Chapter 5: Guanyizhou Is Here!
He Xi’s eyes lit up. She tilted her face up to the boy perched on the branch, and a ripple of delicate joy instantly spread through her gaze. Her fingertips unconsciously came to rest against the window frame.
But just as the smile climbed onto her cheeks, she suddenly remembered her father’s repeated warnings. She shook her head timidly, her voice faint: “No way... Dad won’t let me go out with you. If he finds out, he’ll definitely beat you with his broom again.”
Pei Yan bent down from the branch, his lazy smile unchanged. “My skin’s thick. I’m not afraid of your dad hitting me. We can sneak out while he’s fast asleep and be back within an hour. I guarantee he won’t notice.”
He Xi looked at him, clad in a blue robe bathed in moonlight, and the desire to go out stirred restlessly in her heart.
Pei Yan tapped lightly on the rough branch with his toe. Using the moonlight for cover, he spun gracefully, flipped over the windowsill in an instant, and landed silently before her.
It wasn’t the first time He Xi had seen him climb over walls, but every single time, her heart would pound wildly for a good while.
Previously, He Xi had lived in a room on the first floor. Later, to guard against Pei Yan, He Ci had moved her to the second floor.
Who could have imagined that Pei Yan remained undeterred by wind or rain? Whenever he wanted to see his sweetheart, he simply came.
He leaned close to the girl by the window and took her hand. He bent down, his brows curving into a gentle arc, and coaxed softly, “Good A Xi, just come out with me. I’ve been away for so many days; I miss you terribly.”
He Xi appeared to be an obedient girl, but deep down, she loved thrills. Her willpower was never strong to begin with, and now, coaxed by Pei Yan like this, she abandoned all principles.
“Then... just for a little while?”
Pei Yan pressed his forehead against hers, gazing into her clear eyes, and chuckled softly. “Mm, just for a little while.”
He Xi immediately opened her arms toward him, light points flickering in her eyes, overflowing with anticipation.
Pei Yan felt the same joy in his heart. He pulled her into his embrace.
Pei Yan let out a low chuckle, smoothly gathering his beloved, who had spread her arms wide, firmly into his bosom.
No matter how many times it happened, when his sturdy, powerful arms encircled her slender body, she always got the illusion that even if she tried to escape, she wouldn’t be able to break free.
In the next moment, Pei Yan pushed off the window lattice with his toes. Their bodies soared into the air, flying out the window.
The crisp night wind, carrying the darkness, rushed toward them, blowing the stray hairs by He Xi’s temples gently upward.
She nestled securely in Pei Yan’s warm embrace, clutching the fabric of his blue Daoist robe. Her heart pounded wildly, filled with unprecedented thrill and excitement.
The boy carried her, treading on the wind and skimming shadows, his posture light and agile.
They swept over layers of dark-tiled roofs. Below them lay the quiet academy buildings in the heavy night. In an instant, they passed gnarled old tree branches, leaves brushing against their hems with a soft rustle. All the lights of ten thousand homes fell behind them.
The sky full of moonlight poured down gently, outlining the silhouettes of the embracing pair with a faint glow.
Pei Yan lowered his eyes to look at the girl’s upturned face in his arms. His fingertips gently smoothed the hair disheveled by the wind. He asked tenderly, “A Xi, the wind is strong. Are you cold?”
He Xi quickly shook her head, her eyes reflecting the starry sky. “Not cold. Not cold at all.”
Though she said she wasn’t cold, the slightly chilly evening breeze still seeped in some chill.
Seeing this, Pei Yan tightened his arms, wrapping her completely and tightly into his embrace, using his warm chest to block out all the night wind.
“Then hold on tighter,” he said, his voice low and gentle, carrying the unique affectionate smile of a young man.
He Xi obediently hugged his waist tight.
Pei Yan’s feet didn’t stop moving. Carrying her, he flew through the air, crossing layer upon layer of trees, sweeping over the mountainous night.
With the clear breeze as companion and the moonlight following, after a short while, their figures slowly landed, standing steadily on the silent, deserted mountaintop.
The moon was bright, the wind gentle. Grass waves rose and fell slowly, permeating with a faint scent of plants and wood.
Countless fireflies glowed with a warm yellow light, dancing among the grass. The points of light flickered on and off, drifting slowly around the two of them.
Brilliant points of light also fell into He Xi’s eyes. She reached out, trying to catch a firefly, but failed.
Pei Yan raised his hand and lightly cupped it. His fingertips caught a firefly, the warm light trapped between his fingers. He brought it to He Xi’s eyes. “A Xi, look.”
He Xi held her breath and leaned closer. The light fell into her eyes, seeming like a stroke of lucky brilliance.
She asked curiously, “Why are there so many fireflies here?”
“Perhaps because it rained continuously for a while recently, they were afraid to come out. Only these past two days, since the weather cleared, did they all run out at night.”
The small insect struggled in his hand.
Yet he seemed to feel nothing, his fingers remaining perfectly still.
He Xi inexplicably thought of herself.
Every time Pei Yan held her hand, it was like this too. Even if she felt a bit hot and wanted to let go, he would grip it tightly. Her resistance and struggle were just like this tiny firefly.
It was merely an ant trying to shake a tree.
Pei Yan’s other hand gently stroked her cheek. “A Xi, what’s wrong?”
He Xi snapped back to reality. When she lifted her eyes, she saw the boy looking at her with warmth and concern.
She suddenly felt she was overthinking things.
Pei Yan was so good; how could he possibly treat her like that tiny firefly?
He Xi said, “A Yan, let it go. It looks prettier when it’s flying.”
Pei Yan obediently loosened his hand.
The small insect slowly flapped its wings, rising from his fingertips, brushing past her nose and floating into the night.
Before He Xi could rub her nose, Pei Yan had already extended a finger to lightly scratch it.
He chuckled lowly, “A Xi, you silly thing.”
He Xi pursed her lips, showing dissatisfaction, and turned her head to look at the fireflies flowing across the mountain.
Pei Yan’s face still bore a refreshing, gentle smile. His brows and eyes were immersed in the moonlight, presenting the image of a pure, clean youth.
However, the firefly that had touched her earlier, believing it had gained its freedom, was soon crushed slowly in a dark corner. Its fine, fragmented light powder silently merged into the wild grass and soil.
Pei Yan bent down, tilting his head close to her, smiling brightly. “Don’t be angry. I’ll catch you a prettier firefly, okay?”
He Xi shook her head. “No more. Let them fly freely.”
Pei Yan’s tone was light and cheerful. “Okay, I’ll listen to A Xi. After all, A Xi is the one I like, isn’t she?”
Just this one sentence coaxed He Xi into a beaming smile again. She forgot about being upset with him and actively took his hand.
Pei Yan followed her lead, sitting down on the soft green grass, half his body leaning close to her. The moonlight spread across his bright profile, his smile clean and passionate.
She was watching the flowing fireflies.
He was watching her.
Pei Yan’s tone was leisurely and gentle: “In the future, if you want to see the mountain wilderness and night scenery again, I’ll secretly bring you here.”
He Xi nodded, saying happily, “Okay.”
When she was happy, Pei Yan became happy too.
“A Yan.”
“Hm?”
She looked at him. “There’s something I want to tell you.”
Pei Yan propped his chin on one hand, smiling slowly and asking, “What is it?”
Was it that she liked him more?
Or that she loved him more?
But what He Xi said was: “My cousin is getting married. I need to go help at my cousin’s house for the next few days. A Yan, I might not have time to go out and play with you during these days.”
In an instant, the smile in Pei Yan’s eyes vanished completely.