Beyond the city of Xiao lay a forked road splitting into two paths.
Chu'he didn’t know how to ride a horse, so she had to share a mount with Ninth. Back when she watched dramas, she thought horseback riding looked dashing, but experiencing it firsthand left her feeling miserably jostled. Slumped against Ninth’s chest, she looked half-dead.
Ninth found her lazy demeanor amusing and poked at the soft flesh of her cheek. Annoyed, she shot him a glare. But this only fueled his mischief, and he kept poking, as if addicted to the reaction.
Chu'he opened her mouth and bit down.
A crisp crack sounded—his finger bone might as well have snapped.
Ninth: "...Are you a puppy?"
Chu'he muttered, "I could also be a cannibal!"
The innocent boy seemed genuinely startled, withdrawing his troublesome hand with a flicker of unease in his eyes.
Fang Songhe chuckled.
Ninth had a natural bias against Fang Songhe. "What are you laughing at?"
Fang Songhe replied, "Miss Chu'he is lively and pure-hearted, while Young Master Ninth is passionate and unrestrained. The two of you make a fine match."
The words sounded like praise, so the little green serpent coiled around Chu'he’s shoulder retreated into her hair, abandoning its earlier urge to strike.
Chu'he, slightly embarrassed, straightened up and asked politely, "Sir Fang, what are your plans now?"
"I must search for my junior brother. He’s been missing for some time, and I’m worried."
Chu'he’s expression turned odd. Clearing her throat, she forced a calm tone. "Then you should hurry. But I’m sure your junior brother shares your noble heart—heaven surely watches over him. He’ll be fine, so don’t fret too much."
Fang Songhe smiled. "Thank you for your kind words, Miss Chu'he. May fortune favor him."
With a cupped fist, he added, "Meeting you and Young Master Ninth has been my honor. Though mountains and rivers may part us, I hope fate brings us together again."
True to his free-spirited nature, he bid farewell and galloped away, his figure soon vanishing into the distance.
Ninth scowled. "Who said we’re friends?"
It was strange.
Fang Songhe was upright and magnanimous, never taking offense no matter how harsh Ninth’s words were—a true gentleman through and through.
Yet Ninth despised him.
Chu'he glanced at Ninth and decided against defending Fang Songhe. If she praised him even once, Ninth would demand ten compliments about himself in return.
Her silence betrayed her thoughts.
Ninth pinched her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Are you cursing me in your head again?"
Chu'he puffed her cheeks. "Nope."
"You definitely are." Ninth pressed his lips together. "Tell me, what did you call me?"
Irritated by his persistence, Chu'he snapped, "Fine! Yes, I cursed you! I called you petty, nitpicky, immature, narrow-minded, vindictive—mmph!"
His hand clamped over her mouth.
Though not well-educated, Ninth recognized the barrage of four-character phrases as anything but flattering.
Anger twisted into a smirk, his once-gemstone-bright eyes now blazing like wildfire.
"So in your eyes, I’m utterly worthless?"
Chu'he nodded, muffled. "Yes."
Ninth nearly crushed her throat—but the thought of her tears and the inevitable effort to soothe her stayed his hand. Not worth the trouble.
"But even if Ninth is riddled with flaws..." Chu'he pried his hand away, turned sideways on the horse, and looped her arms around his neck with a giggle. "I still adore you!"
Ninth, usually shameless, had never faced such blunt affection—especially not directed solely at him. The intensity laid bare his youthful shyness.
His ears reddened, his pale cheeks flushed, and for the first time, he looked alive rather than corpse-like.
The little green serpent peeked out, fascinated by its master’s uncharacteristic bashfulness.
Embarrassed, Ninth flicked the serpent back into hiding and loosened his grip on Chu'he’s chin.
"Chu'he."
"What?"
"Kiss me, and I’ll believe you."
Chu'he turned her face away. "No. Then don’t believe me."
Unwilling to relent, he tilted his head closer, the chime of his earrings filling the air. "Then I’ll let you kiss me."
She turned the other way. "Not interested."
His lips thinned, the ruby on his earring dulling as if mirroring his mood. After a moment’s thought, he resorted to bribery.
"Kiss me, and I’ll take you somewhere fun."
Chu'he perked up. "Like what?"
"We’ll catch cicadas."
The ceaseless drone of the insects wove a stifling web over the scorching summer, trapping the restless energy of youth.
Chu'he stifled a laugh. "No thanks. I hate bugs."
This from the girl who cuddled his venomous pets without fear.
Ninth frowned, deep in thought.
"We’ll pick wild berries."
"Climb trees to raid bird nests."
"Steal a squirrel’s stash."
"Wade into streams for crabs."
...
The more he listed, the more Chu'he deadpanned.
For someone so tall and imposing, his hobbies were downright childish.
To shut him up—and noting the empty road—Chu'he cupped his face and pecked his lips.
"There. Now let’s keep moving. No more talking."
Ninth fell silent. But after a pause, he touched his lips and mused,
"Why wasn’t it an open-mouthed kiss this time?"
"Chu'he."
"I want you to lick—"
She clapped a hand over his mouth, scarlet-faced. "Enough! Shut it!"
The horse ambled on, carrying the pair toward the setting sun, their banter lingering in the summer heat like an unshakable warmth.
With the money from Zhao Rongyue, Chu'he’s finances improved, freeing her from penny-pinching.
By nightfall, they reached a quaint, hospitable town.
Its lone inn had plenty of rooms, sparing them the cliché of a single vacancy.
Chu'he booked two adjoining suites. Whether Ninth liked it or not, she bolted her door the instant she entered, barring his usual intrusion.
When the attendant brought hot water, Chu'he winced at the chafing on her thighs after her bath.
Horseback riding wasn’t for her. Even with a saddle, prolonged riding left her skin raw. For comfort’s sake, she resolved to buy a carriage soon.
With Ninth’s antics absent, Chu'he collapsed into bed and slept soundly.
It was past midnight when a chilling wind crept in, wrapping around her like a venomous serpent, forcing her eyes open.
In that instant, her gaze met the young man crouched beside the bed, his head resting on the edge.
Ninth knelt there, hands propped on the mattress, his crimson eyes fixed intently on her—like a seductive mountain spirit who had slipped into her room, waiting to drain her essence.
Chu'he: "...What are you doing?"
Ninth replied, "If you won’t come to me, then I’ll come to you."
Chu'he: "Could you be any clingier?"
Ninth blinked, his lashes fluttering like delicate butterfly wings, his expression adorably naive. "You said earlier today that you super like me."
"So?"
"So, if I’m thinking of you, you must be thinking of me too."
Where this boy’s twisted logic came from, she had no idea. Without hesitation, he tugged at the blanket, slipping beneath it. Chu'he bolted upright to stop him, but the moment her hand brushed against him, his loosely draped robes slid halfway down his body.
"Ah’he, it’s been so long since we’ve been skin to skin."
He leaned closer, his silver hair cascading like moonlight, half-veiling the smooth expanse of his chest—though the faint pink peaks still peeked through the strands.
The white-haired, red-robed youth caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her fingertips, his crimson eyes curving into crescents. The mountain spirit had transformed into an incubus.
"Shall we do it tonight?"
A curse flashed through Chu'he’s mind.
Damn, he’s too much.
