Chapter 29 A lotus flower, meant for escaping the summer heat, fell beside the vase.
The resort is very large. Although there are many guests staying here, each room maintains a comfortable distance so that no one will disturb you.
Not long after she finished washing up, she heard the sound of a servant bringing her food at the door. Jiang Zhiyao accepted the meal, thanked him, and took it into her room.
Breakfast was prepared at the resort and was a specialty of Qingcheng, different from that in the capital. Jiang Zhiyao felt it had a unique flavor.
After having breakfast, Yan Zhenxi was invited away by Master Ji, and Jiang Zhiyao took Nan Zhi to tour the manor first.
Jiang Zhiyao and her family's room was in a good location; it wasn't in the very center, but it wasn't remote either. There was a lake and flowing water in front of it, and a garden behind it.
In summer, a large expanse of lotus flowers blooms on the lake, which is quite beautiful. After walking around the lake for a while, Jiang Zhiyao came to a place that had been set up specifically for guests to feed the fish.
Many koi were swimming in the water, and some people that Jiang Zhiyao didn't recognize were feeding them.
Jiang Zhiyao became interested and found a spot with Nan Zhi to feed them.
"Miss, this koi is so fat!" Jiang Zhiyao looked in the direction Nan Zhi was pointing and couldn't help but laugh.
That koi was incredibly fat, about the size of two normal koi. It was bulging in the middle, as if someone had blown air into it. Its tail swayed very little as it swam slowly in the water.
"Huh?" A clear, unfamiliar voice suddenly came from beside me, "I saw it being caught and taken to that pool over there yesterday, how come it's back today?"
Jiang Zhiyao looked in the direction of the voice and saw a handsome young man with his hair tied in a high ponytail, looking very refreshing.
The young man smiled at Jiang Zhiyao and continued, "It seems that it was captured because it was too fat, but I heard that it always sneaks back after being captured."
"My name is Yu Xizhao," the boy grinned and asked, "What's your name, young lady?"
Before Jiang Zhiyao could say anything, someone called out from not far away, "Xizhao, it's time to leave."
"Coming right away." The boy replied and walked over there, then turned to Jiang Zhiyao and said, "My sister is calling me. See you again sometime."
After the boy left, Jiang Zhiyao continued feeding the fish, but put down the fish food when she saw the fat koi swimming over.
The fish that had gathered together scattered, but the fat koi carp lingered around Jiang Zhiyao.
Upon closer inspection, she only noticed that he looked even fatter, and Jiang Zhiyao couldn't help but laugh, finding him rather cute after looking at him for a while.
"What are you laughing at?" Yan Zhenxi walked over and asked gently. He had just returned from Master Ji's place.
Jiang Zhiyao mentioned the koi to him, and perhaps having overheard Jiang Zhiyao describing its size, the koi flicked its tail and swam away.
For no apparent reason, Jiang Zhiyao felt that it was moving faster than before, and she couldn't help but laugh again.
After hearing this, Yan Zhenxi smiled and said, "It seems the food here is really good."
"Master Ji said that boating on the lake here is very popular. Would you like to go?" Yan Zhenxi asked.
“Okay.” Jiang Zhiyao nodded.
The lake here is very wide, with blooming lotus flowers on the water, and you can also see mandarin ducks and swans from time to time.
A gentle breeze is blowing, making it very refreshing.
Jiang Zhiyao put her hand into the water, but as the boat moved, she could still feel the flow of water even without moving her hand.
She withdrew her hand, grabbed Yan Zhenxi's hand beside her, and put them both into the lake.
"Can you feel it?" Jiang Zhiyao asked. "The lake water is flowing. We are surrounded by shimmering lake water right now."
"Mmm." Yan Zhenxi turned around and grasped Jiang Zhiyao's hand.
Beneath the water's surface, Yan Zhenxi's long, slender, fair hand slowly slipped between Jiang Zhiyao's fingers, until their fingers were intertwined.
The lake water flowed quietly past their hands, and the two people's hands were tightly clasped together.
After an unknown amount of time, a small fish curiously approached and touched their hands. Only then did the two intend to separate. Under the ripples on the water, even the separation of their hands seemed somewhat lingering. Whether intentionally or not, when they finally parted, Yan Zhenxi's little finger gently brushed against Jiang Zhiyao's.
Even though they had kissed many times, Jiang Zhiyao still felt a flutter in her heart at this small hand-holding.
Yan Zhenxi took out a handkerchief from his pocket and dried Jiang Zhiyao's wet hands. He wiped them very carefully, even wiping each finger individually.
As the boat slowly moved forward, Jiang Zhiyao said to Yan Zhenxi, "Ripples spread across the lake. It would be even more beautiful at dusk when the setting sun reflects on the water... There is a pavilion on the right side of the lake. Its corners are upturned, and from a distance, it looks like a bird spreading its wings to take flight... Now we are next to the lotus flowers."
After asking the boatman, Jiang Zhiyao picked a blooming lotus flower and handed it to Yan Zhenxi: "Here, have one."
Yan Zhenxi took the flower, which was right next to his cheek. The lotus flower accentuated his handsome features, and the light shining through the pink lotus petals made his cheeks appear flushed.
Jiang Zhiyao was momentarily captivated by his presence and longed to lean in and kiss him, but with the boatman still on board, she had to restrain herself.
They reached the shore and the boat stopped. There was a large patch of lotus flowers next to them, and the boatman picked a few lotus pods and gave them to them.
After returning to her room, Jiang Zhiyao took off her outer garment and placed it on a rack. Yan Zhenxi stood beside a cabinet by the bed, on which was a narrow-necked vase, and asked, "How about putting this lotus flower here?"
