Cui Yuanyang didn’t know if she was really just naïve due to her youth... Anyway, the more people said it, including Zhao Changhe himself, the less she admitted it, telling herself that it was indeed true affection.
People always felt that age meant naïveté, yet they often forgot that there’s another term also applicable at the time, called rebellion. Wasn’t her initial solo foray into the stronghold and later running away to meet Zhao Changhe all because of this?
When Zhao Changhe left, she thought of him every day, jumping for joy at the mention of his war achievements in the Chaotic World Book, boasting to everyone, "You see, my brother Zhao is amazing!"
Thus, all her thoughts boiled down to "I like him."
But Yangyang never knew what to do when you liked someone, nor had she ever felt the kind of urge described in storybooks, the urge to kiss the other person. At most, she had felt a vague expectation, not knowing what it felt like... but a little curious to try it.
To say she wanted to try it, she found other men’s lips repulsive, but it seemed not so with brother Zhao, and if she were to try, it had to be with him.
Was it ... is this considered affection?
She only knew that she loved being close to Zhao Changhe, as if his presence alone erased any other allure in the world.
She especially loved the feeling of nestling in his arms, just like hiding in her cozy little bed.
Sometimes even Cui Yuanyang herself would doubt, wonder if everyone had been right, that maybe it was just dependency after a journey filled with trials, not affection?
Until this moment, without asking whether she agreed, he simply "stamped the approval."
She felt an electric current surge straight to her brain, the whole person dizzy, and her heart repeatedly echoed, "So this is what it feels like..."
Then a scattering of "textbook" fragments flashed through her mind.
The books were right about the current, it was true.
They said one would be dazed, that was true, too.
Part of the books also described a feeling of being invaded, as if losing oneself, at the mercy of another.
All these books had one thing in common; they mentioned that if it’s a kiss from someone you like, it will feel comfortable; if not, you would instinctively resist.
Yangyang knew now, I’m very comfortable and had no thoughts of resistance, I’ve said it; I really like him, you still don’t believe me, huh...
No matter how many thoughts the young girl had, in reality, the kiss was quite short.
The girl’s lips were soft and sweet, and the kiss was comforting, but Zhao Changhe still felt a bit guilty, not deepening the kiss, only cherishing her lips for a short time, then quickly pulled away.
Looking at the young girl’s bewildered eyes, seemingly unaware of what had happened, Zhao Changhe’s guilt intensified a bit, and he whispered softly, "Yang..."
After only uttering one word, Cui Yuanyang snapped back to reality, "Why so quick?"
"I was silently employing the Purple Qi Qing River Technique, calculating how many breaths I could hold. Brother Zhao, I’m not that weak now, I can handle it..." Cui Yuanyang smacked her lips, "Brother Zhao, this is quite comfortable, but those girls without Inner Strength are pitiful, not getting to enjoy it for more than a few breaths..."
Zhao Changhe’s head tilted to the side, that guilty feeling completely vanished, and the romantic atmosphere was equally shattered.
At that moment, all thoughts flew away, and with a sense of helplessness, he enveloped Cui Yuanyang back into his embrace like holding a child, chin resting on her head, and murmured softly, "You really are a child."
The young girl had tasted sweetness and was actually quite keen to try again, but she also felt just as comfortable snuggled in his arms and too lazy to move, so she lazily let her weight sink onto him and murmured, "On one hand you call me a child, on the other you’re kissing me. Brother Zhao, you’ve turned bad now, saying one thing but doing another..."
"Alright, Yangyang is a big kid."
"Lots of girls my age are married, many have become mothers already, but you all keep calling me a child, why is that?" Cui Yuanyang began to throw a small tantrum, "If you dare, don’t kiss me again!" Googlᴇ search novel·fire.net
There, she truly turned into a woman, quicker than Sailor Moon’s transformation.
Zhao Changhe was on the verge of tears.
Cui Yuanyang bit her lower lip and quietly caught his hand resting on her waist, slowly moving it up, "You say that Yangyang hasn’t changed upon this meeting, but that’s not entirely true... I feel like some parts have changed a little bit. Brother Zhao, do you want to measure it?"
The sound of flower pots being knocked over came from outside the courtyard, and the guards unanimously apologized, "Ah, miss, we’re sorry, we accidentally kicked the flower pots."
"..." You knocked over a flower pot and you report it in such an orderly fashion?
Cui Yuanyang’s face was flushed to her earlobes, knowing full well that the guards weren’t just safeguarding security, but also her personal safety from being devoured... But wasn’t that kiss just now what everyone calls being devoured? How could there be anything more fitting than that?
