The woman sized up the tall man in front of her with her clear and beautiful eyes. Although he was truly handsome with a noble air, he didn't seem to be so out of this world, did he?
Then she asked curiously, "Don't you know what this is? It's a sky lantern." Her slender fingers pointed at the ascending sky lanterns, and the light reflected in her eyes like the gorgeous glow of candle flames.
"Sky lanterns..." Liu YuHan murmured to himself. His purple pupils were filled with the reflections of countless sky lanterns, illuminating the boundless splendor within.
He then inquired, "What are these sky lanterns used for?"
The woman gave a gentle smile, looked up at the night sky. The hanging sky lanterns seemed to carry endless yearning and attachments. She slightly parted her cherry lips and said, "Sky lanterns are symbols of wishes. As long as you sincerely make a wish to them, they may help you fulfill it."
Then she turned to look at Liu YuHan and softly asked, "So, sir, do you have any wishes that you can write on a sky lantern?"
Wishes? Liu YuHan slightly curled his perfect but somewhat pale lips. His only wish was probably that his younger sister would always be happy and carefree.
As for the rest, except for the Fox Clan, there didn't seem to be anything that he was attached to...
Looking at the people around him making sky lanterns, he was completely at a loss and could only turn to the charming woman beside him for help.
"Miss, could you teach me how to make a sky lantern?"
"Of course."
"I haven't asked for your name yet, miss." Only after talking for so long did Liu YuHan realize that they hadn't formally introduced themselves to each other.
The woman's every frown and smile, like the falling petals in the sword dance, made him feel an urge to get to know her better.
"My name is Kun Ling. Sir, you can just call me Ling Er." Kun Ling slightly bowed her head. Every move of hers was graceful and elegant. She was truly a beautiful and gentle young lady from a noble family.
"Your name suits you well. You are indeed Ling Er," he faintly showed a gentle smile. His eyebrows and eyes were rarely so tender. Then he politely said, "My name is Liu YuHan. I'm very honored to meet you, miss."
"Sir Liu."
Liu YuHan frowned slightly. In fact, he thought the address "sir" sounded a bit distant. He didn't want to be so estranged from this woman.
But at the moment, he couldn't find a suitable reason to change the address, so he just let it be for now.
After that, Kun Ling taught the man how to make a sky lantern. At the moment when she lowered her head, she didn't notice that the man beside her had been staring at her intently with gentle eyes.
Perhaps feeling someone's gaze on her, Kun Ling looked back curiously and just met those captivating and gentle purple eyes.
Receiving her gaze, Liu YuHan quickly averted his eyes. His expression was a bit flustered, and he pretended to be making the sky lantern nonchalantly.
Even he himself was wondering when he had become so flustered. This wasn't like his usual calm and composed self.
The silence between them was only broken when the sky lanterns rose into the air, relieving the dull atmosphere.
Liu YuHan looked up at the slowly rising sky lanterns, the flickering candle flames shining on his face. When his eyes were a bit dazed, a clear voice beside his ear caught his attention.
"I wish that my father will be healthy all his life. In the rest of my life, I also hope that there will be someone who can accompany me and never leave me."
Liu YuHan watched as she closed her moon - like eyes, clasped her hands together, and pressed them against her forehead. Burying her hands while making a wish, she sincerely made a wish of her own.
At this moment, the pure tenderness in his eyes turned into a complex look. He came back to his senses, looked at the sky lanterns in the night sky, and softly uttered his only wish in a low voice, "I only wish that my younger sister, Liu Li, will be carefree all her life. That's enough."
Liu Li asked in surprise, "You have a younger sister?"
Liu YuHan nodded faintly, "Yes, my only younger sister."
"Your sister is really lucky to have a brother who cares so much about her," an envious and longing look appeared on Kun Ling's delicate face. "Actually, I also want to have a brother who can protect me and spoil me. Then I wouldn't be so lonely."
"If you don't mind, I can be your brother." Even Liu YuHan was a bit surprised at himself for saying such a thing, especially to a mortal he had just met.
What was going on? Why did he just blurt out such nonsense without thinking when facing this woman?
Seeing Kun Ling's stunned expression, Liu YuHan forced an embarrassed smile and waved his hand, "Well... I'm just joking. Ling Er, don't take it seriously."
Just as he turned his head away, his wrist was suddenly grabbed by a hand. He looked back and saw her almond - shaped eyes curved like a crescent moon, warm and heart - touching. "But I'm taking it seriously. You said it yourself. From now on, you're my brother. Can I call you Yu GeGe?"
"Uh? Ling Er, are you joking?" Liu YuHan was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that Kun Ling would take his casually blurted - out words seriously.
"I'm not joking. Unless you don't want to be my brother at all." Kun Ling opened her pitiful eyes and slightly pouted her cherry lips. It was really tempting to protect her.
"I don't mean that."
"Then you've agreed, Yu GeGe." The clear call of "Yu GeGe" made Liu YuHan, who was initially a bit resistant, feel a gentle current in his heart. He couldn't resist her words anymore.
Liu YuHan pulled the corner of his mouth into a gentle smile and unconsciously got lost in this smiling face as gorgeous as the rising sun. It was like a burning fire in the ice and snow, shaking a corner of his heart that had been sealed for a long time.
"Ling Er, let me take you home." After being grabbed by the wrist by Kun Ling for a while, Liu YuHan coughed slightly awkwardly and rather uncomfortably changed the topic.
Only then did Kun Ling realize that she had been a bit out of line. She quickly withdrew her hand and nervously twisted the corner of her skirt. Her eyebrows were gently curved, looking shy and charming.
"I don't want to go home." Thinking of the silent and creepy Kunshan School at night with no one to accompany her, she felt scared.
And it was undeniable that she was afraid of being alone. She didn't feel much about it when she was a child, but as she grew up, she became more and more afraid of the loneliness and helplessness when she was alone in the dead of night.
She finally got out today and didn't want to go back to face those heartless Taoist priests who only knew how to practice kung fu.
"Don't want to go home? Why?" Liu YuHan frowned slightly. This woman who looked like a noble lady must have some hidden troubles, right?
"I'll be alone again after I go home. I don't like and am afraid of being alone."
Looking at Kun Ling with her head down and frowning, Liu YuHan, even though he had many questions, didn't want to ask any more.
"Then where are you going to stay tonight?"
"I'll just stay in an inn. Yu GeGe, you don't have to worry about me. Go back quickly."