Jiang Zhiyao slowly walked forward, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed Yan Zhenxi. With her eyes closed, she awkwardly traced Yan Zhenxi's lips with her own.
His lips were so soft, unlike the gentle and aloof person he usually was; his lips were also very hot.
Yan Zhenxi's hand, which had been resting on the side of the cabinet, unconsciously tightened around the corner. Then, realizing what was happening, he wrapped his arms around Jiang Zhiyao's waist, lowered his head, and let Jiang Zhiyao do as she pleased. The lotus flower fell to the side of the vase.
After a short while, Jiang Zhiyao let go. Their lips had only touched briefly, but her face was still flushed with shyness.
“…Ah Yao.” Yan Zhenxi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice was a little hoarse and coaxing, “Give me another kiss, okay?”
Jiang Zhiyao pursed her lips and remained silent.
As if he couldn't wait any longer, Yan Zhenxi kissed Jiang Zhiyao shortly after he finished speaking.
He gently pried open Jiang Zhiyao's teeth and kissed her deeply. Unlike his usual gentleness, Yan Zhenxi seemed a little impatient this time, as if he wanted to take everything out of Jiang Zhiyao's mouth. Jiang Zhiyao's body went limp from the kiss, and she hooked her arms around Yan Zhenxi's neck.
They were even closer, and Yan Zhenxi slumped onto the bed with Jiang Zhiyao in his arms, the two seemingly inseparable.
After a long while, Jiang Zhiyao pushed Yan Zhenxi away, her eyes somewhat dazed. Yan Zhenxi wanted to lean in and kiss her, but she stopped him.
"...I'm starting to feel breathless." Jiang Zhiyao took a few breaths, rested her head on Yan Zhenxi's shoulder, and complained softly.
"Too fierce." Seemingly still somewhat dissatisfied, Jiang Zhiyao continued in a low voice.
Because the two were so close, Jiang Zhiyao's voice sounded sticky and sweet, like she was being coquettish.
"I'm sorry, Ayao." Yan Zhenxi felt a tickle in his heart and kissed Jiang Zhiyao's ear again. "Ayao rarely takes the initiative, and I just couldn't resist."
Her breath tickled her ear, and Jiang Zhiyao shrank back without saying a word.
Yan Zhenxi chuckled when he saw that Jiang Zhiyao's ears had turned red, and Jiang Zhiyao's ears turned even redder.
"I'm hungry," Jiang Zhiyao said, leaving Yan Zhenxi's shoulder after she had recovered.
"I'll have the servants bring the meal over now." Yan Zhenxi kissed Jiang Zhiyao's slightly moist eyes.
While waiting for the servants to bring the meal, Yan Zhenxi peeled open the lotus pods that the boatman had given him and filled a small bowl with lotus seeds.
"It's quite delicious." Jiang Zhiyao tasted one; it was plump and white, and Yan Zhenxi had even removed the lotus seed core from the middle.
After lunch, Jiang Zhiyao and Yan Zhenxi took a short nap together before getting up to go fishing.
Beside the lake, everything needed for fishing had already been prepared, and Jiang Zhiyao and Yan Zhenxi sat on small chairs.
It was Jiang Zhiyao's first time fishing, and perhaps because of that, the fish kept biting her hook. On the other hand, Yan Zhenxi had only caught a few fish after an entire afternoon.
Looking at Yan Zhenxi's somewhat empty fish bucket, Jiang Zhiyao said with a smile, "It's okay, I'll share some with you."
Jiang Zhiyao put the fish that fell up behind her into Yan Zhenxi's fish bucket.
By evening, both of them had a bountiful catch in their fish buckets.
A servant from the manor stepped forward to help carry the fish bucket, and said with a smile, "Sir and Madam are excellent fishermen. Some people fish all afternoon and still don't catch a single fish."
Yan Zhenxi said with a smile, "These were all caught by my wife."
"Madam is truly skilled!" the servant praised Jiang Zhiyao, then asked, "Should we take these fish to the kitchen to cook?"
“Yes, I will.” Jiang Zhiyao nodded.
"Okay, we'll deliver it to you when it's ready."
Perhaps because she had fallen up on her own, Jiang Zhiyao ate about half a bowl more than usual during her meal.
In the evening, Jiang Zhiyao and Yan Zhenxi chatted and enjoyed the moon in a pavilion not far from their room.
"How is it here?" Yan Zhenxi asked.
"Great!" Before coming here, Jiang Zhiyao thought it would just be cooler, but there wouldn't be much to do. She was worried that staying here for seven days would be boring, so she brought a chessboard and leaf cards.
I never imagined that after spending the whole day here, I would only have experienced a small part of the resort.
"What does Zhenxi think?" Jiang Zhiyao asked Yan Zhenxi.
"Me?" Yan Zhenxi paused for a moment.
Upon arriving here, Yan Zhenxi only chatted briefly with Master Ji before ignoring everything else related to the capital and focusing entirely on spending time with Jiang Zhiyao.
Today was a rare moment of leisure, and Yan Zhenxi was momentarily stunned, unable to think of any words that could adequately describe it.
“Very good.” After a while, Yan Zhenxi said the same thing as Jiang Zhiyao.
After he finished speaking, he took Jiang Zhiyao's hand, their fingers intertwined, the same action as when they were boating on the lake, but with a different feeling.
The sight of their clasped hands brought Jiang Zhiyao a sense of peace and made her feel as if their love would last forever.
"I'd like to visit the gardens in the back tomorrow."
"good."
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