Hotel
Pang Linqiu's face was filled with reluctance and coercion. She was being dragged along, and she didn't want to move like a dead person. Her palms were sweaty, and Peng Xuan'an's hands were so hot, as if it were a summer day with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius, making her feel like she was about to faint from the heat.
"Could you let go of my hand?" she asked, looking annoyed.
"Then promise me you won't take off the rope or run around, and I'll let go."
"Oh." She took a bite of the sesame seed cake, which was just the right temperature to enter her mouth.
"Okay." He let go of her hand.
The two were connected by the red string on their ring fingers as they walked through the crowd. He was afraid that she would sneak away from his sight, so he would always look back anxiously, only feeling relieved when he saw her obediently staying behind him eating her pancake.
The two arrived at a vendor selling candied hawthorns. He pointed to the skewers coated in honey and asked, "Want some?"
"I don't want to." She refuses to touch, eat, or even look at anything he buys.
"Don't you like it?" He assumed she didn't.
He glanced at the sugar figurine next to him and asked, "What about this one?"
"I don't want to." The same reply.
He didn't believe it. He had heard Qin Xiangde say that she preferred sweets. The candied hawthorn was a bit sour, but the sugar figurine was truly sweet. "Why? Is it because I bought it?"
"..." She silently ate the sesame seed cake.
Silence is golden, and in his eyes, that meant tacit approval; she didn't like what he bought.
He noticed that she was almost finished with the sesame seed cake in her hand, and put the matter from his mind. He leaned closer to her face and asked, "Can I have a bite?" He mimicked Qin Xiangde's gentle tone, thinking that she liked Qin Xiangde because of his gentleness.
Her hair stood on end, and she felt a little nauseous. She quickly stuffed the few remaining sesame cakes into her mouth, her cheeks bulging. This made Peng Xuan'an laugh out loud, and he pinched her soft cheek. "Afraid I'll steal them?"
Pang Linqiu frowned, her face turning ugly. She slapped his hand away and continued chewing as she walked forward.
Peng Xuan'an quickly followed, wrapping the red rope around his ring finger several times in an attempt to shorten the distance between them.
Pang Linqiu finished chewing the sesame seed cake, and Peng Xuan'an followed in her footsteps, the two walking side by side. She suddenly stopped at a stall with a table full of small items, all carved from wood, mostly in the shapes of everyday objects.
She immediately spotted a tiny wooden cat, no bigger than her little finger. The little cat smiled with its eyes narrowed and raised its hand to beckon something. She picked up the little wooden cat and examined it, quite satisfied.
She asked, "How much is this, boss?"
The middle-aged shopkeeper waved his hand, glanced at the two women's clothes, and laughed, "Miss, this isn't for sale..."
"Add more money," she said generously, feeling a strong connection with the kitten.
The middle-aged shopkeeper shook his head and looked at Peng Xuan'an, "Miss, this was provided by the government. It doesn't require money to buy; you just need to complete the task to receive it."
"What actions were taken?" Seeing that offering more money wasn't working, she had no choice but to ask.
The shopkeeper looked Peng Xuan'an up and down and smiled broadly: "Hmm... you need a partner to carry you on their shoulders or hold you in their arms, and you can get one for free."
She froze, as if startled, her gaze slowly shifting to Peng Xuan'an beside her, her lips twitching. "...Him?" She quickly put the little wooden cat back, wanting to leave the scene as soon as possible. "Never mind! I don't want it anymore!"
Peng Xuan'an found the challenge interesting. Seeing her grabbing his sleeve to leave, he refused to let her. He pulled her back to where she was, bent down, grabbed her thighs, and lifted her high into the air. Pang Linqiu was startled. Seeing her feet getting further and further off the ground, she panicked. She instinctively looked for something to grab onto for stability, but only managed to grab Mao Mao's hair.
She ran her hands through his hair! She sat on Peng Xuan'an's shoulders, feeling completely weightless! Especially from behind! She was terrified that she might fall backward and her head would ache terribly! He felt the person on his shoulder trembling, so he grabbed her hand and helped her sit steadily on his shoulder.
"Put...put me down!" she stammered in fear.
The boss smiled and praised, "Young man, you're in great shape!" He gave him a thumbs up.
She was the only one terrified; she hated it! She hated it so much!
"Peng Xuan'an! If you don't put me down, I'm leaving!" she warned threateningly.
Peng Xuan'an squatted down and put her down. Her legs were weak and she felt uncomfortable all over.
Upon hearing the name "Peng Xuan'an," the shopkeeper quickly suppressed his laughter and respectfully presented the little wooden cat.
"So it's a major general! Haha." He glanced at the still-shaken Pang Linqiu, "I never imagined you, major general, would find such a beauty..."
Pang Linqiu finally came to her senses, but she was furious. She really didn't want to waste any more time with him. It was still early, and she could make it back in time! She just wanted to leave and never come back!
Peng Xuan'an picked up the little wooden cat with a cheerful smile, "Thank you, old man..." Before the two could finish their conversation, Pang Linqiu grabbed his sleeve and pulled him forward, her face dark and displeased.
