Qian Renxue's Ambiguity

The alcohol was not particularly strong.

Tang Feng set down his wine cup, his fingertips still resting on its rim.

Another figure appeared before the table.

The newcomer wore a simple white dress, her golden hair falling to her waist, loosely tied with only a thin ribbon.

The skirt was simply tailored, with no unnecessary ornaments at her waist.

Only a few golden patterns were embroidered along the collar, gleaming softly beneath the lamplight.

She stopped beside the table.

"May I sit here?"

Tang Feng looked at her.

The woman in white had delicate features and fair skin.

Her pale golden eyes were clear and calm.

She wore no insignia that revealed her identity.

Tang Feng withdrew his gaze.

"Suit yourself."

The woman in white sat opposite him.

She took another wine cup and reached for the jug on the table.

Her wide sleeve slipped slightly down her forearm, exposing a slender wrist.

Clear wine poured into the cup.

She raised it and took a sip.

As the fiery liquor slid down her throat, her brows drew together slightly.

Tang Feng watched her.

"First time drinking strong liquor?"

"No."

The woman in white placed her cup back on the table.

"This wine is stronger than I expected."

"You could switch to fruit wine."

"You think I can't handle it?"

She picked up her cup again.

Her pale fingers rested against the cup, while her light golden eyes settled on Tang Feng's face.

Tang Feng lifted his own cup.

"Then keep drinking."

Their cups lightly clinked together.

This time, she did not hesitate and drank every drop in her cup.

A faint blush quickly rose to her cheeks.

Her calmness did not fade. Instead, it made her all the more radiant.

Tang Feng refilled her cup.

"Still drinking?"

"Why not?"

Qian Renxue raised a hand and swept her golden hair behind her shoulder.

A few strands slipped through her fingers and rested against her fair neck.

"You were drinking here alone. Didn't you want a few more cups too?"

"I only wanted to taste it."

"One sip would have been enough."

She looked at the wine jug, now nearly half empty.

"You've had quite a bit."

Tang Feng did not explain.

He raised his cup and slowly took a sip.

Qian Renxue raised hers as well.

She did not drink immediately, instead holding the cup near her lips.

"What is your name?"

"Tang Feng."

She softly repeated it.

"Tang Feng."

The two words left her lips.

Her golden eyes lingered on Tang Feng for a moment.

"Not a bad name."

Tang Feng asked, "And yours?"

Qian Renxue did not answer right away.

She drank the strong liquor in her cup, and the blush on her cheeks became more pronounced.

The lamplight fell through her golden hair, making every strand distinct.

"Qian Renxue."

Tang Feng looked at her.

"Your name is nice too."

Qian Renxue set down her cup.

"Just nice?"

"It sounds very nice."

A faint smile appeared in her eyes.

"That's more like it."

Tang Feng reached for the wine jug again.

But Qian Renxue extended her hand first.

Their fingertips touched the jug at the same time.

Her fingers rested against the back of Tang Feng's hand.

The warm touch lingered for a moment.

Tang Feng did not let go.

Neither did Qian Renxue.

"This jug was ordered by you."

"Mm."

"Then you should be the one pouring."

She said so, yet her fingers still pressed against the jug.

Tang Feng looked at their overlapping hands.

"Let go first."

"You were the one who touched it after me."

"The jug was originally by my side."

"Now it's in my hand."

Qian Renxue lifted the wine jug.

Tang Feng's hand rose from the table with it.

She glanced at Tang Feng, who still had not released it, then finally set the jug back between them.

"Each of us takes a step back."

"How?"

"You pour for me."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"I'll pour for you."

Tang Feng let go.

She picked up the jug first and filled Tang Feng's cup.

A drop of wine fell onto the rim and slowly slid down the side.

Qian Renxue extended her index finger and wiped away the drop for him.

Her fingertip brushed the rim, then touched the finger Tang Feng used to hold the cup.

Her movement paused.

Tang Feng raised his eyes to look at her.

Only a narrow wooden table separated them.

Qian Renxue withdrew her hand.

"Your turn."

Tang Feng picked up the wine jug.

Clear liquor slowly poured into her cup.

Qian Renxue lowered her head to watch the cup.

"It's full."

Tang Feng stopped.

The wine had reached the very brim. One more drop would have made it spill.

She looked up at Tang Feng.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"You said to stop when it was full."

"What if I said it too late?"

"Then it would spill."

"What if it spills onto my dress?"

Tang Feng glanced at her white dress.

"Wash it."

"You'll wash it?"

"You wash it yourself."

Qian Renxue laughed softly.

She raised her cup, yet she could not bring it directly to her lips.

The cup was filled too full; even the slightest movement would make it spill.

Tang Feng watched her.

"Why aren't you drinking?"

Qian Renxue pushed the cup slightly toward him.

"You filled it too full."

"Then take a sip first."

"It'll spill."

Tang Feng reached out and supported the bottom of the cup.

Qian Renxue's hand still held the cup itself.

Their fingers rested together through the thin wall of the cup.

She lowered her head, her red lips lightly touching the rim.

