Inside the Yaoting Waterside Pavilion, the warm yellow candlelight illuminated the vermilion walls of the pavilion.
The original owner had a liking for being flashy. Not only were the closets filled with crimson clothes for ordinary days, but the entire Pavilion was adorned with red walls and rich tiles.
With the liquor swirling in the cup, the flickering candlelight reflected in Shen Tan’s lacquer-black eyes, creating ripples of shimmering waves.
Looking out the window, snowflakes danced in the air, and red lanterns hung on bare trees, resembling scattered red plum blossoms blooming in the cold, snowy night.
Suddenly, he recalled a certain night when Bai Long pulled out a bed of golden silk mandarin duck quilts from the storage ring. Outside the window, it was also snowing heavily that time.
Seeing that bed, he asked Bai Long in surprise why he bought such quilts. He thought Bai Long didn’t understand the customs and traditions of the mortal world and perhaps got fooled by the shopkeeper into choosing the most finely crafted mandarin duck wedding quilt.
At that moment, Bai Long’s eyes shimmered, and he awkwardly replied with a slightly clumsy excuse, “All the others were sold out.”
Shen Tanqi did not pay much attention at that time. He was naturally laid-back, perhaps because of his impoverished childhood. He and his brother started working away from home when they were barely in their teens, never really experiencing the good life. Therefore, Shen Tanqi was indifferent to all harsh external conditions; he had grown up like a wild grass seed, adapting to circumstances, growing freely with the wind.
In the desolate wilderness, inside a cliff-side cave, having such a warm quilt was already more than satisfying for him. He happily accepted Bai Long’s explanation.
That night, they slept together under the quilt. When Bai Long lifted the covers, a chilly wind sneaked into the bedding, and Shen Tanqi belatedly felt a skip in his heart.
Covered by the same mandarin duck quilt, it felt as if they were in that empty and simple little cave, like a newlywed couple.
Why did such thoughts suddenly emerge at that time?
Could it be that the baby in his belly unexpectedly brought out his rarely discovered sentimental side?
The wine bought by Fang Wenxun was too strong; after just a few sips, the alcohol haze rose to his head. The threads of recollection slowly retreated, and Shen Tanqi looked out the window again.
Actually, even if Xiao Qingyu didn’t come, enjoying the beautiful scenery while pouring a drink for oneself could be considered a kind of pleasure. However, tonight was meant to celebrate Xiao Qingyu’s birthday. If the protagonist didn’t show up, Shen Tanqi couldn’t afford to get drunk.
As Shen Tanqi just put down his wine glass, he heard a soft knocking at the door. Rising to open it, a gust of wind and snow blew into the collar. The person before him was draped in a white cloak, and Shen Tanqi subconsciously muttered, “Bai Long, you’re back?”
The figure at the door hesitated, and the eyelashes trembled slightly.
“Senior brother, what are you talking about?”
“I’m Qingyu.”
At these words, Shen Tanqi rubbed his eyes vigorously, and the person’s appearance finally became clear. The delicate face belonging to Xiao Qingyu emerged, and he chuckled, “So, it’s Qingyu.”
Hurriedly stepping aside, Shen Tanqi ushered Xiao Qingyu into the room. After taking a few steps, he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
Luckily, Xiao Qingyu had quick eyes and a fast hand, and he promptly supported Shen Tanqi. Lowering his gaze, he saw the flushed cheeks of Shen Tanqi, the earlobes tinged with blood, and the faint scent of alcohol lingering in the air around his nose.
Clearly, he was drunk…
This senior brother seemed more like a clueless kitten than the Shen Tanqi rumored outside.
“Sit down, Qingyu.” Shen Tanqi stubbornly insisted on standing straight, pulling out a chair for Xiao Qingyu, as if trying to prove he wasn’t drunk.
Xiao Qingyu chuckled, firmly settling him into the chair, and asked, “How much did senior brother drink?”
Shen Tanqi struggled to open his eyes wide, attempting to see the person in front of him. He raised one finger.
“One glass?” Xiao Qingyu’s tone clearly expressed disbelief.
Shen Tanqi raised another finger, making a victory sign.
