It was the Lantern Festival that thousands of families celebrated.

This night in Yufang City, not only the Baihua Pavilion, the entire street was full of brilliance as trees lining each side were lit with lights that seemed like countless silver flowers, and fragrant incense could be enjoyed every step of the way. Everyone was out and about in a jubilant mood.

It was deep into the night, yet the wine stores were still open and the street was packed with people until their shoulders had to brush past each other as they walked with a bright lantern in their hands.

The lanterns were in a variety of shapes and sizes, they were large or small, simple or delicate, or single or double layered. On this day, even those who did not own a lantern would borrow one to bring out as a symbolic gesture.

Bai Fanlu was sitting in an inconspicuous corner of the wine store, leisurely holding a glass of wine, just about to drink from it.

He had made enough preparations today. He had specially ordered a legendary life-like mask from the mortal world. He glanced at his own reflection in the wine glass and was rather pleased with it.

Since others can put on a disguise to trick him, why can’t he do the same?!

Bai Fanlu thought that he could finally enjoy the festival undisturbed

But who knew, some people were just that ignorant to pick such an ideal time to disrupt one’s mood. Before Bai Fanlu’s wine glass touched his lips, a hand suddenly stretched out behind him, impolitely holding the hand that was gripping the cup.

After that, the man sat beside him directly without letting go.

He simply inched next to him on the long wooden chair.

Bai Fanlu raised his eyebrows, said nothing, his eyes drooped slightly, and he glanced at the hand that held his own.

The visitor ignored his hint and even caressed it.

"Gege, it's so boring to drink alone, why don't you let me drink with you?"

The young man laughed. Initially, Bai Fanlu thought he did look handsome and even had a heroic aura, but this behaviour made him look utterly frivolous.

Bai Fanlu didn't show his expression, but even with a twist of wrist, he couldn't get away from his grasp.

Fine, since you want to play it this way, I shall accompany you.

"Young man, if you don't let go, how can I drink with you then?”

The young man laughed, then released his hand happily. Bai Fanlu ignored him, and drank up the glass of wine.

“Hey, wait!”

The young man poured wine for himself. Seeing that Bai Fanlu finished his drink, and that he couldn’t stop him, he appeared upset. He grabbed Bai Fanlu's cup and said, "Let’s drink together! How can you be so disloyal!”

Bai Fanlu said indifferently, "Disloyal? What loyalty is here to talk about between us?”

The young man became annoyed and filled two glasses of wine to the brim. He pushed one of them to Bai Fanlu. Bai Fanlu was about to pick it up. Unexpectedly, a wind brought up by a wave of a sleeve came, and the young man snatched the cup.

"Wait!”

“...?”

Bai Fanlu was puzzled, What the hell is he up to?

The young boy approached slightly, hooked Bai Fanlu’s chin with his finger, and lightly lifted it up. Bai Fanlu raised his eyes to look at him, only to feel that the eyes of this person's pupils seemed to conceal a flame, as if they were reflecting the lights outside on the street.

"It’s the Lantern Festival. Drinking normally is way too boring, why don't we...have it in a crossed-cup way?"

“…”

Utterly mad.

The wine store was lively, with overlapping voices that layered one over another. The store runner was busy waiting on the tables as he shuttled back and forth to the counter. Bai Fanlu didn’t show any expression, and with a flick of his right hand, he threw out two copper coins.

One of them was aimed at the young man’s abdomen, but before it could reach, he swiftly dodged it. But with a dang, the other one fell on the tray which the storerunner was holding.

"Great skills..."

"Amazing moves!”

The tray was full of wine jugs and food, and the coin landed on a very small and empty space. It was truly worthy of rendering the surrounding people dumbfounded and garner praises.

Bai Fanlu got up and walked out the door of the wine store in the blink of an eye.

"Gege, how can you leave just like that!”

The young man ran after him and shouted loudly as if afraid that others would not hear him, "I haven't finished drinking the wine! It's too wasteful, hurry, let's go back and continue!”

