Chapter 41 Proof (Two-in-One) Dear!
Yu Wenxue was able to travel to this world entirely because of this kissing system.
In order to promote the relationship between the male and female protagonists in the original book, the system arranged her to be a minor character in the book, a minor character who can establish a bond with the male and female protagonists without affecting the plot.
In a sense, she was actually very grateful to the system for giving her the opportunity to live as a normal person.
But then again, she had no idea what went wrong. She stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time, and finally went crazy under the covers.
[System: A reminder to the host: please find someone to kiss yourself. Task One has a time limit of only thirty days.]
"Okay, okay, I heard it with both ears."
Yu Wenxue huddled in the corner, feeling like a pitiful little blade of grass.
Undeterred, she asked, "Why is this happening?"
[System: If you fail to achieve 100% HE progress after completing three missions, the mission will be considered a failure. However, given your excellent performance so far, the main quest has been changed for you.]
[System: HE progress is only 1% away, please keep up the good work!]
Yu Wenxue: "......"
[System: Sending love!]
You big-headed devil!
With her hair pulled so badly it looked like a messy chicken coop, Yu Wenxue was at a loss for what to do.
An image of a handsome, jade-like face inappropriately popped into my mind...
She instinctively touched her lips.
Aside from being quite soft, I don't really feel anything.
Why do I feel tingling on my scalp and my legs go weak when I kiss?
That's strange.
Try again.
She licked it lightly, and was quickly frightened by her own thoughts.
No, no, it must be a childhood memory to think of him.
Yu Wenxue patted her burning face, telling herself not to think about these dirty thoughts anymore.
A new question is now bothering her, so she tentatively asked, "According to you, besides the first main quest, there won't be a second quest, will there?"
[System: Sorry, this depends on your task completion status.]
"Tongtong, we're old friends, so please, give me a spoiler: will the happy ending (HE) be 100% complete after the main couple's wedding?"
[System: Sorry, this depends on your task completion status.]
"I knew you couldn't be trusted!" Yu Wenxue sighed, "Heaven is against me!"
I didn't sleep a wink all night.
The morning breeze rustled through the creeping grass, carrying a refreshing scent.
A large bruise appeared under her eyes. Yu Wenxue searched her aching temples and got up early to go up the mountain to relax.
Just as they reached the foot of the mountain, they encountered Wei Heng, who was studying.
She wasn't really in the mood for small talk, but she still greeted them politely.
"Young Master Wei, you're up early! Are you here to read?"
Wei Heng turned around with a smile, inadvertently revealing his left cheek: "Morning memory is good."
This is the result of his eight hundred practice sessions in the room; he looks most handsome from this angle.
Hearing that Wen Xue liked handsome men, he specially ordered a moon-white wide robe, which had a very scholarly air about it.
To achieve this, he studied in front of the bronze mirror for a long time, practicing until he developed a perfect smile.
Sure enough, he saw approval in the other person's eyes.
Yu Wenxue reached out and called out, "Cousin, come pick some flowers!"
This child is teachable; he has already learned to pick flowers for Lin Qingwan.
Wei Heng stood there awkwardly, his lips twitching slightly.
Looking back, they saw Gu Rongting holding a bunch of camellias, standing behind them with a serious expression.
Gu Rongting cleared his throat and responded, pretending to be casual but actually quite deliberately standing between the two of them, lightly tapping Yu Wenxue's forehead: "Cousin, did you not sleep well? The dark circles under your eyes are particularly noticeable."
"A little bit."
More than that, she didn't sleep at all.
Yu Wenxue thought.
Gu Rongting: "Cousin, are you missing Xun Han so much that you think about him day and night, tossing and turning in bed?"
"this……"
Yu Wenxue scratched her ear, unsure how to answer.
She was torn between saying yes and no, and saying no... she really did think about it.
She's the type of person who gets easily embarrassed; just recalling what happened last night made her face instantly flush.
