Ningning's heartbeat was a little irregular.
There was a lot of traffic in Luancheng at night, but Pei Ji didn't like crowds and noise, so when she sent him back to the inn, she deliberately chose a secluded alley.
At this time, the sky was already dark and there was no one around. The night was like a splash of ink on rice paper, pouring down from the sky. The gray clouds are set off by the tiny stars, which are like tiny grains of falling sand, turning into everlasting lights between the buildings, forming a long and bright Milky Way.
They were shrouded in the shadow of the high walls, and the flickering light caressed the quiet night. Everything was hazy, such as the noisy voices on the street, the faint barking of dogs in the distance, and Pei Ji's whisper-like murmurs.
He was very tall, and when he stood in front of Ningning, he blocked all the lights, whether bright or dim. When she opened her eyes, she could only see Pei Ji's deep pupils.
Like a black curtain so heavy that it makes you breathless.
He called her "Ningning" instead of the once cold and distant "Senior Sister".
She felt that there must be something wrong with her.
There are so many people around her calling her name, but why is it that when she hears Pei Ji pronounce these two words... her heart beats faster for no reason?
This is obviously just a very ordinary little thing.
"... Pei Ji."
Ning Ning was shy. She was shy about being stared at by him, and she was also worried that someone might pass by and see their ambiguous posture. So she pressed her palm on his chest with a little force, trying to push Pei Ji back a little: "Stand still first."
After this push, he couldn't help but pause.
Because it was summer, Pei Ji's clothes were very thin. Through a layer of soft cloth, she could clearly feel the warmth of his skin.
Especially when you apply force with your hands, you can even feel the solid texture of his muscles and his pounding heartbeat.
Ningning's ears started to burn from the strange touch.
Pei Ji was drunk and staggered backwards when she pushed him, but he did not let go of his hands on his shoulders.
A light was turned on in a house beside the alley, and the light spread silently like mist, soaking into the young man's angular face.
Because he had been drinking, there was a circle of pink around his eyes, like peach blossoms soaked in water in spring, spreading from the corners of his eyes to his face, becoming lighter and lighter, and more and more scattered, making the teardrop mole look like a drop of blood, or like a tear dyed red.
Pei Ji still looked down at her, his expression was cold, but his tone revealed a hint of grievance: "Do you hate me?"
His thoughts were simple and straightforward after being drunk. When he saw Ningning pushing him away, he subconsciously felt that he was being rejected. His already hot and uncomfortable heart became even more uncomfortable, and his chest felt stuffy and painful.
Ningning was not stupid and quickly understood why he said this.
No matter how rigorous Pei Ji's logic was, she couldn't reason with a man who was insane, so she had to follow his meaning and said, "How could I hate you?"
Pei Ji frowned.
His eyes were pure black, and they looked dazed and lifeless due to the influence of alcohol, but that also made him look more innocent and harmless. Ningning heard him say in a low voice: "You...you pushed me."
"Pushing you away means I hate you?"
She had drunk some wine before, but she didn't feel drunk.
At this moment, whether it was the influence of the lingering charm of Jiuzhou Spring Return or the hot head in panic, Ningning closed her palms and gently grabbed Pei Ji's collar, pulling him to her side, and said with a smile: "Then I pulled you over, does that mean I like you?"
Pei Ji was slightly stunned.
Ningning watched his white jade-like face quickly turn red, and then he hastily lowered his head, as if he was quite shy, and stammered "hmm" in response.
Ningning was overwhelmed.
——Why are you saying “hmm” so embarrassedly? That's not what she meant! This is a rhetorical question, a rhetorical question!
This was a joke, but she forgot that drunk people don't understand jokes and always take them seriously.
Thanks to Pei Ji, Ning Ning also felt an invisible fire burning from the back of her head, making her already hot face even hotter.
"That's not what I meant... I just wanted to say that I don't hate you."
Ning Ning was afraid that he would think wrongly, so she emphasized her tone and explained: "No matter what, I will never do that."
Pei Ji's strength finally weakened a little, and his expression could almost be described as "cautious": "Really?"
Ning Ning nodded vigorously: "Really!"
After a pause, he added tentatively, "How about you let go of your hand first? I'll take you back to the inn to rest. We can't just stand here forever."
The young man, who was immersed in darkness, hesitated for a moment, lowered his head and moved his hands away.
No one ever liked him.
His mother called him a bastard, his fellow disciples mocked his bloodline, and even when he was wandering alone and his demonic energy was flaring up and he was seen by strangers, he would be cursed and called a "monster".
