Chapter 74 First Love vs. Lover's Lantern Good heavens, what does this have to do with being on a date...?
Thousands of lights floated in the night sky, like a dazzling galaxy cascading down to earth.
The man's long, ink-black hair was not fully tied up, cascading down to his waist like a waterfall, and he wore a snow-white robe.
A white jade mask concealed his eyebrows and eyes, revealing only his prominent nose and two thin, pale lips. His jawline was sharp as if cut by a knife, exuding a sense of indifference and authority.
He exuded an innate arrogance and dominance, as if he were born to wield the chessboard and was adept at making decisions.
However, the pure white attire strangely softened this overbearing demeanor, like calmly sheathing a sharpened blade in an ancient scabbard.
Even without seeing the whole face, no one would doubt that beneath the mask lies an extremely handsome, yet also extremely imposing, face.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
The surrounding clamor of voices, dazzling lights, and myriad colors of light rapidly faded away, and the world fell silent.
Only the breathtakingly handsome man before her eyes remained, the sole source of light in her gaze.
A fleeting glimpse is nothing more than this.
Wen Yinhe heard the sound of a heartbeat resounding heavily in his ears.
Thump—thump—
Heavy and fast, completely out of control, it rampaged through his chest, almost bursting out.
Wen Yinhe was speechless and stood there, forgetting what he was going to say next.
[Aaaaaaah, the Demon Lord has finally appeared! I've missed you so much, waaaaaah! My favorite couple is finally together again!]
[Xiaoxue, you did a great job! Xiaoxue, you were such a great wingman! You deserve a big bonus when you get back!!!]
[Wait a minute... Demon Lord, isn't that belt called Annihilation? Not bad, not bad at all. While finding a wife for himself, the kid also remembers to help his dad find one. What a good kid!]
[Why is the Demon Lord wearing the Immortal Lord's clothes?! Goodness gracious! Even when they're not together, they've finally managed to live like each other! And this mask! It's clearly the first white mask the stall owner originally recommended, with a white crane pattern on it! Damn it, if it weren't for the "crane" in "Wen Yinhe," I'd eat this mask! I'm really going to die... Did they really swap clothes?!]
[The amnesiac immortal lord seems to have fallen in love with the demon lord at first sight! I absolutely love this kind of trope where even after forgetting everything, the immortal lord still feels like he's in love with the demon lord at first sight! So satisfying! Thank goodness it's pure love, we're saved!!! [crying][crying][crying]]
Fortunately, the man was not angry. Instead, he raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he found Wen Yinhe's reaction quite amusing.
He stretched out a long, slender, fair hand and gently removed the fan from his belt, his voice deep and pleasant: "Your fan seems to really like my belt."
Wen Yinhe met the man's teasing gaze and suddenly came to his senses, only then realizing that he had been holding his breath for so long.
He quickly regained his breathing, but the air he inhaled seemed to be tinged with the cool, faint scent of ink emanating from the other person, causing his heartbeat to skip a beat instead of calming down, and then surge uncontrollably again at an even more frantic pace.
Wen Yinhe hurriedly removed his half-face mask, revealing a clear and gentle face. His ears were slightly burning, indicating they were noticeably red, which made him feel a little embarrassed.
"I am very sorry. I have offended you unintentionally. I hope you will forgive me." Wen Yinhe bowed and greeted him. His voice was slightly dry due to nervousness, losing its clear and bright tone and becoming somewhat hoarse.
However, the man was also stunned for a moment when he looked at his handsome and refined face.
The mask concealed his expression, but one could still clearly see the sudden depth and intensity in the man's eyes, and his fingers gripping the fan tightened slightly involuntarily.
The hand that was about to hand the fan back to Wen Yinhe circled in the air before inexplicably withdrawing itself.
Wen Yinhe looked up at him, bewildered, showing no displeasure at his strange behavior, her mind filled with a mix of anxiety and unease.
Would it be too abrupt and presumptuous of me to invite him to enjoy the lanterns with me now?
We've only known each other for a second, and we don't even know each other's names.
But in this vast sea of people, meeting someone is so difficult. If we don't seize this moment, we may never have another chance.
Although it was only a glance, and I didn't know the other person's name, identity, age, or anything else, and I had never even seen their full appearance.
But at this moment, Wen Yinhe was so clear that his heart was pounding wildly for the man in front of him, as if he had lost his soul, announcing an unexpected heartbeat and fall into a trap.
This was entirely instinctive, without the slightest pretense or performance. After all, how could Wen Yinhe not be moved, fall in love, or become infatuated with Lu Huaijin every time he looked at him?
