As dusk fell, a delicious dinner was ready.
Looking at the three dishes and soup on the table, Gu Xingchen exclaimed, "They look so delicious, they must taste even better!"
"Alright, have a taste."
Gu Xingchen nodded, but he put his chopsticks down again as soon as he picked them up.
"What's wrong?" Wen Hongye asked.
Gu Xingchen blinked at him and said, "Hongye, how about you punish me by not letting me eat dinner tonight?"
Wen Hongye said with dissatisfaction, "I've worked so hard to prepare this meal all day, and you're not going to eat it?"
"I want to eat it, but..." Gu Xingchen pouted.
"But what 'but'? If you don't eat your fill and go to bed late, will you still have the energy?" Wen Hongye said, a hint of unease flashing across her face.
"Huh? Strength?" Gu Xingchen was stunned for a moment, then thought for a moment, and immediately beamed with joy, "Hongye, you, you forgive me?!"
“I didn’t say I was angry with you, so there’s no question of forgiveness. On the contrary, I’ve spent half a day preparing this meal, and if you don’t eat it, I’ll really be angry,” Wen Hongye replied.
"Eat, eat! I will definitely finish them all, not even a scrap!" Gu Xingchen immediately started eating happily, and didn't forget to put some food into Wen Hongye's bowl.
Wen Hongye looked at his silly expression, shook her head with a smile, and then got up and walked to the side.
Gu Xingchen paused, then looked at Wen Hongye as she produced a flask of wine from nowhere and asked in surprise, "When did you buy this? I didn't see it before?"
"I bought it when I asked you to buy salt." Wen Hongye sat back down and poured a glass of wine for him and Gu Xingchen.
Gu Xingchen looked at the wine placed in front of her, her face flushing red: "You...you didn't...you don't allow drinking, did you?"
"When did I stop you from drinking? I was just saying you're not a good drinker and I was worried you'd get drunk."
"oh……"
"Oh what? You wanted to drink to liven things up, right? Well then, drink up. But if you get drunk, the fun is over, it'll only help you sleep."
Gu Xingchen chuckled and said, "Then I won't drink too much, I'll just have this one."
"I've never seen anyone like you before. You can't drink but you still want to try. If you get drunk after just one glass, I'll make you sleep on the table tonight and you won't be sleeping in bed." Wen Hongye warned Gu Xingchen with a smile as she looked at him, who was eager to try.
"No, no, one drink is no problem," Gu Xingchen said with a smile. He couldn't get drunk; he couldn't miss such a good opportunity.
Chapter 4 Extra: Starry Night (Part 4)
"Alright, let's eat first. You can drink after you've eaten your fill, otherwise I'm really afraid you'll get drunk after just one cup, and then I won't be able to finish the food I worked so hard to prepare." Wen Hongye smiled.
"Okay, I'll listen to my wife." After saying that, Gu Xingchen started eating heartily, praising Hongye as he ate, "I really didn't expect my Hongye to cook so well. I'm so lucky to have met such a wonderful Hongye. Hongye is my precious darling, so very precious."
"Can't even eating shut you up?" Wen Hongye said reproachfully, but her heart was filled with sweetness.
After finishing the meal, Gu Xingchen raised his glass and said, "Hongye, come on, cheers! May our future life be happy, fulfilling, and long-lasting!"
Wen Hongye also raised her glass and replied, "May you have a happy and fulfilling life together, forever!"
Gu Xingchen was overjoyed and tilted her head back to drink the wine in her glass in one gulp.
Wen Hongye also drank the wine in his hand, but just as he put down the glass, Gu Xingchen collapsed on the table.
"Fool, with your alcohol tolerance, you still insisted on drinking to liven things up. See? It didn't liven things up, but it helped you sleep." Wen Hongye laughed as she looked at Gu Xingchen, who was truly knocked out after just one drink.
