Chu Ge glared at Qiu Wuji with indignation, his eyes gleaming with barely concealed malice.
You, a ten-thousand-year-old girl, trying to deceive me, trying to ambush this twenty-eight-year-old old man!
I was stunned just now, didn't notice, shall we try again?
Opportunity knocks but once. This time, Sect Leader Qiu adopted a defensive stance: "I can play around, but you're not allowed to have any malicious intentions, or I'll beat you up."
Chu Ge was exasperated: "Qiu Wuji, you…"
"What did I do?" Qiu Wuji looked up at the sky: "An eye for an eye. You ambushed me yesterday, today I ambush you, we're even."
Chu Ge was both angry and amused: "Fine, fine, fine."
Meaning, next time I ambush you, you'll ambush me again, right?
Hmm, this actually feels quite romantic? Qiu Qiu is so clever.
Seeing his expression change from indignation to a smiling one, Qiu Wuji felt a little uneasy, wondering what dirty thoughts this guy was having about the author.
Sect Leader Qiu decisively changed the subject: "Your outline..."
"Huh?" Chu Ge smiled and said, "Actually, I've already thought it through. No need for discussion."
Qiu Wuji: "?"
Chu Ge said, "One kiss from Qiu Qiu, and my inspiration flows like a spring, everything from that world enters my heart. What need is there for words?"
Qiu Wuji's eyebrows shot up.
Chu Ge continued, "Two kisses from Qiu Qiu, and the outline becomes a detailed outline, three kisses from Qiu Qiu... Aww~" The daydreaming Chu Ge was captured by his female assistant, who pinned his hands behind his back: "Should I throw you into the South River for a bath to calm you down?"
Chu Ge was indignant: "You interrupted my chance to finish the story immediately."
Qiu Wuji was both amused and exasperated.
Chu Ge said, "Hey, stop dragging me into this. Speaking of the Nanjiang River, I remember there used to be boating services here. I wonder if they still do."
"Boating?"
"Yeah, you rent a small boat and paddle around. They used to offer that, but it's been a long time. Shall we go ask?" Qiu Wuji was very interested. He scanned the area with his divine sense and, sure enough, saw people boating in the distance. He immediately pulled Chu Ge over.
Upon closer inspection, they saw that boating was indeed available, but the boating area was divided into a small section, like a pond, making it impossible to paddle outwards. Chu Ge sighed with some regret, but he understood why. Otherwise, if customers were to paddle away and disappear, the responsibility would be considerable. He had initially thought it was discontinued because of this, so it was good enough that it was still available… He turned to look at Qiu Wuji, his eyes questioning. Chu Ge had no idea whether a cultivator like Qiu Wuji, who roamed the world, would be interested in boating on a small pond…
But Qiu Wuji exclaimed enthusiastically, "This looks fun! Let's row!"
"Sure!" Chu Ge readily agreed, quickly bought tickets, and the two donned life jackets, excitedly boarding a small, rickety boat.
A staff member nearby chuckled, "Want some instruction?"
Chu Ge waved his hand confidently, "It's just rowing, easy!" The oars touched the shore, and the little boat glided smoothly away.
The staff member was somewhat astonished; this guy was quite strong…
Then came the usual spectacle: Chu Ge rowed with all his might, sweat pouring down his face, but the little boat wouldn't move, just spinning in circles.
The staff member grinned.
It didn't matter; many young couples were happy just spinning around like this all afternoon. The smiles they shared as they figured out how to get the boat moving correctly were even happier. Whether they could row or not was completely unimportant.
Chu Ge, feeling utterly embarrassed, kept saying, "I used to row, I knew how back then, but it's been so long I've forgotten..." Qiu Wuji just watched him with a smile, chin in hand.
"You, a southerner, from a coastal city, living by the river, huh?"
"His clumsy look is so cute."
She did know how to row; she'd sailed lakes during her adventures, and after achieving immortality, she needed it even less. The effects of force were crystal clear to her; she could make the boat go wherever she wanted. But she had no intention of taking the oars; watching Chu Ge dart around was too amusing.