"Cough cough." Zhao Changhe felt too embarrassed to continue measuring the changes, so he stood up and set Cui Yuanyang down, rubbing her little head, "Our meeting shouldn’t just be about these things. Come on, let Brother Zhao see how Yangyang’s swordsmanship has improved now?"
In reality, neither of them was in the mood to assess martial arts, standing face to face, both could see the embarrassment and laughter in each other’s eyes.
After staring at each other for a long time, they suddenly laughed together.
Two coughs came from outside, and Lu Ya knocked on the courtyard gate, slowly sauntering in.
Cui Yuanyang respected the Guest Elder greatly, her face blushing as she greeted, "Uncle Lu."
Lu Ya nodded indulgently, his gaze helplessly shifting to Zhao Changhe, "Young hero Zhao, I’ve thought it over and decided to be a spoil-sport."
Zhao Changhe could only give a fist salute, "Senior, please speak."
"The Cui Family is different from the reckless Worldly Society. Not to mention that you two aren’t even formally engaged, even those who are cannot meet before the wedding. For instance, Yuan Yong and the Wang Family girl can’t meet, just ," Lu Ya cracked his mouth in annoyance, "The Family Head has been very progressive already. Letting Yangyang come out was in consideration of your long separation... but how should I put it... just don’t overdo it, ah, it really wouldn’t look good if word got out."
The young man and woman both blushed, bowing their heads in silence.
Both have the same temperament, and if the elder took a hard stance, it’s possible they might even dare to elope on the spot. But with this attitude, they both felt so embarrassed that they obediently listened to the reprimand.
"Actually, according to our original plan, we were supposed to meet at the Wang Family’s place. It’s a public setting, and everyone was invited, so no one could have any objections. A private gathering among old friends afterwards, with a private word spoken, that would have been quite normal. But who could have expected the Four Symbols Sect to come along unexpectedly and cause trouble, leading to an early encounter, and to be honest, it wouldn’t look good if word of this spread..."
Zhao Changhe answered with annoyance, "Aristocratic families are truly troublesome with so many rules."
"That’s not really a rule... Of course, if you said that Aristocratic Families care more about appearances than martial women like Yue Hongling from the Worldly Society, that would be correct," Lu Ya said leisurely, "The key here is that you haven’t met the Family Head’s conditions. Secret affairs are naturally unsightly. If you really did meet the conditions, then we could ignore all those stinky rules about not meeting before the wedding, right?"
Zhao Changhe paused for a moment, then gave a fist salute, "Senior speaks the truth."
Lu Ya also paused, giving Zhao Changhe a once-over, laughing to himself, "Everyone says Zhao Changhe is unruly, but in fact, he’s quite reasonable."
"Senior is reasonable, and so naturally, Zhao is too," Zhao Changhe turned around and rubbed Cui Yuanyang’s head again, "Besides, I’ve never wanted others to laugh at Yangyang."
Cui Yuanyang stamped her foot, "After all this talk, aren’t you still leaving?"
"It’s only a couple of days until we meet again." Zhao Changhe suddenly grew serious, "Yangyang, how about we stage a little act, hmm?"
Cui Yuanyang was taken aback, "What?"
"The Cui Family’s public stance is that I, like a toad, want to eat swan meat, and was driven away by your uncle. But your uncle, remembering my hard work in escorting you, didn’t want to be accused of ingratitude, so he set a three-year agreement. That’s how outsiders see it now, and if you and I meet at the Wang Family’s place, you can’t make your appearance as you imagine, you have to act according to that narrative."
Cui Yuanyang scratched her head with some distress, "This narrative doesn’t say anything about what my attitude was supposed to be, does it?"
"Grateful, but to a toad, it’s awkward to meet, respectful but distant. You don’t actually have to act deliberately, you don’t have any acting skills, you’d give the game away... It might be better to speak less with me, and it would almost look right."
"Why should we do this? I don’t want to not talk to you..."
"Because I think there will be a good show at the Wang Family’s event; it’s not going to be just any ordinary birthday banquet, and it’s not just the sword test or challenge they’re speculating about. There’s going to be a twist. You and me pretending to be distant, causing others to make a misjudgment, could be useful..."
Almost at the same time, Vermilion Bird was also telling Xia Chichi, "Okay, stop your act of despair. You’re going to attend the Wang Family banquet as Sixth Hidden Dragon. There’s going to be a twist. Being personally involved will give you control over the situation. I will watch and support you."
Xia Chichi peeked at her, deliberately saying, "A little Demoness like me going in there, I’m afraid I’ll be everyone’s target and will be chased out after a few words."
Vermilion Bird left with a flip of her sleeve, "What’s there to pretend? Inside, you have your most reliable aide, and you’re clearly laughing inside."