Xiao Qingyu didn’t quite understand his sudden gestures but found it amusing nonetheless. “Senior brother, better drink less. The sect rules strictly prohibit alcohol. If the elder in charge finds out, there’ll be consequences.”
Sitting somewhat gloomily in his chair, Shen Tanqi placed his hands on his thighs, sitting up straight.
His posture was almost identical to Little Taro Ball’s when he sat up straight with utmost seriousness.
“Qingyu,” Shen Tanqi softly called.
Xiao Qingyu felt an inexplicable flutter in his heart and responded, “Hmm?”
“I didn’t come to trick you into revealing the disciple list while you’re drunk.”
Xiao Qingyu: ?
Uh, did he ask about anything yet? What was senior brother explaining?
After a while, Shen Tanqi stood up, stumbling against the wall, disregarding Xiao Qingyu’s attempts to stop him. He reached his bed, rummaging through a pile of gift boxes sent by who knows who.
Xiao Qingyu quickly supported him, fearing he might hurt himself. He whispered, “Senior brother, what are you looking for? Let me help you find it.”
Shen Tanqi, without saying a word, reached down to the bottom of the pile of gift boxes and pulled out an obsidian five-sided box, handing it to Xiao Qingyu.
Xiao Qingyu hesitated for a moment, momentarily forgetting to take it. Then, Shen Tanqi grabbed his hand, placing the box in his palm, his voice barely audible.
“Qingyu.”
“Happy birthday.”
In that instant, Xiao Qingyu’s heart skipped a beat.
Since his parents died, he hadn’t celebrated his birthday.
No one remembered his birthday, and no one prepared gifts for him.
Shen Tanqi, over these many years, was the only person who had ever given him a gift.
Xiao Qingyu’s eyes welled up with tears, trembling hands opening the obsidian five-sided box to reveal an exquisitely delicate small jar inside.
Shen Tanqi huddled in the corner of the bed, softly smiling, “Every winter morning, I see you going to the back mountain to fetch water, changing and boiling water for the disciples’ dorms. Clearly, these are tasks for outer disciples, but you always do it yourself.”
He grabbed Xiao Qingyu’s hand, revealing the cracked frostbite on it.
Shen Tanqi whispered, “I know you’re afraid of not doing well and being disliked by everyone.”
Having suffered the pain of his family being slaughtered by the demon clan in his childhood, drifting alone in the world, enduring disdain and humiliation, someone with such experiences would typically slowly turn dark in the face of hardships, resenting and hating this unfair world. But not Xiao Qingyu.
He not only remained upright and kind but also grew up to be a person with a complete personality.
So, Shen Tanqi greatly admired him.
“Senior brother…”
Xiao Qingyu’s eyes were reddened, tears that had been suppressed for years seemed to finally break through.
Shen Tanqi ruffled his head and whispered, “You call me senior brother; treat this place as your home. At home, there’s no need to be cautious, no need to be scared. From now on, consider me your real older brother.”
At that moment, tears rolled down Xiao Qingyu’s face as he tightly embraced Shen Tanqi. “Brother—”
Shen Tanqi held him like a child, patting his shoulder gently, tenderly soothing, “Little brother…”
With a loud bang, the door was violently thrown open.
Both Shen Tanqi and Xiao Qingyu were startled, with Shen Tanqi almost instantly sobering up from the fright.
Snowflakes, carried by the fierce wind, burst in, whistling and scattering the misty night.
Looking up, they saw a figure in the snow, holding two rosy-cheeked little ones. Upon seeing the two embraced figures, the person outside the door stood frozen.
“Shen Tanqi, you’ve really been quite the player these years, huh?”
The voice seemed indifferent, slightly trembling, almost blending with the wind.
A gust of wind swept into Shen Tanqi’s collar, making him shiver abruptly. The person in front of him was entirely unfamiliar, yet the cold aura seemed strangely familiar.
The other person stared silently at him, his eyes already reddened, fingers clenched tightly, forcefully drawing blood that dripped to the ground.
“Where did you put me and the kids?”
Shen Tanqi, still holding Xiao Qingyu, was instantly frozen. Xiao Qingyu, in his embrace, also froze.