He doesn't care about those people's likes, and he can't beg for their concern. Even if he is alone for the rest of his life, he can still live on.
But... when Ningning said that she didn't hate it, Pei Ji still felt unprecedentedly happy.
He was not the kind of dog that would wag its tail and beg for mercy, and he would not be completely devoted to someone just because of a little bit of favor. The reason why he felt happy was probably because it was her who said these words.
As long as she doesn't hate it, that's enough.
If possible, he was still secretly hoping for a little bit of love, just a little bit.
"Pei Ji?"
Ning Ning saw him in a daze and poked Pei Ji's arm out of habit: "Will you come back with me?"
His mind was in a mess and he nodded in confusion.
Then Ningning grabbed his sleeve and pulled him gently.
The thick darkness before his eyes dissipated in an instant, and the boy was pulled out of the shadow of the alley and placed under a dim light.
His steps were unsteady and he staggered forward a few steps due to the force and fell into Ningning's arms.
Because of the previous contact, she seemed to have been mentally prepared and expected it to turn out like this.
However, Ning Ning did not push Pei Ji away without explanation this time. Instead, she patted him on the back gently. Her voice was very close to his chest, echoing between the folds of his clothes. It sounded a little muffled and helpless: "Okay, okay, can you stand up by yourself?"
She knew that Pei Ji was particularly sensitive and inferior because of his childhood experiences, and she didn't want him to feel that he was hated again, so she didn't push him away without hesitation.
It was so gentle that he was overwhelmed.
Even though he was drunk, Pei Ji still instinctively felt his heartbeat quickening. His consciousness, which had wandered outside of his conscious mind, was barely pulled back a little. After a brief moment of stunned silence, he straightened up and nodded with a wooden face.
"I'd better hold you up."
He seemed to be more obedient than before. Ningning reached out and supported Pei Ji's arm.
The young man's arms were slender and powerful, with firm and tight muscles from years of sword practice.
After all, she was a good young person who grew up in the 21st century. She didn't have the strong separation between men and women like the ancients. But she still felt nervous walking closely with him like this.
As we walked into the alley, the sounds around us gradually became quieter and were swallowed up by the thick ink.
Pei Ji walked unsteadily and Ning Ning followed him cautiously. Suddenly, she heard a slightly hoarse boy's voice.
"...You shouldn't always be with Senior Brother He."
It was extremely quiet all around, so Pei Ji's voice seemed extremely abrupt and clear, like rough sandblasting passing through the eardrum, causing an inexplicable itch.
Ningning was stunned for a moment.
She wondered if this was just hallucination after drinking, and with some confusion she tilted her head and raised her eyes, meeting Pei Ji's eyes squarely.
Seeing Ningning was stunned, he thought she didn't hear clearly.
Then he put on a stern face and repeated every word very seriously: "Don't always be with Senior Brother He."
As soon as these words came out, Lian Chengying felt that something was not quite right. If this kid continues to talk nonsense as he is now, who knows what earth-shattering thing he might do. I'm afraid that by the next day, he won't even have the courage to see Ningning.
——Although it does want to see Pei Ji’s appearance a little bit.
As a good brother and a good mother who had been through thick and thin together for many years, Chengying felt it necessary to remind him, so she immediately lowered her voice and asked tentatively: "Wait wait wait Pei Xiaoji, do you know what you are talking about?"
According to his usual habit, Pei Ji should have replied to it silently in his heart.
But he actually looked directly at Ning Ning and said sternly, "I know what I'm talking about, very clearly - very clearly."
Ningning was stunned again.
Then he looked at the black-clad boy in front of him, his eyes flickered slowly, and finally stopped in front of her. The corners of his eyes and eye sockets were red, and he said vaguely but seriously: "I can also... accompany you."
Chengying: ...
Chengying couldn't bear to watch and closed his mouth with a distorted expression. Later, he couldn't help laughing and just laughed out loud, floating around freely in his sea of consciousness.
Even if Pei Ji wakes up tomorrow and might kill it out of anger, it's worth it for the happiness at this moment, hehe!
"I can cook, do housework, play with you, and fight—"
Halfway through his speech, he probably felt that "fighting and hacking" was not appropriate to talk about in front of girls. He looked flustered for a moment and swallowed back the rest of his words.
This tone and expression is almost like acting coquettishly.
Ningning listened in a daze, her mind in a mess.
——Is this the truth or nonsense spoken after drinking? Pei Ji actually cared about her being alone with He Zhizhou? And those things like cooking, doing housework, and drawing swords to chop people...what does that have to do with anything?
