It wasn't that the old Taoist was stingy; it was clearly that Qin Moyu would blow up the kitchen every time he tried to cook. No matter how he was taught, the food he made was inedible, and he could even cut his hand while chopping vegetables. Who would dare let him practice?
However, Qin Moyu, who was trying to create an image of being "very powerful" in front of Shen Yebai, took advantage of his master's absence and let the old Taoist priest take the blame without any guilt.
As the saying goes, never speak ill of someone behind their back.
Just as Qin Moyu finished speaking, the door was kicked open with a "bang".
"I knew it! Why did he suddenly appear in front of me? When I went back, all the pastries were gone! And that brat is slandering me behind my back! I'll beat you up!" The old Taoist priest appeared silently at the door like a ghost, his white beard flying with anger, and he charged at Qin Moyu with a menacing aura.
"Oh no! We've been discovered! Run—" Qin Moyu snapped to attention, grabbed Shen Yebai with one hand and carried the pastries in the other, and dashed out the back door.
"You brat! Don't run away!" the old Taoist priest shouted.
"Aren't you going to run away and get hit by me? Do you think I'm stupid?" Qin Moyu turned around and made a face at him, then disappeared into the forest behind the mountain without looking back.
"Run! Run!" Qin Moyu ran like the wind. Although Shen Yebai was being pulled along, he didn't fall behind at all. Having grown up in the back mountain, he was very familiar with the terrain and soon lost the old Taoist priest.
Qin Moyu, still uneasy even after turning around and not seeing the old Taoist priest, ran out for a while before stopping, saying smugly:
"Hehe, I knew Master couldn't catch me."
Shen Yebai smiled and noticed a leaf had landed on Qin Moyu's head: "Don't move."
Qin Moyu was puzzled, but obediently did not move.
Shen Yebai took the leaf off, and Qin Moyu scratched his face and laughed, "Thanks, Yebai!"
Qin Moyu's smile was as bright as when they first met, but this time Shen Yebai's mindset had undergone a complete transformation.
Qin Moyu happily pulled Shen Yebai to sit on the rock and took out the pastries again.
"Mo Yu."
Shen Yebai suddenly called out to Qin Moyu.
"What's the matter?"
Qin Moyu tilted her head to look at him, her eyes clear.
Shen Yebai's throat tightened. He suppressed the inexplicable emotion and said, "I'm leaving."
"Huh?" Qin Moyu was so shocked by the sudden separation that she dropped her pastries on the ground. "Why are you leaving all of a sudden?"
“…There are some things to take care of. Now that my injuries have almost healed, it’s time to go back.” Shen Yebai pursed his lips and said with his head down.
Qin Moyu was a little disappointed, but she forced a smile and said, "It's okay, it's okay. If you have something to do, go ahead and do it. I'll wait here for you to come back when you're done!"
"Um."
Shen Yebai pretended not to notice the dejection in Qin Moyu's eyes, but he had no choice but to leave.
Shen Mo was urging him to complete the plan, because if he didn't leave soon, it might cause trouble for Qin Moyu.
and……
When Qin Moyu couldn't see him, Shen Yebai gently placed his hand on his chest, his eyes filled with confusion.
—What exactly is this?
…………
Shen Yebai's doubts back then are just as perplexing as Shen Mo's current predicament.
Shen Mo turned his head and stared blankly at Qin Moyu's profile.
His gaze slowly moved downwards, landing on Qin Moyu's fair hands.
Quietly, quietly.
Shen Mo held his breath and gently placed his hand on the back of Qin Moyu's hand.
The sensation of skin touching skin was breathtaking; Shen Mo's eyelashes cast a shadow, and his breathing became much softer.
Despite the bustling night street, Shen Mo could hear Qin Moyu's soft, long breaths touching his heart.
One time, one time, and another.
The question that no one could answer before was answered after a period of silence.
A bitter smile appeared on Shen Mo's lips.
--what to do.
He raised his head, murmuring to himself:
I think I've fallen in love with you too, Mo Yu.
…………
The shadow puppet show ended with a leisurely tune, and once it was finished, it was over. The children chattered and gathered around the stage, trying to stand on tiptoe to see the shadow puppets, while Qin Moyu slowly came back to her senses from the shadow puppet show.
He felt Shen Mo's hand covering his own, and frowned as he pulled his hand away.
"Thank you." Qin Moyu stood up and thanked Shen Mo for bringing the bench, her tone polite but also distant.
Shen Mo felt distressed, but he didn't show it on his face.
The shadow puppet show was over, but the night was still long. The two walked side by side, Qin Moyu stopping and starting, and finally stopped in front of someone making sugar paintings.