Luzhou Moon - Chapter 125
He seemed to understand her meaning and asked, "Are you referring to what that person asked?"
"Hmm..." Yue Ruzheng didn't know how to continue after he spoke so directly, so she just hooked her little toes around his foot.
Lian Junchu turned to face her directly and said, "I wasn't just saying that to appease him."
"Huh?" Yue Ruzheng was stunned, feeling flustered and shy, but she could only exclaim in surprise.
In the darkness, he took a few quiet breaths, his dark eyes fixed on Yue Ruzheng, and asked, "Ruzheng, will you marry me?"
Four years ago, he had cautiously asked the same question by the sea, and now he whispered it again here. To Yue Ruzheng, his voice still carried a slight unease, as if he was afraid she would not respond.
Her emotions fluctuated. Although so much had happened over the years, almost driving her to despair, all she wanted now was to stay with him forever.
"Little Tang." Yue Ruzheng hugged his waist, leaned close to him, and suddenly opened her mouth slightly to bite his shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Lian Junchu was a little confused when she saw that she didn't answer and seemed to be acting silly.
She reached out and touched the teeth marks on his shoulder, fighting back tears, and said, "I'm leaving you a mark. Remember, you'll always be my Xiao Tang."
Lian Junchu's heart softened slowly. He stretched out his leg and gently hooked Yue Ruzheng's ankle, saying, "Yes, I remember."
Yue Ruzheng pursed her lips, touched his arm, and couldn't contain her joy. "Xiao Tang, I was thinking, if Aunt were still alive, if she knew I was getting married, how wonderful that would be."
Lian Junchu couldn't help but smile, leaning closer to her cheek and saying, "I can go with you to find her."
The weeds around the February orchid were finally cleared away. Lian Junchu hadn't allowed Yue Ruzheng to do it, so the task ultimately fell to him. Seeing the thin, drooping February orchid hanging listlessly on the ground, Yue Ruzheng's mood also soured.
Lian Junchu sat on the steps, looked up at her, and said, "Look, even after removing the weeds, it's still the same."
Yue Ruzheng squatted down, reached out and brushed away the withered leaves, and said dejectedly, "You seem very indifferent?"
Lian Junchu was taken aback for a moment, then said, "We can go and pick them again."
"It's not this one that we picked again." She didn't know why she felt resentful. She hugged her knees and thought of how the two of them used to grow this orchid together.
"Why are you unhappy again?" Lian Junchu asked, somewhat surprised.
Yue Ruzheng shook her head and said, "I'm not unhappy, it's just..." She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes seemingly filled with a hint of worry.
"When the weather gets warmer in a while, I'll help you find other plants to plant, okay?" Lian Junchu didn't know how to comfort her, so she just stared at her intently.
Yue Ruzheng fluttered her long eyelashes, leaned close to his face, and asked, "Will we still live here?"
"Yes..." he answered quickly, then added anxiously, "You don't want to live here anymore?"
"What about Seven Star Island?" Yue Ruzheng asked anxiously.
Lian Junchu thought for a moment, then turned around and asked, "You don't like Seven Star Island, right?"
Yue Ruzheng's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head without saying a word.
In her mind, the scene of being surrounded by people after stealing the divine pearl from the Forgetfulness Pavilion that year was like a shameful wound that could never heal.
Even though Lian Junchu never mentioned that incident again, she always harbored a sense of fear and a desire to avoid Seven Star Island.
"Actually, I don't like it either." Lian Junchu was silent for a moment, then raised the corners of her lips and smiled slightly. "If you're willing, I'll stay here with you. There are so many people on the island; they won't miss me."
Yue Ruzheng lay on his knees, hugging his legs, and turned her face to look at the small courtyard that still seemed a bit cold and simple.
"Is this our home, Xiao Tang?" Her eyes held a gentle light.
He bent down gently, leaning against her, and said, "Yes, I'll stay with you."
That night, a cold rain began to fall, pattering on the roof tiles and into the courtyard.
Feeling a chill as she crawled under the covers, Yue Ruzheng hugged Lian Junchu. Only after her own feet warmed up a little did she dare to approach his. But his body was still cold. She wanted to warm him with her own body heat, but Lian Junchu lowered his eyes and whispered, "You don't need to worry about me. I'm used to it; I don't feel cold."
Yue Ruzheng reached out and stroked his thin cheek, then couldn't help but gently bite him again.
"Xiao Tang, I can't live without you, what should I do?"
He turned his head to the side, his shallow breath touching her lips, "Me too, what should I do?"
Yue Ruzheng's heart blossomed. She hooked her arms around his legs and shook them. He understood and closed his eyes to kiss her, all the way down to the side of her neck hidden by her clothes. Then he carefully nibbled on the emerald collar, his gentle breath brushing against her skin, and Yue Ruzheng couldn't help but laugh.
But he kept his eyes lowered, gently stroking the little bit of skin peeking out from her collar.
Yue Ruzheng couldn't help but slip her hand inside his clothes; his body was warm. She didn't know what to do, but she felt an urgent desire to get closer and closer to him, which made her press herself almost completely against him.
Lian Junchu had kept his eyes slightly closed, but he slowly opened them now. Yue Ruzheng looked into his eyes and even hoped that she would be forever captivated by his gaze and forever immersed in his flawless, deep pool.
His breathing was deep and long. He lifted his foot, but couldn't reach her clothes. He lowered his head, wanting to bite her sash. Yue Ruzheng felt a surge of panic. She tried to unbutton her clothes herself, and her injured hand brushed against Lian Junchu's face.
She gasped, shifting slightly to the side. Lian Junchu stopped moving, looked up at her, and asked, "Did you touch the wound?"
Yue Ruzheng hid her hands behind her back, pursed her lips, and shook her head.
He glanced at her with some hesitation. Yue Ruzheng tried her best to convince herself and moved closer to him, but her face still showed a deep sense of nervousness.
"Ruzheng..." Lian Junchu called her softly, and seeing her staring blankly at her, she couldn't help but smile. Then, as if mustering her courage, she asked, "Your master... didn't teach you these things?"
At first, Yue Ruzheng didn't quite understand what he was saying, but in the blink of an eye, her face flushed red. She kicked him a few times and said fiercely, "We are a respectable family, how could we teach such things?! Don't you dare tarnish Yinxi Xiaozhu!"
Lian Junchu quickly pressed her legs down on her feet and whispered, "Okay, I understand."
"What do you know?" Her heart was still pounding, but she put on a tough front.
Lian Junchu remained silent, her face still buried in her body.