“Are you okay...?”
Ning Xian looked at his constantly bleeding nose, seemingly thinking something was truly wrong with him, a hint of worry in her eyes.
Looking at her worried expression, Fang Xuan felt even more guilty.
He covered his nose and shook his head.
Seeing how he was hunched over, Ning Xian’s worry deepened.
“Are you very uncomfortable?”
Fang Xuan could only bend his waist even lower.
“No... No.......”
Ning Xian’s face turned serious, and she spoke sternly, “Be good. Let Sister check your body.”
Before Fang Xuan could react, she had already half-straddled him.
Her two fair legs were spread on either side of him, her knees resting against the armrests of the rattan chair, and her entire weight sat on his thighs.
The hem of the short-sleeved shirt was pulled up by this movement, revealing a large patch of skin on her side.
Fair and slender, it practically glowed in the sunlight.
Her hand moved to his waist.
Fang Xuan’s entire body stiffened slightly.
Her hand was very cool; when she pressed it against his side, it felt like a small piece of ice landing on burning skin.
He felt like he was really going to turn into something strange, with only one thought looping in his mind.
There’s nothing... there’s nothing down there, he still remembered that.
But the traitorous Little Xuan didn’t remember that at all!
It happened to perk up and touch something—soft and very warm...
It’s over. It’s really over...
.......
“It’s... it’s just internal heat,” Fang Xuan’s voice changed pitch. “I need water.”
He was so panicked he just wanted to run away, his body shrinking back, but the rattan chair was only so big; there was nowhere to retreat.
Ning Xian pressed down on his waist, not letting him move.
“Sit still and let Sister check.”
“It’s really just internal heat...” Fang Xuan grew increasingly frantic.
Ning Xian didn’t say anything.
She just lowered her head, her fingers gently stroking upward along his side. Her movements were very slow and serious, as if she were truly inspecting something.
Fang Xuan didn’t even dare to breathe.
“Do you not have any other feelings?” Ning Xian suddenly asked, her voice very soft.
Fang Xuan was stunned.
“You know... what I mean.” She lowered her eyes, looking quite disappointed.
Her fingers also stopped at his waist, no longer moving.
Fang Xuan looked at her and knew exactly what she meant, but... but that was just too embarrassing.
He... he was still young.
However, he also knew he couldn't keep shrinking back. He had to go for it, otherwise, how would his dream ever come true?
“It... it’s okay...” he said, his ears turning red.
Ning Xian looked up at him. “It’s okay...?”
Fang Xuan’s throat bobbed.
He looked into her eyes for a long time.
Then he reached out and took her hand, their fingers interlocked.
“Can... can we hold hands?” Fang Xuan asked.
.......
So in the end... that was it.
Fang Xuan held her hand and sunbathed for most of the day.
The two sat on the same rattan chair, shoulder to shoulder.
Fang Xuan remained silent the whole time.
He felt like he had done something very stupid.
She had already said “it’s okay,” yet he only dared to hold her hand...
But her hand was so soft, fitting perfectly in his palm.
He lowered his head, looking at their joined hands, and suddenly felt that this was also quite nice.
This, however, was beyond Ning Xian’s comprehension. She stared blankly into the distance...
What does Junior Brother mean by this?
She said “it’s okay,” and he asked “can we hold hands?”
Hold hands? She had gone that far, and he only wanted to... hold hands?
What exactly is inside Junior Brother’s head?
.......
It wasn’t until evening that the two of them got up from the rattan chair.
Fang Xuan was still reluctant to let go of her hand.
Ning Xian didn’t struggle either, letting him hold it as they walked from the balcony back to the living room, and from the living room back to the bedroom.
“Want to go see a movie tonight?” Fang Xuan asked.
Ning Xian gave a soft “Mm.” She didn’t know what a movie was, but if Junior Brother said so, she would go.
The second step of the date was finally underway.
Fang Xuan felt that what was written in the books wasn’t quite right, because the final step was kissing, with many other activities in between.
But they had clearly started with kissing, so the book must be flawed.
But to actually reach the stage of marriage would probably be very difficult; it would take at least three to five years, he thought...
Besides, she was so beautiful; it was hard to say if she truly liked him.
Maybe he was just the one being played with, but he was willing to be led on. Even if it was a lie, he wanted her to keep lying to him.
He had been alone for too long... he didn’t want to live a life with nothing, alone again.
Moreover, he didn’t know why he felt so... smitten with her. It wasn’t just simple lust.
It was an uncontrollable, subconscious urge to be near her.
Furthermore, he noticed he had been doing many things subconsciously lately. For example, yesterday, he had suddenly reached out to pat her head.
And after showering, he would instinctively look for a fabric strip to wrap around his right hand.
Then he would suddenly freeze, wondering why he wanted to wrap his hand.
He was also becoming increasingly distant and cold toward others; even talking to his classmates felt too childish.
Then there were the blurry images that always appeared in his dreams... a bamboo grove courtyard, a white hair ribbon.
And a black blob of... something, that always liked to rub against his feet?
Could something be wrong with his brain?
.......
Not wanting to think too much, the time eventually arrived.
Fang Xuan changed his clothes, spending a long time in front of the mirror.
He fixed his hair three times and changed his outfit four times, finally settling on a white shirt.
When Fang Xuan came out, he saw Ning Xian waiting for him in the entryway.
She wore a light blue long dress and white canvas shoes, her hair tied up with that white fabric tie, revealing her fair neck.
His heart skipped another beat...
On the taxi ride to the cinema, Fang Xuan kept his eyes out the window.
Streetlights flickered on one by one.
Ning Xian sat beside him, her hand held in his, watching the scenery fly by outside.
This world had no spiritual energy and no laws, but it had many things she had never seen before.
After watching for a while, she found it rather uninteresting and lowered her head, staring blankly at their joined hands.
When... would Junior Brother remember her?
.......
The cinema was on the top floor of the mall.
While Fang Xuan queued for tickets, his palms were covered in sweat.
He chose a romance film, which was supposedly the most popular one lately.
He bought two tickets, a tub of popcorn, and two cups of cola.
“Sister, let’s go in,” Fang Xuan said.
Ning Xian’s small face looked dazed as she curiously followed him inside.
The screening hall was very large and pitch black, with only advertisements lighting up the big screen.
Fang Xuan found their seats and sat down, placing the popcorn on the armrest between them.
Ning Xian sat beside him, looking at the rows of heads in front of her, feeling a bit unaccustomed.
So many people crowded together; it was even livelier than the market bazaars of the Lower Realm.
The movie began.
Ning Xian watched for a bit and realized that this was likely a place for theatrical plays.
Junior Brother actually had such leisure; it seemed he really hadn't been given enough training. Nighttime should, of course, be used for serious business.
Once they returned, she would have to give him a proper round of training.
Rate on N.U.