There was a lot of noise all around but Bai Fanlu heard him loud and clear, stopped and answered, "This little brother, if you feel the wine would be wasted, you can go back and drink your fill. But I have urgent matters to attend to, and I shall not accompany you.”

The young man pressed on, "It wouldn’t be fun drinking alone, would it? Since we’ve met, we can be considered as friends. Gege, you seem like a gentleman and a reasonable one, how can you not give me face?”

The string of literary words that came out of this person's mouth were unbelievable. Bai Fanlu felt annoyed yet tickled at the same time.

Well, well, I shall let you put up an act then…

"Huh? Which sir’s coin pouch is this—Who does this belong to?”

In the wine shop, the store runner yelled loudly.

Bai Fanlu’s face was masked in a human skin disguise so his alluring eyes were incompatible with his current plain features. However, that same bright grin still remained and was even emphasised until it almost astounded the young man who caught it, "Hey, what are you laughing at?”

"I’m laughing at the thief who is finally getting his retribution.”

Bai Fanlu said this with another layer of meaning. The young man didn’t react at first, but at this moment, the store runner who did not receive a response, continued, “Which of you sirs dined here and left behind your coin pouch?”

The young man froze, coin pouch?

He subconsciously reached out and touched his waist, huh?

It's really his!

He dashed back and turned his head while still running , "Don't run, I'll find you later!”

Bai Fanlu shrugged. He was no fool, how could he be obediently waiting for that guy here.

Sure enough, when the young man hurried back, Bai Fanlu had already left.

As a result, he got very upset, for he had gotten himself into a rather serious situation.

The consequences for him were indeed serious, so serious that they completely exceeded Bai Fanlu's expectations.

Three miles outside the city, the young man quickly caught up with Bai Fanlu. He held a large wine jar in his hand, panting and blocking the road in front of Bai Fanlu.

"Stop!”

Bai Fanlu halted, "What's the matter?”

The young man held up the wine jar in his hand, with a confident expression, "I am looking for you to drink with me of course!”

What an alcoholic!

Bai Fanlu hummed softly, "What if I refuse?”

The young man grasped the wine jar with his right hand and touched his chin with his left hand. He seemed to be thinking about an answer seriously, "If you don't drink it, it's okay to let someone do it for you, for example...this!”

With a wave of his left hand, something was pulled out from the void.

The chubby body was overfed, white and dazzling, and his big black eyes were full of tears. He was pinched by the neck and hung in the air.

"Zhizhi~ Zhizhi~"

Bai Fanlu was speechless for a while.

Please… This is your own pet. Is it even effective to threaten others with it?

The answer is, of course.

After a long while, with a wave of Bai Fanlu’s hand, his human skin mask disappeared.

The ‘youth’ chortled, and a blue light illuminated his body. In the next moment, he finally showed his original appearance. It was Yun Zhan who had disappeared for several days without reason.

With a wave of Yun Zhan's hand, the little white monkey finally regained his freedom and ran off.

"Ha ha! Shixiong, admitting defeat? Doesn't seem like something you would do…”

Bai Fanlu smiled, "I was bored.”

"Did you miss me? Yun Zhan asked.

"..." Bai Fanlu felt that he shouldn't answer.

Yun Zhan chuckled, "If you are bored, have a drink with me.” As he said this, he patted the wine jar in his hand, "This is the best wine in town. I queued for several days to get my hands on it.”

So, you’ve disappeared for days just because of this?

Bai Fanlu felt slightly annoyed for some reason, and answered, "Drink yourself to death then.”

"Oh..." Yun Zhan smiled awkwardly, "If I'm dead, will Shixiong be pained?”

"..." Bai Fanlu thought this man really hadn’t learnt his lesson. He had clearly decided not to talk to him anymore, but could only blame himself for forgetting his resolution.

Before getting his answer, Yun Zhan nonchalantly sat on the ground holding the wine jar and patted the space next to him.

Although Bai Fanlu hesitated, he also sat down.

The starry sky above them was clear, and the bright moon was unobstructed.

