Yin Chengjue raised his hands to support the audacious figure, preventing him from falling out of the tree if his footing on the branch failed.
It was a deep kiss.
Yin Chengjue could even smell blood.
Metallic, sweet, wet, entwining.
Within Yin Chengjue's line of sight was a bobbing Adam's apple and the pulse throbbing beneath fair, tender skin.
Such a fragile and soft place was right before his eyes, seeming as if it would shatter with a gentle squeeze. Yet the other person exposed it so defenselessly, giving him complete trust.
Yin Chengjue gently patted the hands resting on his shoulders.
The other person immediately understood his intention, transferring all his weight onto Yin Chengjue. Supporting himself with his hands on Yin Chengjue's shoulders, his feet, still hooked on the tree, "walked" down the trunk.
Yin Chengjue moved slightly away from the tree trunk, allowing the other to successfully clamber onto his back.
"Don't do such dangerous things in the future." Yin Chengjue turned his head to speak to the person now clinging to his back like a koala.
"It's not dangerous. I often climbed trees with my eldest and second brothers before. I was always the fastest and climbed the highest." Rong Yu rested his chin on Yin Chengjue's shoulder, a hint of pride in his expression. "My legs grip really tight, I can climb even the smoothest trees!"
Yin Chengjue: "Choose your words more carefully next time before you speak."
Rong Yu looked innocent:"Huh?"
Yin Chengjue:"Sigh, never mind."
"Brother~" Rong Yu suddenly tightened his arms around Yin Chengjue's neck, leaning close to his ear, and whispered: "So, have I caught you now?"
Yin Chengjue, pulled backward by the force, quickly said "Careful!" and cupped his hands under Rong Yu's bottom to hoist him up higher. "Yes, yes, yes. Next time, don't just disappear like that. I thought you'd taken a wrong turn or fallen somewhere and were crying in pain."
Rong Yu chuckled happily: "Great, I caught you."
"Now that I've caught you, I'm not letting go~" Rong Yu murmured again, softly.
"What?" Yin Chengjue didn't quite catch the last part.
"Nothing. Oh, right, brother, someone's been hiding behind that tree over there for a long time. Should we call him out?"
As he spoke, Rong Yu pointed towards a maple tree not far away.
Yin Chengjue's heart jumped. Instinctively, he freed one hand to cover Rong Yu's face.
"Ahem… You don't need to be so nervous. I was just passing by, merely passing by…" A handsome face peeked out from behind the tree.
The man seemed to think there was no point hiding anymore and stepped out directly.
The man was wearing a jade-white long robe, the hem embroidered with large patterns of golden-red maple leaves. The shading of the embroidery was masterfully done, making the leaves look incredibly real.
The man held one hand behind his back, the other twirling a folded fan between his fingers. The fan wasn't open, and his demeanor seemed somewhat frivolous. His gaze held a hint of teasing as he looked at them.
"No need to look at me so warily. I have no interest in selling stories or anything. I just wanted to ask, by any chance, have you two seen my two mischievous children? One wearing white, one wearing red. If all goes as usual, the red one should be chasing the white one." The man in the robe asked with a smile.
Yin Chengjue looked the man up and down, recalling slightly, and realized the two children's features did resemble this man's.
"They should still be in this maple grove. Not sure which direction they ran in, we've walked a fair distance ourselves." Rong Yu replied.
"Thank you. Since you've seen them, they probably haven't gone far." The man clasped his hands in thanks.
The man moved with an innate and elegant grace, as if he had just wandered out of a different era. Yin Chengjue watched, a faint sense of unreality settling over him—there was something distinctly otherworldly in the man's poise and tone.
"Ah, right. Since fate has brought us together, how about I tell your fortunes?" The man, about to leave, seemed to remember something else, turned back, and asked with a smile.
So he's a scammer? Yin Chengjue couldn't help but frown.
"I don't believe in fate." Rong Yu said.
Yin Chengjue glanced at Rong Yu:"I don't either." In Yin Chengjue's view, the future was in his own hands.
The man's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Then… shall I divine your romantic fortunes?"
In unison, their previous skepticism forgotten, they replied: "Then go ahead."
"Pfft!" The man burst out laughing. With a sharp "Snap!" he flicked his fan open, using it to conceal his exaggerated expression.
Yin Chengjue: "…" I have the sudden urge to punch someone.
Rong Yu: "…" Well, my account is gone.
[Account is gone (号没了, hào méi le): (Internet slang) one's online reputation, persona, or carefully constructed image is ruined, often due to an embarrassing or out-of-character action.]
"Hahaha, please don't mind me—I just realized there's no need for divination. The two of you will undoubtedly rise above the gossip, ignore societal judgment, walk hand in hand, and grow old together," the man said with a laugh.
The 40-meter-long blade was slowly lowered. Yin Chengjue’s expression softened: "We appreciate your auspicious words."
"Daddy! We found Papa! Papa is over there!" A milky, soft voice came from not far away. Yin Chengjue looked towards the sound and saw the two children, one in red and one in white, leading a tall, well-built man over.
Author's Note: Pulling out the main couple from my book "名器 (Míng Qì)" for a cameo~~
Hmm, a cameo from a main couple?
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