i Ru Xue giggled, neither admitting nor denying. She didn't mind if Xu Chunliang embarrassed himself, but since she was working as a leader in Hu Shan Town, she had to consider the possible impact.
Xu Chunliang brought quite a lot of things. As a dean, arranging these kinds of things beca very convenient. He didn't even need to show up; Zhang Haitao just had the cafeteria prepare everything. There were ingredients for barbecue, hotpot, and a full array of side dishes and seasonings.
Even though it was already chilly in early winter, the large bonfire beside them kept it from feeling cold at all. Besides, i Ru Xue was wearing a thick military coat, warm and windproof.
Even in a military coat, i Ru Xue managed to wear it with a sense of elegance and unique fashion.
She intended to help, but Xu Chunliang told her to rest, giving him a chance to ingratiate himself with the Town Mayor.
i Ru Xue looked around; it seed as if only they and the bonfire were left in the world, and her mood was more relaxed than ever. Feeling childish for a mont, she circled around the bonfire.
Her graceful figure spun around, the military-green coat flaring in the night. Her silhouette was reflected elegantly and perfectly in the firelight, like a green fairy dancing solo in the dark.
Xu Chunliang looked at her with a satisfied smile, thinking she was delightful enough to be a feast, yet why did he feel even hungrier? Grandmaster Xu realized clearly that what stirred his feelings wasn't just his appetite.
i Ru Xue took off her heavy cotton coat and ca over to help him, "You're sothing else, even coming up with this."
Xu Chunliang said, "It's really not easy to invite you over for a al. I wanted neither to attract attention nor fail to let Mayor i eat and drink well. I truly racked my brains."
i Ru Xue said, "Are you trying to ask for a favor? Let's see if this al is worth it first."
Xu Chunliang said, "No, I won't say. Eating my food makes you soften your stance, and you won't find a reason to refuse later."
i Ru Xue laughed, "Actually, refusing soone doesn't require a reason."
Xu Chunliang set the grill, laid out the moisture-proof mat, and took two soft cushions from the car. Both sat down, i Ru Xue kneeling, while Xu Chunliang crossed his legs like a ditating monk, expertly starting to heat the oil and prepare the pan.
i Ru Xue said, "Not bad, I didn't expect you could cook!"
Xu Chunliang said, "There's no choice; poor kids take charge early. You can't imagine my miserable life."
"Don't underestimate people, I know a bit."
Xu Chunliang laughed, "That's great; I'll enjoy the privileges later."
It was unclear if it was the reflection of the bonfire or out of shyness, but i Ru Xue's face turned red. She intended to say, 'What does that have to do with you?' but swallowed the words, sighing lightly, "Since I ca here to work, I rarely have such free and easygoing tis. It's so good here, being able to think of nothing, watching the night sky, lake, reeds, and the bonfire, and listening to the wind blowing through the leaves—it's very healing."
Xu Chunliang said, "You talked a lot but missed the key part—because of . Without , being out in the wild wind wouldn't be called healing; it would be called torture."
i Ru Xue laughed, her eyes sparkling like stars in the sky. She couldn't deny his words. Without him as company, she wouldn't have thought to picnic on the lakeside. It was his presence that made even such wild and deserted surroundings feel warm and secure. Perhaps this is what people called the sense of security. Because of Xu Chunliang, escaping her life in the Capital City beca interesting and aningful.
Xu Chunliang was adept at creating surprises in ordinary monts. Even on a remote island far from the city, in a deserted wilderness, he could still craft unexpected romance.
Xu Chunliang finished grilling the at and invited i Ru Xue over to taste it. The local mountain lamb, grilled on an iron plate, required only a sprinkle of lake salt to fully unleash the succulent and tender essence of the at.
Perhaps it was the environnt or her mood, but i Ru Xue felt it was the best barbecue she had ever tasted in her life.
Xu Chunliang expertly picked up so pork belly, placed it on the grill, and seared both sides to a golden brown. i Ru Xue wrapped the pork belly in a lettuce leaf and handed it to him with a smile, "Offering flowers to Buddha."
Xu Chunliang said, "The hardest thing to bear is a beauty's favor."
i Ru Xue stuffed the wrapped pork belly into his mouth, "Stop talking, not even eating can silence you." She let Xu Chunliang eat while she took charge of grilling.
Xu Chunliang rembered sothing and went to the car to fetch a bottle of wine.
i Ru Xue reminded him not to drink and drive, warning him that if caught, he could lose his license. Xu Chunliang replied that he hadn't even received his license, so there was no license to lose.
i Ru Xue told him not to drink, pointing out that driving without a license along with drinking could get him detained.
Xu Chunliang laughed, "At worst, I'll leave the car here, and we'll walk back later."
i Ru Xue said, "I've noticed you never play by the rules."
Xu Chunliang said, "Life is short, just a few decades. If you follow all the rules with every step, wouldn't life be so dull? It's breaking the rules that creates surprises, and without surprises, you can't call it a delight. For example, our eting was a surprise."
i Ru Xue recalled how they t and couldn't help but laugh, "It wasn't exactly a surprise. Our work ensured we'd cross paths sooner or later."
