He sat by the bedside, his hand trembling as it caressed her cheek, soft as honey. “You are my destined wife.”
Ru Feng was sleeping deeply, missing the light kiss that brushed her lips, carrying the fragrance of plum blossoms.
The night was late, and Situ Qi Wu was still in the bamboo forest. Hearing footsteps, he turned back. “Qi Feng elder sister?”
Qi Feng sat beside him. “Why haven’t you gone back to sleep?”
“Hmm!” His gaze shifted to the tightly closed door.
Qi Feng sighed softly. “Qi Wu, you must know…”
“I know, sister, I know everything!” He tilted his face up and smiled, a smile so ethereal it seemed otherworldly.
He was simple, but not stupid. “She’s still here now, and that’s enough.”
Out of compassion and reluctance, Qi Feng glanced briefly at Qi Wu, “If you can’t bear to let her go, then keep her.”
Looking up at the moonlit sky, Qi Wu sighed, “She doesn’t want to.”
“Qi Wu…” Qi Feng began, but he interrupted her laughingly, “Don’t worry about me. I understand everything. If this is my life, I’ll gladly accept it.”
“Foolish boy!” Qi Feng sighed. “Let’s go, time to sleep.”
“Okay!” Qi Wu lowered his head, following her and glancing back at the door one last time, a slight curve at the corner of his mouth.
The next day, the chess match continued, now against Second Elder Cang Hai, whose aggressive style caught Ru Feng off guard. She lost several pieces in the first half but improved slightly in the second half, yet still lost due to her earlier setback.
Feeling somewhat discouraged, Ru Feng stood up, pursed her lips, and left. Cang Hai remarked, “Great Elder, how could I have won? Logically, my chess skills are below Cang Shan’s.”
Cang Shan retracted his gaze from Ru Feng’s retreating back. “Those who usually play against her have compassion and don’t attack ruthlessly, so she’s not used to this style.”
The elders exchanged glances before Cang Hai exclaimed, “Situ Qi Feng really cares about her. What about our Qi Wu?”
Cang Shan turned to Cang Tian, “Where are the records about the Situ family’s curse?”
“First shelf by the door, lowest row, first book,” Cang Tian replied.
Cang Shan smiled, “Let’s see if she has the comprehension for it.”
Like Feng soaked in the warm water, feeling relaxed and wanting to stay. “It’s so comfortable!” she thought, believing that even life’s great joys couldn’t compare to soaking in the hot spring.
Meanwhile, Situ Qiwu stood facing away, exposed to the cold, listening intently while trying to manage his feelings. A young man guarding the woman he loved, yet only able to listen—this could easily rank as one of life’s greatest torments.
Suddenly, Like Feng felt something cool on her foot, and she thought of the snakes in the forest, a chill rising. “Ah!”
As her scream fell, she saw a blue shadow flash before her eyes, and she was already in someone’s embrace. “What’s wrong?” He held her and quickly leaped away.
“Snake, snake!” Like Feng kicked her feet wildly, holding him tightly.
Situ Qiwu was stunned and quickly looked at her foot. He felt a surge of heat rising to his face as he took in her smooth, lustrous feet and beautiful calves.
He quickly raised his head, his voice slightly hoarse, “No snake, it’s okay.”
Like Feng nervously raised her foot to look; there was indeed no snake, but she was too scared to go back into the water. “Please, carry me to the shore.”
Once on the shore, Situ Qiwu quickly let her go, turning his back, his hands slightly trembling, remembering the delicate touch from moments ago.
Like Feng’s face was also completely red. She was still wearing her underwear, which clung to her body after being in the water.
After a long while, she finally dressed. “I’m ready,” she said softly, bending down to collect her wet clothes.
“Let me,” Situ Qiwu quickly snatched them, putting all her clothes into his bag.
Like Feng’s face burned as Situ Qiwu quickly gathered her belongings, including her bra and underwear.
On the way back, neither spoke; only the sound of footsteps on dry leaves was heard.
“Situ Qiwu!” Like Feng called out as he was about to leave. “Don’t listen to what the elders say about past lives. Everyone can only live in the present. We shouldn’t dwell on past life entanglements; there’s no such thing as predestined or not.”
“Okay,” he turned back, smiling brightly, making Like Feng’s heart ache.
She looked at him seriously. “Your feelings for me might just be emotions forced on you since childhood. We’ve only known each other for a few days. You don’t need to keep me in your heart. Open yourself up to meet more women, and you’ll find true love.”
“Is he good to you?” he suddenly asked.
Like Feng was stunned. “Yes, very good. There’ll never be anyone else who treats me as well as he does.”
“What if I say there is?” He looked at her, his eyes sparkling. “What if someone treats you even better?”
Like Feng was about to retort, but Situ Qiwu continued, “If someone treats you better, would you give them a chance?”
His black eyes shimmered, looking even more breathtaking in the moonlight.
“I’ll break the Situ family curse. The method of transferring flowers can move Situ Qifeng’s burning torment to me. I just want a fair chance to compete.”
Like Feng was stunned. “Qiwu, you…”
Situ Qiwu didn’t give her a chance to respond. “I’ll never let you cry or suffer. I’ll spend my life making you happy.”
“I just ask for one chance.”
“I’m sorry, Qiwu,” Like Feng shook her head. “Once he’s in my heart, there’s no room for anyone else.”
Situ Qiwu lowered his head, tears sliding down. “I thought it was predestined, so I didn’t need to worry.” He wished he had stayed by her side, watched her grow, and had at least a chance.
The next day, Like Feng quickly defeated Cang Hai.
Cang Hai blinked, surprised. “You’ve improved so much in just one night?”
Like Feng smiled playfully. “Not being familiar once doesn’t mean you’ll never be familiar.” She turned to the elder sitting nearby. “Elder?”
Without waiting for an answer, she flashed into the book pavilion.
Cang Shan took half a day to recover, looking at the pride still present on Situ Qiwu’s lips. “This girl…” he thought, but never finished his sentence.
Like Feng entered the book pavilion, sighing as her previous joy vanished. The mountain of books made it hard to feel relaxed.
She started at the left bookshelf, flipping through books one by one. Sunlight passed through the window, outlining a soft silhouette on her face.
At lunchtime, Qi Wu knocked on the door. “Like Feng, it’s time to eat. I’ll leave it at the door.”
After a long silence, he knocked again, “Ru Feng, it’s time to eat.”
“Okay!” Ru Feng responded, but the door remained closed.
Qi Wu stood outside, watching the sun set, with his head lowered, the light in his eyes obscured.
At ten o’clock at night, Cang Shan knocked on the door. “Time’s up.”
Ru Feng rubbed her painful eyes, stood up, and stumbled, falling. Expecting pain, she closed her eyes.
Instead, she felt something soft beneath her. Opening her eyes, she saw Qi Wu’s flushed face, his breath hot against hers.
Supporting herself with one hand, Ru Feng jumped up gracefully.
“You’re supposed to be good at martial arts. How did you turn into a meat cushion?”
“Her fall was due to reading until her eyes went dark and her body stiffened, but he shouldn’t have been so embarrassed.
Qi Wu got up, extending his right hand. “This is brightening eye soup, still hot. Drink it.”
Ru Feng was stunned. After a moment, she touched her forehead and sighed, “You foolish boy. It’s just a bowl of soup?”
“Qi Wu, if the soup spills, you can cook another. But if you get hurt, you might be in pain for days.”
Qi Wu replied, “I’m not in pain. The soup is still hot. Drink it.”
