A single bright torch moved through the dark mountain forest, the sea breeze rustling the leaves like whispered secrets against one’s ears.
Li Yuanxi held the newly made torch, the bright flames illuminating the darkness ahead and behind, revealing the familiar path they often walked. The fire drove away the fear that lurked in the night.
Wei Shu was led by Li Yuanxi, her expression indifferent. Only occasionally, when attracted by the chirping of insects and birds in the mountain forest, would she cling tightly to Li Yuanxi’s arm, looking left and right with a dazed and adorable expression, which secretly delighted Li Yuanxi.
“Are you still angry?” Li Yuanxi deliberately asked Wei Shu. Wei Shu turned her head and glared at her, fingers pinching her arm hard. “Sss—domestic violence is not acceptable, Shu Shu.” Li Yuanxi quickly begged for mercy.
“Hmph.” Wei Shu gave a soft snort and let go, rubbing the spot she had just pinched. “Li Chuyi, if you ever do that again, I will really be angry.” Wei Shu’s eyes lifted, her eyelashes curling back, casting a faint shadow. She lowered her voice to tell Li Yuanxi her stance.
“Alright, I will never risk myself again.” Li Yuanxi took Wei Shu’s slender, soft fingertips, promising her she wouldn’t take any more risks.
“Mm.” Wei Shu reluctantly stopped pursuing the matter. She suppressed the panic in her heart, thinking once again of the plane crash over a month ago and Li Yuanxi’s previous injury. She was truly afraid, afraid that one day Li Yuanxi would suddenly stop responding.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the left front of the mountain forest. “Ah!” Wei Shu, frightened, grabbed Li Yuanxi’s arm, staring in terror at the place where the noise kept coming.
Li Yuanxi frowned. She crouched down, picked up two stones, handed one to Wei Shu, and kept one for herself. She didn’t recklessly throw the stone to test what animal it was; she just shielded Wei Shu as they moved up the mountain.
The two moved slowly along the path. Li Yuanxi was completely focused, her gaze deep and sharp, her demeanor taking on an uncommon cold and imposing aura, a kind of oppressive presence.
The commotion in the mountain forest grew louder. Li Yuanxi even heard something hitting a tree—a solid, dull thud that indicated the thing that hit it was somewhat large.
Li Yuanxi’s gaze grew more serious. She turned to Wei Shu and nodded, signaling her to run. Wei Shu understood and immediately turned and ran forward in large strides. Li Yuanxi followed, holding the torch.
On the deserted island, in the pitch-black night, a rustling sound suddenly emerged. The only light in the profound darkness was a torch that dispelled the surrounding shadows, but the unknown beyond the torchlight always made one’s heart pound with fear.
Wei Shu ran headlong towards home, panting and calling Li Yuanxi’s name in a small voice. “Chuyi?” Her weak, breathy voice was very clear in the mountain forest.
“Mm, I’m right behind you. Don’t be afraid.” Li Yuanxi was only two steps away from her. Hearing Li Yuanxi’s voice, Wei Shu’s heart, which had been pounding against her chest, settled a little.
The two rushed all the way back to the cave. The firelight inside slanted with the wind they brought in. Li Yuanxi leaned against the cave entrance, looking at the path that had returned to pitch darkness after the torch was gone.
Outside the cave, the air-dried goose meat and sea fish meat were fragrant everywhere. Li Yuanxi’s face was somber. She was worried that the animal that had just run out might come to the cave and cause trouble.
Wei Shu sat on a small stool, panting heavily after the sudden rush, her legs weak and sore. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and called Li Yuanxi over to sit and rest.
“I’m fine. Are you tired?” Li Yuanxi shook her head. This little exercise was nothing to her. Hearing Li Yuanxi say she wasn’t tired, Wei Shu’s competitive spirit flared up, and she stubbornly said, “I’m not tired either.”
Li Yuanxi got up and poured a cup of warm boiled water for the stubborn one. Still uneasy, she stood at the cave entrance to watch. She guessed it was either a porcupine or a passing wild deer.
To avoid any accidents, Li Yuanxi decided to light a campfire outside the cave to keep animals away. She acted immediately, exchanging a few words with Wei Shu before starting to build a fire.
Five fist-sized sticks were stacked upright, surrounded by shorter firewood. Li Yuanxi placed a handful of dry grass into the pile and lit the campfire with the torch.
Once the campfire was lit, the area around the cave entrance brightened. Li Yuanxi even deliberately inserted two torches along the path leading to the beach to dispel the surrounding darkness, so she could see immediately if anything came out.
