“I’ll dig a big pond for you, just to keep one fish, only for me to admire.
What do you say?”
“I’m not a fish.” Xi Fuhong frowned slightly, but how could she not understand the underlying meaning of Shi Cuiyan’s words? A pond with only one fish, admired by only one person, but would that person always stay by her side?
“That’s right, it’s because dear sister isn’t a fish that I’m so troubled,” Shi Cuiyan chuckled a few times.
Fish have no legs, they can’t survive on land, nor can they escape.
If dear sister were a fish, as long as she was caught and kept hidden, it would be much easier.
But fish can’t talk, nor can they embrace…
“Never mind, dear sister is still good as she is,” Shi Cuiyan released her hold on Xi Fuhong, leaned forward, and said, “Sister remembers that you know how to swim, right?” Back when they left Wu Feng Valley, dear sister was the one who jumped into the pool to activate the mechanism.
Xi Fuhong just nodded at this, having no idea what was coming next, when she was suddenly pushed into the river.
In an instant, water engulfed her, and the rushing river nearly choked Xi Fuhong.
Instinctively kicking the water, she could only see a faint shadow through her blurred vision.
Panicked, she reached out to grab it, and the shadow wrapped an arm around her waist, kicking them both to the surface.
As soon as she inhaled air, Xi Fuhong coughed up river water, tears streaming down her face.
“Cough, cough… You! What are you doing! Cough, cough…” Xi Fuhong wiped the water from her face, glaring angrily at Shi Cuiyan, who was grinning mischievously in front of her.
She never expected Shi Cuiyan to push her into the river.
Although she could swim, it was only in small lakes and ponds, nothing like the rushing river.
In her panic, she clung to Shi Cuiyan as if she were a lifeline.
“How could sister know that you’re so timid? As soon as you hit the water, you were drowning,” Shi Cuiyan laughed, pecking Xi Fuhong’s cheek, enjoying the feeling of being clung to so desperately.
She liked being needed by Xi Fuhong, as if she couldn’t live without her, proactive yet humble, so cherished.
“You! You’re despicable!” Xi Fuhong dodged Shi Cuiyan’s approaching kiss, only to see Shi Cuiyan raise an eyebrow and suddenly let go, leaning back.
Xi Fuhong, losing her support, sank back into the water, eyes shut tight, panicking without air or sight.
Shi Cuiyan took a deep breath and followed Xi Fuhong underwater, reaching out to pull her close, sealing her soft lips with her own, transferring air bit by bit.
In the darkness, Xi Fuhong clung tightly to Shi Cuiyan’s arm, desperately drawing in the thin oxygen, unable to stop the intrusion of the small tongue, having no choice but to let it have its way.
As the bubbles around them dissipated, Shi Cuiyan ended the lingering kiss and pulled Xi Fuhong to the surface.
She licked her lips contentedly, smiling at the utterly defeated Xi Fuhong.
If you don’t want to be kissed, then I’ll make you have no choice but to accept it.
So disobedient, preferring the hard way.
“I, I want to go up! Cough, cough…” Xi Fuhong shook off her wet hair in embarrassment, displeased.
Shi Cuiyan pulled Xi Fuhong close, cooing, “Alright, say something nice to make sister happy, and I’ll take you up.”
Xi Fuhong’s eyes widened.
She knew Shi Cuiyan’s frivolous nature, but she didn’t expect her to go this far.
The one who pushed her into the river was her, and now she had to please her to get back on the boat? Xi Fuhong hesitated, looking at her, but Shi Cuiyan had no intention of backing down.
Seeing Xi Fuhong’s displeased expression, she suddenly loosened her grip as if to push her away.
“No!!” Kicking the water and choking on another mouthful, Xi Fuhong sniffled miserably, pleading, “Please, take me up, this river is too deep, I’m scared…”
“Hmm? Who is dear sister asking? Speak up,” Shi Cuiyan squinted her eyes, leaning in with a smile.
“Shi… Cui, Sister Cui…” Xi Fuhong bit her lower lip, her words somewhat muffled, but Shi Cuiyan heard them clearly, laughing heartily, hugging Xi Fuhong so tightly she could hardly breathe, planting loud kisses on her cheek.
How long had it been since she heard the words “Sister Cui”?
