“I… I really want to take off your clothes, piece by piece,” she whispered near his ear, grinning. “And then…”
His ears flushed, and his voice dropped low, smooth like shattered jade soaked in cold spring water: “Then what?”
Her eyes reddened slightly, a tipsy charm in her expression. Her nose brushed his cheek, and her words seemed to cling, seeping into him like mist.
“Then I’ll blindfold you, chain your hands and feet to the bed, and only let myself see and touch you…”
Xiao Lingzhou’s throat tightened. Against his will, the image she painted appeared vividly in his mind.
“…That’s all?”
Even he was surprised by his own reaction.
Her words sounded like she was teasing him into imagining even more, more indulgent things.
He tried hard to suppress such thoughts, yet he couldn’t fully control them.
Jiang Yu, unaware of his inner turmoil, smiled and said, “Of course not…”
She propped herself up, and her hairpin loosened, letting strands of hair cascade into his neck, tickling him fiercely.
“I also want to, I also want to—”
Her drunken gaze fixed on his perfectly-shaped lips.
Then, pressing her fingertip against them, she smiled, eyes curling: “I’m going to kiss them until they’re swollen, until they’re worn out.”
“Leave marks and scents on your body that belong only to me, so you’ll never forget me.”
Xiao Lingzhou’s spirit shivered at her words. His phoenix-like eyes stared blankly at her lips, missing everything she said afterward.
Seeing his handsome face unreadable, she pouted in displeasure.
She pinched his cheeks gently and lectured him little by little.
“Xiao Lingzhou, can you… not always keep such a cold expression? You look so stern, so intimidating.”
He steadied her swaying body, staying silent for a long moment before asking softly: “Are you afraid of me?”
She shook her head. “No, but I don’t like seeing you so cold.”
“You’re at your most gentle when you smile.”
“I like your smile. It’s… beautiful, really beautiful…”
Her words tumbled out in a soft murmur. Xiao Lingzhou absorbed them, the corners of his refined brows lifting into a faint smile. “Then I’ll smile more often from now on.”
“Good~” she said, satisfied, patting his head. “Be a good boy, and I’ll reward you with candy later.”
He thought she was treating him like a child, but the term “good boy”… taken literally, it was a compliment.
He liked being called that by her.
A sudden night breeze brought a chill.
He half-sat up: “It’s late. You should go rest.”
She refused. “The moon… I haven’t seen enough yet.”
He looked up—the bright moon hung in the sky, mountains and peaks softened in its glow.
“There will be plenty of time to see it later.”
To him, the moon wasn’t particularly special.
Jiang Yu nudged him back: “It’s different.”
She explained: “This moment, this scene, this moon, this person—this is unique. After tonight, everything will change.”
Xiao Lingzhou’s dark eyes studied her quietly. “Why do you say that?”
“Because…” Her silky hair swayed in the night wind, the tips brushing his face. A faint fragrance reached him, fresh and enchanting.
“This moon only shines on us now. When we see the moon again, our hearts will be different, and everything will change.”
Xiao Lingzhou’s gaze deepened in thought.
She was drunk, yet her words made perfect sense.
And she was right. Life changes in unpredictable ways.
Who could guarantee that seeing the same moon later would evoke the same feelings as tonight?
After a pause, he spoke gently: “Then we’ll watch a little longer.”
“Do you want to watch it?” she asked suddenly, leaning toward him, eyes sparkling.
With her movement casting a shadow, a smile played on his lips. “Yes. I want to.”
She settled comfortably against his shoulder, closing her eyes: “Fine, I’ll endure and watch with you.”
The insects chirped. The moon, hanging high, slowly hid behind clouds.
After an unknown amount of time,
Hearing her even breathing on his shoulder, Xiao Lingzhou whispered softly:
“Jiang Yu…”
No answer.
He slowly turned. Before him lay her face, pale and flawless as the autumn moon.
Long lashes, fair skin, a delicate nose.
Even the faint down on her face was visible.
A small red mole on her brow added a hint of beauty.
His breath caught.
He lifted a hand to touch her cheek but, fearing to disturb her sleep, instead gently brushed a stray strand of hair away.
…
Memory returned.
Xiao Lingzhou’s long, elegant fingers caressed her delicate, sleeping face. His serene expression softened completely.
That night, he didn’t return her home until the moon had fallen past the willows.
She didn’t know how enchanting she looked in her drunken slumber.
A faint smile lingered at her lips, fingers gripping his sleeve unconsciously, head brushing against his shoulder occasionally.
Sleeping peacefully like a small, obedient kitten.
Even now, the memory remained vivid.
“Ah Yu…”
“Hm?” murmured Jiang Yu in her sleep.
“You’ll always love me, won’t you?”
His voice was low, almost a whisper, as if seeking reassurance from her even in her sleep.
Her eyes barely opened, too tired to resist. In her dreams, she muttered: “Sleep, stop… stop bothering me…”
He pressed his lips to a smile and covered her with a thin blanket, gently coaxing her: “I won’t bother you. Sleep.”
Though decades might pass, he believed—she would always love him.
And he would always love her.
…
On Xiao Lingzhou’s birthday, Jiang Yu’s homemade rice wine was finally drinkable.
She poured herself a cup eagerly but choked from drinking too quickly, coughing repeatedly.
“Slow down! This is wine, you know your tolerance,” Xiao Lingzhou patted her back and offered a handkerchief.
“The unsweetened rice wine is so harsh!” she patted her chest, face flushed from the drink.
As a child, she had drunk rice wine a few times, but only later realized it had always been diluted with sugar and water.
Looking at the rice wine on the table, memories of two lost faces stirred bittersweet feelings in her heart.
Ten years had passed in a blink.
Perhaps they had been reincarnated by now.
At eleven, her parents went to the countryside for her grandfather’s funeral. On the return trip, they were hit by a large truck and fell off a cliff—no trace remained.
Later investigation revealed they had been driving safely on a notorious stretch.
The truck driver had been drinking and speeding that night, causing the accident.
From that moment, she became an orphan.
Relying on her parents’ savings and compensation, she was cared for by neighbors and eventually attended university.
If it weren’t for being suddenly transported to this unfamiliar era two years ago, she would have graduated and become a working adult by now.