Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 144

Jun Lin pulled the chicken back: "Who said I wouldn't eat it? Didn't you say you made it especially for me? Although it's not very good, I, the Crown Prince, will be magnanimous and spare you for now."

Zi Jin pouted. She had just torn off a chicken leg, which was scalded and was about to take a bite, when it was snatched away.

"No manners!" Jun Lin took a bite of the chicken leg in his hand and sneered.

Zi Jin was stunned for a moment: "Shameless! Give it back to me!"

Jun Lin picked up the chicken leg and took another big bite, then shook it in front of Zi Jin's face: "Want some?"

"I don't want to eat anymore!" Zi Jin struggled to tear off a chicken leg.

Jun Lin brought his face close to Zi Jin's: "Are you angry?"

Zi Jin remained silent with a sullen face, and continued to tear apart the chicken leg.

"It's not hot, have a taste." Jun Lin smiled gently, placed a small piece of chicken near Zi Jin's mouth, and coaxed her softly.

Zi Jin was slightly taken aback. Turning her head, she saw that the white hem of the dress was still in the same place. She slowly opened her mouth.

Jun Lin smiled broadly and placed the chicken in Zi Jin's mouth, asking cautiously, "Is it good? Is it good?"

Seeing Jun Lin's nervous expression, Zi Jin chuckled. She imitated Jun Lin, tearing off a piece of chicken and putting it to his mouth.

Jun Lin stared intently at Zi Jin, slowly opening his mouth and chewing the meat in his mouth bit by bit. His satisfied expression was as if he were eating the most delicious dish in the world.

"This chicken is delicious! When did Jin'er learn to cook?"

"Didn't you say that I have neither a good figure nor a pretty face, so the only way for me to succeed is to learn to cook? If I can't win my future husband's heart, I'll win his stomach."

"You can rest assured, I will eat whatever you make in the future, no matter how bad it tastes."

"Go away! Someone will cook for you."

"Didn't you say you were going to win me over through my stomach? I've already won it over, so you're not going to abandon me now, are you?"

"So many people want to catch you, I don't have the time."

"Uh?...You're not jealous, are you?"

"Jealous?! I'm jealous of you?! Have you lost your mind?!"

"Hiss... I was just saying something, why did you hit me? Could it be... that you're angry because you're embarrassed... Heh... just saying... just saying... It's getting late, shall we go back? Otherwise they'll get worried."

"I don't want to go back."

"I know you don't want to see them... but for now, I can't..."

"Just saying... Let's go! The Lake of Marriage is beautiful at night, let's go!"

"Jin'er... don't be afraid of them, I'll protect you no matter what."

"I find cheesy funny, let's go! If you can catch up with me, I'll treat you to the finest wine when we get back to Mountain Town!"

"It's a deal!"

In the mountains and forests, a white horse and a black horse chased each other with abandon.

A solitary figure in white stood silently behind the peach tree, gazing at the departing horses… After a long while, he slowly lowered his eyes, his fan-like eyelashes trembling gently. A stream murmured among the rocks, and peach blossoms danced gracefully before him, then silently drifted away with the current. In his warm, dark eyes, an unconcealable sorrow lingered, and a grief that could not be hidden surfaced between his brows, only to dissipate like the wind.

Unresolved emotions and inescapable demonic obstacles, the cycle of cause and effect—when will we meet again? The vows of being like birds flying wing to wing, branches intertwined—made on that day. (Part 5)

The wish of being like two birds flying wing to wing (5) The stars are twinkling and the bright moon hangs high, its shimmering light enveloping the clear and gentle lake.

Under the moonlight, the lake, at first glance, resembles a pool of tempting aged wine, shimmering and still; upon closer inspection, it appears like a luminous bronze mirror, gentle and bright.

Four small tents have been set up in the best viewpoint by the lake. The fire by the lake has been extinguished. The group roasted a deer, expecting Jun Lin and Zi Jin to come back and share it, but it turns out they had already eaten elsewhere.

In his anger, King Anle gave the deer to a guard and went back to his tent. Dugu Xihui also returned to her tent early with a displeased expression. As for the people in the sedan chair, they did not come out after the tent was set up.

After returning, Zi Jin and Jun Lin sat back to back by the lake, reminiscing about all the fun they had together as children. They sat silently by the lake, their memories lingering.

"Look, something is glowing in that lake?" Zi Jin's eyes flashed as she pointed to the distant lake surface.

"Where? I don't see it?" Jun Lin stared at the distant lake and asked, puzzled.

"Look! It flashed again! Go and see what it is!" Zi Jin shouted, pointing to a shallow area on the lake.

Jun Lin hurriedly got up, ignoring the coldness of the lake water at night, and ran quickly in the direction Zi Jin was pointing: "...No...there's nothing here."

Zi Jin stood up: "Keep looking, it's in that area. If you find it, I'll treat you to dinner."

Jun Lin turned around: "Don't forget you still owe me a drink." After saying that, he quickly bent down and started searching carefully.

Zi Jin pouted: "I know, why do you need to remember so clearly? I can find it myself, I don't need you!"

"The water's cold! Don't come any closer, I'll find it for you." Jun Lin said, turning back to continue searching.

"Find it quickly, find it quickly." Zi Jin carefully took off her boots and stockings, lifted the hem of her clothes and fastened them around her waist. She crouched down and slowly stepped into the water. She shivered when she first touched the water, but slowly got used to it before taking the next step and walking slowly toward Jun Lin.

Under the moonlight, Jun Lin bent down and frowned as he carefully searched for the luminous object that Zi Jin had mentioned, without sensing any danger approaching.

Zi Jin narrowed her eyes to slits, bent down, and suddenly scooped up water and splashed it at Jun Lin!

Jun Lin was shocked and turned to make a move, only to see Zi Jin's mischievous smile after her prank succeeded. He abruptly withdrew his move and fell into the lake.

"Hahahaha...hahaha..." Zi Jin pointed at the fallen Jun Lin, disregarding her image, and laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up.