If it were said that Wen Yinhe could never act out the look in Lu Huaijin's eyes, he would never be able to.
With such loving eyes for Lu Huaijin, Wen Yinhe would never need to put on an act.
However, just as Wen Yinhe was about to extend an invitation, the person in front of him spoke first.
"What should I do? I'm a petty person, so I'm afraid I can't return your fan." The man turned around and stuck the fan into the gap of his jade belt, his actions domineering and rude, yet he pretended to be troubled.
Wen Yinhe was completely infatuated with the man and lost his mind, but his brain blurted out, "Then I'll give it to you."
Lanxue: ?
qaq
The man chuckled, his upturned lips seeming to hold the radiant light of the entire world, inadvertently brushing past Wen Yinhe's heart and stirring ripples of excitement: "It just so happens that today is the Lantern Festival. As punishment for your offense, would you be willing to enjoy the lanterns with me, young master?"
"Okay!" Wen Yinhe answered quickly without pausing. Was this a punishment? This was clearly a compliment!
Lu Huaijin was taken aback, then chuckled softly once more.
Wen Yinhe's face flushed red, her eyelashes trembled shyly, yet she couldn't help glancing at the man's face, as if the man's face had a unique magnetic attraction, making it impossible for her to look away.
"My name is Lu Huaijin. May I ask how you address me, young master?" Lu Huaijin stared intently at Wen Yinhe's flushed face, his gaze burning with an intensity that seemed almost tangible.
“My name is Wen Yinhe,” Wen Yinhe’s Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly. Lu Huaijin’s stare made his face feel hot and burning, and his head was so dizzy that he almost forgot his own name. “You can just call me Yinhe.”
"Hidden Crane..."
Lu Huaijin repeated these two words, as if he were holding a piece of honey that was about to melt in his mouth, touching it with the tip of his tongue, slowly rolling it over his teeth, savoring and grinding each syllable repeatedly.
"Like a hermit, unassuming and unassuming; like a crane, elegant and refined; concealing one's sharpness within and displaying one's elegance without—you are a perfect match for me."
Wen Yinhe felt as if Lu Huaijin wasn't calling his name, but rather putting his whole body into his mouth and savoring it.
A scalding heat, accompanied by Lu Huaijin's deep and sexy voice, exploded in Wen Yinhe's heart without warning, then surged through his entire body, making his fingertips numb and his cheeks burn.
Fortunately, the darkness and lights concealed him, preventing him from making a fool of himself in front of his beloved.
However, Lu Huaijin would never laugh at him; he would only find him adorable.
[Ahhhhh, it's mutual love at first sight! I can't take it, I really love this kind of thing! Is there anything sweeter than falling in love at the same time?! It's so romantic, it's killing me with sweetness!!!]
[Immortal Venerable, look at your shameless face! It's hilarious! Even Xiaoxue is terrified! You just gave away the child you raised with such difficulty!]
[Xiaoxue: Daddy, don't you want me anymore? QAQ]
It's okay, Xiaoxue. Going to your other dad's place won't make a difference. You can't be separated by your two dads, so don't worry!
[Immortal Venerable: (pointing at Demon Venerable) See that handsome guy? That's your other father. Help your father win him over, and Annihilation will be yours!]
[Xiaoxue: OoO (eyes widen suddenly) Daddy, I've got you covered!!!]
[Hilarious, is this how you treat a child every day?]
[Neither of them seems to be acting; they're genuinely smitten! It's so beautiful, I almost cried! I never knew seeing other people's happiness could make me cry! QAQ]
[Get out of the way, everyone! My favorite character is going to start dating! [Speaker] Get out of the way, everyone! My favorite character is going to start dating! [Speaker] Get out of the way, everyone! My favorite character is going to start dating! [Speaker]]
The two walked side by side, one in black and one in white, blending into the bustling crowd.
The cries of vendors lining both sides of the street filled the air, and colorful lanterns competed for attention.
After Lu Huaijin's introduction, Wen Yinhe learned that Lu Huaijin's belt was actually a black iron chain, as white as snow, and was Lu Huaijin's natal magic weapon, named Annihilation.
Wen Yinhe couldn't help but sigh that Lanxue was indeed his good eldest son, even his taste in potential partners was just as good as his.
They admired the lanterns and discussed poetry along the way, their conversation remarkably harmonious, as if they were old friends who had known each other for many years, without the slightest awkwardness or discomfort.
Wen Yinhe felt increasingly shy and moved, thinking to himself that this person must be his true love, the one he would love, protect, and cherish with all his remaining time, and never let go of for the rest of his life.