This hesitation, however, confirmed Wei Heng's suspicions, and a look of disappointment flashed across his eyes.
But that's alright, being in a good position gives you an advantage.
The best candidate is one who is visible and tangible.
After Yu Wenxue left, he remained where he was, gazing at her retreating figure for a long time.
Gu Rongting patted his shoulder, adopting the air of an elder: "My cousin and brother have a really good relationship. Please invite Young Master Wei to their wedding banquet."
The meaning of these words is quite clear: they are a warning to Wei Heng not to have any improper thoughts.
Wei Heng gave a polite smile: "I will definitely be there for Wen Xue's wedding."
Gu Rongting didn't understand his implied meaning, smiled with satisfaction, and then left with the flowers.
Tomorrow is the annual Torch Festival in Yidong, and the streets have been decorated for the festival for two or three days in advance.
On the day of the festival, people would walk through the streets with torches in their hands, sprinkling rosin powder as they went, until sparks flew, which was a sign of good fortune and a good harvest in the coming year, and a happy and healthy life.
Various activities are held in the evening, and some wealthy local families come out to throw money to ward off disasters and pray for blessings.
Holding the newly bought pine ink, Yu Wenxue squeezed through the crowd with considerable difficulty.
"Isn't the second young lady of the Chen family engaged to the eldest son of Master Fan? Why is she still throwing a bouquet to choose a husband?"
"You don't know this, although the two were betrothed since childhood, it was arranged by their ancestor. Young Master Fan refused to acknowledge it no matter what, so he ran away from the marriage!"
"No wonder. I heard that Miss Chen is seven feet tall, comparable to a man, and has an arrogant personality. No wonder Young Master Fan doesn't like her."
"Take a piss and look in the mirror. You want to marry Miss Chen? She wouldn't even look at you..."
Yu Wenxue picked at her ear.
I overheard someone gossiping again.
The road ahead was noisy and crowded, so she hesitated and turned around to take another narrow path.
Unfortunately, the road was also blocked by a large group of people, who seemed to be doing something indiscriminately.
Yu Wenxue shrugged and simply stood aside, waiting for the carriage procession to leave before going over.
Suddenly, a red shadow streaked across the sky.
The out-of-control flower ball, accompanied by the whooshing sound of the wind, hurtled straight toward her.
Yu Wenxue was so frightened that she closed her eyes, but there was nowhere to hide. She could only squat on the ground and huddle against the wall.
The stray hairs at her temples were gently blown by the wind.
Dust filled the air, and the urgent clatter of hooves sounded as the boy on horseback leaned forward.
His dark robes fluttered in the wind as he leaped and caught the flower ball.
The flower ball landed steadily.
Cheers rose and fell in my ears.
"It's been answered! Someone has picked it up!"
"This young master is extremely handsome and skilled; he is certainly a good match for my young lady!"
The pain she had imagined did not occur. Yu Wenxue clutched the hem of her clothes, trying her best to remain calm. She stared blankly, and her gaze met the boy's burning eyes.
The panic in her eyes turned to joy. She blinked very slowly, and after confirming who it was, she smiled and said, "You're back?"
Are you injured?
The two spoke in unison.
A woman, panting heavily, ran up behind me and shouted, "Did you steal my bouquet?"
The flower ball lay alone on the ground, the camellias stuck on it drooping.
Gu Yunshen pretended not to hear, reached out to Yu Wenxue, then lifted her onto the horse's back, spurred the horse's flanks, and rode away.
The woman stomped her foot and shouted, "Hey, you stole my bouquet, so you're my man!"
Yu Wenxue turned around curiously, but Gu Yunshen pressed her head down and gently turned it back.
"Be good."
"Aren't you curious about what that girl looks like?" Yu Wenxue asked.
Gu Yunshen asked, puzzled, "Why be curious?"
"Aren't all people naturally inclined to gossip?"
Did he not have it?
Yu Wenxue expressed her doubts.
A young man's cheerful voice came from above: "Gossip? I didn't know you liked reading the Book of Changes."
