He quickly returned with a bowl full of rice and a food box, sitting down next to Chu Wanning.

     Chu Wanning was a little surprised, and he hesitated, “You… aren’t you going to sit at Shi Mei’s table?”

     Mo Ran was shocked, “Why would I go to that table?”

     Hearing his words, Chu Wanning’s heart filled with joy. He lowered his eyes and coughed lightly, “I thought the dishes over there were more your taste.”

     The tips of his ears reddened slightly, and Mo Ran suddenly realized—Chu Wanning was… jealous, wasn’t he? His heart jumped slightly, and he smiled, moving to whisper in Chu Wanning’s ear, “Wherever you are, that’s where I like.”

     This time, Chu Wanning’s ears were fully flushed red.

     His knee was originally leaning against Mo Ran’s, but now he felt even more sensitive to his touch, and wanted to move away. However, Mo Ran didn’t want him to leave and, under the cover of the table, he touched Chu Wanning’s leg.

     “You—!”

     Chu Wanning’s harsh whisper caught the attention of the other people at the table, and they asked “What’s wrong, xianjun?”

     Chu Wanning realized his slip of the tongue and replied, pretending to be calm, “Nothing.”

     Mo Ran held back his laughter, finding Chu Wanning’s reaction funny.

     He didn’t even want to do anything ridiculous, or dirty; he just didn’t want Chu Wanning to be so far away from him.

     So, he grabbed Chu Wanning’s leg and childishly pulled him back, wanting him to lean on him. Chu Wanning pulled away again, and Mo Ran pulled him back again.

     In the end, Chu Wanning finally couldn’t take it anymore. He kicked Mo Ran under the table, but didn’t run away anymore.

     Mo Ran laughed.

     Chu Wanning said, “You must be sick.”

     They finally began to eat.

     Mo Ran glanced at Chu Wanning’s bowl. Sure enough, there were only a few simple vegetables and a piece of tofu. The buns had already been snatched up by the young children at the table who didn’t know any better.

     Mo Ran handed him the small bamboo food box.

     “What’s this?”

     Mo Ran whispered, “Steamed buns, six crab yolks, and six shrimp. I made them especially for you… Shh, eat quickly, I knew you’d never be able to beat anyone in grabbing food.”

     “...”

     If he was the only one eating from the food box, it would be too obvious. Chu Wanning felt embarrassed, and didn’t want to move. However, when he saw Mo Ran’s black eyes looking at him earnestly, with some flour on his cheeks, he couldn’t bring himself to reject him.

     Besides, the words “Made them specially for you,” sounded very heartwarming.

     Chu Wanning didn’t say anything, but after a while, he quietly lifted the lid of the bamboo box and started to eat the hot and fresh crab meat buns. The rich and hot flavor burst out from the delicate dough, soaking into his heart and making him feel warm.

     “Is it good?” Mo Ran looked at him bashfully, hoping for a look of approval.

     Chu Wanning moved his chopsticks and said, “It’s not bad. You try one too.”

     “I’m not eating it, it’s all for you.” Mo Ran smiled, his black eyes bright and warm, “I’m glad you like it. Why don’t you try a shrimp one?” His heart was unwavering, the flour on his cheeks against his pair of dark eyes making him look even more adorable.

     Although Chu Wanning was still at a loss as to why Mo Ran would turn to him instead of Shi Mei, at this moment, his gaze was so pure and determined that there was no room for anything else. It was enough to reassure anyone on the receiving end of his gaze.

     After dinner, the village chief invited everyone to watch plays in the courtyard outside of the ancestral hall. The stage was set up by the river, the sound of cymbals ringing and an erhu playing. On the stage, several performances took place one by one, and the courtyard was lively, as the audience cheered and applauded.

     Chu Wanning didn’t want to watch such plays. Their tricks were so poorly executed that he could see right through them with a glance, and he immediately lost all feelings of fun and excitement. On top of that, the audience was so lively and energetic, jostling shoulder to shoulder, that he couldn’t enjoy it.

     He wasn’t interested, and neither was Shi Mei. Both of them left, with Mo Ran following behind them without a word. He walked beside them for a while before finally taking one last look back at the stage.

     Shi Mei said gently, “Let’s go. If we leave too late, the Sect Leader will be worried.”

     “Mm.”

     Mo Ran didn’t say anything more as he followed them with his head lowered. But after a few steps, he heard Chu Wanning ask faintly, “Do you want to watch it?”

