Su Tang couldnât even remember the taste of the medicine. The kiss was⌠much too intenseâwho would have time to think about how the medicine tasted? His attention had long been fixed on the kiss.
He couldnât help but admit that the kiss had felt different from all the other ones heâd had before. It was like comparing a drizzle to a torrential downpour. He felt like a shallow little lake; no matter how few raindrops there were, it would be washed away by the wave that was Qian Zhu.
The rain had stopped but the lakeâs surface had yet to calm itself. It wasnât clear as it usually was, the water instead housing a few ripples.
Su Tang leaned against Qian Zhuâs body to catch his breath, the usual spark in his eyes gone. In fact, his irises were misted overâhe was like a dazed little deer, innocent and lost.
Qian Zhu looked at him and couldnât help recalling the spring dream heâd had a while ago. Su Tangâs gaze was reminiscent of the one heâd had in that dream; he was wide-eyed, flustered, and even looked a little pitiful. His eyes welled with unshed tears and his lips were red, inviting Qian Zhu to kiss them again. The little fool had no idea about the way he made him feel.
Qian Zhu glanced down and Su Tang was immediately on alert, like a little rabbit that sensed danger, except a little different. He wasnât afraid that the big wolf would eat him, but rather that the wolf would continue to kiss him; he was apprehensive and nervous, yet also oddly anticipative.Â
However, it was better not to be hopeful. That was too shameful. Su Tang quietly pondered in his heart and couldnât resist glancing in Qian Zhuâs direction.
âWhatâs wrong?â Qian Zhu was the first person to ever kiss Su Tang like that. With affection still lingering in the air, his body was filled with warmth. Heâd only read of the many love stories written by mortals in books before; the appeal they told of used to seem unfamiliar, yet now he fully understood it.
Though the Immortal Realm was the place mortals yearned to be, it was desolate and cold. No one really understood feelings here. The people here even had disdain for love, and before meeting Su Tang, Qian Zhu was just like them.\n
He was cold and solitary, someone who was coolly unconcerned about worldly matters. From the flowers blooming in the courtyard to the birds flying through the trees, Qian Zhu never spared them a passing glance. Even when the alchemist immortal placed a burden on him, he wasnât interested to go investigate further, nor was he interested in what others thought of him.
Until he met Su Tang.
That was the first time heâd felt his heart race. It was the first time heâd opened his mouth to chat with someone. It was the first time heâd interacted with someone who was similar to him, and the first time heâd rashly won someone over.
When Qian Zhu passed his own jade pendant to Su Tang, it was almost like the wolf king passing its own milk teeth to someone. In fact, it was more like marking the other. Monopolising him.
Then when heâd met Su Tang again, Qian Zhu finally understood the proverbs about the red string of fate. Maybe they were destined to be together. No matter how many times itâd been, theyâd definitely meet.
Theyâd never part.
âWhatâre you thinking about?â Su Tang asked, craning his neck to look up at Qian Zhu.
âThinking of you.â Qian Zhu smiled and cradled Su Tang. He brushed the petals from Su Tangâs body before getting ready to enter the house.
âIâm also thinking of you.â Su Tang refused to let Qian Zhu go. With a grin etched on his face, he moved closer to kiss the otherâs mouth.
 ââ
Ten years was neither long nor short. Perhaps for immortals who cultivated all the time, it was fleeting. Upon arriving in the bustling human realm, those ten years were an important period.\nWhen they first came to the human realm, Su Tang hadnât fully realised the gravity of the situation. Qian Zhu had him revert back to a small peach tree and placed him in a flower pot. Every day, heâd take Su Tang shopping in the streets to purchase little trinkets for him to play with.
Two days passed like this. Su Tang refused to let Qian Zhu leave anymore.
First of all, he was a sapling planted in a little pot and was about as tall as a cabbage. Qian Zhu carried him wherever he went, garnering multiple stares from strangers.
A handsome youth wandering around holding a sapling in a pot would inevitably pique peopleâs curiosity. Several young girls would timidly approach him holding potted plants, and theyâd give many different flowers to Qian Zhu, even telling him that these were nicer to plant and look after.
Su Tang grew so furious that he was on the verge of crying flowers of anguish. Although Qian Zhu didnât accept them, Su Tang was still unhappy. Since spiritual energy was stronger at night, Su Tang would turn into a human to sleep next to Qian Zhu, however, for the time being, he stayed in his flower pot and basked in the moonlight.
âBaby, why are you angry again?â Qian Zhu had yet to fall asleep. He sat down next to Su Tang, asking helplessly.
ââŚâ Su Tang didnât want to talk.
âWhy arenât you talking?â Qian Zhu asked, poking Su Tangâs little leaf.
âIâm a withering bean sprout. If I speak, Iâll frighten those young ladies that made you happy.â Su Tang realised his tone was rather sour and grew a little upset. He knew heâd probably be teased by Qian Zhu, but at the same time, he knew he wouldnât be this sour had Qian Zhu not attracted so many ladies.
After Qian Zhu heard his words, he couldnât help laughing out loud. Su Tang huffed and immediately turned into a human, wanting to bite Qian Zhu to death.
âAi, baby, be good.â Qian Zhu took advantage of the situation and hugged Su Tang, rubbing his hair. When he looked down, he realised Su Tangâs large eyes were staring at him. His expression looked as offended as he was upset. He wanted to escape from Qian Zhuâs embrace but found his struggling to be of no use.
Su Tang finally stopped moving, and Qian Zhu thought the other had run out of energy. Out of the blue, this little baby bared his small, white teeth and bit into his shoulder with a âwuyaâ.
\nQian Zhuâs proposition made Su Tangâs former anger seemingly vanish into thin air. Deep down, he knew he was being petty. He lifted his head to nod, but noticed that there seemed to be a pretty lady looking in their direction, bashfully fiddling with the hairpin in her hair.
His rage came rushing back.
Since Qian Zhu was his, why were there always young girls looking all coy at him? This feeling wasnât pleasant. In the spur of the moment, Su Tang flung his arms around Qian Zhuâs neck and kissed his cheek.
Even after pecking Qian Zhu on the cheek, Su Tang was still worriedâso he kissed Qian Zhuâs lips. For a while, Qian Zhu didnât react; there was no telling if it was because he was stunned or something else. Su Tang wasnât concerned with this, only feeling like a triumphant little tiger. This little tiger obviously hadnât been weaned yet and was still a soft baby, yet it was insistent on acting tough. That didnât stop him from wanting to leave his mark on his possessions and territory.
âYouâre mine!â Su Tang said to Qian Zhu with his cheeks puffed out.
âYes, yes, yes. I was always yours.â Qian Zhu lowered his head and placed a kiss on Su Tangâs small mouth. âYouâre also mine.â
âSo letâs go home ba.â Qian Zhu said.
âWhyâŚÂ ah?â Su Tang hadnât even finished his question when he saw the shocked expressions on the faces of the people around them. They looked like theyâd seen a ghost. Su Tangâs courage quickly faded and was replaced by shyness.
âQuick â Quickly go backâŚâ Su Tang hurriedly lowered his head, his voice more hushed than that of a mosquitoâs. He used his foot to kick Qian Zhuâs waist.
âOkay ah.â Qian Zhu just smiled and carried Su Tang home. While passing by the people in the alleyway, his expression didnât change at all.
Su Tang shrunk in Qian Zhuâs arms, not daring to move even an inch. Qian Zhu patted his small butt and said, âLittle troublemaker, when we get back, Iâll look after you well.â