Then, he chuckled, his chest vibrating slightly. "If you like, I can take you to see the real gossip."
"..."
Yu Wenxue guessed that there was something more to his words, and her intuition told her that it was probably not something serious. Just as she was about to speak, the horse suddenly sped up.
The scenes on both sides of the street gradually blurred, and she was frightened, so she instinctively hugged his waist tightly.
Gu Yun Shen sat upright, his brows twitching almost imperceptibly.
The senses are amplified to an extreme degree, focusing on the waist and abdomen.
Sensing his stiffness, Yu Wenxue's mischievous thoughts resurfaced. She tapped his abs with her finger and took the opportunity to touch them.
She was very sensitive; she could even sense his strained, barely suppressed trembling.
Perhaps this is what sensitive skin is all about.
...
Yu Wenxue did not ask Gu Yunshen why he suddenly returned and reappeared on the street.
It's impolite to pry into other people's whereabouts, but not asking at all seems too distant, so she decided to ask a casual, unrelated question, saying, "Do you know the meaning of catching a woman's bouquet?"
As soon as she said it, she covered her mouth.
We agreed not to spy, so I held back.
Gu Yun Shen gave a faint reply, waiting for her next question.
But after waiting for a long time, she didn't continue asking.
Was it because he accidentally touched someone else's things?
But he used his sleeves. What if Yu Wenxue had been hit by the ball if he had been a step later?
Gu Yun Shen lowered his eyelashes, looking quite troubled.
Gu Rongting was unusually excited by his appearance, his back straight and his head held high like a proud rooster.
As the saying goes, good things happen and one is in high spirits. Now, he has not only won the heart of his beloved and will soon be getting married, but his younger brother and cousin are also by his side. He is living a life of pure bliss.
Most importantly, there was no need to handle official business or deal with people in the imperial court.
In Wen Xue's words, he was a qualified salted fish, although he didn't know what that meant.
Yu Wenxue stared at the rooster—no, at Gu Rongting—then looked down at the chicken leg in the bowl, lost in thought.
For some reason, I'm not hungry anymore.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Gu Rongting pulled Gu Yunshen aside and whispered, "To be honest, did you rush here immediately after reading my letter?"
Gu Yun Shen chuckled to himself, neither admitting nor denying it.
He didn't read the letter Gu Rongting sent at all, and had no idea what he said in it.
His actions and thoughts are entirely up to him.
Gu Rongting ignored his micro-expression and continued, "There's a Torch Festival tomorrow night, take your cousin out."
Gu Yunshen raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"
"I heard the Torch Festival in Yidong is especially lively, so I'm planning to bring my little sister Wan along. It would be perfect for the four of us, hahaha..."
Gu Rongting glanced back and saw the two girls talking and joking with their heads down. He smiled and said, "I've inquired about it. There's a local custom that says if lovers kiss during the Torch Festival ceremony, they can be happy together forever and stay together for life."
After saying that, he added, "It's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yun Shen seemed to be deep in thought, then turned his head and glanced at Yu Wen Xue sitting under the eaves.
The girl cupped her face in her hands, her eyes sparkling with tiny glimmers of light, and spoke with great enthusiasm.
I don't know what they were saying, but their little hands were gesturing non-stop.
The silk ribbon used to tie her hair drew a graceful arc with her movements, adding a touch of playfulness and liveliness.
After a long while, he looked away, raised his eyebrows, and smiled slightly: "Okay."
*
On the day of the Torch Festival, Lin Qingwan pulled Yu Wenxue out of bed early in the morning.
The dressing table was covered with all sorts of bottles and jars, and there was a large box with gold trim on the floor.
Yu Wenxue yawned, too sleepy to even lift her eyelids.
If I remember correctly, these were all bestowed upon Lin Qingwan by the Emperor.
Last night, Gu Yun Shen kept her playing chess all night, saying that she could go to sleep whenever she won.