     “They started the play about Wang Kai and Shi Chong competing for wealth. It was interesting.” Mo Ran didn’t say he wanted to watch it, nor did he say he didn’t want to watch it.

     But Chu Wanning quietly listened to him and said, “Then let’s go back and watch it first.”

     Shi Mei was slightly startled, “Shizun, staying for dinner has already delayed the completion of the mission. If we stay to watch the play…”

     Chu Wanning said, “Just watch this one. We’ll leave after.”

     Shi Mei smiled gently and replied, “Alright, I’ll listen to Shizun.”

     The three of them returned to the stage and squeezed into the lively crowd. Many of the refugees who had left Linyi had never been in Sichuan before, and had never seen a play like this. They were amazed by the fluttering sleeves and the dazzling transformations of the faces on stage. Since some of the short children couldn’t see, they were picked up by the taller adults and placed on their shoulders.

     “The king gave me the coral jade tree, the light of treasure…”

     On the stage, “Wang Kai” and “Shi Chong” were desperately trying to cling to the splendor of wealth and glory, trying to overwhelm each other.

     “Who can beat fifty miles of purple silk paving the road home?”

     “Good! Haha, one more scene!” The eyes of the audience were all brimming with light, and even the children with their mouths stuffed with pastries were clapping with the adults.

     This was not the upper cultivation world, where there were all kinds of manners and decorum. In such a place, they would all simply sit and watch the show, coldly sipping jasmine tea as servants massaged their backs and fanned their hands.

     The cold aura below the stage would only cause the actors on stage to lose interest in singing. Their tone was dull, and the song “Farewell My Concubine” sounded like a tortoise parting with a cricket.

     This crowd was simple and old-fashioned, all standing and applauding. Some people were even standing on their tiptoes and shouting enthusiastically, crude and unrestrained.

     Chu Wanning stood in the middle of this tidal wave, at a loss for how to react. A boring person like him would probably rather sit in the upper cultivation world and listen to a tortoise parting with a cricket than watch Wang Kai fight Shi Chong from the crowd.

     There was another person who didn’t like this kind of intense emotion any more than he did.

     Shi Mei stood for a while, seemingly suffering from a headache caused by the sound of the loud cymbals. But he still remained standing there with a good temper, until one of the men beside him, his blood boiling with excitement, jumped up and accidentally bumped someone else’s tea all over him.

     “Ah! Sorry! I’m sorry! Xianjun, I’m really sorry. Ah, look at my clumsy hands and feet…”

     Shi Mei hurriedly said, “It’s okay, it’s not a problem.”

     But his clothes were dirty and wet. He sighed and said to Chu Wanning somewhat helplessly, “Shizun, how about I go back first? I’ll report the results of the mission to the Sect Leader.”

     Chu Wanning replied, “Alright, be careful on your way back.”

     Shi Mei smiled, said goodbye to Mo Ran, and left.

     Chu Wanning thought his escape plan wasn’t bad. Should he also find someone to crash into, so he could escape the overwhelming crowd?

     Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard a surge of cheers from the crowd. He looked up at the stage and saw that the actor playing Wang Kai was so furious that his long beard was swaying in anger. Holding a fire bag in his mouth, he suddenly breathed a huge flame into the river.

     Boom! The river rippled and the sparking water changed until it was dipped in orange-red.

     “Ah! Good!”

     “Do it again! Again!”

     “...” Chu Wanning didn’t understand. What was there to see…? If Xue Meng came over, he could burn the river a hundred times even without a fire bag.

     While he lost interest, he suddenly saw Mo Ran’s smile. The tall man didn’t need to stand on his tiptoes at all; he just stood there calmly, and no one could block his line of sight. His handsome face was illuminated by the firelight, his dimples deep as he gazed at the scene. It was as if his heart was shining in a way that no one could really see.

     Sensing Chu Wanning’s gaze, he turned around and smiled even more brightly. His black eyes seemed to be a little wet, but there was nothing there, just Chu Wanning’s illusion.

     “When I was young, I used to go to the theater to see this play. Every time, the manager chased me away before it was over.” Mo Ran’s tone was casual and calm, “This is the first time I’ve seen the whole play… Shizun, did you like it?”

     “...” Chu Wanning looked into his eyes and finally said, “Mm, not bad.”

