Chapter 126

126 Was this the red string that had eluded her? Part III

Spending a day of a normal life with her was refreshing indeed, but if he could choose, he would keep her in the mansion instead of letting her walk freely outside like this. A frown appeared between his brows at that thought. He let go of his hand that was holding hers and moved to walk closely behind her instead, in order to better protect her from being too close to others.

Bai Yu stopped when her eyes caught something familiar. She had seen it a lot in her old life but rarely participated. She looked up at the taller person, the same gesture she used to tell him she wanted something.

Ouyang Feilong raised a brow. “What do you want?”

She pointed at the group of people releasing lanterns on the riverside. During the winter months, the sky darkened much earlier, and the pink color of the plum blossom lanterns was especially lovely. Ouyang Feilong did not accept or deny her request out loud. His arm moved to encircle her waist and nudge her in the direction she pointed. Bai Yu smiled until dimples appeared on her cheeks behind the veil. She took his hand and led him forward in a hurry. Excitement had completely overwritten her frustration from before.

She took one pink plum blossom lantern, let the other person pay for her as usual, and then walked along the river to find a spot that was not crowded to release her lantern. She might not have noticed, but those around them were mostly couples with only one lantern, just like them. However, Ouyang Feilong knew the meaning behind releasing a lantern, even though he had never done it before. The corner of his mouth lifted as he followed Bai Yu without voicing an objection.

“Are you going to walk until you reach the border?”

“I have to find a good spot. If there are too many people, then my lantern might collide with theirs, and then it’ll fall before it can reach heaven.”

“Your lantern?” Ouyang Feilong suppressed a smile. “And where’s mine?”

“Of course, we’ll release it together. Do you think I can do it on my own?”

.....

“Oh.” You’ve fallen into the trap, little fool.

“There, there, there,” she repeated while running toward a large plum blossom tree. Its flowers, in bloom, decorated the scene on the riverbank far away from the crowd. She knew she had walked for so long that Ouyang Feilong had to speak up. But now that she saw the scenery in front of her, she could only praise herself for walking this far.

The young girl he had met once or twice at banquets or the Bai mansion had now grown into a peerless beauty. No more was the little fool who stood still and let him pull out her headpieces one by one on that snowy night at the palace.

Bai Yu stopped to catch her breath under the tree. Plum blossom petals fluttered in the wind. Her arms hugged the lantern she had just bought, and her eyes gazed at the man in a white mask who was calmly walking toward her. His long legs made it faster for him to reach here than her, who had run. This man might have had a beautiful face, yet his body was surely that of a man. His fighting skills were superb, his magic was first-rate, his status was under the most esteemed few. How did the former Bai Yu look past Ouyang Feilong?

“Do you know how to do it?”

Ouyang Feilong nodded, and she instantly handed the lantern to him. Shortly, the lantern, which had a pattern that imitated the flowers falling around this area, was ready to be released into the night sky.

“Do I have to make a wish?” she asked as her hand held the lantern together with him.

“I’m not sure.” He had never released a lantern before, so he could not confirm it.

“Then let’s make a wish.”

“Mm.”

“Wait.”

Ouyang Feilong raised a brow.

“Let’s do it like this, I’ll make a wish for you, and you make a wish for me.” Bai Yu beamed. “Sounds good?”

“I’ve never heard of that before.” Normally, people would make a wish for themselves, wouldn’t they?

“There’s no need to have heard it before. As long as we wish a good thing for each other, then it’s good no matter what that wish is.” She wanted him to return safely without facing any serious situations, so this would be better than her wishing something for herself.

“Then close your eyes.”

Bai Yu closed her eyes and wished for what she had thought about. Ouyang Feilong watched her, and his gaze was unconsciously gentle. Other than Ouyang Hongxian, no one had wished him anything, yet she was the one to bring the topic up first. He let go of the lantern without a word. Bai Yu, who was closing her eyes and making a wish, did not realize that her lantern was flying away, together with the pink blossoms carried by the wind.

I wish for him to be safe no matter where he is in this world. After saying the wish in her mind, she slowly opened her eyes. However, what she saw was not the plum blossom lantern but Ouyang Feilong’s golden eyes, which were dangerously close.

“Xiao Yu.” His whisper was soft, but its echo resounded loud in her heart and effortlessly shook it. “I haven’t made a wish.”

“Th...Then make a wish.” Her face felt hot yet again. Even though she wanted to run away, his golden eyes had bound her so tightly that she could not even look away.

“I wish you...”

Bai Yu covered his lips with her hand. “You can’t say it out loud.”

A smile appeared. He took her hand that was on his mouth and brought it to his chest, over his heart. He moved closer, his nose nuzzling the thin veil that was the only barrier between their faces.

“Then...”

The sound of her heartbeat was thundering as loud as the whisper next to her cheek. Bai Yu went stiff from both shyness and nervousness. Her face reddened even brighter than before when she felt his pounding heart through her palm.

“I wish you...”

Would be mine and mine alone. The silent wish reverberated within his heart. He chose to voice it in his mind while his lips covered hers.

Despite the veil that obstructed their senses, they could still feel the warmth of each other’s lips. Today, Ouyang Feilong was terribly selfish.

He knew she was everyone’s Lady Meihua, yet he took her to be with him.

He knew he had to hurry to the border to be the strength for his army, yet he remained here to be with her.

He knew she wanted him to wish for her, yet in the end, he would be the one to gain if that wish came true.

“Xiao Yu.” His masked face separated from the sweetness that he could only have a shallow touch. “Do you want to know what I wish for?”

Bai Yu cast her eyes downward. She was not brave enough to meet his tender gaze. It was gentle, warm, and strangely filled with yearning. It was as if this was the gaze she had been waiting for. Waiting...for countless lives.

Was this the red string that had eluded her?

“Hm?” Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft, low voice that seemed to be rushing her.

She nodded once, then shook her head, then paused as if lost in thought. Finally, her dark eyes met his, and then she nodded once more.

The man gave her a gentle smile. Bai Yu felt her eyes dazzled again. She raised her free hand and removed the mask that obscured his enchanting face she fancied. At the same time, her veil was gently taken off by the hand that had been gripping a sword his whole life. He took her soft cheeks in his warm hands, his unmasked face approaching her again.

His hot lips pressed a kiss on hers without a barrier. This time, they could both feel the fervent heat from each other, deep and immense. Bai Yu closed her eyes and willingly accepted the taste given by him. She let go of the mask, putting her hand on his shoulders as he tightened his arm around her waist. The distance between them had disappeared.

Two hands clasped each other tight over the man’s heart. The rushing sound of their heartbeats was harmonious. Ouyang Feilong pushed closer. He nipped her lips, asking, demanding, and Bai Yu let out a moan in her throat before opening her mouth to let him taste her sweetness.

The taller person slowly and gently savored her lips. Ouyang Feilong’s kiss made Bai Yu feel as if she was being embraced by soft clouds.

Pink petals fell and danced in the wind.

This year’s plum blossom was the most beautiful and memorable.