The river lanterns drifted away, blending into the warm light, becoming difficult to distinguish.
Li Yuheng watched for a while, then suddenly nudged Shu Bai's shoulder: "What did you wish for?"
"No permission." Shu Bai gazed at the water, his profile softened by the lamplight. "The one you wrote is enough."
"That won't do, you have to add one." Li Yuheng persisted, "Quickly, face the river lantern and silently recite 'Li Yuheng is the best husband in the world'."
Shu Bai ignored him and turned to walk towards a less crowded area.
Li Yuheng floated after him, muttering, "It's fine if you don't say anything, then I'll take that as your consent."
"I'll take your word for it."
"See! You admit it!"
Shu Bai stopped and turned to look at him: "Li Yuheng."
"I'm here, baby."
“If you keep talking nonsense,” Shu Bai pointed to a dark alley not far away, “I’ll stuff you in there.”
Li Yuheng followed his gaze, his eyes lit up, and his thought process instantly took a sharp turn.
It was a one-way street where U-turns were prohibited, heading straight for some indescribable territory.
"Alley play? Really? Really? Really?!" He was extremely excited.
Shu Bai: "..."
This guy... he's constantly pushing the limits of his facial expression control.
His eyebrows, eyes, and nose seemed to recognize each other for the first time today, exchanging knowing glances: "Dude, we've never seen anything like this before. Are we laughing or crying? Give us a straight answer!"
Is this thing really the prince of the underworld?
When he fell in love, did he also donate his brain to the God of Love as a dowry?
Is it too late to return it? Is shipping free? Can I leave a bad review?
Shu Bai suddenly felt that he must have been a lightning rod in his past life.
He stood there deliberately, waiting for the colorful lightning bolt that struck Li Yuheng.
Seeing the unbearable look in Shu Bai's eyes, Li Yuheng coughed twice and said seriously, "Don't misunderstand, actually I don't really want to go either."
"Yeah?"
“Really,” Li Yuheng said with a serious expression, “would a leading man be obsessed with such a vulgar way of playing games?”
As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted into the alley.
Shu Bai looked unconvinced and deliberately turned to walk in the opposite direction: "Oh. Let's go then."
"Wait!" Li Yuheng exclaimed anxiously. "Although I wasn't looking forward to it, we're already here..."
Shu Bai didn't even turn his head: "Since you're already here?"
"Yes, wouldn't it be a waste not to go in and take a look? We'd be letting down the deep affection and kindness of this alley?"
Li Yuheng argued confidently: "Look how seriously it's blackened, it must have been prepared especially for us."
Shu Bai stopped and turned to look at him: "Didn't you just say it was vulgar?"
"The way of playing is vulgar, but I am extraordinary. When I stand there, even the most vulgar alley can become elegant."
Shu Bai was amused by his words: "Li Yuheng, you have such a mouth..."
"How about it? Don't you really want to kiss me?"
Oh well, I'll just make do.
Shu Bai suddenly reached out and grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him towards the alley.
“Alright, since you’re so eager to go,” Shu Bai said with a hint of teasing in his voice, “then let’s go and take a look.”
Li Yuheng was pushed forward by him, still trying to be defiant: "You're the one who made me go. It's not that I wanted to go."
…
Deep in the alley, the light was dim.
Veteran foodie Li Yuheng was pinned against the wall by Shu Bai, somewhat flattered: "You really came?"
"Not what you wanted?" Shu Bai's fingertips hooked around his collar. "Scared?"
"What a joke!" Li Yuheng suddenly flipped over and changed positions. "I was afraid you'd beg for mercy later—"
Before he could finish speaking, a rustling sound came from the corner of the wall.
They both turned their heads at the same time.
A large, glossy black cat, carrying half a dried fish in its mouth, was perched on a broken basket, tilting its head and staring at them.
That look in his eyes was three parts curiosity and seven parts disdain.