What a beautiful and heartwarming sentence.
Just imagining spending the rest of my life with such a wonderful and lovely person makes me so happy that I almost cry.
As we walked to the busiest section of the street, the crowds became increasingly dense.
Wen Yinhe walked on the left, spontaneously blocking the more crowded people in the middle of the street for Lu Huaijin.
In the intervals between his movements, his right hand would occasionally touch Lu Huaijin's left hand, which hung down by his side, and then quickly separate. Each brief touch and light rub was like a spark splashing on the skin, leaving a small patch of clear and burning itchiness.
Finally, in another moment when their fingertips touched inadvertently, before Wen Yinhe could even think, his hand had already grabbed Lu Huaijin's hand before his mind could even process it.
It felt smooth and delicate to the touch, carrying the coolness of the night, yet the moment it touched me, it quickly radiated a heat similar to that of his palm.
Intense, humid, with a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor.
Wen Yinhe clearly felt Lu Huaijin's hand stiffen slightly, but he did not pull away; instead, he gently squeezed back.
"With so many people around, it's not easy to get separated if you hold hands," Wen Yinhe explained in a low voice, trying to sound calm, but his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.
“Hmm…that makes sense,” Lu Huaijin said in a hoarse voice.
Wen Yinhe secretly glanced to the side and saw that Lu Huaijin's jade-white earlobes had suddenly turned crimson, which was particularly noticeable under the light.
When he turned back, the tips of his ears were even redder and hotter, as if they had been infected by Lu Huaijin.
The spot where their palms were pressed tightly together was damp with sweat; it was impossible to tell which of the two men was sweating, only that it felt sticky and burning.
Wen Yinhe had clearly held this hand thousands of times, but now it seemed as if he had suddenly forgotten how to hold hands.
I dared not use too much force, for fear of hurting him, yet I dared not use too little force, for fear of him escaping.
He was so innocent and naive, like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, clearly cherishing it to the extreme.
Lu Huaijin, standing to the side, was also unusually blushing and his heart was pounding. He was nervous and shy, and his whole body was stiff. The presence of the hand that Wen Yinhe was holding was even stronger than ever before. His entire arm connected to the palm, along with half of his shoulder, was completely numb.
Good heavens, how is this any different from a date?
How is this any different from falling in love again?!
He always knew that their meeting and falling in love were different from ordinary people's experiences; they had never had many experiences that would be commonplace for ordinary people.
They have never felt any regret about it.
Love is never about following the rules; no one dictates what steps two people must take to fall in love.
But at this moment, Lu Huaijin felt as if he had truly returned to the time of his first love.
He once held Wen Yinhe's hand and went for a walk, and had a similar feeling briefly.
However, Wen Yinhe's illness had not yet been cured, and they soon encountered some unexpected events, forcing them to turn back halfway.
Unexpectedly, after so many years and so many twists and turns, they finally held hands again, just like an ordinary couple no different from anyone else in the world, and walked side by side the road they hadn't finished back then.
So happy...
I'm so happy.
I'm so happy I almost want to cry.
This is not only fulfilling Wen Yinhe's dream, but also fulfilling his dream.
Wen Yinhe also felt indebted to Lu Huaijin.
He felt he owed Lu Huaijin too much for being so good to him, for giving so much and losing so much for him, for the hardships his Mr. Lu had endured over the years, and for not being able to give Lu Huaijin the ordinary, simple, smooth, and healthy love that everyone else had.
What was missed in the past can never be made up for across time.
All he could do was try his best to spend every day of the rest of his life bringing Lu Huaijin the same kind of heart-fluttering and beautiful feeling of first love.
So that he can live like a teenager every day, simply happy because he sees the person he likes.
【Oh my god! I can't take it anymore! Are you two really a couple who've been married for seven years and slept together thousands of times?! How can you... how can you be so naive?! Okay, okay, now you're playing the innocent card! You guys really know how to play the game! You even date backwards, huh?!】
[This is so incredibly ambiguous!!! I was writhing in bed watching it! I was practically munching on the blankets! Pure love is the best!!!]
[The Best Actor is one thing... but even President Lu is! Your faces are both incredibly red! Help... I, who can remain unfazed while watching Xiao Huanghuang at the board meeting, am blushing! It's so hot today! Hehehe~]
[I got so caught up in shipping a couple with my girlfriends that I accidentally got slashed by a sword! [Shocked] Huh? Why doesn't it hurt? [Confused] Turns out it was just a sweet love sword from a couple~ [Pity]]
Just then, a loud gong and drum banged out, and a lion dance troupe suddenly rushed out from around the corner.