“Good girl, sister will take you on board now.” With that, Shi Cuiyan held Xi Fuhong tightly, slapped the side of the boat with her left hand, and kicked the water, both of them spinning and leaping out of the water.
As soon as her toes touched the deck, Shi Cuiyan deliberately softened her waist, pressing against Xi Fuhong’s body.
The river water had already soaked through their clothes, and in the sunlight, the hemp fabric was like a thin veil, the faintly visible young bronze body beneath sparking imagination.
Shi Cuiyan propped her hands on either side of Xi Fuhong’s neck, looking down at the slightly heaving chest, the light blue undergarment showing through the fabric, such an enticing scene almost made her reach out to remove the obstructive outerwear.
Xi Fuhong felt the burning gaze and quickly covered Shi Cuiyan’s bright eyes with her hand, “Don’t look!”
“So stingy, you can look at sister, but sister can’t look at you?” Shi Cuiyan didn’t pull Xi Fuhong’s hand away, instead lowering her body, her soft chest pressing against her, making Xi Fuhong’s ears heat up instantly.
“Who’s looking! I don’t want to look!” Xi Fuhong turned her body away, but Shi Cuiyan refused to get up.
“What is it? Is it that sister isn’t attractive, or is sister too picky?” Shi Cuiyan laughed, pinching Xi Fuhong’s side, making the person beneath her shrink, the two of them entwined ambiguously.
Sharing warmth, the light fragrance was pleasant, Shi Cuiyan closed her eyes, her fingers sliding over Xi Fuhong’s eyes, nose, and lips, so close she could hear her heartbeat.
Dear sister’s heart was beating fast too…
Was it nervousness? Or shyness?
Shi Cuiyan was lost in thought, wanting to undo Xi Fuhong’s outerwear, when she suddenly heard the sound of melodious strings.
She sat up straight, and Xi Fuhong, hearing the sound approaching, also propped herself up, looking towards the river to see a black sail approaching.
“Dear sister, change your clothes first.” She didn’t want anyone else to see Xi Fuhong’s exposed beauty.
“Um… do you know them?” Xi Fuhong asked curiously.
“Yes,” Shi Cuiyan urged her into the cabin, not forgetting to add before closing the door, “Remember not to dress too beautifully, if you captivate someone else’s soul, sister will be troubled.” Xi Fuhong frowned at this, saying no more, while Shi Cuiyan casually grabbed an outer garment, using her inner strength to dry the soaked thin fabric.
The melodious sound of the zither accompanied the boat, Shi Cuiyan stood at the bow waiting, watching as the black sailboat approached, a shadow quickly leaping across the sky, landing solidly in front of Shi Cuiyan.
The newcomer was dressed in black, with skin so pale it was bloodless, a gaunt face looking sickly.
This person was Shi Cuiyan’s old friend, Yu Xiang.
“I brought you the aged wine,” Yu Xiang untied the gourd from his waist and tossed it to Shi Cuiyan.
“Thank you, Brother Yu, our years of friendship weren’t in vain,” Shi Cuiyan laughed, opening the lid, the spicy aroma of the wine immediately spilling out.
“Just you, a drunkard, aren’t you afraid of drinking yourself to death with such strong wine?” Yu Xiang walked past Shi Cuiyan to the deck, immediately sensing something was off, turning back with a raised eyebrow, “Didn’t you say you were alone? Why is there someone else on your boat?”
“I picked someone up last minute, Brother Yu won’t mind, right?” Shi Cuiyan closed the gourd, spinning to Yu Xiang’s side.
“That depends on who it is.
A famous courtesan on the boat is fine, but I’m afraid this person can’t be trifled with?” Yu Xiang’s gaunt face twisted into a sinister smile, if others saw it, they might think Yu Xiang was a ghost rather than a person.
Shi Cuiyan’s face darkened at his words, but she quickly covered it with a coquettish smile, “Of course, as the saying goes, a friend’s wife can’t be flirted with.
Besides dear sister, who else could be on my boat? I happened to meet her, so I brought her along.
Brother Yu won’t mind, right?”
Yu Xiang stared at Shi Cuiyan with his large eyes, saying nothing.
At this moment, Xi Fuhong came out in a plain outfit, pausing when she saw Yu Xiang standing at the bow.
Shi Cuiyan immediately went forward, holding Xi Fuhong’s arm, intending to introduce them, but Yu Xiang spoke first.
