"Mu Qi?" Yun Shunan saw Mu Qi standing still and, unable to poke him with her hand, nudged his cheek with her chin.
Mu Qi looked down at Yun Shunan.
Yun Shunan: "Let's go back."
Mu Qi: "Mm."
The old man, who had prepared lunch early, looked at the two inseparable figures with mixed emotions.
He didn't know whether to feel bitter that his well-loved disciple had been snatched away so quickly, or to be relieved that his disciple had such a firm hold on this young man.
"Quick, put the fish aside and come eat." The old man, preferring not to see what made him uncomfortable, focused his gaze on the table laden with dishes he had prepared.
"Should I put you down?" Mu Qi asked, looking down at Yun Shunan, whose chin was still resting on his shoulder.
"Mm." A hint of reluctance leaked from Yun Shunan's voice, her tone like a small cat that could tickle one's heart.
Mu Qi's Adam's apple bobbed. He walked to the dining table and slowly set Yun Shunan down. However, as Mu Qi turned to put the fish bucket in the kitchen, he didn't feel the friction of the chain dragging on the ground against his wrist.
Mu Qi turned his head and saw Yun Shunan following him, holding the chain.
Mu Qi said nothing, just turned his head back and continued towards the kitchen, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips.
Seeing this, the old man could only lament his own curiosity.
...
"Can you hold onto it after you finish eating?"
As the two returned to the dining table, Mu Qi looked at Yun Shunan eating with the chain still in her hand, a hint of helplessness in his expression.
"No," Yun Shunan insisted, using her left hand to hold her chopsticks and pick up the fish made by the old man.
However, after several attempts, she couldn't manage to grab a complete piece of fish.
Seeing this, Mu Qi reached out and aimed for the piece of fish below Yun Shunan's chopsticks.
Yun Shunan put down her chopsticks, picked up a spoon, and took a few sips of soup, then ate a few mouthfuls of rice.
Then, she slumped onto the table with a dejected air.
Yun Shunan felt wronged, but she had chosen this herself, so there was nothing to feel wronged about.
"Little Niannian?" The old man, seeing this, put down his bowl and wanted to help Yun Shunan hold the chain so his dear disciple could eat properly.
However, before he could speak, he saw Mu Qi walk behind Yun Shunan, wrap his hands around her waist, and lift her onto his lap.
Yun Shunan, startled by Mu Qi's sudden action, clutched his clothes tightly.
"I'll feed you." Mu Qi held the bowl in one hand and a piece of fish in the other, bringing it towards Yun Shunan.
"No need." All of Yun Shunan's grievances completely dissipated, replaced by an embarrassment that burned her cheeks. She didn't dare to glance in the old man's direction.
Yun Shunan struggled, trying to get off Mu Qi.
Mu Qi, however, put down his bowl and chopsticks and pressed her back down.
"Either let go of the chain, or stay put and behave."
Since Yun Shunan's rebirth, she had rarely seen Mu Qi so possessive.
With her head resting against Mu Qi's chin, Yun Shunan remained motionless, a soft sound of discomfort escaping her.
She couldn't let go of the chain.
Although she knew that if Mu Qi truly wanted to leave, she wouldn't be able to restrain him with the chain in her hand, Yun Shunan simply didn't want to let go. It felt as though it would bring her some peace.
Seeing this, the old man felt he couldn't eat this meal.
With a bang, the old man slammed his bowl onto the table, turned, and walked from the courtyard towards the main hall.
Halfway there, the old man wanted to turn back to see if the two would try to stop him.
The old man crossed his arms and tilted his head up as he turned, only to see one diligently feeding and the other diligently cooperating.
Preposterous! Where did they place him, this old man!
The old man pouted, stomped his foot like a child, and walked away into the main hall in a huff.
No, his precious disciple couldn't be consumed by love. He still had a "great undertaking" to impart to his beloved disciple!
With this thought, the old man glanced at the books he had kept for his precious disciple in the bookcase. Then, he paced back and forth in the main hall, as if planning something.
The rest of the day, from after lunch in the afternoon until evening, Yun Shunan stayed glued to Mu Qi's side.
Now, Mu Qi and Yun Shunan had been looking up at the stars in the courtyard for a long time, to the point where even the stars were probably tired of them.
"Are you sleepy?" Mu Qi spent more time looking at Yun Shunan than at the stars.
"I'm fine. Are you?" Yun Shunan tightened her grip on the chain, still looking up at the twinkling stars.
However, the stars reflected in her eyes did not reach her heart.
Mu Qi remained silent. When faced with Yun Shunan's question, as long as it didn't cross Mu Qi's bottom line, he would either give Yun Shunan the answer she most wished to hear, or he would be cautious and remain silent.
"Mu Qi, why aren't you answering me?" Yun Shunan confirmed that Mu Qi had heard her.
"Never mind. It's not a big deal anyway."
Just as Mu Qi was contemplating how to explain, Yun Shunan spoke again.
"Mu Qi, can you tell me about your past experiences?"
Yun Shunan wanted to understand Mu Qi better, to imagine what would be different now if she, not Shan Gong, had been by Mu Qi's side since childhood.
Past experiences?
Mu Qi frowned, lost in thought.
Apart from meeting Yun Shunan, his previous experiences hadn't been pleasant. If possible, he wished Yun Shunan would never know them.
"I lived in the old house from birth until I went abroad at twelve, and then studied abroad at fourteen..."
And so, Mu Qi began to narrate, as if reporting his resume.
Yun Shunan listened intently beside Mu Qi. Although it wasn't what she had hoped to hear, Mu Qi was by her side now, and that was enough to make her content.
Another hour passed like this. Yun Shunan's eyelids began to droop, and her hand, which was tightly holding the chain, started to loosen slightly.
Mu Qi cupped the back of Yun Shunan's legs with one hand and supported her back with the other, lifting her steadily.
Yun Shunan, however, seemed to be startled, waking up abruptly and tightening her grip on the chain.