Last time, after being alerted by the system, Gu Yun Shen was about to poison Gu Rong Ting. She lied and said she liked playing chess, and forcefully intervened between the two, turning the tide of the battle.
I never expected that my words would come back to haunt me; it's like lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot.
The problem was that she didn't know how to play Go at all, so the two of them just stared at each other and played haphazardly all night.
The answer is obvious: she never won, and she lost miserably.
After washing up in a daze, Lin Qingwan pressed her down into a chair.
"This color suits you; your skin is fair, and you look beautiful."
After saying that, Lin Qingwan looked at herself in the bronze mirror for a long time, then shook her head. "No, this hairpin doesn't match your dress today. It doesn't look playful enough."
"Beaded flowers suit you better; they're lively and vibrant."
Yu Wenxue was so sleepy that she kept nodding and didn't hear what Lin Qingwan said.
Lin Qingwan assumed that the other woman greatly approved of her aesthetic sense, her cheeks flushed, and she became even more excited: "Then let's match it like this!"
After about half an hour of fussing, the two went out hand in hand.
Yu Wenxue touched the exquisite hair bun and couldn't help but sigh, "If Lin Qingwan were born in modern times, she would definitely love playing Miracle Nikki."
The main event of the Torch Festival is at nightfall, while the daytime activities are mostly ordinary, such as wrestling and archery. So the group decided to take a stroll in the streets first.
Her smoky pink gauze skirt lightly touched the ground as Yu Wenxue lifted her shawl and carefully descended the steps.
From afar, the boy, dressed in white with his hair simply tied up with a ribbon of the same color, stood tall and straight under the tree, blending seamlessly with the scenery before him.
So pleasing to the eye!
She thought.
She only snapped out of her daze when an arm reached out in front of her, and smiled faintly, "It's quite pretty."
No, he didn't ask!
Gu Yunshen didn't expose her.
All I could think about was how to hide her away.
He noticed her transformation the moment he saw her; she was so radiant, and how could those filthy gazes possibly fall upon her?
Even a glance at it would be blasphemy.
His fists, hanging at his sides, clenched unconsciously. Soon, someone gently touched the corner of his mouth.
Yu Wenxue tilted her head and looked at him, her round eyes blinking, and mimicked his pursed lips.
"Are you imitating the Earth God's stern face?"
Gu Yun Shen was taken aback, then lowered his eyes and smiled faintly, his clenched fist relaxing again.
He can pretend to be whatever she likes.
As long as she only ever looks at him, that's enough.
After a short tour, the group gradually began to wander around, and then it got dark.
The hustle and bustle of the day fades away, giving way to the revelry of the night.
Lanterns hung high on both sides of the street, and people dressed in distinctive costumes poured into the streets, singing and dancing all the way, creating a lively scene.
Ahead, there was a bustling crowd, and not far away, there was a high platform where a burly man with a bushy beard, shirtless, held a long iron ladle filled with molten iron.
The flower stick, dipped in molten iron, was struck in the air and instantly exploded, forming a beautiful rain of fire.
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and the man's performance drew cheers all the way.
Yu Wenxue was so engrossed in watching that she couldn't help but stand there, not even noticing when the people around her disappeared.
"Oops, sorry, I stepped on you."
The sounds of apologies from those around her pulled her back to reality. She subconsciously turned around and saw Gu Yun Shen stumble from the impact, supporting his arm, his gaze meeting hers across several people.
The boy's clear eyes seemed to speak volumes, much like the cat she kept.
She rarely saw him look so bewildered, so she immediately stepped forward and took his wrist, saying, "There are a lot of people here, don't get lost."
Gu Yun Shen's hand moved down smoothly, grasped her palm, and gave her an innocent smile.
Yu Wenxue was briefly captivated by his smile, and as if possessed, she squeezed his hand and said, "Let's go."
The journey, with its stops and starts, is filled with the charm of ethnic customs and exotic cultures. For a modern person in the 21st century, even three days and three nights of sightseeing wouldn't be tiring.
