Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Take Me to Yuezhou for Fun
(Returning to regular updates, guaranteeing at least four chapters a day, with release times at 8:00, 12:00, 17:00, and 21:00, and there will be occasional mass updates)

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While Yang Qingyin was playfully complaining in his embrace with a blushing face, Luo Ziling seized the moment and a sudden kiss made her completely melt.

However, since there were still a lot of tourists around, Luo Ziling dared not to go too far. While Yang Qingyin was still blushing, he took her hand and they ran off. After running for a while, Yang Qingyin also snapped back to her senses and actively tightened her grip on Luo Ziling’s hand, following suit.

The two wandered around the Summer Palace for an entire afternoon, more focused on their playful banter than the scenery around them.

But even though they weren’t paying attention to the landscape they passed, they felt incredibly good.

All their gloom and worry dissipated with the joy and laughter between them.

As it was getting dark, Yang Qingyin started to play the scoundrel again, complaining of sore legs and inability to walk, demanding Luo Ziling take responsibility.

Luo Ziling didn’t hesitate and scooped her up, carrying her on his back.

Yang Qingyin behaved very well, quietly lying on his shoulder, without any mischief.

“Junior, when can we go to Yuezhou to play, hmm? To see your grandfather’s hometown, which I’ve never visited. That beautiful little town, will you take me there? How about that?” Yang Qingyin nestled her head against Luo Ziling’s cheek, giggling as she said, “At worst, I’ll pay for the car ride, entrance fees, and treat you to a big meal, okay?”

“Do you think I’d say it’s not okay?” Luo Ziling turned his head to glance at Yang Qingyin who was resting on his shoulder, “So when shall we go?”

“During winter break?” Seeing Luo Ziling’s clear eyes up close, Yang Qingyin couldn’t help but feel tender, “Will you take me there to play during winter break?”

“Of course, I’m willing,” while agreeing, Luo Ziling thought about the promise he made to his grandfather to return to the Northwest during winter break to visit him.

In his heart, he had always considered the small village in the Northwest as his true home, never imagining that it was just a place where his grandfather had chosen to retire, not their real hometown. He wondered, would his grandfather continue to live in that village after his departure?

In fact, since arriving in Yanjing, Luo Ziling had missed his grandfather every single day.

Having depended on each other for so many years, Luo Ziling’s attachment to his grandfather was something he could not cut away, even after meeting Ling Ruonan. He felt that in his heart, his grandfather’s presence weighed no less than that of Ling Ruonan, his mother.

But since his grandfather didn’t use a phone, there was no way for Luo Ziling to contact him. Luo Ziling had written to his grandfather, but he didn’t know when his letter would be read. He hadn’t received a reply from his grandfather either.

He began to suspect that after his departure, his grandfather might have already left the small mountain village, or perhaps didn’t return there often.

During winter break, when the village was blocked by heavy snowfall, would his grandfather still stay there without his company?

Seeing Luo Ziling fall into deep thought after his agreement, Yang Qingyin couldn’t help but feel curious. After taking a serious look at him, she asked softly, “What’s wrong, are you reluctant?”

“Not at all!” Luo Ziling shook his head, “Actually, I promised my grandfather that I’d go back to spend the New Year with him during the winter break, but he told me not to come back, saying that the roads would be blocked by heavy snowfall and it would be impossible to return. I’m wondering if he might have left that place after I left?”

Yang Qingyin could understand Luo Ziling’s feelings toward his grandfather. Hearing him say this, the little doubt that had formed in her heart disappeared, and she quickly asked, “You haven’t been in contact with him since you left?”

“I can’t reach him,” Luo Ziling said with a bitter smile, shaking his head, “He never uses a cell phone, and there’s no phone at home.”

Yang Qingyin suddenly fell silent.

Carrying her on his back, Luo Ziling continued to walk forward. After a while, Yang Qingyin asked again, “So, are you going to visit your grandfather during winter break?”