He then got up, picked up Gu Xingchen, carried him back to his room, and put him on the bed. He helped him take off his clothes and shoes and socks, then pulled the blanket over him and said, "Silly Xingchen, you are just as precious to me. If I hadn't met you, there probably wouldn't be a Wen Hongye in this world."
After saying that, Wen Hongye leaned down and kissed Gu Xingchen's lips. Her long, curled eyelashes brushed against Gu Xingchen's cheek, tickling him and making him instinctively frown. He murmured, "Hongye, it tickles, don't scratch..."
Wen Hongye chuckled softly, tucked the blanket around him again, and then got up to clear the dishes.
The next morning, Gu Xingchen woke up from his sleep, feeling a little dazed. When he saw Wen Hongye still sleeping beside him, he instantly came to his senses and was immediately filled with regret. He really had passed out after just one drink!
It seems that using alcohol to liven things up isn't suitable for him!
When Hongye wakes up later, she'll definitely laugh at him...
He gently lifted the covers, got out of bed, and before Wen Hongye woke up, ran to the kitchen to make him breakfast.
After preparing breakfast, he took it to the room. He saw that Wen Hongye was still asleep, but he couldn't bear to wake him and wanted him to sleep a little longer. So he squatted by the bed, put his hands on the edge of the bed, rested his chin on the back of his hands, and stared blankly at Wen Hongye.
When Wen Hongye woke up and opened his eyes, he saw Gu Xingchen lying by the bed staring at him. He was taken aback and asked, "Why are you lying here staring at me like this so early in the morning?"
Gu Xingchen chuckled and said, "Of course it's because Hongye is so beautiful. Even when she's sleeping, she looks incredibly beautiful. I was captivated the moment I saw her."
"You've done it again!"
"No, no, I'm not just being glib. I'm telling the truth. The red leaves are white with a hint of pink, they're absolutely exquisite," Gu Xingchen praised.
Wen Hongye was slightly taken aback, and her gaze darkened.
Seeing his expression, Gu Xingchen's heart skipped a beat: "What's wrong, Hongye? Did I say something wrong?"
"He praised me like that back then." Wen Hongye didn't want to remember, but Gu Xingchen's praise was exactly the same as the one he used to praise her back then.
Back then, Xiao Nian said to him, "The red leaves are white with a hint of red, they are so exquisite. I really can't wait any longer, I want to take you back as soon as possible and stay with you for the rest of my life."
Gu Xingchen reached out and grasped Wen Hongye's hand, his gaze firm as he said, "He is him, and I am me. He is only interested in your beauty for a fleeting moment, while I am interested in your beauty for a lifetime."
Chapter 5 Side Story: Starry Night (Part 5)
Hearing this, Wen Hongye was amused, but as she laughed, tears streamed down her face: "You're so annoying, making me laugh and cry so early in the morning."
"Yes, yes, it's my fault, it's my fault. Get up quickly, I've already made breakfast." As she spoke, Gu Xingchen reached out to wipe away his tears, then turned around to get his clothes.
Wen Hongye got out of bed, and Gu Xingchen took his clothes and helped him put them on.
Normally, Wen Hongye would definitely refuse, but this time, he wanted Gu Xingchen to help him put it on.
He stood there watching, and then, while Gu Xingchen bent down to help him fasten his belt, he tilted his head and kissed Gu Xingchen on the cheek.
Seeing this, Gu Xingchen reached out and hooked her arm around Wen Hongye's waist, saying, "You're the annoying one. You've made me itchy again so early in the morning. We couldn't do what we were going to do last night, so let's make up for it now..."
"But... um..." Before Wen Hongye could say anything, Gu Xingchen covered his mouth and took off the clothes that had just been put on him.
The breakfast that was originally hot on the table gradually lost its heat until it was completely cold, and then there was no more movement in the bed.
Wen Hongye pouted and dressed reluctantly. She regretted kissing him, otherwise she wouldn't have had to go through all that trouble on an empty stomach.
Gu Xingchen laughed, still wanting more, "If I wasn't worried you'd get hungry, I definitely wouldn't have let you off so easily."