The two men with a wine jar took turns to have a sip. Without realising, they each had three mouthfuls.

Yun Zhan glanced at the wine jar, stretched out his hand and shook it twice. Then, he smiled at Bai Fanlu, "Hey, there is only one last mouthful left...Shixiong, who should drink it?”

Bai Fanlu didn’t care at all, "You have it.”

You had most of it anyway. Why the heck is he asking so courteously now? He thought.

Yun Zhan pondered for a while, "Let's do this instead. We each take turns to strike. Three rounds. Whoever wins will drink it. If it’s a tie, we’ll split it. How about that? Fair enough, right?”

"There’s no need, just drink it.”

I’m not an alcoholic like you.

"That won't work, I can't take advantage of Shixiong!”

“…”

Haven’t you taken enough advantage of me?

Raising his hand to give a ‘please’ gesture, Bai Fanlu motioned to the other party to go first.

Yun Zhan accepted it and walked towards the open space in front of him.

The same man with an extraordinary aura, the same outstanding posture.

With a rumbling sound, Bai Fanlu raised his hands at the same time, and two silver rays of the Cang Jin instantly sealed Yun Zhan's upper and lower body.

The sleeves of his robe were rolled out immediately, and another golden light, like a rainbow in the sky, both gorgeous and dazzling, struck straight towards Yun Zhan.

And it met with a blade that flashed with blue light on Yun Zhan's waist, Bi Luo raised a spiritual energy like thousands of waves, charging forth in layers like a mighty river filled with autumn waters.

Then, the aura that came from Cang Jin, which seemed like a long, sky-wandering dragon, sank into it, and instantly disappeared.

In just a moment of convergence, Cang Jin materialised as five ribbons that were all stretched out. It launched from Bai Fanlu’s fingertips like wind blades and rushed out in mid-air.

The five fingers of Bai Fanlu moved together, swift like a spring swallow.

Yun Zhan was still not in a hurry, raising his arm casually. Bi Luo seemed to have turned into a weapon that moved fluidly like a brush, soaring upward in an instant, as it was engaged in combat with the lashing wind blade.

In these two rounds, Bai Fanlu attacked and Yun Zhan defended. If the offence cannot break the defence, it can only be regarded as a tie.

In the third round, both sides tacitly changed their offensive and defensive strategies. Taking advantage of the flaws that they each discovered, Yun Zhan buckled Bi Luo in the palm of his left hand and whispered a spell.

In a short while, Bai Fanlu’s spiritual energy, as if led on by Yun Zhan, suddenly swayed upwards in circles, giving off a brilliant glow.

This attack was purely done out of respect for the opponent as an equal, for there was no trace of mercy shown.

The triumphant smile at the corners of Yun Zhan's lips became wider as he faced the calm expression of Bai Fanlu.

It was the 'Concealed Dragon Technique'! Yun Zhan was confident this strike would end the duel.

With that majestic golden light manipulated and sucked in, Bai Fanlu only slightly raised his head. In the next moment, the wind blade he launched hovered above him and stopped. He had chosen this time to call back and retract Cang Jin.

He exposed himself and allowed himself to be completely vulnerable to the opponent's attack!

Yun Zhan's heart trembled, and he hurriedly stopped the attack. Unexpectedly Bai Fanlu's wrist suddenly burst into a bright light, as if that light was completely integrated with him.

Yun Zhan finally realised that he fell for a trap, but it was too late. A powerful spiritual force charged at him in a flash, blocking his path and his only way to retreat.

With just a blink of an eye, the situation had completely reversed.

Bai Fanlu raised his right palm once more, and the sharp wind blades pointed at Yun Zhan, taking him aback this time.

He clasped his fists slightly, and smiled faintly, "Shidi, are we done?”

My wine... Yun Zhan lamented in his heart.

How could you make use of my love for you to trap me? Shixiong is so bad! Where did you hide my sweet and innocent Shixiong?! Yun Zhan mourned silently, staring at Bai Fanlu.

The wine jar had already reached his lips, but Bai Fanlu felt uncomfortable being stared at like this.