In a daze, she heard Pei Ji's rustling voice again, which was much softer than before, like a cat's whisper: "So, you can come and see me occasionally, and don't always be with Senior Brother He."
Ningning: ...
Ningning's face turned red.
She didn't know what Pei Ji was really thinking, but in this silent and dim alley with only two people, such words seemed too ambiguous.
The palm of her hand resting on his arm felt hot, as if every moment spent with the boy beside her would make her body warmer.
Ningning wanted to stay away from him, but she was worried that Pei Ji was drunk and would fall without the support of others.
Oh...really.
Even at this time, she is still considering him so carefully.
The girl standing in the alley pursed her lips slightly, her whole body shrouded by the tall shadow beside her.
She hurriedly avoided Pei Ji's sight and responded in an inaudible voice: "Okay."
The journey was extremely long and they finally reached the inn. When Ning Ning helped Pei Ji to bed, she breathed a long sigh of relief.
She hadn't felt so nervous in a long, long time. When she thought about Pei Ji being awake tomorrow, if he could remember what happened tonight...
It is simply too daunting to imagine what might happen next.
The drunkenness had worn off by now, replaced by a deep sense of tiredness. Pei Ji obediently washed up and went to bed, burying his whole body in the soft quilt. She was about to say goodbye and leave, but someone grabbed her sleeve.
The young man lying on the bed had untied his hair tie, and his waterfall-like black hair cascaded onto the snow-white sheets. Pei Ji opened his slightly upturned peach blossom eyes and looked at her motionlessly, with half of his cheek hidden in the sunken pillow, like a quiet deer.
He spoke as usual, without any emotion: "I'm afraid of the dark."
He said this without hesitation now. He was so stubborn before, and kept saying "I just don't like the dark".
Ning Ning nodded in understanding: "I won't turn off the lights when I leave."
Pei Ji shook his head, staring at her without blinking.
She paused for a moment before she understood what he meant: "You want me to stay?"
This, this, this is not good.
Although they had slept together in a cave before, the combination of a man and a woman being alone in a room in the middle of the night, no matter how you think about it... is not a good idea!
Pei Ji did not react, but stared at her with a pair of calm black eyes.
He was not as spoiled as before, and was somewhat like his usual self. Even when asking for help, he was cold and expressionless.
But there was also a hint of implicit expectation and timidity.
"Then you... you should have a good rest in bed."
Anyway, this wasn't the first time this had happened, and Ning Ning was the most vulnerable to being soft-hearted. She quickly gave in to such a look and pointed stiffly at the table and chair beside her: "I'm going to meditate here and practice."
People who practice Taoism use the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as nourishment and use meditation instead of sleep. This not only allows the body to get sufficient rest, but also improves their cultivation, which is of great benefit.
After hearing this, Pei Ji didn't know what he was thinking. He paused for a long time before nodding slightly.
His expression was hesitant and slow. Suddenly he pulled Ningning's sleeve again. The moment the latter looked down, he nervously pulled the corners of his mouth upwards, revealing an awkward smile.
"I practiced in front of the mirror for a long time... not faking a smile."
The night wind blew in from the window, he moved his head, and his hair brushed across his fair face.
Pei Ji lay on the bed, gently raised the corners of his lips to her, smiling gently and shyly, with a watery light reflected in his dark pupils, like apricot blossoms in spring rain, revealing a bit of pure beauty for no reason: "If you are here, you can turn off the lights."
Chengying took a deep breath, rolled his eyes, and spun up into the sky like a rocket just launched.
Ningning stood aside, feeling fortunate that Pei Ji was drunk at the moment and would not notice her disheveled and flustered appearance.
Oops.
She almost covered her face with her hands to stop her boiling blood.
...This look seemed really cute, and it just hit her right in the heart.
Ningning took a deep breath, suppressed her pounding heart, and quickly turned around to turn off the light.
In the darkness, the little girl's stiff voice, pretending to be calm, rang out: "Good night."
=====
no.
Ningning sat on a wooden chair, buried her head in her arms, and tried her best to close her eyes.
She was so upset that she couldn't sit still or sleep. She could only lie on the table and count sheep over and over again. The more she counted, the more anxious she became.
Pei Ji slept very quietly without making any sound. When she thought of the words he said while he was unconscious, her heart beat faster uncontrollably.
——Even though I know that those are probably just drunken nonsense, it’s still embarrassing.
The wind brought in the sound of rustling leaves from outside the window, accompanied by one or two unclear conversations from passers-by. Ningning was lying motionless on the table when she suddenly heard footsteps.
Getting closer.
It was Pei Ji who got out of bed and gradually approached her.
