Mu Qi was sweet.
Yun Shu Nian's thoughts were interrupted as her waist suddenly felt heavy, bringing all her movements to a halt.
Her crescent eyes snapped open, meeting Mu Qi's phoenix eyes.
A sense of embarrassment, as if caught red-handed, grew with each passing moment.
Yun Shu Nian's hands, as if scalded, recoiled from Mu Qi's abs. She then pushed off the ground, attempting to rise from him.
However, as Yun Shu Nian moved, the pressure on her waist intensified, and the moment their lips parted even slightly, she fell back onto Mu Qi.
Mu Qi's large hand gripped Yun Shu Nian's back, and with a roll, he flipped their positions.
"Mu Mu Qi, we should go back," Yun Shu Nian's crescent eyes, meeting Mu Qi's burning phoenix gaze once more, immediately darted away like a sensitive plant.
Mu Qi had looked at her with the same intensity last night. Recalling the fervor of the previous night, Yun Shu Nian felt a sudden weakness in her body.
Mu Qi's other hand cupped the back of Yun Shu Nian's head, and he leaned down, claiming her lips. Their kiss was fervent, a passionate exploration, like a poison seeping into the bone, with Yun Shu Nian being the only antidote to Mu Qi's addiction.
Her crescent eyes widened, transforming from a crescent moon to a full moon.
His phoenix eyes, which had just opened with a hint of confusion, slowly closed.
"Mu... Mu..." Yun Shu Nian's heart pounded, wanting to say something more.
But soon, her hands, which had been pushing him away, slowly lost their strength. A mist seemed to form in her crescent eyes, and she couldn't help but succumb to Mu Qi.
Nearby, orioles sang amidst the green willows, but the two of them were likely too lost in their own world to notice their melody.
Just as their embrace grew more uncontrollable, Mu Qi suddenly pulled away from Yun Shu Nian.
Yun Shu Nian's hands still clung to his neck, her crescent eyes, now hazy and tear-filled, gazing at his retreating figure. Her body felt pliant and weak.
Mu Qi gently removed Yun Shu Nian's hands from his neck, then turned and walked towards the shore.
Hearing the faint rustling sound of chains accompanying Mu Qi's movement, Yun Shu Nian suddenly came to her senses and grabbed the chain connecting to Mu Qi's wrist.
Mu Qi turned his head, as if sensing her action.
Yun Shu Nian stood up, but her legs felt weak, and just as she was about to fall, Mu Qi walked over and scooped her up with one arm.
"Why are you getting up? Why not rest a little longer?"
Yun Shu Nian shook her head.
What if Mu Qi disappeared if she rested longer? Mu Qi couldn't take responsibility.
Seeing Yun Shu Nian's silence, Mu Qi didn't press the issue. He simply carried her towards the shore with one arm, lifting the bucket and fishing rod with his other hand.
"Mu Qi, let half of the fish go, there are too many," Yun Shu Nian, clinging tightly to Mu Qi, glanced at the bucket.
Mu Qi: "Mm."
Hearing Mu Qi's tone, which was no different from usual, Yun Shu Nian breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, Mu Qi wasn't upset.
Seeing how obedient Mu Qi was, Yun Shu Nian felt a surge of affection and leaned in, intending to peck his cheek.
Mu Qi, however, tilted his head and dodged.
Yun Shu Nian's lips tightened, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on the chain.
Mu Qi shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Yun Shu Nian's gaze and looking ahead.
"Be good, I'll let you kiss me enough tonight." If this continued, Mu Qi felt he wouldn't be human anymore.
"Oh."
Yun Shu Nian's taut pupils suddenly relaxed at his words.
Then, with a blush, she rested her chin on Mu Qi's shoulder.
The fishing pond was neither too close nor too far from the mountainside. Before they had even reached halfway, Yun Shu Nian felt her strength returning, yet she still wished to be carried by Mu Qi.
"Mu Qi, am I heavy?"
Mu Qi had fainted earlier; this situation wasn't good for her.
No, it was very bad.
Where Mu Qi couldn't see, a flicker of struggle crossed Yun Shu Nian's face.
"Not heavy, very light."
As Mu Qi finished speaking, Yun Shu Nian curved her lips and relaxed, her heart at ease.
"Mu Qi, can we come fishing tomorrow?" Yun Shu Nian suddenly said as they neared the old man's house.
Mu Qi unhesitatingly agreed: "Mm."
"Then can we come fishing the day after tomorrow too?" Yun Shu Nian tightened her grip on Mu Qi's shoulder and the chain.
"Mm."
"Then can we come fishing the day after that and the day after that too? For a whole day." Yun Shu Nian's grip unconsciously tightened further.
However, this time, Yun Shu Nian did not receive an immediate response from Mu Qi.
Mu Qi's steps halted.
"There are many flowers this season," Yun Shu Nian decided to say something to gloss over the previous question.
"There are jasmine, lotus flowers, and also..." Yun Shu Nian babbled on, making up things without basis.
Mu Qi continued to hold Yun Shu Nian steadily, stopping a short distance from the old man's house, patiently listening to her.
He remained still until Yun Shu Nian could no longer think of any more flowers.
Yun Shu Nian fell silent, the only sounds now being the calls of a few birds in the woods.
Sweat beaded in Yun Shu Nian's palms, dampening Mu Qi's shirt.
This must be Mu Qi's limit.
Mu Qi could stay here until tomorrow, until the day after, but not beyond...
Had he also noticed?
Yun Shu Nian's face was tense as she anxiously wondered how to trap Mu Qi again.
"Do you want to set up a tent by the pond? Or buy a lakeside villa?
Then you can fish whenever you want," Mu Qi said, feeling the light and soft weight on his body, a sense of unreality washing over him.
"Ah? Then... let's talk about that later. It's almost noon, let's go back," Yun Shu Nian was clearly not expecting Mu Qi's attention to be on that point.
He heard Yun Shu Nian's soft voice, but Mu Qi was lost in thought, only registering her voice and not its content.
Not long ago, he had tried to get closer to Yun Shu Nian, only to be pushed away by her each time.
Later, later?
Mu Qi frowned in contemplation. He had a feeling he had forgotten something.
It felt like he had forgotten something that deeply unsettled him, a lingering unease in his heart.
And in this world, the only one who could make him feel such unease was the "one" person in his arms at this moment.
So, what exactly was it that he had forgotten?