Wen Hongye glanced at him and snorted, "Since you know I'm hungry, why don't you hurry up and heat up the food!"
"Yes, yes, I'll go heat up the breakfast right now. You can rest for a while." With that, Gu Xingchen took the breakfast on the table back to the kitchen to heat it up.
After breakfast, Gu Xingchen asked Wen Hongye, "Are there any small hills nearby where we can gather herbs? Now that we've settled down here, I need to continue looking for work, gathering herbs to sell, to support you."
“Yes, I’ll take you there,” Wen Hongye nodded.
"Okay, but wait a minute, I need to go to the kitchen to roast some sweet potatoes and then put them in a bamboo basket to take with me. You can eat them when you get hungry later." Gu Xingchen smiled and ran to the kitchen.
Wen Hongye followed him and sat down next to him, roasting sweet potatoes together.
"It smells so good." Wen Hongye sniffed the sweet potato aroma that filled the air and said.
"Have one when it's done baking," Gu Xingchen replied.
“Okay!” Wen Hongye took his arm and stared at the small flame.
After roasting, Gu Xingchen gave one to Wen Hongye and put the rest into the large bamboo basket he was carrying. Then he slung the medicine basket over his shoulder and got ready.
In addition to the small bamboo basket she always carried, Wen Hongye also brought a water jug this time, as she would definitely need to drink some water after eating the sweet potatoes.
The two went out like that. Gu Xingchen wanted to hold Wen Hongye's hand, but Wen Hongye was busy eating roasted sweet potatoes.
"Is it good?" Gu Xingchen asked.
"Mmm, it smells delicious. Take a bite too." With that, Wen Hongye held the sweet potato in her hand to Gu Xingchen's mouth.
Gu Xingchen took a small bite and said, "It's very fragrant. If you like it, eat more. I have more here."
"Hmm, but I can't eat anymore after this. I'll eat again when I get hungry later." Wen Hongye continued to nibble on her food.
As soon as he finished eating, Gu Xingchen took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth: "Look, you've got food all over your mouth. Go drink some water."
Chapter 6 Extra: Starry Night (Part 6)
Once on the mountain, Gu Xingchen found a place rich in medicinal herbs and happily began picking them.
Wen Hongye jumped up and sat on a tree branch, swinging her legs as she watched Gu Xingchen busy below.
"Star, let me sing you a song, a folk song from our hometown," Wen Hongye called out from the tree.
Gu Xingchen straightened up, turned around to look at him, and smiled, "Okay, I really want to hear it!"
"You're not allowed to laugh at me if I don't sing well!" This was the first time Wen Hongye had ever sung for someone else.
"No, no, my Hongye's singing is definitely the best in the world," Gu Xingchen praised.
"You're always praising me, but I'm not that great."
“In my heart, you are the best!” Gu Xingchen replied earnestly.
Wen Hongye looked at him, smiled slightly, and then began to sing a folk song about leaving Xinjiang.
Gu Xingchen continued to gather medicinal herbs.
He stopped after what seemed like an eternity and called out, "Hongye, come down! We can go back now!"
Upon hearing this, Wen Hongye immediately jumped down from the tree: "Let me see how much you picked."
Gu Xingchen turned around and showed him the medicine basket on his back: "Look, it's full."
"What a fruitful harvest!" Wen Hongye exclaimed.
"Okay, we'll go back and sell them later, then buy more vegetables and have a big meal tonight," Gu Xingchen said, outlining his plan.
“Okay, then let’s finish the rest of the wine.” Wen Hongye looked at him and said with a mischievous smile.
Gu Xingchen scratched the back of his head awkwardly: "I won't drink. If you want to drink, then you can. I can't drink with you."
"I won't let you drink more, just one cup is enough," Wen Hongye continued to tease.
Gu Xingchen shook her head: "No, no, I won't drink a drop."
"Didn't you want to use alcohol to liven things up?" Wen Hongye suppressed a laugh.