By the time Wen Zhihao awoke the next morning, Sun Fuyu had already gotten up and was training as he usually did in the early dawn light. Today, it seemed as though his movements were more rigorous and full of energy than usual, his bright brown eyes clear of yesterday’s gloom.

Wen Zhihao felt that Sun Fuyu had put the matter of his family behind him, but he continued to watch carefully just in case.

They went back to the sect for breakfast.

When Liu Jing saw Sun Fuyu’s overflowing happiness, and the extra concern in Wen Zhihao’s eyes, her brows crinkled slightly. Aiya, what happened yesterday? Did Xiao Fuyu’s dinner date plan go well? Do I need to twist Xiao Wen’s ears?

“Did you have a good day yesterday?” she asked Sun Fuyu kindly.

Sun Fuyu nodded with a shy smile. “Hm!”

“Wasn’t it my birthday?” Wen Zhihao grumbled. “Aunty Liu, make something good for Xiao Yu.”

“That’s right, and you will only get to eat if Xiao Fuyu lets you,” Liu Jing replied with a roll of her eyes.

“Wen-ge can eat as much as he wants,” Sun Fuyu said. His eyes curved when Wen Zhihao patted his hair.

“I’m glad someone likes me more than Aunty Liu,” Wen Zhihao joked.

Sun Fuyu’s smile became more bashful.

Wen Zhihao was filled with the urge to hug him tightly, but he had to resist! He didn’t know why he had to resist, but it felt like he should!

“Go and help Old Tang,” Liu Jing said, narrowing her eyes slightly at Wen Zhihao. What kind of thoughts are in his head so early in the morning!

“Yes, aunty!” Wen Zhihao said.

“Yes, aunty,” Sun Fuyu repeated.

“Xiao Fuyu is such a good young man,” Liu Jing said. “Your breakfast will be ready when you come back. I’ll make something light, okay?”

“Okay,” Sun Fuyu replied.

They helped Old Tang and returned to have a light breakfast of sweet silken tofu pudding. Wen Zhihao also tended to the fruit trees, giving them some extra qi so that the mangoes could ripen faster. Sun Fuyu then had to go see his mentor Liu Zhongmin for training, full of energy and hardworking aura.

Affected by Sun Fuyu’s diligence, Wen Zhihao headed back to his room to start making a few more brush pens instead of immediately having a morning nap.

The work was mechanical, yet required enough brain-energy that allowed him to procrastinate on thinking what to do about the Thing (his feelings). Remembering all the dog blood romance that characters embroiled themselves in was too scary, ba!

 

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Within the week, the mangoes, which had received extra care, ripened. Sun Fuyu happened to be there when Wen Zhihao announced that the fruit was ready to eat. With spatial storage rings, storing the mangoes at peak ripeness for later was not a problem. But Wen Zhihao felt that eating them literally fresh would taste nicer, even if it was all psychological.

Wen Zhihao picked the most fragrant and sweet mango and sliced it immediately for Sun Fuyu to eat as a dessert after breakfast.

Sun Fuyu enjoyed it, his eyes curved in happiness. He found that sweet foods were extra sweet when Wen he gave them to him.

“But I can’t eat it all! Here, Wen-ge!” He wanted to hold the morsel of mango to Wen Zhihao’s mouth, but shyness—other people were watching!—made him hand a slice of mango to Wen Zhihao’s hand instead.

Wen Zhihao smiled. “Thank you, Xiao Yu.” He ate it and realised that...the mangoes actually contained more qi than usual. They might even be classed as low-level spiritual fruits.

This meant that his excuse to eat food for their qi might actually be true.

Wen Zhihao: ….

Aiya, had he accidentally cultivated spiritual tropical fruit trees?

It should be alright for the non-cultivator kitchen staff and farming staff to eat them. At best, it’ll just give them more energy than usual and make them feel refreshed.

“Come to the kitchen in the early afternoon,” Wen Zhihao told Sun Fuyu. “It’s good to take a break during that hot part of the day.”

Sun Fuyu nodded. We get to spend more time together!

After Sun Fuyu left, Wen Zhihao picked a few more ripe mangoes and held them out to Aunty Liu Jing.