She took a small sip.

A strand of golden hair fell from her shoulder onto Tang Feng's wrist.

The soft strand gently brushed across his skin as she lifted her head.

Tang Feng withdrew his hand.

Qian Renxue sat upright as well.

She looked at the wine, now reduced by one sip.

"This way of drinking does save effort."

"You can hold it yourself."

"But you were the one who filled it."

She held the cup out before Tang Feng.

"So you have to take responsibility."

Tang Feng supported the bottom of the cup again.

Qian Renxue lowered her head and took another sip.

This time, she did not immediately lift her head.

Her golden hair hung beside their hands.

Several strands rested against the back of Tang Feng's hand.

A faint fragrance mingled with the scent of wine.

Tang Feng looked at Qian Renxue, so close before him.

Her eyelashes were very long.

Lamplight fell across the corners of her eyes, making those pale golden eyes seem even brighter.

Qian Renxue finished the last sip of wine in her cup before taking the empty cup back from Tang Feng.

"Why have you been staring at me?"

"You're sitting across from me."

"Just because I'm sitting across from you, you have to keep staring?"

"I can't exactly stare at the wall."

Qian Renxue turned and glanced at the wall behind her.

She quickly looked back at Tang Feng.

"The wall really isn't as pretty as I am."

"Mm."

Tang Feng answered very quickly.

Qian Renxue had originally wanted to keep talking, but she paused when she heard that answer.

She lightly spun the wine cup with her fingertips.

The blush on her cheeks spread toward her ears.

"Do you always talk like this?"

"Like what?"

"Making people not know how to respond."

"Then you don't have to respond."

Qian Renxue set the empty cup on the table.

"But I want to."

Tang Feng picked up the wine jug.

Only a little wine remained inside.

He poured half a cup for Qian Renxue first.

He poured all the rest into his own cup.

Qian Renxue looked at the two cups.

"Why do I have more?"

"You drank one cup less earlier."

"You remember that so clearly?"

"There's only one wine jug."

"Then you also know how much I drank earlier."

"I do."

Qian Renxue lifted her cup.

"What if I get drunk?"

Tang Feng looked at her.

"You're not drunk."

"My face is already red."

"It's just the alcohol taking effect."

She raised a hand and touched her cheek.

Her fingertips quickly became warm as well.

"It really is hot."

Qian Renxue looked at Tang Feng.

"Why isn't your face red?"

"This little wine isn't enough."

"Looks like you can really drink."

"I'm decent."

"Then next time, we'll try something stronger."

Tang Feng paused as he raised his cup.

"There'll be a next time?"

Qian Renxue's fingers stopped at the rim of her cup.

She lifted her eyes and met Tang Feng's gaze.

"You don't want to?"

"No."

"Then there will be."

She raised her cup.

Tang Feng raised his as well.

The two cups clinked together again.

Qian Renxue did not pull hers back immediately.

She kept the rim pressed against Tang Feng's cup, his reflection filling her pale golden eyes.

"Tang Feng."

"Mm?"

"Remember my name."

Tang Feng looked at her.

"Qian Renxue."

The smile in her eyes deepened.

"You remembered it well."

"It's only been a little while."

"You can't forget it in the future either."

Tang Feng drank the last sip of wine.

"That depends on whether you'll still show up in the future."

Qian Renxue drained her cup as well.

She set down the empty cup, her long golden hair slipping over her shoulder.

"I will."

After saying that, Qian Renxue reached for the empty wine jug on the table.

She gently shook it twice.

There was no wine left inside.

"We've finished it."

Tang Feng looked at the empty wine cups.

"Want another jug?"

Qian Renxue set the jug back on the table.

"You still have training tomorrow."

Tang Feng raised his eyes.

"How did you know?"

Her fingers paused on the jug's handle.

"Don't students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy train every day?"

"You know someone from the academy?"

"No."

Qian Renxue picked up her cup. Only a single drop of wine remained at the bottom.

"I guessed."

Tang Feng watched her for a moment.

"You guessed right."

"Looks like I wasn't wrong."

She pushed the empty cup to the middle of the table.

Her wide sleeve draped down, covering half her hand and leaving only her fair fingertips exposed.

Tang Feng asked, "Do you live in Heaven Dou City too?"

"For the time being."

"For the time being?"

"Once I finish what I came to do, I'll leave for a while."

Qian Renxue raised a hand to support the side of her face.

Her golden hair slipped from her shoulder and fell beside her wrist.

"Have you been outside Heaven Dou City?"

"I have."

"Where is the prettiest?"

"Sunset Forest."

Qian Renxue's brows shifted slightly.

"That place is full of soul beasts."

"There are valleys and lakes too."

"You went there to enjoy the scenery?"

"I looked while hunting soul beasts."

She laughed softly.

"That doesn't count as enjoying the scenery."

"What's the difference?"

"You have to go specifically to see it, so you can take your time walking."

Qian Renxue lightly tapped the table with her fingers.

"If you find a place you like, you can stay there for half a day."

"When you're hungry, you find somewhere to eat."