The crowd immediately stirred, pushing forward to get a closer look.
Lu Huaijin instinctively grabbed Wen Yinhe's collar and pulled him forcefully towards himself. The two of them backed away from the crowd on the outside of the road.
Staggering, Lu Huaijin's back bumped into a pillar in front of a small shop, while Wen Yinhe braced himself with one arm on the side of Lu Huaijin's face, his chest pressed against Lu Huaijin's, their faces almost colliding.
"Be careful," Wen Yinhe licked his lips and whispered.
Their faces were so close that their breaths mingled, and they could almost count each other's eyelashes.
Lu Huaijin's eyes, hidden beneath his mask, suddenly widened, as if drawn in by Wen Yinhe, unable to look away even for a moment.
The redness on Wen Yinhe's face hadn't faded since the moment he reunited with Lu Huaijin; it was getting hotter and hotter, and his skin was almost being broken by the surging blood.
The sound of my heart pounding in my ears was too loud and was still gradually increasing.
The noise was so loud and disruptive that Wen Yinhe almost doubted whether the other party could hear it as well.
The throbbing sensation was so intense, almost painful, yet it gripped Wen Yinhe's heart with a blissful joy.
Wen Yinhe could clearly feel the temperature of the body in his arms, and could smell the faint warmth of Lu Huaijin's breath, which attracted him to sniff it, to put it in his mouth and savor it, and to give him a taste of his own medicine.
It's unclear who started it.
Their faces unconsciously drew closer, their breaths hot, and their lips were about to touch—
With a soft "thud," Wen Yinhe's high nose bridge collided with Lu Huaijin's mask.
Both of them were stunned for a moment, their eyes met, and they looked at each other blankly. Then, they burst out laughing in unison.
The lion dance troupe had already gone far away, and most of the crowded people had followed them away.
The atmosphere between the two became even more subtle and ambiguous, and both their faces turned identically red.
"I'm sorry, I just now..." Wen Yinhe stammered, unsure how to explain his almost out-of-control behavior.
However, before he could finish speaking, Lu Huaijin took his hand again. This time, he directly rubbed between the bases of his fingers, slowly sliding in and tightening like a snake, one by one. With a damp heat, it made the base of each finger numb and itchy, like a series of wet and sticky kisses, making his heart tremble.
"It's alright, crowds are inevitable, so we should hold on even tighter."
Lu Huaijin's deep gaze reflected Wen Yinhe's image, almost making Wen Yinhe unable to control himself and kiss him.
But he wanted to save that kiss for last.
By the end of this long and alluring ambiguity, both of them had reached the limit of their uncontrollable emotions.
At that time, that kiss must have been like a fine wine that had been aged and refined.
The smooth, silky liquid envelops the tongue and glides down the throat, its rich aroma swirling in the throat before overflowing from moist lips and teeth along with hot breaths and pleasant sighs, carrying a heart full of ripe, warm love—more fragrant, sweeter, and richer.
He knew that Lu Huaijin must think the same way.
Wen Yinhe tightened his fingers, applying the same force in return, their bases pressed tightly together without a single gap.
Their palms were sweaty, but neither was willing to let go. They walked slowly and silently toward the riverbank.
They weren't in a hurry, but some people were getting really anxious:
[Is this supposed to be a hookup for someone else? It's clearly us! *Waaah!* *Scratching my hair!* *Going on a rampage!!!*
[That damned mask! You deserve to die! You deserve to die! I'll chop you up! Waaaaahh ...
[This is clearly first love! I'm crying! Thank you to my kind-hearted partner for this first love gift! My partner knows I didn't see them dating, so they're doing it all over again for me! I'm so lucky to have such a partner!!! (I know I'm being narcissistic, let me immerse myself in this beautiful love and not pull myself out!)]
[Huffing and puffing—heavy breathing—haha, so naive, huh? Trying to pull this on me, huh? Dinner's here, dinner's here! Fifteen is the perfect age for first love, don't you think? Kissing behind classroom curtains, kissing behind books in the library, kissing under the covers in the dorm, lips parting in a panic the moment parents knock on the door, pants not even properly on before scrambling under the covers, a guilty yet awkward smile on a naive face…that's the thrill of first love!!!]
[Haha, so what if you don't give me food? You've still managed to develop an incredibly strong ability to fill in the gaps in my understanding! *crying*]
Many people were releasing lanterns along the riverbank, mostly in pairs. The lanterns floated downstream, like a galaxy falling to earth.
Wen Yinhe was deeply moved and gently suggested, "Let's set off one too."