Liu Jing took them with a long suffering look.

“Aunty〜, they’re for Xiao Yu!” Wen Zhihao said. “Didn’t you say you would make anything for him? Make something refreshing to eat in the hot weather.”

“I know, I know, as long as you don’t try to trick Xiao Fuyu into giving it to you.”

Ignoring that, Wen Zhihao said, “Let everyone pick one. If they can keep the seeds, then we can plant more trees. But don’t let them pick them all! Keep at least ten for Xiao Yu!”

Liu Jing rolled her eyes. “Yes, Master Cultivator.”

Wen Zhihao’s lips curled up despite her tone. It was only because they were close that Aunty Liu could joke like that.

“What are you thinking about now? Go and cultivate! Be a good young man like Xiao Yu!” Liu Jing shooed Wen Zhihao out.

 

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Wen Zhihao was really “prophetic”: today turned out to be particularly hot.

Luckily, he had many talismans that helped keep water cold and a cool breeze blowing through his otherwise stuffy room. The warm temperature was also a good excuse to have a nap, so after completing a handful more proper talismans, Wen Zhihao did just that.

He awoke at noon, grimacing as he wore his long-sleeved robes. If he wore a short-sleeve shirt, who knew whether or not he would be punished for indecency…

Thinking about the cats and their thick fur, Wen Zhihao visited their enclosure and gave Huang Jialing some cooling talismans too.

“Unfortunately, I don’t—yet—have a talisman that will make a nice pond to play in,” Wen Zhihao said. He paused. “Fellow Daoist Huang, do these cats—I mean, demonic beasts—like water?”

Huang Jialing inwardly rolled her eyes. This disciple always “mistakenly” called them cats! He was lucky the beasts didn’t kill him where he stood! Ugh, don’t think about how much they enjoy his presence…

“What is a little water to them?” she answered.

“I see. Why don’t you let them visit a river? That way, they can cool down and learn how to swim.”

“They already know how to swim,” Huang Jialing retorted. She trained them to do many things, the least of which was swimming! Some of them could even fly!

“Bathing in a river on such a day is good for anyone to cool down. One could go with a good friend…”

Wen Zhihao briefly imagined going with Sun Fuyu, and quickly cleared his thoughts. Given that he had still procrastinated on thinking about what he should do about the Thing, it would not be a good idea to see Sun Fuyu in hardly any clothes. He farewelled Huang Jialing and the cats and headed to the kitchen.

Unlike Wen Zhihao, Huang Jialing actually had a proper official girlfriend. If they bathed together...it wouldn’t be bad, would it? Though she grimaced at the thought of getting date ideas from Disciple Wen, her traitorous mind couldn’t help but compare all the different rivers and lakes and ponds in the nearby area...

Wen Zhihao did his best to stick to shaded footpaths as he headed to the kitchen, wishing he had a sun umbrella. Upon arriving, he immediately loosened the outer part of his robes and rolled up his sleeves like a hooligan. Aunty Liu Jing gave him a look, but she didn’t reprimand him. 

He helpfully set up some more cool-wind talismans in the kitchen to endear himself to the very important people who made delicious food.

He wasn’t sure exactly when Sun Fuyu was coming by, so Wen Zhihao set himself a little nest under the shade of the trees and sipped ice-cold water.

“Aiya, drinking such cold water is not good for the body,” Old Tang said in concern. “Ah! Why are you putting an ice cube on your face?!”

Wen Zhihao grinned. “Old Tang, I’m young, so I have a good constitution! Come relax with me.”

Old Tang gave a longing look, but he shook his head. “Your Aunty Liu will kill me!” He headed back into the kitchen.

Wen Zhihao was left alone among the hustle and bustle of the kitchens. He closed his eyes, and Sun Fuyu’s image appeared in his mind, accompanied by a tight feeling in his chest.

It had been a long time since he wanted the internet. If he had access, he could have made an anonymous account and asked smart netizens to solve his problem for him. He supposed he could ask Aunty Liu but she might refuse to ever give him food ever again.

The ice-cold water in his stomach soon warmed up, and the heat made him sleepy….

 

 

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