Xu Chunliang pulled out a Perilla Leaf and wrapped a piece of pork belly for her, while also showing off an anecdote about it.
i Ru Xue noticed he was drinking Weishan Lake wine and softly said, "If you'd told earlier, I could've brought you a better bottle."
Xu Chunliang said, "The key to drinking isn't the liquor itself, but who you drink with."
"I hope my presence hasn't dampened your drinking mood."
Xu Chunliang laughed heartily, "It has, it's made all the more enthusiastic. Xiaoxue, your dance earlier was beautiful."
i Ru Xue smiled faintly, "That wasn't really dancing, just a few spins. I've learned ballet and know a bit of folk dance." Although Xu Chunliang was a year younger than her, he called her Xiaoxue, but i Ru Xue didn't feel uncomfortable; instead, she found it quite pleasant.
Xu Chunliang said, "It's apparent."
"You can tell?"
Xu Chunliang nodded, "Your body is very flexible; it's clear you've studied either dance or martial arts."
Upon hearing the word "martial arts," i Ru Xue rembered the incident when he fought soone: "I've learned a bit of self-defense, not martial arts. But surely you've learned so, otherwise, you wouldn't be getting into fights all the ti."
Xu Chunliang corrected, "I call it standing up for injustice."
i Ru Xue said, "Stop making excuses for yourself. Since you're so good at fighting, why not show a few moves?"
Xu Chunliang said, "Sure, but I have one request: after I practice, you dance for to add to the fun."
i Ru Xue nodded happily, "Then you'll have to impress first."
Xu Chunliang looked around and headed towards the bonfire. i Ru Xue didn't know what he intended to do, her eyes followed his figure.
Xu Chunliang picked a stick from the firewood, its front half already charred, leaving about three feet. He twirled his wrist, and the stick spun in his hand, with the fiery end glowing brighter with his movents.
Xu Chunliang said, "I can't dance, so I'll show you a set of swordsmanship passed down from the Xu Family."
The Xu Family is known for traditional Chinese dicine, not martial arts. How could they have swordsmanship? But i Ru Xue didn't know that and really thought he had a family-inherited sword art.
Xu Chunliang walked a few steps forward, using the stick as a sword. He shook the fire-stick in his hand, and the red glow spread and expanded in the night. Because the tip wasn't completely out, waving it created a light painting effect.
A red light andered through the night like a glowing long snake. This move is called Golden Serpent Shadow. As the sword montum was about to exhaust, with a flick of his wrist, one red light beca ten, dozens, hundreds, wrapping Xu Chunliang's figure among hundreds of red trails, known as Serpent Shadow Myriad Returns.
i Ru Xue was surprised that he could make a fire stick look like a Star Wars lightsaber. The movents were both supple and robust, as if dragons leapt and tigers sprang. Using the stick as a sword, like a golden serpent flicking its tongue, hissing sounds were ceaseless. The stick's speed accelerated, slicing through the night, tearing the cold wind, and it danced like a swimming dragon, traversing four directions. Sotis as light as a swallow, sotis as swift as a lightning snake, sotis heavy as a thousand pounds, like a serpent trapped in a walled city.
In the climax of his performance, Xu Chunliang soared into the air like a dragon, stabbing the fire-stick straight into the sky, which ignited anew from the friction with the air.
Xu Chunliang expertly twirled a sword flower and casually threw the fire-stick.
With a pop, the fire-stick embedded in the bonfire, sparks flew. Xu Chunliang remained poised and dashing, like a jade tree facing the wind. Seeing i Ru Xue's expression, he knew he had impressed her.
i Ru Xue was dazzled, and in her daze, a speck of dust drifted into her eye.
i Ru Xue cried out softly and shut her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Xu Chunliang hurriedly ca over. Hearing that i Ru Xue had dust in her eye, Xu Chunliang naturally cupped her pretty face.
i Ru Xue was montarily stunned and didn't have ti to refuse before her face was already in his big hands.
"Open your eyes!"
i Ru Xue opened her tearful eyes, and Xu Chunliang blew into her left eye.
Their eyes t, and they both pursed their lips. i Ru Xue, blushing, pushed him away, saying, "I'm fine now."
Xu Chunliang felt secretly ashad. i Ru Xue's appearance just now almost made him lose his composure. If she hadn't pushed him away at the critical mont, he might have done sothing uncontrollable.
Damn, the environntal pollution of the 21st century is too severe. My cultivation is like rowing upstream; if I don't advance, I retreat. Even this steadfast will has beco increasingly restless.
Screw the will; faced with temptation, if I don't fall, who will?
i Ru Xue took out a tissue to wipe her eyes, recalling the scene just now. Her heart pounded wildly, but her mind continued replaying Xu Chunliang's elegant image of wielding the sword. She had to admit, that rogue looked really cool using the sword!
Bringing her here certainly had ulterior motives. i Ru Xue knew his intentions, yet she wasn't afraid at all. The burnt sll in the air reminded her that she got so engrossed in watching him perform that the at on the grill was charred.
Xu Chunliang cleaned the grill with a smile, and when he looked at i Ru Xue, she found herself a bit shy to et his gaze.
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