"...Shidi, it should have been a tie just now, why don't you and I share it?”

Bai Fanlu also couldn’t explain why he offered. There was only just a sip left, it was ridiculous to split it!

Bai Fanlu was hoping that the man would reject, but he did not expect the following…

"Alright! Shixiong is the best! I’ll go ahead then!”

Yun Zhan pounced on the opportunity immediately.

Bai Fanlu's eyebrows trembled and he quickly moved to the side to avoid being hugged.

Yun Zhan took the wine jar enthusiastically, and after only half a sip, he handed it back to Bai Fanlu.

Bai Fanlu looked at the wine jar and suddenly remembered something in hindsight. Why did he seem to suddenly become stupid?

How could he agree to this bet with Yun Zhan because of a mere sip of wine? Not only did it take him a lot of time to fight, but now he ended up still sharing one sip of wine...

He sighed silently in his heart. Since it had already come to this, Bai Fanlu picked up the wine jar and drank what was left.

"Shixiong..." Yun Zhan suddenly drew in.

Bai Fanlu had an ominous feeling at once.

Yun Zhan's eyes were staring straight at him, Bai Fanlu's throat felt itchy and he subconsciously licked his lower lip.

"What are you looking at me for? There’s no more wine here..."

Yun Zhan shook his head and said seriously, "But there is.”

The shining eyes were on the lips that have just drunk, and then been licked by the tip of the tongue. I am afraid that it is not made of good wine, and people will get drunk if they touch it...

Yun Zhan held the wine jar, lowered his head and gently leaned close to its edge, as if smelling the lingering fragrance of the wine, "Shixiong, does sharing a drink like this count as…indirect kissing?”

“….”

That man was itching for another fight. So Bai Fanlu gave him another round of duelling.

Bai Fanlu didn't know what was going on either. He seemed to be much shorter tempered recently. Now that Yun Zhan was back, he just wanted to charge in and beat the man up.

Perhaps fighting was really the most effective way for men to vent their anger. Now that their fight was over, and the wine had been drunk, Bai Fanlu felt comfortable all over once more. His inexplicable anger towards Yun Zhan seemed to have also disappeared.

Yun Zhan was so tired that he lay down on the grass while Bai Fanlu sat next to him. Not far ahead of them was a lake.

On the other side of the lake was Yufang City. From a distance, one could see the bright lights on the boats, and hear the faint sounds of laughter and string music. This made the atmosphere rather pleasant.

Yun Zhan’s eyes suddenly glimmered and he stood up, "Shixiong, wait here.”

Bai Fanlu hadn't reacted yet but Yun Zhan had already flown towards Yufang City on his sword.

"…Huh?”

Bai Fanlu was puzzled and Yun Zhan's figure had already gone. So, he retracted his gaze, pulled up a blade of grass next to him, stared at it then, gazed back at the lake in the distance.

There were lanterns floating on the waters.

There should be many people setting lanterns and releasing them onto the lake on the other side. But there was no wind tonight, so only a few managed to float here with the gentle waves.

Bai Fanlu stared at the lake in a trance.

What am I thinking about?

His mind seemed to be empty. As soon as Yun Zhan left, he didn't know what to think about.

The sense of emptiness was so much like loneliness. It was both a terrible and helpless emotion to feel.

Bai Fanlu couldn't suppress this mood. So, he stood up and sat down several times. He even contemplated flying over the lake immediately.

Then, he finally saw a blue light flash across the sky. Yun Zhan descended in front of him.

His arrival also put an anchor to his wandering heart and thoughts moments earlier.

When Yun Zhan saw him, he raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Shixiong, I only left for a short while. Did you miss me already?”

"..." Bai Fanlu couldn’t believe that he didn't have a comeback line for this.

Yun Zhan approached, and suddenly pulled out two lanterns from behind him.

There was a rabbit-shaped one and a lotus shaped one. He exhaled a breath and the rabbit lantern lit up.

Yun Zhan handed the lotus lamp to Bai Fanlu, "Shixiong, light this one.”

