Dongfang Ximing’s eyes widened, reflecting the red lantern lights. He dashed a few steps forward, turned to look at Wang Anfeng, and waved at him. Wang Anfeng walked forward slowly, gazing at the lantern lights and bustling scenes on both sides. Children argued over lantern riddles, fruits were displayed, and the elderly spoke in low voices.
The middle-aged couples put aside their work, changed clothes, and wandered along the street temple fair.
Pups of yellow and black colors ran back and forth in the gaps between people’s legs, while cats perched on the walls, observing coldly. Amidst the hustle and bustle, he stood on the street, the crowd moving about, and yet he felt unable to step forward.
Suddenly, feeling sothing, he turned his head to see swaying paper lanterns painted with human figures slowly spinning. People ca and went around, with warm light glowing from the lanterns. Besides this, there was no other anomaly. Wang Anfeng slightly pinched his fingers with his right hand, frowning slightly.
"Brother, brother!"
Dongfang Ximing returned with a sugar-coated hawthorn skewer, his eyes glowing. He was about to boast to Wang Anfeng but noticed that Wang Anfeng seed to have a peculiar sense of detachnt. Although standing in the busiest place, surrounded by the bustling crowd and the warm light from the lanterns,
yet around Wang Anfeng, things seed a bit cold and quiet.
Dongfang Ximing couldn’t help but stop, but imdiately stepped forward to catch up. Wang Anfeng ca back to his senses, softly expressed his feelings, then arranged a ti with her, gave Dongfang Ximing so small silver pieces. He, on the other hand, proceeded to calculate the Heavenly Secrets, sensing the Qi chanism, and slowly searched for the gaze he had just perceived.
Yet he didn’t gain anything.
As the ti they agreed upon with Dongfang Ximing was nearing, and since there had been no unusual occurrences, the earlier gaze lacked murderous intent or malice, Wang Anfeng speculated that it might be from a Jianghu master recognizing him, temporarily stopped, sighed the Jianghu is full of hidden talents, and went to the designated restaurant.
Sitting by the window, ordered a pot of wine from the shopkeeper, quietly waiting for Dongfang Ximing.
The waiter delivered the wine and left, and he slowly poured himself a drink, gazing out the window.
Everything appeared peaceful, as if it was just his imagination.
Looking at the temple fair, he suddenly thought of the End of Year Festival from his childhood.
It was lively then, and he was as happy as Xi Ming is now, but now he couldn’t fit in, and the endless bustling world below seed separated by an unseen chasm he could no longer enjoy.
Wang Anfeng suddenly felt sowhat aged, rubbed his brow, laughed self-mockingly:
"I’m no longer at the age where I can play like Xi Ming."
"Oh well, I’ll wait for her to tire and co back up."
He thought of the departed Li Wu, touched the wine he prepared for Uncle Li, rembering that Uncle Li took most of it away, leaving just a small jar obtained a few days ago in Heaven Capital City, unnable to give it to the elder.
Footsteps sounded from the stairs behind.
It was the lively day of the temple fair, most commoners were outside, the restaurant only had the waiters who had to work, bored and laying on tables on the first floor, enviously gazing at the scenery outside. Suddenly footsteps ca from below.
Wang Anfeng found it strange that Xi Ming returned so early, withdrew his thoughts, and before turning around, heard a soft laugh by his ear, leisurely saying:
"Brother, this wine slls great."
"Could you sell so?"
A sense of familiarity surged in Wang Anfeng’s mind; he instinctively turned, saying:
"It’s just wine from the restaurant, if you don’t mind..."
His voice suddenly stopped.
He turned around to see a smiling woman behind him, despite dressed as a man was extrely familiar. She reached out, pointed to the wine in Wang Anfeng’s arms, smiling: "Look, the aroma is rich, I’ve slled it from far away."
"I’m a wine enthusiast since childhood, could you part with so?"
Wang Anfeng opened his mouth, gazing at the smiling woman ahead.
These were their first conversation lines.
His heart’s loneliness and solitude were almost instantly dispelled.
Wang Anfeng opened his mouth, saying: "Xue..."
The woman’s folding fan snapped shut with a pop, resting beneath her smooth chin, tilted her head, a curious expression on her lovely face, said:
"Oh, this brother, you seem very familiar."
"Have we..."
Her voice paused, she softly smiled, saying:
"t sowhere before?"
Her brown eyes were full of laughter, noticing Wang Anfeng’s frozen expression, she felt she perhaps overplayed the joke, coughed, lightly tapped her forehead with the folding fan, said:
"Okay, joke’s over..."
"Eh, ah?!"
......
Dongfang Ximing hugged lots of snacks, quickly ran up the restaurant.
Still thinking about her brother, she couldn’t play with peace of mind. Whenever she felt unhappy, she liked to eat so delicious food, thus she gathered many snacks, then ran all the way up to the restaurant, calling:
"Brother, I brought back lots of snacks for you!"
"There’s osmanthus cake, plum blossom cake, and jujube cake, honey cake... you..."
Dongfang Ximing’s voice abruptly stopped.
Fireworks rose into the sky outside, dyeing the night and the entire city in splendid colors. On the third floor of the restaurant, Dongfang Ximing saw the woman’s elegant profile across from Wang Anfeng, felt curious, noticing the always discreet Wang Anfeng suddenly stood up, his arms opened to gently hug the woman, rely a gentle hug like touching a fragile reflection.
Dongfang Ximing exclaid in surprise, disregarding the snacks in hand, lifted both hands to cover her eyes.
The snacks scattered all over, rolling down the stairs.
Dongfang Ximing peeked through her fingers.
She saw the girl’s ear rims reddened as if on fire.
She thought to herself.
What a shy girl...
PS: Today’s update is here...
Thanks to Shu Du Du for the generous reward, much appreciated
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