Li Yuheng: "...This cat looks like Qin Lu."
Shu Bai: "I won't allow you to say that about it. Its eyes are cleaner than Qin Lu's."
The black cat meowed, put down the dried fish, and elegantly licked its paws, as if to say: Keep going, let me see just how outrageous you humans can be.
Li Yuheng squinted and suddenly barked at the black cat.
The black cat's fur stood on end. It grabbed the dried fish and leaped onto the wall. Before disappearing, it turned back and gave Shu Bai a subtle look.
Shu Bai: "..."
The alleyway returned to silence.
Li Yuheng rubbed his hands together excitedly: "Done! All the loitering cats have been cleared out! Alright, now no one will bother us—"
"Woof!"
Another bark rang out, louder than the first one.
Li Yuheng was taken aback: "I didn't call out."
Shu Bai, suppressing a laugh, pointed behind him.
Li Yuheng slowly turned around.
Three stray dogs had gathered at the alley entrance, staring at them menacingly.
The lead yellow dog had exceptionally sharp eyes.
Perhaps... this is their hideout.
Li Yuheng narrowed his eyes and engaged in a silent battle of wits with the big yellow dog.
The lead yellow dog lowered its forelegs and growled threateningly.
"Woof!"
Li Yuheng blurted out, "Woof!"
Shu Bai: "...What are you doing?"
"Diplomatic rhetoric. It questions our legitimacy here."
"What did it say?"
“It said ‘Get out of my territory,’” Li Yuheng translated. “But I replied, ‘This alley has been taken over by Li, so get out if you know what’s good for you.’”
Shu Bai leaned against the wall with his arms crossed: "Did it believe it?"
"Obviously not."
The big yellow dog took another step closer, baring its sharp white teeth.
Li Yuheng sighed: "It seems we have no choice but to use our ultimate move."
He suddenly turned around and grabbed Shu Bai's wrist tightly.
"run!"
Shu Bai stumbled as he pulled her: "...Your secret weapon is running away?"
As Li Yuheng ran, he turned back and gave the group of dogs the middle finger, saying, "That's the kind of male lead who doesn't stoop to the level of natives!"
Upon seeing this, the lead yellow dog roared and led its henchmen in a fierce chase.
Li Yuheng ran while shouting, "Shu Bai, think of something quick! Aren't you a cat? Climb a tree!"
"I'm a person now!" Shu Bai was dragged along by him. "And who started barking at a dog first?!"
"How can you say that about me! I was just upholding the dignity of my territory!"
The two ran wildly, bursting out of the alley and blending into the crowd at the night market.
Li Yuheng looked back and saw that the dogs were still chasing after him, attracting the attention of passersby.
In a moment of quick thinking, he abruptly stopped, turned to face the pursuing pack of dogs, gathered his strength, and shouted:
"Bad dog, get out of here—!"
At the same time, he quickly pulled out the meat bun he had just swiped from his sleeve and threw it forcefully into the distance.
The pack of dogs instantly changed direction and pounced on the meat bun.
Li Yuheng calmly dusted off non-existent dust from his cuffs, his tone dismissive.
"Tch, utterly vulnerable."
However, before he could finish dusting off his sleeves, Shu Bai grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him into the nearby silk shop.
"You threw my steamed buns." Shu Bai peeked out from behind the shelf with a cold face, making sure the pack of dogs wasn't chasing after them.
"No, no, no, it's our steamed buns." Li Yuheng corrected, casually touching the flowing brocade on the counter, and immediately exclaimed in his heart: Did they eat Dove chocolate? It's so silky smooth?
His mind raced, and he looked at Shu Bai with a smile: "This material suits you well, let's buy it and make it into your nightgown."
"So you'll let me strip you in three seconds, right?"
Shu Bai turned his head and looked directly into Li Yuheng's bright yellow heart through his smiling eyes.
"Honey, what are you saying? I don't understand."
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