Indirect Kiss

Qian Xunji was also pulled backward by the momentum. His other hand instinctively wrapped around her shoulders, steadying them before they nearly fell together.

For an instant, the world seemed to go quiet.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The pounding of her heartbeat was deafening.

Bibi Dong went completely rigid in Qian Xunji's arms, her cheek pressed tightly against his chest.

"Tea... Teacher..."

Qian Xunji was also stunned for a moment by the sudden embrace. The girl in his arms was stiff all over.

He quickly suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, loosened his arms, and held her shoulders to help her sit steadily.

"Did I scare you? You suddenly looked nervous. Are you all right?"

"W-what? How... how could I be nervous?"

Bibi Dong immediately denied it. She sat up straight and raised a hand to hurriedly smooth her hair, her eyes darting everywhere except toward Qian Xunji.

Seeing how transparently guilty she looked, Qian Xunji found it immensely amusing.

He did not press further. He simply raised a hand, removed the leaf from her hair, and waved it before her eyes.

"Look, I was only taking this off for you."

Bibi Dong's gaze focused on the leaf, and she froze for two seconds.

"..."

So... it was a leaf.

Embarrassment belatedly swept over her.

She had actually thought Teacher was going to... Oh heavens! What had she been thinking?

She had even been frightened enough to nearly fall off the boat, only to end up throwing herself into Teacher's arms.

"S-so, there was a leaf in my hair..."

"What else did you think it was?"

"Y-you... what did you think?"

"I thought..."

Bibi Dong blurted it out, then abruptly stopped herself.

What could she possibly say?

That she had thought he was going to kiss her?

She might as well jump into the river and be done with it.

Ling Yuan, are you planning to spend eternity buying food?"

"Come back and save me already. I'm about to die of my own stupidity."

Seeing her face turn scarlet, Qian Xunji finally could not hold back a soft laugh.

Who would have thought that Bibi Dong, before she turned dark, was so easily embarrassed?

The faint streak of mischief in Qian Xunji's heart was thoroughly stirred.

Feigning confusion, he asked, "Dong'er, your face is so red... Your temperature seems rather high."

"Could the river wind have given you a chill? Shall I use Soul Power to check your temperature for you?"

"I'm not sick." Bibi Dong abruptly lowered her hand, revealing a bright-red little face full of shame and indignation, though she still did not dare meet his eyes.

"It's... it's just too hot in the cabin. Yes, too hot!"

She even exaggeratedly fanned herself with her hand.

Qian Xunji was nearly unable to keep a straight face at her clumsy excuse and vivid expression. He hurriedly raised his teacup to hide the growing curve of his lips.

Watching him, Bibi Dong grumbled inwardly, Teacher is definitely doing this on purpose.

I really want to jump into the Yelin River and cool down. It would be best if I turned into a fish, so I would not have to face an awkward scene so unbearable my toes could carve out an entire Spirit Hall.

Just then, with a soft whoosh, Ling Yuan returned to the boat in a nimble leap, carrying armfuls of packages.

"Pope, Saintess, I bought lots of delicious food. There are Sauce-Braised Soul Beast Ribs, Steamed Silver-Scaled Fish, Crystal Shrimp Dumplings, and some local Hundred Flower Brew..."

Before she could finish, a fragrant figure suddenly pounced on her and tightly hugged her arm.

"Ling Yuan, you're finally back!"

Bibi Dong's voice brimmed with the gratitude of someone reborn, as if Ling Yuan had not gone to buy a late-night meal, but had accomplished some great feat of saving the world.

Ling Yuan was so startled by the hug that the oiled-paper packages in her hands nearly fell to the ground.

She looked suspiciously at the Saintess, who seemed ready to cling to her, then raised her eyes toward His Holiness the Pope, who was leisurely sipping tea nearby.

Ling Yuan: ???

I was gone for less than half an hour, right?

Why was the atmosphere here... both sticky and tense?

"Saintess, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing happened!"

Bibi Dong immediately released her, snatched several oiled-paper packages, and briskly arranged them on the small table in the cabin.

"I'm just so hungry. Teacher must be hungry too, right, Teacher? Let's eat together!"

She eagerly pulled out a stool, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Qian Xunji.

"All right."

He released a thread of Soul Power and merged it into the boat.

The small boat, which had been drifting with the current, immediately became steady and slowly sailed toward a more open stretch at the center of the river.

The three sat around the small table as Ling Yuan and Bibi Dong laid out the food one by one. Fragrance soon filled the entire cabin.

To act normal, Bibi Dong took the wine jar herself and filled Qian Xunji's cup with clear Hundred Flower Brew, then poured some for Ling Yuan and herself.

"Come, to... to Yelin City's night scenery, cheers!"

"Cheers." Qian Xunji raised his cup with a smile.

Ling Yuan hurriedly followed suit.

"Gulp—"

Bibi Dong tipped back her head and took a huge swallow.

"Cough, cough... It's so spicy!"

Instead of the sweetness she had expected, a rich, fiery taste rushed straight down her throat, making her eyes nearly water.

Qian Xunji shook his head helplessly.

"Drink slowly. This wine has quite a kick afterward. Eat something first to line your stomach."

"Mhm..." Bibi Dong obediently nodded and picked up a piece of fish, eating it in small bites.

Then she secretly glanced up and saw the Angel Wing Bracelet around Teacher's wrist. For some reason, her heart sweetened.

Halfway through the meal—

"Whoosh—boom!"

Several fireworks suddenly shot into the night sky and exploded in the direction of the distant city square.

Though it was not yet the official lantern festival, fireworks were set off in advance to build excitement.

One firework after another lit up half the night sky, their reflections shimmering over the river.

"Wow, so beautiful!" Ling Yuan cried in delighted surprise, raising her head to watch.

Bibi Dong was also drawn in by the sudden splendor and put down her chopsticks.

Qian Xunji did not look at the fireworks.

His gaze fell upon Bibi Dong's profile as she watched them.

Her focused, delighted expression was so pure that he could not look away.

She was utterly different from the gloomy, obsessive Pope she would become in the future.

This was the beauty he wanted to protect.

Perhaps his gaze was too intent, because Bibi Dong suddenly sensed it.

She instinctively turned her head and happened to meet Qian Xunji's eyes.

"Tea... Teacher, watch the fireworks. Why are you looking at me?"

Qian Xunji could only shift his gaze to the night sky. "Mm, I'm watching the fireworks."

Bibi Dong secretly let out a breath, though the heat in her face began rising again.

Then she reached for the wine cup on the table. Without looking, she lifted it and took a sip, hoping to calm herself down.

"Dong'er, how does it taste?"

"Huh? It's all right, just a little spicy..."

"Then why did you drink from my cup?"

At those words, Bibi Dong abruptly lowered her head and looked at the cup in her hand.

She had taken the wrong one!

She had drunk from the cup Teacher had just used!

Her cheeks, which had only just cooled down, flared crimson once more, brighter than the fireworks above.

Her hand trembled, and the cup nearly slipped from her grasp. She stammered, "S-sorry, Teacher, I didn't mean to! I... I'll get you a new cup right away."

In a fluster, she reached for a clean cup.

"No need."

Qian Xunji reached out and pressed down on her frantic hand.

Then, beneath her wide-eyed gaze, he calmly took the cup her lips had touched and, from the very spot where she had drunk, leisurely took a sip.