" A-Jue, I'm done washing up. You don't need to stay this far. Come downstairs. I didn't bring any spare clothes with me. Do you have any clean clothes?"
Song Yanqing finished washing quickly. He bent down to reach for the storage bag, intending to take out clean clothes from it, but suddenly remembered something, put the storage bag aside, and turned to call out to Shang Shujue.
Shang Shujue's body seemed to stiffen for a moment, and the next second he threw over a set of clothes, including a pair of blue-gray underwear, which was obviously brand new and had never been worn.
Song Yanqing looked at the new underwear, her ears turned red for a moment, and her expression looked a little shy and embarrassed.
The new underwear hasn't been properly tamed yet, it's a bit tight when I wear it...
But he hesitated for a second before giving up. His wife's gift was the best; he had to wear it!
Are you feeling better?
Shang Shujue didn't turn around. He sensed that one of the wolf cubs seemed to be getting closer and closer, but he still asked a question as a formality, and quickly dodged when one of the wolf cubs pounced.
" A-Jue, are you hiding from me?" Song Yanqing looked at the handsome man who was full of vigor in mid-air and couldn't help but complain in a low voice.
"Of course I'll hide, you brat. Do you think we're the kind of people who can hug and cuddle anytime we want?"
Shang Shujue had somehow broken off a branch in his hand. The leaves on the branch seemed to radiate a soft halo in the warm yellow afterglow, complementing Shang Shujue's raised eyebrows, curled lips, and sparkling eyes, making him exceptionally dazzling at this moment.
Upon hearing Shang Shujue's words, Song Yanqing stood on the tree branch with his head lowered, his lips unconsciously pursed, and he remained silent. Seeing this, Shang Shujue did not approach him.
"Let's meditate and consolidate our cultivation. No step can be skipped in cultivation. I'll go look for some spiritual plant seeds nearby and bring them back for Zhiyu and the other two to eat."
Shang Shujue waited for a while, and seeing that Song Yanqing was still silent and didn't seem to understand the hidden meaning in his words, he suppressed the smile on his face, concealed the helplessness in his eyes, and turned around to change the subject.
" Shang Shujue."
Just as Shang Shujue was about to leave, he heard Song Yanqing's voice, which was very hoarse.
The sound was like something squeezed out bit by bit from the heart, and then choked up in the throat for a long time before finally coming out; it was very firm.
"What?" Shang Shujue's voice was slightly hoarse, and his fingers gripping the branch turned slightly white. He didn't turn around, but he seemed to have a premonition. His heart suddenly raced, and his throat felt like it would jump out at any moment.
"I like you..."
Song Yanqing seemed to have finally mustered up his courage and said what he had kept in his heart for a long time. He suddenly looked up at Shang Shujue's back and spoke each word clearly.
"I like you so much... From the first moment I saw you, I knew I could never live without you."
After saying those words, he seemed to have finally regained his voice. He hadn't failed to understand Shang Shujue's metaphor; he was just too happy.
He had always thought that he could only ever be friends with him for the rest of his life, but unexpectedly, the person he cherished so much today actually hinted at something to him...
Their relationship could actually take things a step further; if he were willing to take that step, they could be together.
After he figured it out, he was so excited that he lost his voice. His soul was screaming with excitement and elation, but he couldn't utter a sound.
Fortunately, before Shang Shujue could completely lose hope, he finally found his voice, and with tears in his eyes, he spoke his heart, expressing his joy to the person he loved before him.
"But I've always known that you're a chosen one, with a distinguished status and an impressive background. I have nothing, and I've never dared to hope that we could ever have anything to do with each other, nor have I ever dared to hope that you would like me."
"I just want to cultivate myself to the best of my ability, try my best to catch up with you, and live a little longer, just in case... just in case you see me one day..."
When Song Yanqing said these words, it was undoubtedly out of inferiority, but his affection was also burning. He didn't try to change Shang Shujue because of his inferiority complex; instead, he tried to make himself worthy of him.
"But I have nothing. I know I'm not good enough for you, so that day I went to the Cultivator Alliance to register my cultivation level and heard about the treatment of Nascent Soul Stage cultivators."
" Nascent Soul cultivator can receive a substantial bonus, a property in the capital, and various nominations and resources... That's why I want to try breaking through to the Nascent Soul myself..."
Upon hearing this, Shang Shujue finally turned around and looked over. Song Yanqing's eyes were red, with tears welling up inside, but his gaze was so firm and solemn.
"This idiot..." Shang Shujue thought of how Song Yanqing had fought against the tribulation lightning alone just now, and his heart ached slightly. He understood everything now; the person in front of him was a bastard!
"Now, all I need to do is re-register my cultivation level and get certified, and I can get all of this. Now I have a house, money, and resources; I can stand by your side."
" A-Jue... thank you for being brave before me. I want to be in a relationship with you where we can hug each other anytime. Do you want to?"
Song Yanqing had no idea what Shang Shujue was thinking. He nervously rubbed the seams of his trousers, and his voice trembled as he asked the question. He wanted an identity, a title.
Shang Shujue stood back on the tree trunk, his eyes slightly moist, but a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, his eyes trembling slightly, "What kind of relationship is this?"
Song Yanqing leaned against the trunk of the ancient tree, his Adam's apple bobbing twice, his heart pounding. "Partner... it's a partnership, A-Jue. We have a long life ahead of us. Will you be my only partner, my only family?"
Shang Shujue suddenly smiled, then leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his. At that moment, actions spoke louder than any empty sweet words.
Song Yanqing's pupils trembled, his heart pounded, and it took him a long time to realize what Shang Shujue meant. His breath hitched, and he immediately wrapped his arms around his waist, held his neck, and deepened the kiss.
The innocent kiss carried the passion and recklessness of youth. Their lips met, their tongues intertwined, and only their breaths mingled, burning and tender.
"... Phew, wait a minute..."
Shang Shujue felt someone's hand slip inside his clothes. His drowsy mind cleared for a moment, and he pressed down on that hand. He looked up at him, his eyes moist and misty, his lips alluring and alluring, truly a sight to behold.
"You've just survived the Nascent Soul Tribulation Lightning, and your cultivation hasn't been consolidated yet. You can't continue. Calm down first, then go meditate and regulate your breathing, otherwise your tribulation will have been for nothing."
"..." Song Yanqing unconsciously glanced down at a certain spot, then looked up at Shang Shujue, saying nothing.
"Ahem..." Shang Shujue noticed his change, coughed lightly twice, then turned her face away, her ears turning red, and murmured in a low voice, "... We'll continue when we get home. I didn't stop you from kissing me, go ahead."
Song Yanqing's eyes lit up. He pulled Shang Shujue back into his arms and kissed her for a while before leaving, still unsatisfied, to calm himself down and consolidate his cultivation.
After watching him settle his mind and enter a meditative state, Shang Shujue, sitting on the tree trunk, covered her face, her cheeks burning red. "Ahhh! Shang Shujue, why did you suddenly rush up and kiss me? So embarrassing!"
Tangyuan: You seem to be enjoying yourself!
Xingyun: My master is starting to think about his wife, eh~