He probably thought she was asleep, so he moved incredibly quietly. When he stood next to Ningning, not even the sound of breathing or the rubbing of clothes was made. She was wondering what Pei Ji was going to do when, without any warning, she felt a hand covering her back.
Then the whole body was suspended in the air.
An unfamiliar heat instantly enveloped her whole body, and the tip of her nose was filled with the wood fragrance belonging to Pei Ji. He actually held her in his arms and walked forward step by step.
Ningning didn't dare to move or open her eyes, and remained asleep. Not long after, she felt herself being gently put down and lying on some soft place.
There was still reassuring warmth beneath his body, and a familiar scent surrounded him. This was the bed where Pei Ji had slept before.
"Pei Xiaoji, you don't want to sleep in the same bed with Ningning, do you? No, no, no!"
Chengying was frightened by this action and twisted his body: "When she wakes up tomorrow, she will definitely be scared! Calm down!"
It screamed wildly in its heart, but Pei Ji ignored it and stood quietly in front of the bed, with his long eyelashes drooping, silently looking at the little girl with her eyes closed.
There was endless darkness and unknown around him, but he did not leave. Ningning was so nervous that she quietly clutched the bed sheet, not knowing what the other person would do next.
Suddenly, a gentle breeze brushed past her ears. After a moment, she realized that it was Pei Ji's breath.
Ningning's heart was beating like a drum and she didn't move.
The warm air flow slid down her face, getting closer and closer to her, and finally stopped beside her ear. This is an extremely sensitive area. Just a slight blow will cause an invisible electric current to rush into her blood, making her back numb.
There was still a smile in Pei Ji's voice, and the smile was so sincere that it seemed to overflow from the bottom of his heart. He pronounced each word extremely slowly, as if he was treating a precious treasure and was reluctant to let it be damaged in the slightest.
Pei Ji said very close to her ear in a very small voice: "Good night."
Then the air flow suddenly came closer, almost touching her skin.
There is a soft and warm touch on the earlobe.
It didn't feel like a finger, but something softer.
Ningning's wildly beating heart suddenly jerked and she subconsciously held her breath.
No way.
...No, no, no, no, that can't be!
Her heart seemed to explode suddenly, making her dizzy in an instant. Her entire mind turned white, and it was like the magma in a volcano surging and breaking out of the ground at this moment.
If Ningning wasn't pretending to be asleep, she would have immediately covered her face and curled up into a ball.
Pei Ji kissed... kissed her earlobe when she was sleeping?
This action ended quickly. The person who was so close to her seemed to be discovered by her. He quickly stood up and left, sitting down on the wooden chair where Ningning had been before.
He was still drunk and walked unsteadily, and when he hit the wooden table there was a dull thud. In order not to wake her up, he quickly stopped.
Pei Ji would never notice that Ning Ning, who had been lying straight on the bed, quickly covered her entire head with the quilt and bent her body like a shrimp.
She should have hated such touches.
At this moment, I was confused and thought, since Pei Ji dared to kiss...
Why only in that kind of place?
=====
It was almost noon when Pei Ji woke up. He was used to getting up early in the morning. When he opened his eyes and saw the sky full of sunshine, he was slightly stunned.
This was the guest room where he lived. It was empty except for him. The quilt on the bed was neatly folded into the shape of a tofu block, which looked dull and stupid, and was totally not his style.
There was a throbbing pain in the back of my head.
Last night——
Last night, he and his disciples went to Tianxiang Tower. At Chengying's instigation, he blocked the wine for Ningning, and then -
Pei Ji's expression suddenly froze.
Chengying in his heart pretended to be dead and lay flat on the side without moving.
Pei Ji: ...
Pei Ji: "Did I call her name?"
Chengying finally twisted like a tapeworm, his voice barely audible: "That, um, ah."
Pei Ji closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then continued to ask, "I also asked him not to associate with Senior Brother He... and to spend more time with me?"
Cheng Ying couldn't help but let out a silly laugh. After realizing that this behavior would only embarrass Pei Ji even more, he said with a stern face, "It seems to be the case."
It was silent.
It noticed that Pei Ji's ears were a little red, but his voice was still cold. After hesitating for a long time, he whispered: "I——"
He couldn't continue after saying one word. He gritted his teeth as if he was extremely ashamed, and said in a desperate tone, "Did I kiss her secretly?"
You can't blame it this time. Anyone who thinks of that scene will inevitably smile.
But Chengying was more exaggerated and just let out a happy goose cry.
Seeing its performance, Pei Ji understood what happened last night. The chaotic and vague memories in his mind were not false. He really -
"Pei Xiaoji, it's okay. Although you did speak the truth after drinking, Ningning doesn't know. Just act stupid and say you were drunk and talking nonsense, she won't mind."
