his melon seeds loudly. "Just wait, once I regain my memory, I'll buy you a mountain of melon seeds so you can eat them forever."
Shu Bai weighed the melon seeds in his hand, barely enough to fill a tooth gap, and sneered: "You keep making empty promises all day long. I won't eat anything today; just eating this empty promise will keep me full for three days."
Li Yuheng caught a glimpse of his tense profile out of the corner of his eye, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.
He stopped eating sunflower seeds, stuffed all the uneaten seeds back into his pocket, and began to focus intently on peeling the kernels.
Not long after, he gently nudged Shu Bai with his elbow: "Young hero, hand."
Shu Bai was watching the match on the stage when he heard this. Without turning his head, he said, "What, tired of making empty promises? You've switched to begging?"
"Give me your hand," Li Yuheng urged.
Shu Bai glanced at him with a hint of impatience, but still opened her palm.
"Here." Li Yuheng poured all the shelled melon seeds into Shu Bai's hand, his tone as smug as if presenting a treasure. "This isn't just empty talk, is it?"
Shu Bai stared in surprise at the pile of sunflower seeds that had suddenly appeared in his palm.
Li Yuheng clapped the crumbs off his hands and said proudly, "These were peeled by my own hands, they're priceless."
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