Time-Traveling Love

Liu Bugun helped Caitong onto the black horse, then leaped onto the horse himself, sitting behind her. He wrapped his right arm around her, his mouth close to her ear, nibbling on her earlobe. “I love you, do you love me?” Liu Bugun whispered. Xu Caitong turned her face up to him and said, “I love you.” “I love you, so much,” Liu Bugun said, pressing his warm lips to hers in a long, deep kiss. A familiar and intimate feeling flowed through Xu Caitong’s heart. Suddenly, as if from a very distant past, she saw a scene: amidst the vast, chaotic expanse, a vibrant light shone through the mist, within which a cluster of flowers thrived. Among these flowers, Zi Yue was weaving a wreath from a hundred blooms, placing it on her head with abandon, dancing and singing. The flowers seemed to dance with her. She stumbled, and just as she was about to fall, Moye, sword in hand, flew from a hundred zhang away to catch her, holding her close to his broad chest. Moye was valiant and imposing. Their eyes met; he was mesmerized by her beauty, and she was amazed by his prowess. Zi Yue, finding herself embraced by a stranger for so long, blushed deeply. “Let me go,” she struggled to free herself from his arms, dropping her wreath, and quickly hid in the thick foliage, peeking at him. He stared intently at where she hid, his eyes full of passionate desire. After a moment, he started towards her, then suddenly veered off in another direction. Disappointed, Zi Yue stood up, but as she turned, strong arms enveloped her again. “No,” she struggled. He didn’t speak, just kissed her passionately until she was breathless, her face flushed even more beautifully in his eyes. He embraced her again, whispering in her ear, “Zi Yue, I am Moye.” “Moye?” Xu Caitong murmured, confused. “Rainbow, what’s wrong…?” Liu Bugun looked at the dazed Caitong, pulling her into his embrace. “Who are you? Tell me, who are you?” Xu Caitong pushed Liu Bugun away, her eyes clouded with confusion. Liu Bugun whispered in her ear, “I am your future husband, Liu Bugun.” “Liu Bugun?” Xu Caitong repeated the name, still lost in confusion. “What’s wrong? Don’t you remember me?” Liu Bugun asked anxiously, looking at her bewildered face. “Don’t you have another name?” Xu Caitong murmured to herself. “Rainbow, are you okay? What’s wrong, Rainbow?” Liu Bugun shook her, full of concern. “Who… who am I?” Xu Caitong looked at Liu Bugun, confusion washing over her again. “You are Rainbow, Xu Caitong from the Xu Family Village near Moon River. I am your husband, Liu Bugun.” Liu Bugun shook her again, trying to understand why she didn’t know who she was. “You are Liu Bugun, the man Xu Caitong is to marry,” she said, coming to her senses, clinging tightly to him. “Yes, Rainbow is to marry me.” “But why did you say your name was Liu Lan?” Xu Caitong asked, puzzled. “Bugun is my given name, and Lan is my courtesy name.” “So Liu Bugun and Liu Lan are the same person?” Xu Caitong asked again. “Yes, they are the same person,” Liu Bugun answered, still anxious. Xu Caitong smiled. “Are you alright, Rainbow?” Liu Bugun asked, still concerned, looking at her smiling face. “I’m fine,” Xu Caitong shook her head. “But you were talking nonsense just now,” Liu Bugun said, unconvinced. “I wasn’t talking nonsense; I was just a bit confused,” Xu Caitong said, looking at Liu Bugun, puzzled about why she saw him holding her earlier. Had they been this intimate before? He called her Zi Yue, and she called him Moye. “Do you understand now?” Liu Bugun asked, his chin resting on her shoulder. “I still don’t understand,” Xu Caitong turned to look at him. “If you still don’t understand, then let’s leave it at that. There’s no need to understand everything,” Liu Bugun said, pulling on the reins, and the black horse began to move forward slowly. “If I told you I came from the future, would you believe me?” Xu Caitong asked, nestled in his arms. “I would believe it,” Liu Bugun answered without hesitation. “Why?” Xu Caitong was curious. “You are an immortal from the heavens, brought to me by destiny to bring me happiness and joy. You belong to me; you are my wife, Liu Bugun’s wife.” The horse quickened its pace, and upon turning the hillock, a group of soldiers was seen encamped below. Liu Bugun furrowed his brows deeply, while Xu Caitong turned her head to look at him, only to see him pursing his lips without a word. “Who is down there?” Xu Caitong whispered. “The enemy or ally is not yet clear,” Liu Bugun replied, gently pulling his black horse to hide in a dense grove to observe the situation.