Chengying consoled him earnestly, "As for the secret kiss, she was asleep and didn't realize it at the time, just pretend it never happened."
Pei Ji's eyes were vicious and he clenched his fists tightly.
It was a pity that they were defeated in a moment, their knuckles spread out without any strength, and a light redness climbed up from the base of their ears and spread to their eye sockets.
For the first time in his life, Chengying felt that this child, who had always been a mad dog and a lone wolf, inexplicably looked a bit like a red-eyed rabbit with its fur standing on end.
However, Pei Ji was worthy of being Pei Ji. He quickly suppressed the surging undercurrent in his heart and picked up the sword from the table with a cold face.
Cheng Ying was so frightened that she was shaking: "Pei Xiaoji, calm down, please calm down! It's just that you lost someone, you won't commit suicide!"
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and walked straight towards the door: "Practice swordplay."
By the way, this is a sword cultivator.
Cheng Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Just practice swordplay, don't kill others or yourself just because you can't think straight!"
Pei Ji ignored it and walked out with a sullen face and red eyes. Unexpectedly, before he left the room, the half-closed door was suddenly opened.
Ningning walked in.
The violent sword energy around the young man softened instantly.
"Ah, you're awake?"
Ningning yawned, her demeanor not much different from usual, and she walked to the wooden table and put something down: "I bought you a hangover soup and breakfast. The soup seemed a bit bitter, so I also bought some sugar and hawthorn - do you like sweet or sour?"
How cowardly Chengying was facing Pei Ji at this time, and how at a loss Pei Ji was when he saw Ningning.
Fortunately, she didn't look strange. Perhaps she really didn't take last night seriously, and didn't notice what he did secretly.
When Pei Ji encountered a wild python in the wilderness as a child, he was not as nervous as he is now. He tightened his right hand holding the hilt of the sword and replied in a dry voice without any fluctuations: "It's all right."
Ning Ning nodded, took a step back and pointed at the table: "If your head doesn't hurt, you don't have to drink the hangover soup. Eat your breakfast first. The results of the first round of the Dharma Assembly will be announced soon, and we can't be late."
The back of his head was still aching because he had been standing there for a long time. When he took a step forward, the accumulated alcohol rushed to his head again.
His mind was almost blank, and Pei Ji had no time to react. He staggered in the heavy dizziness. Ning Ning was quick-witted and rushed forward to support him with her hand.
This was a subconscious action, caused by Pei Ji's several falls last night. Ningning thought she should have been used to it by now, but when she touched the young man's thin and upright body, her breathing slowed down.
...By the way, Pei Ji was not drunk at this time.
When Pei Ji was sober, he was less drunk than last night and more cold and ruthless, but his heartbeat was faster and more intense than last night. When she pressed her palm there, it was almost numb.
It's strange, could it be that although he looks calm, he is actually very nervous?
"Feel sorry."
Pei Ji felt a stuffy and hot sensation on his chest when it was touched, and he felt his whole body was dry. He quickly stood up, walked to the table and sat down with his back to her.
Then I thought again and realized that I really shouldn't leave like this, as if I were running away.
Ningning breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him turn his back.
The reason why she secretly hid her nervousness and pretended to be calm when she came to see him was that, in addition to urging Pei Ji to eat breakfast and drink sobering soup, she also wanted to see what he would look like after he sobered up.
Fortunately, he seemed to have no memory of what happened last night and acted as if nothing had happened, even a little indifferent.
Very good.
Fortunately, Pei Ji didn't know that she was not asleep when she was secretly kissed on the cheek.
If he knew it, she would be ashamed to death.
"Hehehe, Ningning bought breakfast hehehe."
Chengying was in high spirits, regaining his vitality. He looked at the food on the table and said, "When you become Taoist couples, this will probably be the case. Hehehe."
Pei Ji: ...
Pei Ji frowned and took a bite of the soft custard bun. He seldom eats sweet food, but at this moment, the aroma of hot milk filled his tongue, making him reluctant to swallow it.
He did so many absurd things last night, the most absurd of which was that -
That kiss.
Just thinking of this word made his heart sink.
Fortunately, Ningning didn't know about that. If she knew...
This thought flashed through his mind quickly, and the boy's face quickly turned red.
Pei Ji lay on the table and rubbed his cheek with his arm, but this clumsy action did not reduce the burning heat at all. Instead, it made him even more irritated due to the repeated rubbing.
If Ningning knew about this, he would be ashamed to death.
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