Chapter 90 is here "No, not enough."
A crowd gathered around the circus, and the fire-breathing man drew rounds of applause. Luo Wan was watching when he heard an even louder burst of applause from the side.
An old man in a coarse linen shirt steadily lifted a long wooden plank. At each end stood a giant paper crane. The cranes were exquisitely crafted, with red crowns and black eyes, their necks and wings dotted with ink. Under the dim light and the cold moonlight, they appeared lifelike.
Jiang Cichen lowered his head and whispered in Luo Wan's ear, "The unique crane dance of Yun Country came from Wuyuan City."
The old man holding the crane moves in time with the drum beats, with varied steps and flexible wrist shaking. The paper crane then raises its head, pecks at food, flaps its wings, and plays around. Every movement is smooth and flowing.
The children watching cheered and applauded loudly. In this enthusiastic atmosphere, the clear and melodious cry of a crane suddenly cut through the clamor.
After the performance, the old man bowed, and the young apprentice came forward with an iron plate: "Those who have money, please give money! Those who don't have money, please applaud!"
After jingling and clanging for half a circle, the iron plate was already covered with a layer of copper coins and silver coins.
Someone was puzzled and asked the young disciple, "Where did those crane calls just now come from?"
As the young disciple approached Luo Wan, Jiang Cichen casually tossed in a gold ingot. The young disciple was stunned, and hurriedly put the gold in his mouth to test it with his teeth, not even hearing what anyone asked.
A man came out, fanning himself, and said, "That's not the real crane's cry; it's the old man's ventriloquism. You can tell if you look closely at his throat."
"You're the only one who knows so much," the young apprentice said, putting the iron plate away. He was impatient with the man's revelation. "Let's continue the performance later. Everyone, don't leave! Wait a moment!"
After a performance ends, the crowd gradually disperses, leaving behind a feeling of wanting more. When the crowd disperses, new people will gather again.
Luo Wan and Jiang Ci Chen also walked forward. Soon, they saw a huge ancient tree standing on the side of the street. Its branches were densely covered with red wish ribbons. When the night wind blew, the wooden signs collided like surging waves, making crisp sounds.
I heard that this ancient tree has stood here for hundreds of years, and that the founding emperor of the Yun Kingdom once rode his horse under this tree to enjoy the cool air. The truth of this story is no longer traceable, but the vendor selling wishing ribbons nearby spoke very convincingly.
The two of them stopped under the tree, and the vendor handed them two with a smile: "Young lady and young man, please write one too. The trees here are very effective."
"Want to write?"
Luo Wan shook his head: "I don't make a wish."
Jiang Cichen restrained his outstretched hand and said calmly, "I don't believe this either."
Seeing this, the hawker had no choice but to leave in embarrassment.
"Wait," Luo Wan stopped the vendor, took two pieces of red silk from him, and paid him some silver. "I've bought the ribbon, so I don't need the pen and ink."
She placed one of the notes in Jiang Cichen's palm and said, "I remember once when we were releasing river lanterns in the capital. Even though I didn't write anything, I still released the lanterns with them."
"I know."
Luo Wan raised her eyes: "You know?"
"Um."
Yes, when she first arrived in the capital, Jiang Cichen doubted her identity, regarded her as a thorn in his side, and sent people to keep an eye on her.
What's more, she was with Shen Zhiyan at the time. Jiang Cichen was afraid that she would do something bad to Shen Zhiyan, so he should know her whereabouts clearly.
But he still remembered such a small thing as releasing river lanterns, which was quite difficult for him.
When Luo Wan was a child, he loved making wishes. When he was begging on the street, he wished for endless food. On a cold winter day, he wished for a pot of charcoal that would never burn out. When he was sold to a restaurant, he wished to see Madam Shen again... There were so many wishes, but none of them came true, so he stopped making wishes later.
That night on the banks of the Bingyu River in the capital, Shen Zhiyan wished for the prosperity of the Northern Kingdom, and Liu Shuyi wished for the safety of those around him. However, the Northern Kingdom would eventually perish, and how could the Liu family be safe and sound?
Although she doesn't write her wishes, she can still wear a wish ribbon.
Jiang Cichen stared at her for a moment and said, "How about we see who hangs it higher?"
Luo Wan pursed her lips and smiled: "How old are you?"
Jiang Cichen pretended to sigh, "I remember when I was in Yinan City, someone got drunk and wanted to compete with me in tree climbing. Can you guess how old this person was?"
"..." Luo Wan was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "About the same age as me."
Before she finished her words, she had already flown off the ground and found the highest branch. When she was almost able to touch it, she suddenly felt her ankle tighten. Jiang Cichen grabbed her ankle and pulled, and she fell down.
The next moment, Jiang Cichen hugged her waist and flew to the highest point. He took the wishing ribbons from Luo Wan's hand and tied the two wishing ribbons to the highest branch.
Jiang Cichen put her down and raised his eyebrows, saying, "Not only did you cheat, you also lost."
Luo Wan didn't care: "If I lose, I lose."
Jiang Cichen smiled and moved closer: "If you lose, there will be punishment."
"You didn't say that at first."
"You didn't even give me a chance to say it," Jiang Cichen crossed his arms, "Who told you to cheat and fly up before we even started?"
Luo Wan was willing to accept the loss and asked, "What's the punishment?"
Jiang Cichen bent down and whispered in her ear: "..."
Luo Wan's ears turned red, she shook off his hand and walked towards the mansion.
Jiang Cichen followed him tactfully, but as soon as he followed, Luo Wan would distance himself from him and walk from the left side of the street to the right side. When Jiang Cichen got closer, Luo Wan would walk from the right side of the street to the left side.