Yu Wenxue found everything fascinating and would stop to look at it every now and then. Before long, her hands were full of all kinds of snacks.
In early summer, the dessert shop next door started selling ice bowls. Although they were called ice bowls, they were just filled with icy cherries and nothing special.
Yu Wenxue only ordered one bowl, tasted one and found it quite good, then handed it to Gu Yunshen, saying, "It's quite sweet, try it."
"good."
Gu Yun Shen glanced at her first, then grabbed a handful of cherries, leaving almost none in the bowl.
"Hey, hey, hey, you didn't leave any for me!" Yu Wenxue slapped his hand, pretending to be angry, and said, "You stingy little thing, drink some cold water!"
"You gave it to me," Gu Yun Shen said calmly.
"It was given to you by me."
"Then why are you angry?"
"I……"
That makes sense; it was indeed given to her.
He even bought it with his own money.
Yu Wenxue immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. She couldn't win an argument or a fight, so she slapped his arm several times in a row, "...Then go buy another bowl."
On the other side, the guards hiding in the corner were so shocked by what they saw that they were speechless for a long time.
What did he see?
Is this still the same Lord Gu who struck fear into the hearts of all, who eliminated dissidents with ruthless methods as soon as he took office?
The guard rubbed his eyes, afraid he might have misread it.
The girl puffed up her cheeks in anger and hit her father one, two, three... countless times.
On the other hand, the one who was beaten showed no hostility or displeasure in his eyes; in fact, his behavior could be described as one of enjoyment.
enjoy……
The guard was startled by his own audacious idea, wondering if the girl would be in trouble.
He continued to follow silently, and saw the adult stop and gently and affectionately brush the girl's hair aside.
Big birds can be found in any kind of forest.
I'm not sure, I'll think about it some more.
The guard gritted his teeth and slapped himself in disbelief.
Looking up, the girl's eyes crinkled into crescents as she reached out and gently pinched the adult's cheek.
...
Could it be that the adults brought this place here first, actually for the sake of this girl?
The guards were taken aback.
The guard suddenly realized.
As time went by, the Torch Festival reached its climax tonight.
Unlike other places, this place is mostly frequented by young men and women, and if you look closely, you'll see that they are all holding an exquisite gourd in their hands.
Yu Wenxue tugged at Gu Yunshen's hand, signaling him to stop. "Look at that!"
Gu Yun Shen looked at her and asked, "Do you want it?"
"Yes, yes, yes, that gourd looks really nice. I'll go ask about it."
Yu Wenxue hurriedly stepped forward and asked the young woman next to her, "Excuse me, what are you doing here?"
The woman asked kindly, "Are you from out of town?"
"This is our local matchmaking tree, which is very famous and a unique tradition. If lovers kiss under the tree, they will grow old together and stay together for life."
"I see." Yu Wenxue scratched her chin and continued, "Then where did you buy that gourd in your hand?"
"This is incense money donated by Master Chen. Any young couple who kisses under the Matchmaker Tree can get one. The gourd symbolizes 'good fortune and prosperity'." After saying that, she secretly glanced at Yu Wenxue and whispered, "I think you and your husband are quite good-looking. Why don't you give it a try?"
“He is not my husband,” Yu Wenxue said honestly.
"It's okay, we're very open about this. So... is he your lover?"
Yu Wenxue: "..."
Seeing her silence, the woman's expression changed slightly, and she whispered in her ear, "It's not your brother-in-law or...brother-in-law, is it?"
“Okay, that’s right, he is my husband.” Yu Wenxue covered the woman’s mouth.
The woman blinked slowly and nodded.
Yu Wenxue released her hand.
"I knew it! You two have such distinguished bearing, you look like a perfect match."
"Go ahead, this Jianshui purple pottery is a rare item. You wouldn't normally be able to get it even if you kissed yourself raw..."
"Thank you for your guidance, sister. I'll treat you to a punch." Yu Wenxue slapped her forehead: "Eat cherries."