     Mo Ran’s smile bloomed, and the night sky seemed to brighten. On the stage, the curtain fell, and soon rose again, starting the next play. Beautiful brows like smoke, indigo feathers rustling, his majesty was filled with vigor, he was nothing but a lowly concubine.

     “Oh, Farewell My Concubine.” Mo Ran turned around and smiled, “Let’s go. They’re done with the battle of wealth, let’s go back.”

     “Wait a little longer.”

     “Hmm?”

     “It can't be considered boring. There’s no harm in watching a few more plays,” Chu Wanning said.

     Mo Ran’s eyebrows raised slightly, pleasantly surprised, then he smiled brightly, “Alright.”

     Farewell My Concubine, Jinshan Temple, Judgement of the Double Nails, Sitting in the Tower, Killing the Sorrowful.

     One play after another, no one in the crowd left. As the hours went by, they became even more cheerful and spirited.

     A few old men chanted along with the old woman on stage, “A kind word warms the heart in winter, but bad words only bring harm…”

     At the most intense part of the play, the applause even overshadowed the actors on stage. Chu Wanning was pushed and shoved by the drunk villagers, but he had nowhere to escape to. Just as he was looking to retreat, a pair of warm hands suddenly rested on his shoulders.

     He turned back and met Mo Ran’s gaze. The other had somehow managed to appear behind Chu Wanning without him noticing. Mo Ran smiled and brought him closer, letting him lean on him, so he was no longer pushed around by the people around him.

     For a moment, the sound of laughter and drums became so distant as he looked at Mo Ran. His ears flushed red, and he turned his face away, too embarrassed to look at him again.

     But Mo Ran’s body was so hot, his breath scorching. His strong chest pressed against Chu Wanning’s back, his firm hands wrapping around his shoulders. When the drumming got louder, the fire-breathing play started again, and everyone’s eyes were drawn to it as they shouted and clapped.

     Chu Wanning also wanted to feign composure by clapping twice along with the crowd. But before he could even raise his hands, his body was enveloped by Mo Ran’s arms from behind.

     Perhaps it was because he felt that no one would notice, or because they were being pushed closer and closer together by the people around them, or maybe it was just because in such a grand atmosphere, he especially wanted to be closer to the person he was with, so close that they merged into one, their blood and bones fused together…

     In any case, Mo Ran lowered his eyes and hugged him from behind, encircling him in his arms. Then, he turned his face to the side and kissed Chu Wanning’s ear as the fire on the stage lit up the night sky, illuminating the hearts of the spectators.

     “Thank you for accompanying me,” Mo Ran whispered softly in his ear. “I know you didn’t actually like it.”

     “...You’re thinking too much. I liked it.”

     Mo Ran laughed softly and stopped talking. He hugged Chu Wanning even tighter, and rested his chin against his neck.

     The flames flickered, and Chu Wanning suddenly wanted to ask something, “Mo Ran, why are you…”

     “Hahaha, good!”

     His small voice was instantly swallowed up by the noise.

     Mo Ran asked, “What?”

     “...Nothing.” Chu Wanning’s face was slightly red before it was covered by a thin layer of anger. He didn’t want to ask this question a second time, just asking once had already taken up all the strength and courage he had at the moment. Now, he only felt embarrassed and annoyed, and didn’t want to speak again.

     Mo Ran was quiet for a while. In truth, he actually didn’t hear Chu Wanning’s question clearly, but he suddenly said, “The person I love has always been you.”

     “...”

     His heart began to race.

     “It has always been you. I was too stupid in the past. I couldn’t realize my own feelings.”

     Thump, thump, thump. His heart beat like a drum, and the sound of the drums on stage seemed to be covered up by the sound from his own chest.

     “I’m sorry.”

     “...”

     “I made you wait a long time.”

     His eyes were dazzled by the fireworks, and his ears were buzzing. He couldn’t hear anything clearly, and his head was spinning. He didn’t know if his feet were on the ground, or in the clouds, but only the person behind him was real.

     The wind around him used to be colorless, with no trace of feeling, but now it had become filled with Mo Ran’s scent lingering at the tip of his nose.

     Chu Wanning wasn’t actually looking for such an explanation; all he wanted was a simple affirmation from the person he loved. Now that he suddenly received such soft words, he could no longer see his surroundings clearly. In his daze, he felt that everything was colorful. He couldn’t think, or move, and was just immersed in the fierce surging of colors until he finally lost all of his five senses.