Lu Huaijin nodded in agreement.
They selected an exquisite mandarin duck lantern from the vendor; it was finely carved and lifelike.
Wen Yinhe pointed her long, slender fingers at the mandarin duck lanterns, her face flushed red in the lamplight, her gaze towards Lu Huaijin shimmering with a shy and tender light.
"Huaijin, look, these two mandarin ducks, one black and one white, are they like us now, leaning on each other, deeply in love?"
That gentle, almost sweet voice made the viewers in the live chat shudder. Even the most die-hard shippers couldn't help but rub their goosebumps and cry out for help.
Lu Huaijin's eyes darkened slightly, and he sighed meaningfully, "Then you are this white, and I am this black. Black and white cannot coexist, and are destined to contradict and contend with each other, like the two ends of yin and yang, incompatible."
Wen Yinhe's heart tightened, a strange, sharp pain gripping his chest. He stared intently into Lu Huaijin's dark eyes, speaking each word with righteous indignation:
"No, mandarin ducks are one. If you are white, then I will cut off all the black in the world for you, so that you will not be stained by a speck of dust, and protect you for a lifetime without flaw. If you are black, then I will dye my white clothes black for you, and go into the night with you, with no more boundaries."
Lu Huaijin was slightly taken aback, and found himself inexplicably exposed under his overly sincere and earnest gaze.
"Young master, you have excellent taste! This is our best-selling lantern, the most effective one!" The lantern vendor's shrewd eyes swept over the two people's ambiguous expressions, and he immediately beamed with joy, "A couple as enviable as you two should release a pair of mandarin duck lanterns on the Lantern Festival. With the blessing of the Old Man Under the Moon, they will surely drift far away, making all the couples along the riverbank envious!"
Wen Yinhe realized that their relationship had been misunderstood, and hurriedly glanced at Lu Huaijin. Seeing that he did not refute it, she was secretly delighted and happily paid for the lantern.
The two of them each held a pen and wrote their wishes on the front and back of the mandarin duck lanterns, agreeing not to peek at each other's writings.
Without pausing, Wen Yinhe wrote on the front of the lamp—
May the embers of the Huai River always be with me, and may every year be like this evening.
After finishing writing, he turned the lamp over and handed it to Lu Huaijin, but his eyes seemed to linger on Lu Huaijin as if he had forgotten to look away. Seeing Lu Huaijin's focused expression and his profile looking particularly gentle and tender under the lamplight, he felt an overwhelming surge of tenderness in his heart.
"Alright." Lu Huaijin pretended not to see the curiosity and tension in Wen Yinhe's eyes and put the pen away.
Together they gently placed the mandarin duck lanterns into the river.
Lu Huaijin casually drew Lanxue, which had transformed into a fan, from his waist, opened it, and gently swept it across the lamp.
The lanterns immediately drifted away with the waves and quickly blended into the millions of other lanterns, becoming indistinguishable.
"What did you write?" Wen Yinhe, unable to contain his curiosity, finally asked softly.
Lu Huaijin turned to look at him, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath the mask, and gave an unexpected yet perfectly logical answer:
"Just like you."
These words made Wen Yinhe's heart race instantly, almost confirming that the other person shared the same feelings as him.
He mustered his courage, grabbed Lu Huaijin's hand, and pulled him to a secluded spot under a bridge.
Far from the main road, this place is sparsely populated with tourists, except for the scattered lanterns floating on the river, reflecting the shimmering water.
A weeping willow stands by the river, its branches partially obscuring the stone bridge, creating a narrow and private space.
The area under the bridge was shrouded in a hazy light, and one could only see by the faint glow of distant lights and lanterns in the river.
Wen Yinhe turned to face Lu Huaijin, took a deep breath, and finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind all night:
"Can I... take off your mask?"
Lu Huaijin raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised.
The lamplight flickered in the darkness, gilding the white mask on his nose with a warm golden edge. His deep black eyes were filled with a dangerous yet alluring signal. His gaze slowly swept over Wen Yinhe's eyebrows, nose, and cheeks, as if it were a tangible thing, and finally landed on Wen Yinhe's full lips, which were slightly pursed in tension.
The air instantly became thick and still.
Wen Yinhe held his breath and stared intently into Lu Huaijin's eyes, glimpsing the light dancing within them, and also seeing his own small reflection.
Lu Huaijin's lips curled into a faint smile, almost a provocative seduction. He spoke slowly, each word laced with allure, his voice low and husky as he murmured:
"If I take it off, you have to kiss me. Are you sure?"
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