Bright yellow flames blazed in the open space. Taking advantage of the fire, Li Yuanxi heated a bucket of water outside the cave and proceeded to wash herself right by the campfire.
Wei Shu wiped herself down inside the cave. When she came out carrying a bucket, she vaguely glimpsed a snow-white back by the fire. Wei Shu held her breath, her eyes shyly looking away. Before she could turn her head, Li Yuanxi lifted the bucket and poured the water over her head.
Looking at the increasingly rough-around-the-edges Li Yuanxi, Wei Shu sighed inwardly. Li Yuanxi used to love soaking in a bath with flower petals. Now, she was doing well just to wash a little more thoroughly.
People used to say Li Yuanxi wasn’t like a typical Alpha, that her love for the finer things in life wasn’t much different from an Omega’s. But now, she might be becoming more like those Alphas.
It was all because of this environment. Sighing inwardly, Wei Shu waited a few minutes in the cave before carrying out her bucket. Li Yuanxi had already finished dressing and was drying her hair.
Under the firelight, Li Yuanxi rubbed her hair vigorously. Her short hair dried quickly to a semi-dry state. She casually brushed her bangs aside, revealing her smooth forehead, creating that messy, boyish hairstyle again.
After pouring out the water, Wei Shu took another look at Li Yuanxi. Li Yuanxi deliberately winked at her, lifting her left hand and flipping her hair in a “holding an ear” pose. A smile lit up Wei Shu’s eyes. She pursed her lips, trying hard not to laugh.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me~” Seeing the bright, captivating smile in Wei Shu’s eyes, Li Yuanxi jumped over and locked her in a hug, pouting and swaying. “Don’t you dare laugh at me~”
Wei Shu patted her head, her eyes half-moon shaped. “Alright, I’m not laughing at you.”
“You are laughing, you clearly are! I’m going to punish you!!!” The closer Li Yuanxi spoke, the closer their heads got. Before long, their soft pink lips met.
Wei Shu was completely locked in Li Yuanxi’s arms, her own arms pinned as well. She lifted her chin slightly as Li Yuanxi’s gentle, soft kisses moved and pressed against her lips.
Unable to hug Li Yuanxi back, her eyelashes trembled nervously. Her fingers tightly clutched Li Yuanxi’s clothes. Breath infused with the scent of a young woman swirled between them.
A faint scent of agarwood stirred the fragrance of roses. Neither noticed; they only kissed more deeply and wholeheartedly.
Li Yuanxi released her lock on Wei Shu’s arms and wrapped them around her from the other side, wanting Wei Shu to hold her. Their two young bodies pressed together. The bright campfire and drifting smoke added a touch of romance to the scene.
When the kiss ended, both their faces were flushed, their lips red and glossy. “You are so beautiful.” Li Yuanxi looked at Wei Shu with a serious, affectionate expression, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Mm, I know.” Wei Shu answered softly. The warm firelight made them both feel comfortable.
Finally, they sat on the small stools, holding cups made from eight-treasure porridge cans, nestled together, guarding their food.
Li Yuanxi pointed at the bright stars and the crescent moon in the sky. A thought came to her mind. She turned her head to look at Wei Shu, who was gazing up at the sky, and whispered in her ear, “The night is beautiful tonight.”
Wei Shu nodded in agreement. Li Yuanxi’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she leaned closer to Wei Shu and said, “You’re supposed to say, ‘The wind is also gentle.'”
Wei Shu looked at her, surprised. “‘The wind is also gentle’?”
She didn’t understand the connection between the two sentences, but Li Yuanxi just smiled and didn’t tell her. Seeing the brilliant smile on Li Yuanxi’s face, she guessed it was probably a love confession or something similar.
But what was so funny about a confession that only one person understood? Shouldn’t a love confession make the listener understand it was a declaration of love?
Thinking this, Wei Shu couldn’t help but smile. She pinched Li Yuanxi’s earlobe and pulled her head closer. Li Yuanxi blinked at her, puzzled.
“Joy shared is joy doubled, hmm?” Wei Shu’s eyebrows arched, her deep black eyes gazing intently at her.
Unable to resist, Li Yuanxi quickly pecked her on the lips, ignoring the potential pain. Her bright, sparkling eyes held a fiery, deep affection. “This sentence means I love you.”
“And ‘the wind is also gentle’ is my response to your feelings. It means I like you too.” Her explanation made Wei Shu blush.
