Aren't you going to eat?
Shang Shujue placed the paper and pen beside her, pressing them down with her arm. She then picked up her cup and drank the little drink left in it, her narrow eyes fixed on Song Yanqing, who was making no other move across from her, her words tinged with a smile.
Song Yanqing looked up at him and met his gaze again. This time, he seemed to be burned and looked away without looking at him again, but his slender fingers pushed the " Everlasting " sign in front of him away.
There were large and small scars on the back of his hands down to his wrists. The white scars blended into his wheat-colored skin and were very noticeable. Shang Shujue glanced at them and thought of his experiences in the first half of his life, and his heart inexplicably ached.
Shang Shujue paused, pulling herself out of her thoughts. She noticed that although Song Yanqing had started eating, he kept glancing in her direction out of the corner of his eye, probably to make sure he wouldn't push the " Everlasting " dish back.
For some reason, Shang Shujue felt a pang of heartache, and his nose stung a little, but he suppressed the feeling, which mingled with the sweetness of the dessert and the fragrance of roses.
Subconsciously, he felt that the two of them didn't need to be so cautious in their interactions; they should be open and honest, saying what they meant and doing what they wanted, instead of being like this... strangers...
Shang Shujue accepted Song Yanqing's offer of " Everlasting and ever," even though it didn't really mean anything, but Song Yanqing was very happy, genuinely happy.
They ate and drank quietly. Occasionally, when their eyes met, Song Yanqing would look down and look away, as shy as a naive young man experiencing his first love.
His intentions were too obvious. Shang Shujue knew what he was thinking and that he was still too shy to admit it, so she said nothing and indulged him.
When the two left, they gave the suggestion sheet and pen to the shop assistant. The sheet had a note that read, "No suggestions, the taste is great. Desserts made with sincerity will be loved by many people. Best wishes to the shop manager for a prosperous business. Goodbye."
Which direction should we go?
After leaving the shop, Song Yanqing pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time before speaking to Shang Shujue. His voice was actually very pleasant, with the crispness of youth, the depth of experience, and a hint of grievance for not being able to show off his wealth in front of his beloved.
The desserts and drinks we just had were all paid for by Shang Shujue. He had been here once before, and he paid after he finished eating, so he assumed Shang Shujue did the same.
Unexpectedly, he had already ordered and paid for the food before coming in, and the things he ordered were all his favorites, even though he doesn't like sweets.
So his desserts weren't sweet, and neither were his drinks. He ate his fill, even though he had been fasting and didn't actually need to eat. But Shang Shujue remembered his preferences and took good care of him, and he felt that he had gained some weight in the past few months.
"I've changed my mind. Let's fly southwest on our swords. Once we get there, we'll find a beautiful place with clear waters and lush mountains, put away our magic, and live like ordinary people."
Shang Shujue turned around and looked at the aggrieved little dog who was much taller than him. After meeting his eyes for a moment, he suddenly changed his mind for some reason.
Upon hearing this, Song Yanqing's pupils trembled slightly. Southwest? The coordinates of his birth... He took a deep breath, suppressing his rapidly beating heartbeat, and asked him in a hoarse voice.
"Then... would you like to stay at my house? I was born in the southwest..."
"..."
Shang Shujue's smile froze slightly, and his pupils trembled, as if he hadn't expected that the direction he had chosen on a whim would be so coincidental.
He paused for a moment, as if he had figured something out in that split second. His fingers, hanging by his sides, suddenly clenched, then relaxed, and a smile spread across his lips.
"Well..." He paused, seemingly considering it carefully, before making a solemn decision, "... I'll go visit the place where you were born."
"...!" Song Yanqing suddenly looked up at Shang Shujue, momentarily blinded by his bright smile. But this time, he didn't look away. He took a step forward with restraint, nodded heavily, and his smile deepened. "Yes, I'll take you there."
The two walked away one after the other, unaware that while they were talking, their interaction had already been observed by the shop assistants leaning against the door, other customers peering through the window, and the shop manager upstairs embracing his lover.
Only after they had gone far away did the crowd realize what was happening, and when they turned around and saw many like-minded people, they couldn't help but cheer.
"They're together, right?! Yeah, right! Ahhh... I never thought I'd get to ship them up close like this! I forgot to bring my best friend with me today! She's definitely regretting it!"
"Hahaha... Their conversation just now was the most romantic confession in the world! It was so sweet, and they're such a perfect match! I was worried the tall cultivator was going to be rejected because they weren't saying anything!"
"Ahhh, this is wonderful! In this era, nothing is more romantic than cultivating together, especially bringing someone to your home to cultivate together. How sweet!"
"Hehehe... Friends, are you talking about cultivation in the physical sense, or some kind of cultivation that involves flowing water? Hehehe... cough cough..."
"Friend, watch your image in public! Don't talk nonsense, you Da Huang girl!"
The shop was bustling with activity, and no one thought it was wrong. After all, people have the freedom to choose their partners, and besides, they seemed so serious, and they were even highly skilled cultivators.
Why is their cultivation level considered very high? Of course, it's because even the shopkeeper, who Peak Foundation Establishment, couldn't sense their cultivation level; he only knew they were cultivators.
However, none of that matters now. What matters most is that the store manager and his wife were very happy and gave everyone the same Heart of the Rose and Everlasting Love desserts that Shang Shujue and his group had just eaten, making everyone very happy...