Chapter 18: It’s the Scent of Mist Yu Flowers
With one or two days left before the Fairy Conference, Xiang’er finally couldn’t resist and dragged Chen Yin out for a stroll.
Thanks to the Fairy Conference, Fragrance City was bustling with activity. There were countless mortal merchants and stalls, as well as shops specifically catering to cultivators.
When they passed by a street vendor selling candied hawthorns, Xiang’er’s eyes lit up.
Chen Yin turned to her and asked, “Want some?”
“Yes!”
So, Chen Yin walked over and bought three candied hawthorns.
“Here you go.”
Xiang’er took the candied hawthorn and took a bite with delight.
The sweet and sour taste was refreshing and satisfying, instantly sweetening her heart.
“Mmm! Delicious.”
“Good to hear.”
Chen Yin took a bite of his own, then, while Xiang’er wasn’t looking, casually tossed the other candied hawthorn into the air behind him.
A fluffy fox head popped out from the void, snatched the candied hawthorn with a chomp, and retreated back into the void.
“Speaking of which, Xiang’er loved eating candied hawthorns when she was little.”
Yu Xiang blushed slightly, embarrassed. “B-because they’re delicious.”
“And… every time we went to the city, Senior Brother would buy them for me.” She blinked.
“Oh.” Chen Yin said with a smile. “So you like Senior Brother, not the candied hawthorns, is that it?”
“Don’t twist my words, bad Senior Brother!!”
Xiang’er glared at him playfully and then turned her head away with a huff.
Chen Yin just smiled without saying anything.
After walking for a while, they got tired and sat down on a set of steps, surrounded by bags of snacks.
“…Are you confident about the Fairy Conference?”
Xiang’er, who had been happily munching on snacks, suddenly lowered her head dejectedly. “No…”
“I’m really stupid. My cultivation is slow, and I can’t learn any techniques properly.”
“Maybe I won’t even pass the preliminary round.”
Chen Yin pinched her puffed-up cheeks and chuckled. “It’s okay.”
“We’re mainly here to experience the world, there’s no need to focus on the ranking.”
“Just surrender if you can’t win, don’t push yourself too hard.”
Xiang’er hesitated for a moment, then pouted and turned her head.
“Does Senior Brother want me to win?”
“Of course.” Chen Yin looked confused. “I’m your Senior Brother, of course, I’ll support you unconditionally. Why do you ask?”
“Because…”
Xiang’er fiddled with the hem of her light blue dress, her embroidered shoes dangling in the air.
“I don’t want Senior Brother to see me fail and embarrass myself.”
Chen Yin couldn’t help but chuckle. “Have I not seen you embarrass yourself enough times already?”
“Who was the clumsy girl who burned the pot and got her face covered in soot, looking like she had been dug out of a coal mine when she first learned to cook? And who was the girl who couldn’t master flying with a sword and fell headfirst into the lake, becoming a drowned rat? And for example—”
“Wah! Stop it!”
Xiang’er blushed furiously, her lips pouting as she rained soft punches on Chen Yin.
“Stinky Senior Brother! Bad Senior Brother! Don’t say bad things about me!”
“Cough, cough, how can I call them bad things? It’s all out of love.”
Chen Yin shook his head with a serious expression. “I’m completely devoted to Xiang’er. How could I bear to bring up your embarrassing past?”
“But you know, I have a bad habit of being loose-lipped. What if one day I accidentally let it slip—”
Xiang’er’s eyes reddened, and she said with a wronged tone, “Th-then what do you want me to do…”
“That’s easy.”
Chen Yin waved his hand. “Hush money, one kiss.”
Yu Xiang’s face instantly turned crimson.
“Mmm… Bad Senior Brother, wh-what are you saying? Talking about such embarrassing things.”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
Chen Yin said with a grin. “I thought you were quite proactive the last time we kissed—”
“Don’t say it!” Xiang’er interrupted him, her face flushed.
She blushed and fiddled with her hands nervously, her eyes darting around.
“Th-there are too many people here. It’s too embarrassing.”
She pleaded softly, “At least… at least wait until we’re back at the inn—”
“Deal!”
Chen Yin slapped his thigh. “Xiang’er owes Senior Brother a kiss, you’ll pay it back at the inn, we’ll even sign a contract!”
Seeing Chen Yin’s mischievous smile, Yu Xiang pouted angrily and turned her head away with a huff.
“Bad Senior Brother! You’re scheming against me again!”
“Well, what can I do?”
Chen Yin said with a sly grin. “People always like to find a compromise. For example, if I said I wanted to kiss Xiang’er, you would definitely refuse. But if I suggested kissing in public, you would compromise and be willing to kiss me back at the inn.”
Yu Xiang was both angry and amused. She had no way to deal with this mischievous Senior Brother.
The most frustrating thing was that even though he was teasing her, she still felt a sweetness in her heart.
…As if he truly liked her.
Yu Xiang suddenly realized that she might have been enjoying this feeling all along.
Even if it wasn’t real.
Even if she knew it was just a limited-time dessert, something she could only enjoy until the end of summer.
But at least before the end of summer arrived…
Every minute, every second, was enough for her to savor greedily.
“What are you thinking about?” Chen Yin took another bite of his candied hawthorn and then offered it to Xiang’er.
Xiang’er was silent for a moment, then took a bite of the candied hawthorn and gave Chen Yin a sweet smile.
“Nothing. Hehe.”
Even though Chen Yin noticed the distant look in her eyes, he didn’t press further and changed the subject.
“Give me your hand,” he said to Xiang’er.
Xiang’er froze, blushing slightly. “Wh-what for?”
“You’ll know when you give it to me.”
Yu Xiang hesitantly extended her hand, and Chen Yin gently took her soft and delicate hand, tying a red string around her wrist.
A sachet was attached to the end of the red string.
“A small gift for Xiang’er,” Chen Yin said softly. “Consider it a good luck charm for the competition.”
Yu Xiang stared at the sachet, lost in thought.
A faint and elegant fragrance emanated from the sachet. It wasn’t overpowering or overly refreshing, but a gentle and comforting scent.
…It was the scent of Mist Yu flowers.
“I thought for a long time about what to give you,”
Chen Yin said softly. “I’ve always felt that Xiang’er is like the Mist Yu flowers on Mount Yu.”
“Not too passionate, not too elegant.”
“But with a unique, gentle fragrance.”
“I hope this sachet will bring you good luck and safety during the competition.”
“Even if you can’t win, you have to be prettier and smell better than your opponents!”
Yu Xiang was lost in thought for a long time, then her eyes reddened, and she covered her mouth.
“Ahem. Although I know this is very romantic…”
Chen Yin suddenly said with a smug expression, “But there’s no need to be so touched, Xiang’er. Just remember to give me that kiss we promised back at the inn—”
Before he could finish his sentence, soft, fragrant lips pressed against his.
…It was the scent of Mist Yu flowers.
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