Chapter 15 We are the most compatible people in the world. This one bite seems to be enough...
After Li Fu was escorted back to his residence, the bustling city of Luzhou was still not fully awake.
As dawn broke, there were few pedestrians on the road, with only two or three breakfast stalls set up.
In the thin morning mist, wisps of smoke slowly rose, and amidst the clanging of pots and pans, the deserted street finally came alive with a bit of life.
As the two passed by, the people who were busy with their work unconsciously stopped, amazed by the graceful young woman. After a few seconds of stunned silence, they looked on in surprise at her and Zhui Ming's clasped hands.
Interlocking fingers is the most straightforward expression, but even more straightforward is the silent blush on the girl's cheeks, like a newly blossoming begonia in the misty rain. It is truly puzzling that such a beautiful young woman of sixteen would fall in love with a down-and-out middle-aged man.
People always respect clothes before people, and physical appearance before spiritual essence.
This disheveled, middle-aged man had neither a handsome appearance nor a refined manner of dress. He wore a half-open shirt and a gourd of wine at his waist, looking quite unkempt.
Everyone secretly shook their heads, thinking how such a beautiful and delicate young girl had been tricked by such a down-on-his-luck man.
She's still too young.
Those looks weren't exactly subtle, but fortunately, Zhui Ming was someone who didn't care what others thought of him. He had long since seen through the ways of the world and was the most open-minded person imaginable.
He felt no discomfort whatsoever, remaining calm and composed. In fact, the only person who could make him care about how others saw or thought of him now was the little girl with a small red birthmark between her eyebrows.
As for Sang Wan, she didn't care at all. Only she knew that this seemingly down-on-his-luck man possessed precious qualities that no one else in the world could match, qualities that far surpassed his handsome appearance, gorgeous clothes, and boundless power.
When a person only uses these things to judge and measure others, they have lost the ability to see the more precious and rare souls.
When I reached the street corner, a familiar wonton stall had already been set up.
Sang Wan and Zhui Ming exchanged a glance. When they first met, they had eaten a bowl of shepherd's purse and pork wontons right here.
Zhuiming raised an eyebrow and, without her saying a word, led her to the same seat they had used the first time they ate there.
Last time they sat facing each other, but this time, because of the little girl's clingy nature, they sat very close together.
Zhuiming took the wine gourd from his waist and placed it on the table. He called out to the stall owner who was busy at the stove and ordered two bowls of mustard green and pork wontons as usual.
The stall owner responded and began deftly rolling out the dough and chopping the filling. It was too early; to get the first bowl of fresh wontons, they would have to wait quite a while.
Waiting for a late breakfast in a deserted morning market can be incredibly boring, but having someone by your side who fills your heart and soul makes everything seem peaceful and tender.
Zhuiming looked at the sweet-faced little girl who was propping her head up and looking at him, and asked with a smile, "Little girl, would you like to come back to Bianjing with me?"
He asked with a smile, but it didn't sound like a question, because he already knew the answer.
Sure enough, Sang Wan's eyes crinkled into a wider smile. She grabbed his hand and said happily, "Of course I'm going. Do you really want to leave me behind?"
Zhuiming pulled out the soft stopper from the gourd, tilted his head back, and took two sips of wine. He felt more cheerful than ever before. He smiled, still looking unkempt, but the deep loneliness between his brows had faded, making his smiling eyes appear even brighter.
He said, "How could Zhui Ming dare to abandon you?"
After saying that, he thought of his uncle and his three fellow disciples and said with a smile, "I'll introduce you to my three fellow disciples. We're like brothers. But they'll probably be surprised to see you."
He laughed it off, though he knew that his uncle and his three brothers were genuinely happy for him, especially his uncle. He was already over thirty; if he hadn't met a young woman, he probably would have lived a lonely life until the end.
Thinking of this, even this man, who always seemed to laugh at the world and was so open-minded and carefree, couldn't help but feel a touch of melancholy, as if he had been born before the other man was born and he was already old.
But Zhuiming didn't think about it anymore. He wasn't the type to wallow in self-pity; meeting her was already the greatest fortune.
Their meeting was a collision of two worlds, a chance encounter that might not happen for thousands or tens of thousands of years, yet fate brought them together and they fell in love.
Zhui Ming's fate was hardly fortunate. Apart from encountering Zhuge Zhengwo and his fellow disciples, this was the only time he felt that his fate finally had something to chase.
Sang Wan didn't have that many insights; she was still too young. For her, it was simply that she had met someone she loved and who was worthy of her love at the best age of her life.
Her eyelashes fluttered, her heart pounding with anticipation, and she asked him softly, "Cui Lüshang, how are you going to introduce me?"
Zhuiming was surprised by her direct question and felt unusually uncomfortable. He pretended to gulp down some wine and said, "Of course, I'll introduce you the way I should."
Sang Wan was both happy and dissatisfied, and gave a light snort, "Cui Lüshang, if what you said doesn't satisfy me, I'll..."
Her voice was drawn out, and her head-shaking and swaying manner was incredibly cute. Zhui Ming laughed out loud and said with a grin, "Wanwan is going to punish me?"
This was the first time he had called her by her nickname. It wasn't in a special setting or with a romantic phrase; it was just a casual remark during a normal banter, a slip of the tongue that revealed this intimacy, like a jar of wine quietly overflowing.
She was silent for a moment, then, after a sweet feeling spread through her heart, she let out a soft hum, suddenly glanced around furtively, and then planted a kiss on Zhui Ming's cheek, saying triumphantly, "I'm going to tell them that the Third Constable abused his power and molested me, that a weak and spineless girl like me was taken advantage of by you..."