Bai Fanlu frowned, looked at his hand, "I want that rabbit.”

"No way. The rabbit belongs to me. I have named it 'Bai Xiaotu’. No one can have it. Bai Xiaotu belongs to me.”

“…”

Childish!

Bai Fanlu blushed secretly.

But why was he blushing?

Hurry up and stop!

Bai Fanlu gave an order to himself, angrily took the lotus lamp, and blew the flame inside. With the reddish glow from the lantern, his reddened cheeks would naturally be less obvious.

But the lotus lamp was really ugly. He still wanted that rabbit.

"Shixiong really likes this one?”

"…En.”

Bai Fanlu was born in the year of the rabbit, so he had a kind of zodiac complex alright?

"Then I will give it to you.”

Huh?

Bai Fanlu's eyes widened then returned to normal when he heard this. How could Yun Zhan be so kind?

"But…"

I knew it! He thought.

"But Shixiong has to pay with something else.”

As soon as the words were uttered, Yun Zhan leaned over and kissed him on the cheek just when Bai Fanlu looked up, "This will do.”

Bai Fanlu grabbed the rabbit lamp, and wanted to throw the lotus lantern directly at Yun Zhan's head. When he thought of his actions potentially starting a fire and also being a waste of money, he held this impulse back. After a brief pause, he turned his head and walked towards the lake.

The two silently placed the lanterns on the lake, and then silently made a wish.

It was no different from ordinary people on the other side.

After making a wish, Bai Fanlu thought Yun Zhan would tease and ask him about his wish, but the guy didn't ask at all.

Bai Fanlu was embarrassed to ask him first.

The two of them sat down by the lake and looked at the lights quietly.

After a long while, Yun Zhan yawned and stretched, "It's so rare to have so much time to relax!”

"Yes," Bai Fanlu agreed.

"Shixiong," Yun Zhan said with a nostalgic smile, “How long has it been since we sat down together like this?”

Bai Fanlu closed his eyes and pretended not to hear.

Yun Zhan turned sideways, propped his head with one hand, "Shixiong, what are you thinking?”

"Nothing.”

"Really?”

Yun Zhan approached Bai Fanlu slightly, and his clear voice deepened, as if he was tempting him, "Shixiong really has nothing to say to me?"

Bai Fanlu didn't open his eyes, "No.”

Yun Zhan stared at Bai Fanlu closely, and did not immediately refute him.

Bai Fanlu's breathing was slightly chaotic, and Yun Zhan's gaze was too direct, as if peering into his soul.

"Does Shixiong still blame me?”

Bai Fanlu was shocked, what could he blame him for? Blame this person who he couldn't get rid of but who suddenly didn't show up for so many days? Or blame him for...

What was it? He can’t seem to recall nor wished to.

"No”. He answered.

"Then..." Yun Zhan smiled, "Then is Shixiong thinking of me?”

Bai Fanlu was speechless, and said after a while, "No.”

Yun Zhan stared at Bai Fanlu, the crescent of the moon reflected in both his clear, bright eyes, "Shixiong, dare to repeat what you said?”

"..." What’s there to not dare? But Bai Fanlu opened his mouth and couldn't say it.

Yun Zhan stared at Bai Fanlu, then shook his head, "I’m so sad. Shixiong doesn’t miss me, but I..."

Yun Zhan grabbed another gourd from his waist, and shook it in front of Bai Fanlu, "Since Shixiong doesn't miss me, then I shan’t be sharing this pot of good wine with you.”

Bai Fanlu lowered his eyes, “Sure, go ahead.”

Yun Zhan stared at Bai Fanlu, flicked his thumb and lifted the cork. Then, he raised his head to pour in the wine.

Bai Fanlu smiled indifferently, propped up his arms and wanted to stand up, but unexpectedly, a strong force suddenly pressed down on his shoulders. Immediately afterwards, he lost his balance and was pushed to the ground heavily.

A warm and muscular chest pinned him down and instantly stirred his breath into a mess.

"Yun…!”

