After arriving home, Grandpa Su had prepared a sumptuous dinner. The table was lush with greenery, and everyone, including the little monsters, was consuming flower petals and fairy dew.
Tonight, Bai Tang was drinking lotus flower dew. Chi Jue sat on a small high chair, his two short legs swaying leisurely in the air. His little hands played with the lotus leaves on his head, which curled at the edges like a vintage-style hat. Chi Jue stared at the pristine porcelain plate, appreciating his own stylish appearance with the hat.
“Chi Jue, you’re so vain,” scolded Chi Yi.
“You obviously want to wear a lotus leaf too, but it doesn’t look good on you,” Chi Jue made a funny face. “Nyah nyah nyah.”
Chi Jue’s snail shell was painted green, harmonizing with the emerald lotus leaves. On the other hand, Chi Yi’s snail shell was bright red, making the combination of red and green quite eye-catching.
Inheriting Chi Cainan’s love for beauty and aesthetic sense, all the snail babies rejected the red and green combination.
“You!” Chi Yi pouted in frustration, turned his face forcefully, and declared with a huff, “I won’t play with you anymore!” Although he spoke with determination, his watery eyes were misty, as if tears were about to fall at any moment.
Chi Jue was a bit bewildered. He sat on the small high chair, at a loss, not even moving his legs that were swinging back and forth. Chi Jue looked at Bai Tang with pleading eyes, silently signaling for help.
Bai Tang’s comfortable and stretched little green seedling on top of his head perked up, receiving the signal from Chi Jue.
However, Bai Tang, who wasn’t good at comforting little kids, was also at a loss. He turned his eyes expectantly toward Su Siyuan.
Su Siyuan was peeling lotus seeds, focusing intently on the task at hand. Though not fast, everything he did was done perfectly.
The lotus seeds were peeled intact, and neatly arranged on a small plate.
Although the taste of lotus seeds was bitter, they had the effect of refreshing the mind. Su Siyuan would keep a small handful of lotus seeds in his drawer while working and chew on them slowly when feeling tired.
Even though he usually worked without being disturbed by the outside world, for some reason, when Bai Tang looked at him, Su Siyuan became aware of it and immediately raised his head.
He first saw Bai Tang’s dilemma on his face, the teenager’s eyes unconsciously seeking help. This suddenly improved Su Siyuan’s mood, and his heart felt a sense of warmth. Su Siyuan shifted his gaze to the messy dining table, looking calmly at the tearful Chi Yi and the confused Chi Jue.
Troublesome little monsters indeed.
He thought indifferently in his heart.
Su Siyuan picked up a lotus seed from the plate, slowly moving it toward his mouth as if he intended to eat it.
However, that was not the case.
The man parted his lips and gently blew a breath towards the lotus seed. Countless pure energies surged into the seed, and in an instant, it sprouted roots and blossomed into a pink lotus out of thin air.
Chi Yi, who was shedding tears, froze in place. He stared dumbfoundedly at the lotus in Su Siyuan’s hand, his little mouth slightly agape from the shock.
Su Siyuan stood up and walked towards Chi Yi. He tucked the lotus behind Chi Yi’s ear and adjusted it to the right position. After the adjustment, Su Siyuan held Chi Yi’s chubby little hand, letting him support the large lotus flower himself.
“There you go, now you’re the most beautiful little monster.” Su Siyuan consoled him in a calm and indifferent tone.
His skill in comforting children was undoubtedly quite adept. Chi Yi was immediately cheered up, and the sorrow of the red and green combination was instantly forgotten. He happily swung his little legs, those plump legs resembling two sections of lotus roots. At that moment, Chi Yi truly looked like a joyful lotus spirit.
Other snail babies looked at Chi Yi with envy. They also wanted lotus flowers but dared not ask Su Siyuan.
Although Su Siyuan had never shown anger, even providing them with rides to school, and usually maintaining a gentle demeanor, the snail babies inexplicably feared him.
It was the instinct of little monsters.
To Su Siyuan, a monster, his gaze toward most things was no different from looking at a leaf or a tree. Only when looking at Bai Tang, his eyes would be exceptionally gentle.
Makes sense.
Even if everyone is a tree, for a sloth, there is still a favorite tree in the vast forest.
At this moment, Su Siyuan gazed at Bai Tang with such tenderness. Seeing Bai Tang’s slightly widened eyes due to surprise, Su Siyuan asked softly, “What’s wrong?”.
Bai Tang was astonished.
It was like a prospector suddenly discovering a gold mine.
When Su Siyuan blew on the lotus seed, an explosion of incredibly pure energy poured out, creating a mushroom cloud in Bai Tang’s heart as if an atomic bomb had detonated.
Such pure energy!
Compared to the energy absorbed during previous physical contact, it was as weak as dust.
Bai Tang was so excited that he couldn’t find words. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Su Siyuan with shining eyes, “You just turned that lotus seed into a lotus flower…”
Su Siyuan nodded and said softly, “Take it easy, explain slowly.”
Bai Tang couldn’t slow down; he hurriedly asked, “When you blew on it, what was that breath?”