When they arrived at the gate of the mansion, the housekeeper only saw Luo Wan and felt something was wrong. Just as he was about to ask her, he glanced behind her and saw Jiang Cichen who was not far away. Only then did he feel relieved.
Luo Wan returned to the house angrily, took out a quilt from the cupboard and threw it to Jiang Cichen who had just stepped into the house.
"You go sleep next door."
"Why?" Jiang Cichen came in with the quilt, threw it on the bed, and lay down. "This is my room, why should I leave?"
Luo Wan looked at his arrogant look and said without turning back: "Then I'll go."
Jiang Cichen reacted very quickly, pulling her into his arms and pressing her against himself.
Luo Wan didn't want to look at Jiang Cichen at all at this moment, otherwise her mind would be filled with his dirty words.
Luo Wan couldn't push away, so he simply turned his head away.
"I was wrong," Jiang Cichen tilted his head to look her in the eye, "I was wrong, okay?"
"I really know I was wrong," he repeated.
Luo Wan finally looked at him: "Then let me go."
Jiang Cichen didn't let go: "Your hands and feet are cold in winter, and you've been outside for so long. I asked the servants to prepare a bathtub. You can soak in it before going to sleep."
Luo Wan paused and said, "How can I go if you don't let me go?"
Jiang Cichen smiled and let her go.
In the corner, a gilded incense burner with a strange beast on its mouth exudes green smoke, which is rich in camphor.
Several maids led Luo Wan into the room. There was a pool of spring water, its walls made of white jade, its edges carved with lotus patterns, and curtains hung on the beams surrounding the bathing pool.
Luo Wan got out of the bath. The maid placed the tray with clothes on the edge of the pool, lowered the curtains around it, and then left.
Water vapor rose up, and a thick layer of petals floated on the water surface. They were freshly picked, and when stimulated by the warm water, the rotten fragrance spread out in wisps.
The winter bath was indeed comfortable. After Luo Wan had soaked in it for a while, he felt the blood in his limbs surge. It was a good opportunity to harmonize his internal strength.
Luo Wan closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, and when she opened them again, she found that Jiang Cichen had come in and was squatting beside the bathtub, staring at her.
The person in the pool only had part of her shoulders exposed, her wet hair meandering against her skin as soft as jade, with water droplets rolling down the curves.
Jiang Cichen was distracted for a moment.
Luo Wan calmed down a bit and asked, "Why are you here?"
Jiang Cichen came back to his senses and said slowly, "I'll accompany you."
"You don't need to accompany me." Luo Wan turned around to get the clothes that the maid had just put here. The clothes were here, but the cloth for wiping the water was not there.
She turned over but couldn't find it. She remembered that the two maids had placed the trays on both sides when they opened the curtains. Luo Wan turned around again, but saw that Jiang Cichen had taken off his clothes and was soaking in the bathtub very consciously.
The young man came towards her with a smile on his lips: "I'll help you wash it."
Luo Wan said calmly: "No, I've already washed."
"Then help me wash." He stretched out his hand to stop her. The water seemed to be possessed by a magic, pushing the two of them closer. The softness and hardness touched each other, and the temperature suddenly rose with the friction.
Luo Wan looked at him and pointed out mercilessly: "Jiang Cichen, your intentions are too obvious."
Jiang Cichen stopped Luo Wan from retreating and said, "If you don't want to do what I said, then we can only settle for the next best thing."
“I don’t have that either…”
Without giving her the chance to finish her words, his kiss came down upon her without warning, so eagerly that she didn't have a chance to breathe.
The air in the bathtub was already thin, and Luo Wan's legs went weak for a moment, so he held her waist and leaned her against the wall of the pool.
Not only his hands, but also a stronger presence came forward. Luo Wan frowned and said, "Go up first..."
"Right here," Jiang Cichen whispered, "or what I just said and here, you choose one."
Luo Wan said something almost inaudibly.
"What?" Jiang Cichen leaned his head close to her lips.
She gritted her teeth and said, "Here."
Jiang Cichen came over and pecked her on the lips: "Unfortunately, I still prefer the first one."
Luo Wan was picked up and had nowhere to hold on to, so she could only cling to his neck. Her body accepted that existence before her consciousness.
Even though Luo Wan was looking down at him now, he had no initiative and the sense of oppression around him was even stronger.
The water surface rippled due to his movements, and the sound of water continued. The water in the bathtub was shaken and splashed everywhere, soaking the clothes and leaving water marks on the wooden floor beside the pool.
Every time he struck her, Luo Wan felt as if her consciousness was being shattered, but she couldn't escape from his arms.
Too heavy and too fast.
The movement and the sound of water did not slow down. Luo Wan wanted him to stop, but found it difficult to bring herself to speak. She bit Jiang Cichen's shoulder in embarrassment.
The young man stopped in pain and saw blood slowly oozing from his shoulder.
Luo Wan took advantage of the gap to speak: "Enough..."
He licked his lips, squinted at her, and said word by word: "No, not enough."
It seemed that the pain in his shoulder stimulated his nerves, and he broke free from his restraints completely. He kissed her randomly without any skills, and his movements became more and more rapid.
Luo Wan regretted that she shouldn't have bitten him. He had been quite gentle before, but now, every bite was like the pain of being pierced through.
After a long time, he stepped back slightly. Luo Wan felt dizzy and was supported by his strong arms as he turned around. He held her up and forced her to fit against him in a shy posture.
"Jiang Cichen!" Her voice trembled slightly.
"I'm here..." Jiang Cichen pressed his upper body against her and kissed the top of her head.
Luo Wan tried to break free, but Jiang Cichen held her hands against the edge of the bathtub, preventing her from moving. She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
Her whole body was hot, as if she was on the crest of a wave, being pushed and surged, with a buzzing sound in her ears.
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