He couldn’t even finish his sentence and a mouthful of wine was poured in. The liquid tasted sweet, and it was accompanied by the man's extremely domineering lips and tongue that took him by a surprise.

Before Bai Fanlu had time to resist, he was already attacked and plundered. When he finally recovered from his shock, he was forced to swallow the warm liquor that Yun Zhan had brought into his lips.

"Mmm……"

Both hands were still pinned down by the other party so tightly by his side that Bai Fanlu was unable to break free. Yun Zhan's strength was far too great.

Bai Fanlu no longer concealed his desperation, and opened his mouth to bite Yun Zhan's lips. He did it once, hesitated, then couldn’t bring himself to bite harder.

Feeling Bai Fanlu biting him, Yun Zhan opened his eyes, but he was not at all annoyed. Instead, a sly smile flickered in his deep eyes.

Shixiong, you can’t bear to part with me, right?

Bai Fanlu was certain of what that bastard was thinking from that annoying smile. He was teasing him again.

But Bai Fanlu's stare finally tickled Yun Zhan so much that he couldn't help but laugh.

He let go of Bai Fanlu, pressed his forehead against his, and hugged him.

"Shixiong, you haven't come looking for me in the past few days. I'm really sad. I thought you were really going to give up on me.”

“…”

"If I didn’t appear today, would you look for me?”

Bai Fanlu couldn't give an answer and could only remain silent.

A warm breath gently brushed his upper lip, Bai Fanlu stiffened subconsciously but his aggression did not come as expected. The familiar smell of wine mixed with a hint of blood went straight over the tip of his nose before finally pressing down.

This kiss was branded between his eyebrows but seemed to be carved directly into the bottom of his heart.

Then, his nose, earlobes, chin, neck ...

The kisses were even more tender than the gentle waves of the lake. When it met Bai Fanlu’s lips, Bai Fanlu's heart raced chaotically, his head buzzed, and his whole body shrank involuntarily, trying to retreat.

But the person didn't let him go, and went deeper. The man’s nose gently nuzzled against his, and inched a little upward. Bai Fanlu could only be forced to turn into a suitable angle to accommodate him, as if he took the initiative to lock this kiss.

Their lips felt like paper-thin wings trembling upon touch, bringing up some delicate spring-like emotions that tangled the two men like a silk cocoon.

In a daze, it was as though their lives were bound to be intertwined this way.

Bai Fanlu finally couldn't do anything. He hugged the man back, feeling his body tremble slightly and kept his eyes shut.

When all vision dissipated, the intimacy and entanglement of touch drew him in further. His lips were full of a rich wine aroma, and gradually only a shallow aftertaste remained.

Bai Fanlu felt that he couldn't breathe for a while. Then, his chest felt an ache and he couldn’t decipher what exactly he was feeling.

Not knowing how long it took, this long and at the same time brief kiss ended. He felt Yun Zhan hug him harder as he spoke softly in his ear,

"Shixiong, did you know? I've been thinking of you...every day.”

Bai Fanlu was silent, Yun Zhan's lips were close to his temple, until the rhythmic pulsations of his veins could be felt. They were racing. Bai Fanlu shrank back his neck, as if he was afraid the other party could see through him.

However, even if others couldn't tell, Bai Fanlu could.

He realised he couldn’t fool himself.

"Actually..." Bai Fanlu paused, "Me too..."

With these words, it was as though all the clouds cleared.

The two lanterns drifted towards the centre of the lake and swayed as a gentle wave shook them. The two lamps separated and moved in two different directions.

Then, another incoming wave bumped them, nudging them back together.

When Bai Fanlu woke up, he couldn't remember what he wanted to say. He only recalled the two lanterns, one was a rabbit and the other was a lotus, and he still made a wish upon the rabbit one.

This wish may only be realised many years later. Or it could just be a whim made on that one night.

Bai Fanlu thought that the protagonist would be another person, but he didn't expect it to be ‘him’. He held this thought in his heart even deeper than the other person did.

Whose memory did this belong to?

Who knew?

It was probably a beautiful dream and nothing more.