“We’ll talk about it when the time comes. I guess after I left, he hardly returned there. I hope I’ll know where he is and how his health is,” Luo Ziling said, fearing that his emotions might affect Yang Qingyin’s mood, and immediately changed the subject, “Senior sister, where shall we have dinner?”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Whatever senior sister wants to eat, that’s what I’ll eat.”

“Little Lamb eats grass, Old Wolf eats meat, we don’t have the same taste,” Yang Qingyin said, followed by a playful laugh.

“Then the Old Wolf will change his taste, how about I go vegetarian today?” Luo Ziling said. Suddenly he leaned in and kissed Yang Qingyin on the lips once, then again, and then another, laughing heartily amid her coy protests, “Before eating vegetarian, let’s have a little meat to satisfy the craving.”

The result was another pummeling from Yang Qingyin’s little fists.

Luo Ziling retaliated with a pat on her bottom, which only made Yang Qingyin more embarrassed and annoyed.

But Luo Ziling promptly carried her on his back and ran away quickly, and Yang Qingyin, fearing she would fall down, could only cling tightly to his back.

Yang Qingyin’s hair fell onto Luo Ziling’s face, tickling him and feeling extremely comfortable, the sensation of their temples rubbing together was indescribably pleasant.

When they got near the exit, Luo Ziling set down Yang Qingyin, who had been struggling to get off his back, then turned around and looked at her with a beaming smile, “Little lamb senior sister, we made a deal, okay? During the winter holidays, we go to Yuezhou to drink old wine and eat stinky tofu.”

Yang Qingyin was caught off guard by Luo Ziling suddenly bringing up the trip to Yuezhou, but she immediately beamed with a smile, nodding vigorously: “Okay, we’ll go together to Xianheng Hotel to drink Shaoxing old wine, eat fennel beans and stinky tofu, moldy preserved vegetables, then visit Lu Xun’s Former Residence, and go to Shen Garden to relive the words ‘tender hands, wine under the wisteria,’ and reminisce about the passionate affairs of Lu You and Tang Wan.”

In the night, Yang Qingyin looked unspeakably beautiful as she spoke earnestly, causing Luo Ziling to stare dumbfounded, forgetting to respond.

“Hey, what are you staring at?” Yang Qingyin noticed Luo Ziling’s lapse and felt quite pleased with herself, yet she scolded teasingly, “Is there something on my face?”

“A face prettier than flowers,” Luo Ziling said, reaching out to pinch Yang Qingyin’s cheek, then grinned, “It’s not my fault you are so good-looking, I just can’t help staring.”

“Really?” Hearing Luo Ziling say this, Yang Qingyin looked at him very seriously, “Is it really that pretty?”

“Yes!” Luo Ziling nodded earnestly.

“If it’s pretty then keep looking, it’s free,” Yang Qingyin said with a show of vanity, pointing to her own face and speaking solemnly: “Keep the image of my beautiful face in your heart, and you’re not allowed to forget it for the rest of your life.”

“Hmm, not just for a lifetime, but for several lifetimes,” Luo Ziling once again nodded seriously, and began to look at her intently once more.

Yang Qingyin didn’t shy away, holding her head high, quietly gazing back at Luo Ziling.

The place where they were standing was a green area not far from the exit, under a large tree.

Since it was almost completely dark, they couldn’t see the scenery from a distance, but standing close to each other, they could see each other’s faces and expressions clearly.

The fading light of dusk served as a veil, allowing them to boldly gaze into each other’s eyes as if there was a magical force there.

As they gazed at each other, the distance between their faces slowly narrowed until they could clearly feel each other’s warm breaths.

Luo Ziling’s breath remained steady, but Yang Qingyin’s became slightly heavier and quicker than usual.

Finally, they could feel the warmth between their lips.

But just as a natural kiss was about to begin, a sudden angry shout from not far away disrupted the moment: “What are you two doing?”