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Hearing about the lantern festival, Mu Chuan"s interest was piqued, and he leaned over to Gu Jiao"s side, going upstairs with her, "Hey, Liulang, you haven"t seen Shengdu"s lantern festival, right?"
"Mm." Gu Jiao climbed the stairs.
Mu Chuan smiled, "Shall we go take a look later?"
"Okay." Gu Jiao agreed.
Mu Chuan looked back at Mu Qingchen behind them, "Fourth brother, are you going? Forget it, you definitely won"t."
His fourth brother wasn"t interested in lanterns.
When they reached the second floor, Mu Qingchen opened the door to his room and looked toward Gu Jiao, saying, "Meet at the entrance."
Mu Chuan was stunned. Did that mean his fourth brother was going?
Unbelievable, his fourth brother actually wanted to go to the lantern festival?
Zhao Wei and Yuan Xiao, having nothing better to do, also gathered at the entrance.
Surprisingly, Teacher Wu showed up as well.
Mu Chuan"s smile froze, "Teacher Wu, what are you doing here?"
Teacher Wu replied seriously, "I thought it over and decided to come with you lot. Otherwise, I wouldn"t be at ease."
Mu Chuan: "..."
Teacher Wu wasn"t lying about the lantern festival being nearby. It was just a hundred steps forward and a turn away from the inn.
The long street was filled with lanterns, bright and colorful. Both sides had stalls with hanging lanterns.
Vendors were making and selling lanterns enthusiastically, and pedestrians were already flocking, the crowd bustling and jostling.
However, the street was orderly despite the crowd, lively but not chaotic. There were many people, but it wasn"t crowded, and everything was organized.
Not all the lanterns here could be bought with money; some could be obtained by solving riddles or composing poems.
Gu Jiao enjoyed the lively atmosphere.
It felt novel to her, like a child seeing a new toy.
Even though she was essentially a very quiet person.
"Young master, come buy a lantern!"
An old lady nearby kindly suggested to Gu Jiao as she pa.s.sed by.
Gu Jiao stopped and looked at the flower lantern the old lady handed over, blinking curiously.
It was beautiful.
Seeing her interest, the old lady picked up another one, "This is a new lotus lantern made by my husband. Buy both, and I"ll give you a ten-coin discount!"
The lotus lantern was also beautiful.
Gu Jiao"s eyes scanned the area.
Hmm, there is also a peach blossom lantern, and it’s very beautiful too!
Mu Qingchen gave her a strange look, "You aren"t really going to buy a lantern, are you?"
What would a grown man want with a flower lantern? Just looking should be enough.
Buying a lantern was something a scholar would do for a lady, not something a man would obsess over himself.
"Sigh." Gu Jiao sighed as she touched the peach blossom lantern in front of her.
She couldn"t break character, and thus couldn"t buy the lantern, especially not a pink and delicate one.
She reluctantly put the lantern back.
Suddenly, a slender, flawless hand reached over, with fingers like carved jade, placing a silver ingot on the stall. Then, a clean and low voice slowly sounded beside Gu Jiao, "I"ll take this peach blossom lantern."
Gu Jiao turned her head sharply.
The person wore a silver mask, covering most of his face, revealing only his soft lips, delicate chin, and those deep, lake-like eyes.
The night breeze blew from his direction, and his familiar scent enveloped Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao was momentarily stunned.
Mu Qingchen noticed Gu Jiao"s reaction completely, his brows furrowing unconsciously. He warily looked at the suddenly appearing young man.
The young man was tall in stature and wore white clothes, exuding an air of n.o.bility, resembling a clear breeze and pure snow.
Mu Qingchen furrowed his brows further. He did not recall any n.o.ble young master in Shengdu who looked like this.
Just as he was about to call Gu Jiao to leave, the old lady’s husband who was selling lanterns with her, put up a few newly made lanterns. However, he lost his balance and fell onto the stall, causing the lanterns in his hand to fly out.
Seeing a lantern about to hit Gu Jiao, Mu Qingchen quickly reached out to block it.
Almost simultaneously, the young man also raised his hand to block the lantern. The difference was that his other hand pulled Gu Jiao into his embrace to protect her.
Surprisingly, Gu Jiao did not resist and obediently fell into his arms.
Whether it was an illusion or something else, her small head even nuzzled against his chest.
"Are you okay?"
Mu Qingchen heard the young man ask softly.
"I"m fine."
He heard Gu Jiao reply softly.
It wasn"t her usual cool or unruly tone but something he couldn"t quite describe.
In an instant, the two separated.
"Thank you, young master, for your help." Gu Jiao said politely.
Xiao Heng picked up the peach blossom lantern, speaking gracefully, "It was nothing. I feel a sense of connection with you, young brother, so this lantern is a gift to you."
"Better to accept gratefully than decline." Gu Jiao said as she took the lantern, "I"ll give you one in return!"
Xiao Heng nodded with a smile, "Alright."
Gu Jiao bought the pink lotus lantern, another one she liked, "Here you go!"
Mu Qingchen thought that such lanterns were only suited for women. He wouldn"t accept it, and he a.s.sumed Xiao Heng wouldn’t either.
To his surprise, Xiao Heng accepted it without hesitation and sincerely thanked Gu Jiao, "Thank you for the lantern, young brother. Since we feel an instant connection and have exchanged gifts, why not walk together?"
Mu Qingchen: No way.
"Sure!" Gu Jiao agreed cheerfully.
Up ahead, there were street performers. Mu Chuan and the others had already run off to watch the fun.
Mu Qingchen, Xiao Heng, and Gu Jiao strolled leisurely down the long street.
Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng each carried a lantern, giving off an unexpectedly harmonious appearance.
Even though they were both men, Mu Qingchen thought.
"Where is Jing Kong?" Gu Jiao asked Xiao Heng with her eyes.
Xiao Heng whispered, "He"s been called by the teacher for extra lessons."
Mu Qingchen suddenly spoke up, "Are you from Shengdu?"
Xiao Heng had an exceptional talent for languages, speaking with a Shengdu accent better than the locals.
"Yes." Xiao Heng replied.
Mu Qingchen continued, "May I know your name?"
Xiao Heng responded, "Long Yi."
Mu Qingchen: What kind of name is that?
Xiao Heng ignored Mu Qingchen"s puzzlement and turned to ask Gu Jiao, "Are you hungry? The dumplings over there are quite good."
"I’m hungry!" Gu Jiao responded.
The three of them went to a dumpling stall and found an empty table to sit at, with Mu Qingchen and Xiao Heng facing each other.
"I"m not hungry; you two go ahead and eat." Mu Qingchen said. The eldest son of the Su Family wasn"t used to eating street food.
Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng each ordered a bowl of dumplings with cabbage and meat filling.
Then something strange happened again.
Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng both reached out to grab the condiments on the table at the same time. Gu Jiao took the vinegar, and Xiao Heng took the chili oil. But Gu Jiao placed the vinegar in front of Xiao Heng, and Xiao Heng put the chili oil next to Gu Jiao.
Mu Qingchen: "..."Raz P."s Thoughts
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succ.u.mb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don"t abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn"t finished his lines yet though…