What’s going on? Whose kids?
After a moment, Xiao Qingyu seemed to awaken from a daze. When he recognized the face that matched the one in his memory, he covered his lips and exclaimed, “It’s Senior Brother Yu Ce! You’re back from your travels!”
He quickly pulled away from Shen Tanqi in a fluster, even subconsciously adjusting his clothes to appear more presentable in front of Senior Brother Yu Ce.
Yu Ce?
Senior Brother Yu Ce?
His junior brother?
The male lead of the whole story?
Shen Tanqi sat down abruptly, staring blankly at the legendary male lead—Yu Ce, who had the power to control the weather and challenge gods and demons. Yu Ce walked slowly into the room, his face darkening step by step as he approached Shen Tanqi.
Shen Tanqi shrank back, and his back hit the edge of the bed with a loud thud, with nowhere else to retreat.
Oh no, this is terrifying! Is he doomed today?
In his mind, he recalled what Little Goldfish and Little Taro Ball said about their male lead dad being ruthless towards ‘bad guys,’ especially someone like Shen Tanqi who isolated himself and imprisoned his own brother.
Shen Tanqi’s heart tightened, and he subconsciously wanted to escape with Xiao Qingyu. The system was out playing with Little Black, and in such a crucial moment, he didn’t even have a decent object for self-defense!
But as he stood up, he saw Yu Ce already standing in front of him, blocking all possible escape routes.
Hesitating for a moment, Shen Tanqi quickly retreated back to the corner, silently praying.
System, come back quickly…
What are you doing? Stop messing around and come back!
Just as Shen Tanqi felt despair creeping in, a hurried set of footsteps suddenly approached the door.
Shen Tanqi thought with a mix of emotions, Who the heck is it this time?
But anyone would do, anyone would be fine. Just please take the male lead away. Please.
In bursts of breath, Fang Wenxun rushed into the room, leaning against the door, wiping the sweat off his forehead, “Junior brother, I couldn’t stop him… I really couldn’t stop him.”
The teleportation technique of the Nascent Soul stage was too fast. He almost died from exhaustion before reaching here, and he still couldn’t prevent Yu Ce from coming to disrupt Shen Tanqi’s good time.
Who knows what got into Yu Ce? When he heard from the two kids about Shen Tanqi and Xiao Qingyu spending the night together, his face turned ashen. It seemed like he was so furious that he wanted to burn the entire Rongyun Sect down.
What’s there to be angry about?
Could it be that Yu Ce still hasn’t forgiven Shen Tanqi and intentionally came to ruin things?
The moment Fang Wenxun entered, Shen Tanqi saw him as a savior. He quickly stood up and was about to run towards Fang Wenxun, hoping Yu Ce wouldn’t notice. However, Yu Ce suddenly stretched out his hand, and a bubble of spiritual light instantly enveloped the entire hall. Fang Wenxun was forcibly squeezed out of the door and couldn’t get back in.
Yu Ce calmly said, “Senior Brother Fang, this is between Shen Tanqi and me.”
Fang Wenxun: “Huh?”
After running all the way here, he wasn’t even allowed inside? The entire hall was sealed by the bubble, impenetrable even for an ant.
However, when Shen Tanqi heard Yu Ce mention his name with a seemingly negotiable tone, he felt a bit relieved. Maybe Yu Ce didn’t come to seek revenge after all?
“Senior… Junior brother…” Shen Tanqi tentatively communicated with the male lead, awkwardly chuckling, “You’re back; it’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Maybe four or five years.”
In the sect, loafing around for a year, laying eggs for a year outside, living in the sect for three years. Counting it all, it had indeed been a while, and this was the first time Shen Tanqi had seen the male lead.
As soon as he spoke, Yu Ce immediately lowered his gaze to Shen Tanqi, as if Shen Tanqi had said something incredible.
“Four or five years?”
Even though the other’s eyes were still red, and it might sound strange to say at this moment, Shen Tanqi unexpectedly read the words ‘resentful’ and ‘sad’ in the male lead’s eyes.
What kind of expression was this?
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
