The Playful Banter Between the Two

"After you left the mountain?" Her brows furrowed even tighter. "When did you learn that? Who did you learn it from?"

Lu Jiuyuan watched her earnest interrogation and couldn't help but laugh: "Are you interrogating me?"

"I am concerned about you." Lu Xueqi corrected him, her tone serious. "You exhausted yourself too much today. If the enemy hadn't retreated on the battlefield, what would you have done?"

"Isn't there still you?"

Lu Xueqi was stunned for a moment.

Lu Jiuyuan smiled and reached out, flicking her forehead gently: "With you by my side, what do I have to fear?"

Lu Xueqi was flicked by him, but she didn't dodge, nor did she get angry.

She lowered her head, her fingers tracing circles on her knees. After a long silence, she spoke softly: "Senior Brother, do you think I meddle too much?"

"No."

"Then why were you laughing just now?"

"Because you are cute."

Lu Xueqi looked up at him.

Those eyes held traces of intoxication, confusion, and a hint of deeply hidden unease.

"Cute?" She repeated the word, as if savoring its meaning. "Where am I cute?"

"Everywhere." Lu Jiuyuan leaned against the wall, a smile playing on his lips. "You're cute when you're fierce, cute when you're jealous, and cute when you're lecturing me with that serious look."

Lu Xueqi stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly turned her face away, the tips of her ears turning red: "You've had too much to drink."

"I've only had a few sips, how could I be drunk?"

"Then you're just talking nonsense."

"Everything I said is the truth."

Lu Xueqi didn't respond.

She picked up the wine flask and took another sip, drinking more than before this time, her throat moving several times before she swallowed.

The alcohol surged up, making her face even redder.

She set the flask down and turned to face him.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think I'm fierce?"

Lu Jiuyuan blinked: "Occasionally."

"When?"

"For instance, the first time we met, you glared at me. Or like last time, when Jin Ping'er appeared."

"That time doesn't count." Lu Xueqi shook her head in denial.

"Why doesn't it count?" Lu Jiuyuan raised an eyebrow.

"Because..." Lu Xueqi paused, her voice dropping lower. "Because that was Jin Ping'er."

Lu Jiuyuan looked at her slightly puffed-out cheeks and suddenly felt that Lu Xueqi was different tonight than usual.

Usually, she was like a pool of deep water—cold, calm, and showing no emotion on her face.

But tonight, it was as if that icy shell had been melted by the wine, revealing the soft and authentic self underneath.

She would question, she would defend herself, and she would throw a little tantrum because of another woman.

She was cute.

"Xueqi." He spoke suddenly, his voice a few degrees softer than before.

"Hmm?"

"Come a little closer."

Lu Xueqi looked at him, not asking why, and shifted closer to his side.

The distance between them shrank from a fist's width to half a fist. Her shoulder brushed against his arm, and her long hair fell, covering the back of his hand.

"A little closer."

She shifted again, and this time, her entire body was almost leaning against him. She tilted her head back to look at him, her gaze hazy yet candid, as if waiting for him to say something, or as if nothing needed to be said at all.

"Senior Brother."

"Yes."

"That technique you used today... it really was powerful."

"..."

"But don't carry it alone next time." Her voice was very soft, yet carried an unquestionable firmness. "You still have me."

Lu Jiuyuan looked down at her, a surge of indescribable warmth rising in his heart.

"Okay."

"Promise me."

"I promise you."

Lu Xueqi looked at his earnest expression, the corners of her mouth curving up as if she were satisfied.

She leaned against his shoulder, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on the back of his hand. After a while, she suddenly spoke.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm?"

"You said just now that I look cute when I'm jealous."

"Yes, I did."

"Then do you like it?"

Lu Jiuyuan turned his head to look at her.

Lu Xueqi did not look up, her fingers still drawing circles on the back of his hand, but the pressure was noticeably lighter, as if she were trying to hide something.

"I like it."

Lu Xueqi's fingers stopped.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly lifted her head from his shoulder, turned around, and faced him.

The distance between them was so close that they could feel each other's breath.

The alcohol had veiled her eyes in a mist, hazy and soft, carrying a charm she was unaware of.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm."

"Do you know that every time you say things like that, I really want to..."

She didn't finish. Because Lu Jiuyuan had already lowered his head and kissed her lips.

This time was different from last night.

Last night was a mere dragonfly skimming the water, a touch and a retreat.

Tonight, Lu Xueqi had no Osmanthus Wine to bolster her courage, nor was she half-drunk and hazy; she responded to him clearly, earnestly, and proactively.

Her hands climbed onto his shoulders, her fingertips threading through his hair.

Lu Jiuyuan's arms tightened, pulling her entire body into his embrace.

The sweet fragrance of Osmanthus Wine swirled between their lips and teeth, making it impossible to tell if it was his or hers.

After a long while, the two slowly parted.

Lu Xueqi leaned in his arms, her cheeks flushed, her breathing unsteady.

Her fingers were still tangled in his hair, refusing to let go.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm."

"You said just now that I look cute when I'm fierce."

"Yes, I did."

"And that I look cute when I'm jealous."

"Correct."

"Then what about now?" She lifted her head, her gaze hazy yet earnest. "Do I look cute like this?"

Lu Jiuyuan looked at her for a long time.

Lu Xueqi's eyes were very bright, as if they held starlight, or perhaps some kind of expectation. Her lips were slightly swollen from the kiss just now, glistening with moisture under the moonlight.

He lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers.

"Not cute."

Lu Xueqi's expression froze for an instant.

"It's beautiful," he said. "Especially beautiful."

Her expression shifted from stiff to surprised, then from surprised to annoyed, and she reached out to lightly punch his chest. "You did that on purpose."

Lu Jiuyuan smiled and took her hand, placing it over his heart.

"Feel it, see how fast it's beating."

Lu Xueqi's palm pressed against his chest, clearly feeling the powerful thumping of that heart.

She did not pull her hand away, but instead pressed down gently, as if confirming something.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm."

"Your heartbeat is so fast."

"Because of you."

Lu Xueqi's eyes flickered, the corners of her mouth curving into a very, very faint arc.

She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled: "Me too."

Lu Jiuyuan lowered his head, resting his chin on the crown of her hair, catching the faint scent of Osmanthus Wine lingering in her tresses.

Lu Xueqi found a comfortable position in Lu Jiuyuan's arms and stopped speaking, simply leaning against him in silence.

Moonlight crept slowly through the cracks in the door, illuminating the straw bedding, the half-finished pot of Osmanthus Wine, and the hands of the two entwined together.

Lu Jiuyuan looked down at the person in his arms; her breathing had become long and steady, her eyelashes casting faint shadows in the moonlight.

He gently pulled the thin blanket over her shoulders.