After saying that, her face flushed, she disappeared in the blink of an eye.
It turns out that queuing up to get eggs is a popular activity in any world.
That gourd was indeed quite beautiful, what a pity.
The people around seemed to be immersed in their own worlds. Yu Wenxue was dejected. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lin Qingwan and the other person under the tree and waved to them.
But they didn't notice the commotion. Gu Rongting reached out and took out a bouquet of flowers, then leaned down and kissed Lin Qingwan between the eyebrows.
In a flash, the system's voice suddenly popped into my mind:
[System: A friendly reminder that there are less than seven days left until the first main quest. Please keep up the good work!]
Yu Wenxue: "Can I continue being a voyeur?"
[System: Sorry, your question cannot be identified at the moment. Please try again.]
"It's alright, go play." Yu Wenxue took a deep breath, her fingertips unconsciously clenching her sleeves, and walked up to Gu Yunshen, who was resting with his eyes closed.
She knew it wasn't right to do this, but she had no other choice at the moment, and she didn't know anyone else besides Gu Yun Shen.
Besides, he saved her once, and she returned the favor once, so they're even. Now that he's asking for help again, it's reasonable for her to make it up to him next time.
Yes, that makes perfect sense.
After a series of persuasive efforts, she mustered her courage and said, "There's something I..."
"It really was you!"
A bold female voice blew in on the wind. The newcomer was tall and slender, with a heroic air about her. It was none other than Miss Chen, who had thrown the bouquet to choose a husband yesterday.
Chen Rourou crossed her arms, looked down at the petite girl who only reached her chin, then glanced at Gu Yunshen and said, "You caught my bouquet yesterday, but you didn't come to my house to propose marriage. Do you look down on me?"
Seeing this, Yu Wenxue was afraid that this Miss Chen would upset him, so she stood between the two of them and explained, "I'm sorry, he blocked the flower ball for my sake. I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
Chen Rourou snorted coldly: "I don't care. Once you catch the bouquet, you're my man. If you don't comply, I'll have no choice but to tie you up and take you back."
Gu Yun Shen then raised his eyelids to look at her, as if he had heard a joke, and his chest trembled slightly with laughter.
"He... he's engaged," Yu Wenxue blurted out.
Chen Rourou didn't believe it and asked in return, "What about his fiancée?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Yunshen's gaze fell on Yu Wenxue, a hint of anticipation in his eyes as he awaited her answer.
Yu Wenxue coughed guiltily, "That's me."
After saying that, she patted her chest and raised her voice a few decibels: "Can't you tell?"
"I don't believe it. I just saw it. You came back from under the Matchmaker Tree by yourself. If you two are engaged, why didn't you kiss and pray for blessings?" Chen Rourou wrinkled her nose and raised her eyebrows, saying, "I've never failed to get what I want."
Gu Yunshen stood to the side, staring intently at Yu Wenxue.
He also wanted to know how to cover up this lie.
"Just because you say it's not true doesn't mean it isn't." Yu Wenxue took a step back, standing next to Gu Yunshen.
She faced him, trying her best to remain calm, but her hurried breathing betrayed her unease.
Given the choice between reason and survival, she would naturally choose the latter.
Chen Rourou didn't want to see them standing together. It was rare to meet a man who satisfied her in both appearance and skills, much better than Fan Zhuo. She was unwilling to let go just like that.
Although her expression wasn't pleasant, her inherent pride wouldn't allow her to take back what she had said, and she asked, "Then what proof do you have?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Wenxue stood on tiptoe and kissed Gu Yunshen.
Author's Note: Xiao Gu's Diary:
She's even cuter after a few days.
I love it so much! I love it so much! I love it so much! I love it so much!
I want to kiss her, but I'm afraid she'll be scared.
I want to become closer to her.
I want to lock her up
Day and night, I can only look at myself...
Whether I can post two updates tomorrow depends on whether I work overtime tonight. [Sprinkling flowers]
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