“That’s my innate ability, something I often use in my work.” Su Siyuan struggled to explain for a moment, “Would you like to see how I usually work?”
Bai Tang nodded eagerly, and the little green sprout on his head fluttered in excitement.
“Follow me,” Su Siyuan gestured with an inviting motion, opening his hands to Bai Tang.
The warm yellow light reflected in his brown eyes, resembling deep amber with a melting drop of gold at its center.
The man was still dressed in his unworn suit, a deep black that perfectly outlined Su Siyuan’s body curves with its fitted design. He had broad shoulders and a slim waist, slightly leaning forward like a butler in an ancient castle. When the man lifted his face, his eyes were filled with a tender gaze that could drown someone.
It was a tender gaze that could enchant hearts.
What is tenderness? It’s the meticulous care, sincere and gentle respect, and the smiling eyes of Su Siyuan.
Almost unconsciously, Bai Tang placed his hand in Su Siyuan’s palm. Su Siyuan’s hand perfectly enveloped Bai Tang’s, using just the right amount of strength to lead him. When their skin touched, warmth enveloped Bai Tang.
A bit of energy, two bits of energy.
So much, so much energy.
A bit of happiness, two bits of happiness.
So much, so much happiness.
The corners of his mouth involuntarily lifted, and the little green sapling swayed unconsciously as Bai Tang carefully clasped Su Siyuan’s hand.
I’m not shaking hands for some weird reason.
Shaking hands have energy; every bit of energy is hard-earned. I’m just being frugal.
That’s right, just like that!
The system, pretending to be brainwashed, sighed and looked into the distance. If its little white cabbage always had to be plowed by a pig, it’s still better if it’s plowed by a young and promising pig. However, the system couldn’t accept it.
Su Siyuan walked to the cabinet in his bedroom, took out an exquisite jade box, and opened it. The box was filled with a bunch of seeds.
Su Siyuan poured the seeds from the box into his palm and glanced at Bai Tang. “You see, it’s like this.”
The seeds in his palm were thrown into the air. In the light, they sparkled like scattered jewels, resembling stars splashing across the night sky.
Su Siyuan tilted his head back, and his chin lifted slightly, creating a graceful curve with his neck. At the base of his throat, there was a fragile and delicate protrusion.
He slowly closed his eyes, and then his thin lips parted, exhaling a gentle breath.
In the watery light waves, numerous tiny and delicate branches grew, the rustling sounds of their growth resembling the ebb and flow of waves. The seeds twinkled in the midst of it all, flickering brightly and dimly. They circled down, like shooting stars falling in the night sky. Yet, in an instant, the shooting stars suddenly transformed into ethereal flowing fire.
The night breeze blew in through the window mullions, swirling the brick-red petals into a fluttering dance. They scattered in the air, creating a spectacle, with the bright moon shining in the sky and the room filled with blooming flowers. Silence enveloped the surroundings, only interrupted by the sound of petals landing.
Su Siyuan stood amidst a sea of blooming flowers, quietly observing the young man in front of him.
The young man wore a wide-sleeved robe, his black hair loosely flowing down his shoulders, accentuating the youthful innocence of his face. He already possessed captivating features reminiscent of peach blossoms and autumn water, but his bone structure exuded a coolness as if the peach blossoms were frozen by the cold north wind. However, at this moment, a petal fell onto his snow-white face.
The air was filled with the rich fragrance of flowers, and the eyes of that person resembled peach blossoms in March.
Facing those bewildered eyes, Su Siyuan’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if something was blocking his chest, perhaps the fragrance of flowers was too strong, making it difficult for him to catch his breath for a moment.
Su Siyuan stepped on the scattered petals, moving step by step toward the young man in front of him. His pace was slow but steady, and the distance between them gradually diminished. When Su Siyuan came to a stop, they were just a breath away from each other.
At such a close distance, they could hear each other’s breathing.
The man slowly extended his hand, cool fingertips gently touching the space between Bai Tang’s eyebrows, and that petal fell down tenderly.
Bai Tang blinked, watching as Su Siyuan lowered his head slowly. The handsome face approached, and the slightly parted lips, emitting warm breath with the fragrance of flowers, sprayed onto his face. For a moment, Bai Tang thought a kiss was about to land.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Bai Tang felt he should push the other person away or take a step back. Chaotic thoughts wandered through his mind, but he stood there dazedly, his mind filled with unclear thoughts.
Yet, what he actually did was nothing.
It was like watching a sky full of flower rain, quietly gazing at the other person.
He saw the other person close their eyes, silently blowing a breath over the overlooked seed in his palm—
A rose quietly bloomed.
The closed eyes opened, and those amber-like eyes gazed at him serenely. Bai Tang heard the man’s gentle voice, that soft tone, as enchanting as a swarm of butterflies fluttering across the sky. He said, “Roses are beautiful, so I wanted to transform one for you to see.”
My dearest little monster.
I want you to see all the beauty in the world through your eyes.
Author’s note:
On this day last year, within this gate, peach blossoms reflected on a person’s face.