Peng Xuan'an knew he had upset her again, so he quickly asked softly, "I'm sorry, it's my fault, please don't be angry..."
Hearing this, she grew angrier, her face darkened, and she quickened her pace. She looked up at the sky.
The two arrived at the riverbank, where lotus lanterns, each adorned with a candle, floated on the water, their brilliance like the sun, dispelling the river's gloom.
She stopped and glanced at the lotus lantern in the water, on which were some blessings: "General, it's getting late, we should go back."
He was reluctant to leave, saying, "It's still early, no rush." He also noticed the lotus lanterns on the river.
"Where is Brother Mohe?" she asked angrily.
"He might be lost. Let's go look for him together."
She sneered, disdainfully dismissing the absurd reason, "Lost? Liar!!!"
She felt sad and heartbroken. The pain of being abandoned overwhelmed her, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Liar! There was a rope around her, how could she get lost?! It was you! It was you!" she cried out helplessly, venting her frustration.
Seeing her tears, he felt a pang of heartache and lowered his eyes to apologize, saying, "I'm sorry."
"Bang—"
Fireworks pierced the night sky, soaring into the heavens and blooming into vibrant flowers. The smoke and light dispelled the darkness of Maple Town, leaving a gentle trail of light that softened the night sky. Against the backdrop of the dazzling fireworks, her delicate beauty became even more captivating. His heart pounded even harder. One end of the red ribbon fell to the ground, yet he still clung to the other, his eyes glazed over, gazing lovingly into her eyes.
The clamor along the riverbank seemed to be swallowed by the fireworks. The elderly, children, couples, and young men and women on the riverbank all smiled at the dazzling fireworks. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and also with feelings of love.
He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes filled with tenderness, seemingly lost in the moment, his cheek slowly drawing closer. He couldn't help but kiss her, and in the glow of the fireworks, he passionately kissed his beloved…
"Splash—" A sound of falling into the water.
"Someone has fallen into the water!"
"Help! Help!"
The crowd on the riverbank shouted, and Pang Linqiu scrambled onto the bank in a disheveled state, as did Peng Xuan'an.
She did it. Not wanting to be kissed, she kicked him, throwing him off balance. She leaned towards the river, and they both lost their balance and fell in! She wanted to inflict the same damage on both of them – that's the feeling of mutual destruction!
A gentle spring breeze blew, and she shivered all over. She rubbed her body with her hands to warm herself, but the wind felt as cold as if she were in a snowy wonderland!
A young gentleman stepped forward and asked her, "Young lady, are you alright?"
Okay? Okay my ass, people are freezing.
"Not good." She shook her head and looked at the young man.
He waved behind him, and someone stepped forward to hand him a cloak. "I have a cloak here, you can..."
Before he could finish speaking, Peng Xuan'an glared at him with dark eyes, startling the young master so much that he dared not speak. The murderous intent was palpable.
Peng Xuan'an stepped forward, grabbed Pang Linqiu's hand, and said in an unfriendly tone, "Keep it yourself." He then pulled her away into the distance.
Pang Linqiu was reluctantly dragged along. "Peng Xuan'an! What are you doing!" Not a single limb of hers wanted to go with him.
"Do you want to catch a cold?" He led her to the nearest inn.
Pang Linqiu understood his intention, let go of his hand, and hurriedly walked towards the waiter at the counter.
"Waiter, I'd like a room!"
Peng Xuan'an followed closely behind. The waiter looked at the two of them and noticed that Peng Xuan'an was wearing the red string, while Pang Linqiu was not. He asked, "Are you two a couple?"
"yes."
"No!" she glared angrily at Peng Xuan'an.
"Get a room!" he said, holding up one finger.
"Two rooms!" she said, holding up two fingers.
The waiter was perplexed and smiled wryly, "What's wrong with these two...?"
Pang Linqiu hurriedly took out the money and slammed it on the counter. "Two rooms! Here's the money for two rooms!"
"..." Peng Xuan'an remained silent, his brows furrowed in displeasure.
The waiter was difficult to deal with and didn't want to provoke the two. He sensed that the two had a disagreement and said, "Please wait a moment, let me see if there are any rooms available."
The waiter flipped through the room register, and seeing the bitter look on his face, he shook his head and looked at her, "Oh dear, young lady, we only have one couple's room left. Why don't you two make do?"
Pang Linqiu wanted to leave and give him the room, but the waiter stopped her and tried his best to persuade her, "Hey! Miss, you're still wet! There are only two inns in town, and there are many people around. It's not good for a young lady to be wet. You might end up with a health problem."
Peng Xuan'an agreed, "Linqiu... let's rest for a while, change our clothes, and then we can leave."
"Okay then." She sighed in agreement, thinking that it would only take a shower and a change of clothes, how long could it take?
After Pang Linqiu received the refund, the two took the key and went upstairs. The room was spacious and bright, with a screen in front of the bathtub and a book on the bed. Everything else was fine.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