"When you're tired, you sit beneath a tree and rest."

Tang Feng asked, "Wouldn't that waste time?"

"How can free time count as wasted?"

She looked at Tang Feng.

"If you spend every day cultivating, you'll miss many things too."

Tang Feng picked up his wine cup.

It was already empty.

He set it down again.

"Such as?"

"Osmanthus cakes on South Street in Heaven Dou City."

"Freshly baked sugar pastries on West Street."

"And the river outside the city. At dusk, its surface reflects the entire sunset."

As Qian Renxue spoke, the flush from the wine had not yet completely faded from her face.

The pale golden eyes reflected the lamplight at the edge of the table.

She was completely different from Xue Qinghe at the banquet.

There were no royal manners.

Nor was there a list of resources laid out on the table.

The one sitting across from Tang Feng now was merely Qian Renxue, dressed in white and sharing a jug of wine with him.

Tang Feng looked outside the tavern.

Night had already covered the streets.

Rows of lanterns hung beneath the eaves.

Pedestrians still came and went.

"Are there still osmanthus cakes at this hour?"

"Probably not at this time."

"You mentioned them just now."

"I was only telling you about them."

Qian Renxue sat up straight.

"Besides, even without osmanthus cakes, we can buy something else."

Tang Feng asked, "You want to go out?"

"The wine is finished."

She stood up.

Her white skirt draped down from the edge of the long bench.

Her golden hair spilled down her back with the movement.

Qian Renxue took two steps, then stopped beside the table.

"You're not coming?"

Tang Feng took out some coins and placed them on the table.

"Let's go."

The two left the tavern.

The night wind blew down the street.

The warmth inside the tavern quickly faded away.

Qian Renxue raised a hand and tucked several strands of golden hair behind her ear.

The flush of wine still lingered on her face, but her eyes were clear.

Most of the shops along the street were still open.

Lanterns hung before their doors, casting a warm yellow glow over the stone pavement.

Tang Feng and Qian Renxue walked side by side.

Their sleeves occasionally brushed against each other.

She did not pull away.

Tang Feng did not alter his pace either.

As they passed an intersection, Qian Renxue suddenly stopped.

A small stall stood by the roadside.

Several rows of sugar figurines were stuck into a wooden rack.

Rabbits.

Birds.

Little snakes.

And several soul beasts whose shapes were impossible to make out.

Qian Renxue walked over to the stall.

"What does this look like?"

She pointed at a winged sugar figurine.

The vendor answered, "A phoenix."

Tang Feng glanced at it.

"It looks more like a fat chicken."

The vendor froze mid-motion.

Qian Renxue turned her face away. She held it in for a moment, but still burst out laughing.

"Don't say that in front of the vendor."

"It really doesn't look like a phoenix."

"Then pick another one."

She looked over the wooden rack, then finally picked up a little golden bird.

The sugar figurine's wings were spread wide, and its tail feathers had been drawn out long.

Qian Renxue handed over some coins.

After taking them, the vendor removed a blue sugar figurine shaped like a small blade of grass from the side.

"This is a gift for you two."

Qian Renxue looked at Tang Feng.

Tang Feng looked at her as well.

Without explaining, she reached out, took the Sugar Grass, and held it out before Tang Feng.

"For you."

"Why give it to me?"

"I already have one."

Qian Renxue shook the little golden bird in her hand.

"I can't carry both."

Tang Feng accepted the Sugar Grass.

The syrup had not hardened evenly.

A tiny gap still remained along its edge.

He took a bite.

Qian Renxue asked, "Is it sweet?"

"Very sweet."

She bit off a small piece of the golden tail feather as well.

When the sugar shell cracked, several sugar crumbs fell beside her lips.

Qian Renxue did not notice and continued walking ahead.

Tang Feng glanced at her.

"Don't move."

She stopped.

"What is it?"

Tang Feng raised his hand.

The pad of his finger gently brushed across the corner of Qian Renxue's lips, wiping away the sugar crumbs.

The distance between them closed with the motion.

Qian Renxue lifted her eyes to look at him.

Tang Feng's fingers still lingered beside her face.

She did not step back.

The streetlights fell between them.

Tang Feng withdrew his hand.

"You had sugar on you."

Qian Renxue raised a hand and touched the spot he had just wiped.

The heat in her cheeks deepened a little more.

"You could have reminded me."

"It was already wiped off."

"Tell me first next time."

"Alright."

She continued onward.

This time, their shoulders were pressed closer together.

Qian Renxue finished the sugar figurine in her hand, leaving only a thin bamboo stick.

She walked to the roadside and placed the bamboo stick into a bamboo tube outside a shop.

Half of Tang Feng's Sugar Grass still remained.

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"Why are you eating so slowly?"

"Too sweet."

"Who was it that said it was very sweet just now?"

"Being sweet has nothing to do with whether I can finish it."

She held out her hand.

"Give it to me."

Tang Feng handed her the Sugar Grass.

After taking it, Qian Renxue lowered her head and bit off the upper end of the leaf.

That was precisely where Tang Feng had bitten before.