Zhuiming was completely melted by her kisses. Seeing that she was becoming more and more outspoken, he pinched her face into a goldfish mouth and deliberately sighed, "Then my reputation will be ruined by you at my age. I can only say that this lovely little girl is my little woodpecker."
These words carried the teasing and doting tone unique to Zhui Ming. Upon hearing the words "woodpecker," Sang Wan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she bit her lip and covered her mouth, saying, "Cui Lüshang, you're so naughty, I'll tell your senior brothers on you later!"
When her cheeks flushed red, her eyes would well up with tears, revealing a captivating charm.
Those alluring muscles tightened around him, and a hidden undercurrent surged within them. One more glance could easily set things on fire. His throat was parched, so he subconsciously gulped down another drink.
She's right, he really is a bad person.
But anyone who saw such a pure and innocent young girl with spring-like eyes and a hint of reproach would probably be tempted to do something wicked.
Seeing him staring intently at her, Sang Wan was puzzled. She smiled and leaned closer to ask, "Are you scared?"
Zhuiming's breathing became slightly heavy. The wontons were ready to be cooked. The old man was still busy at the stove with his back to them. He lifted Sang Wan's chin and kissed her without saying a word.
Unlike the tender and lingering kiss during their first underwater encounter, or Sang Wan's affectionate pecks, this kiss was heavy and urgent, forcefully prying open her teeth and penetrating deep inside, grinding and swallowing.
His strong arms and chest held her tightly. Her face was flushed, and her limbs were weak as she leaned against him. His heart pounded in her palm like heavy drumbeats, making her body tremble along with him.
She could barely breathe, forced to breathe, swallow, and intertwine with him, her lips, teeth, and nose filled with the rich, spicy yet lingering aroma of wine.
This fierce plunder made her dizzy. Their skin was burning hot against each other, and all she could hear was his heavy breathing. She couldn't stand the aggression and instinctively knew she was about to make some shameful sound. Her mind was in turmoil as she pushed him away, her face a mixture of shame and anger.
Zhuiming chuckled softly, his chest vibrating as he said in a hoarse voice, "Scared?"
Without exception, all men in the world become the worst thing when faced with beauty.
Sang Wan covered her burning cheeks and remained silent, so Zhui Ming dared not tease her any further.
He had no choice but to return to the previous topic, pretending to be serious and saying, "Wanwan has complained to my two senior brothers, I'm afraid I can't be afraid."
Sang Wan looked up, puzzled, and blushed as she asked him shyly, "Why? I'm usually most afraid of my senior brothers and sisters."
Master spent most of his time in seclusion cultivating, so Sang Wan was practically raised by her senior brothers and sisters, who could be considered half her parents.
Zhui Ming chuckled, "I'm much older than my two senior brothers."
Zhuiming looked at her wide-open eyes. She was cute, beautiful, and vibrant. No words could adequately describe her. He always felt like laughing in her presence, and he felt genuinely happy.
He suddenly said, "Let's set off back to Bianjing tomorrow."
He had been in Luzhou City for quite some time, and now, with the help of the clam spirit, all his injuries had healed. It was time for him to return and report back to his uncle as soon as possible.
But his sudden remark reminded him of his old building, and he suddenly felt a strong urge to live with Sang Wan there. So he said, "I have a lot of fine wine stored in the old building I'm guarding. Would you like to drink some?"
He was certainly not talking about fine wine.
But Sang Wan didn't catch that. She blinked and tilted her head to ask him, "Do you have any fine fragrant drinks?"
Zhuiming laughed loudly, feeling a tingling sensation in his heart. He looked at her and said, "We'll have it in the future. When we get back, we'll store many jars of fragrant drinks for Wanwan."
Sang Wan was overjoyed and wanted to lean in and kiss him, but the old man had already brought them wontons, so she had no choice but to sit up straight and accept the steaming wontons.
Through the paper-thin wonton wrapper, you can see the emerald green shepherd's purse and the firm pork. A little bit of lard is slowly melting inside, swirling around. The soup is piping hot, and steam rises in a misty haze. Sang Wan scoops one up, her pretty face hidden behind it, hazy and somewhat indistinct.
Looking at her, on this ordinary, companionable morning, a strange, indescribable emotion suddenly welled up inside him, heavy and heavy. Those who have experienced hardship and suffering are even more afraid of losing happiness when they feel it.
Zhuiming had experienced a couple of ambiguous relationships, but they all ended without fruition, leaving him with nothing but pain. The word "love" always tormented him, making him even more afraid at this moment. Faced with happiness within reach, he was reminded of the dangers of the martial world and the conflicts in the imperial court.
He suddenly reached out to brush away the hot mist that dampened Sang Wan's eyelashes, his complex emotions hidden beneath the calm surface of his mind. "Returning to Bianjing will also bring you danger. If..."
He couldn't utter a single word if he didn't come out.
Sang Wan, however, kept her head down, diligently scooping up wontons, and said naturally, "Danger is good! You're a constable who punishes evil, and I'm a cultivator who captures demons. Wherever you go to investigate and solve cases, I'll go there to subdue demons and monsters. We can fulfill the wishes you wrote on the prayer ribbon together! Aren't we the most perfect match in the world?"
She seemed unaware of the powerful words she had just uttered; with a wonton in her mouth, she suddenly looked up and gave him a sweet smile.
Zhuiming felt as if he had taken a big gulp of mead, the sweetness going straight to his heart, and that one sip seemed to make up for a lifetime of bitterness.
A note from the author:
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Cui San is finally happy! This story of the positive young couple has come to an end; more will appear in other episodes~
The next installment is "The Handsome Young Man's Meal"! It's so cold, I haven't seen any food before, so I'll cut off a piece of my own leg to make a bowl of cold noodles. Hope someone likes it! The tone is a pure love story of redemption!
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