"Beg me! I can do it!"
Chu Ge stubbornly clung to his "this is a man's job" pride, sweating profusely but refusing to ask for her help. He struggled on his own, and somehow, he actually managed to row with some skill.
After much effort, seeing the small boat finally glide forward a short distance, Chu Ge smiled happily, "See, see, I told you I could row!"
Qiu Wuji just smiled.
The river breeze was so pleasant, and the man was so charming; he was in a good mood that afternoon.
Chu Ge was different; just seeing Qiu Wuji's smile made him happy.
He rowed for a while longer, and this time he really started to get the hang of it. He sighed and rowed lightly, smiling, "I told you I could, right?"
"Okay, okay, of course you can! My master is the best!" Qiu Wuji wanted to laugh at his expression; he was covered in sweat, only concerned with whether he could do it. A man can't say no, right?
Hearing Qiu Wuji say he was the best, Chu Ge immediately laughed, rowing with renewed vigor, his arm muscles visibly bulging as he huffed and puffed.
The small boat shot off like an arrow, overtaking another boat beside it.
The man on the other side spat and gave chase. There was really no point in chasing after him, because he was already at the edge, surrounded by layers of lifebuoys that made it impossible to cross. Chu Ge sighed regretfully, awkwardly turning his head. The others had already turned and walked away, giving him a "noob" gesture.
Chu Ge chuckled, about to chase after them, when he suddenly froze.
Qiu Wuji, sitting opposite him, leaned over, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead with a tissue.
She said reproachfully, "How old are you? Arguing about such meaningless things. What's the point of winning?"
Looking at her reproachful expression, her gentle wiping, her tender, sisterly tone… the soft light in her eyes was like the shimmering river.
Chu Ge sat there blankly, losing even the strength to row. He just mechanically flicked the oars, not caring where the boat was drifting.
I only ever argued with people to save face in front of the girl I liked.
But was it even necessary now? As the sun began to set, the twilight glow reflected on the river, its colors carrying a yellowish hue reminiscent of an old photograph. Amidst the shimmering water, a woman gently wiped the sweat from the sweat of the man rowing the boat. From the riverbank, their silhouettes were blurred by the setting sun, their features indistinct, yet their beauty seemed to have stepped out of a painting.
An elderly man taking photographs on the riverbank seemed to have a nostalgic look in his eyes.
His youth, so many years ago, seemed just like this.
The woman put away the tissue, picked up the oar, and softly smiled, "I came with you, and I will return as I please."
The man smiled slightly, "Of course, we will return hand in hand." The old man wondered if he was hallucinating.
Do people in this world really talk like this? Have you two really stepped out of a painting?
Then, the man and woman began to row simultaneously. Chu Ge, unlike his vigorous arrival, rowed gently, while Qiu Wuji seemed to be paddling casually. Yet, their movements possessed a rhythmic harmony, pleasing to the eye.
Faintly, Chu Ge's singing could be heard: "Let's row our oars, the little boat pushes through the waves~" Qiu Wuji rowed with one hand, resting her chin on the other, her beautiful eyes fixed on him with a smile, seemingly finding his singing quite adorable.
"It's actually quite nice. I've never heard him sing properly before, just humming little tunes. Turns out he can sing!"
"The little boat drifts gently, floating on the water..." The little boat in the song drifted gently, circling the "pond" once more, before leisurely returning to the shore.
The old man saw the faces of the "people in the painting"—the man handsome and tall, the woman exquisitely beautiful and ethereal. The two walked past hand in hand, truly like figures stepping out of a painting.
Unfortunately, what followed somewhat ruined the mood: "I played until late today, didn't have time to buy groceries, so I'm not cooking dinner."
"Yeah, of course we eat out when we're out having fun. What are you planning to eat?"
"I saw a flyer over there, is pizza any good? It looks like a pancake with some toppings in the picture."
"Whether it's good or not, you should try it if you haven't tried it before."
"...If it's not good, I'll hit you." The voice faded into the distance, and the old man turned back to see him off, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face.
Youth is truly wonderful.