Chapter 29: First World: Eating Candy By The Riverside

Watching Qie Ranzhe storming out of the shop in a terrible mood left Wen Qinxi speechless. "What the heck is he angry about?" said Wen Qinxi shaking his head while writing down an address and instructions, "May you please have someone deliver this to the written address and make sure they tell Manchu to place it in Qie Ranzhe's room? So sorry to trouble you like this."

"It would be my pleasure, Young Master Lin. I will personally handle it and you can tend to your friend he seems upset," replied the ironsmith taking the note from him with a warm smile on his face. He didn't mind delivering the sword especially after making so much money.

Wen Qinxi bid him farewell and ran after the miniature bull roaming the streets in anger. He found the sourpuss kicking an innocent trash can venting out his anger. 'What the fuck is wrong with him?' thought Wen Qinxi edging closer to him while scratching his head in awe. He thought they were getting along just fine so why did Qie Ranzhe suddenly get angry? Wen Qinxi had to admit, his boss was extremely fickle with childlike mannerisms.

"Let me guess, you are imagining my face on that trash can, aren't you?" said Wen Qinxi draping his arm around Qie Ranzhe's shoulders just like best buddies but Qie Ranzhe shrugged his arm off and walked away without saying a word. 'Are you fuckin serious right now?' thought Wen Qinxi while contemplating on whether to follow him or not. He wasn't up to dealing with a moody teenager but also didn't want anything to go wrong compelling him to coax his childish boss.

"Ahhh fuck it," he said running after Qie Ranzhe's disappearing figure. He only managed to catch up with him after a while screaming in his mind, 'Curse those damn long legs of yours Qie Ranzhe!' Wen Qinxi stood in front of him walking backwards with a nervous smile trying to coax him. "What got you so worked huh? Look your cheeks are so puffed up like a pufferfish," said Wen Qinxi gently poking Qie Ranzhe's cheeks. Qie Ranzhe paused in his tracks for a moment touching were Lin Jingxie's finger had poked. How could he stay mad after that?

Qie Ranzhe moved aside and walked past him hiding a barely noticeable smirk before saying, "I have been busy practising these past few days that you already found someone to give love tokens to?"

'Love token my ass you ungrateful brat,' thought Wen Qinxi walking alongside Qie Ranzhe with a sly grin all over his face. He couldn't wait to see Qie Ranzhe's reaction when he finds out the gift was for him. Wen Qinxi could already imagine him grovelling begging for forgiveness as he himself basked in the rays of victory.

"Hahaha love token, Qie Ranzhe you are getting better at making jokes. It's um...ah something for Master Lin to thank him for the shelter. Did you check it out, my father really put a lot of work into it," nervously explained Wen Qinxi hoping to change the subject otherwise he might spoil the surprise just to pacify this jerk.

"Then why were you hiding it from me?" asked Qie Ranzhe ambling along the path gazing straight into Lin Jingxie's eyes.

Being stared at like that by Qie Ranzhe felt like a colony of hungry ants prickling at his cheeks reddening his face with shifty eyes. Wen Qinxi scanned around looking for something to distract Qie Ranzhe's attention otherwise the jig will be up right now. He noticed a vendor selling some bing tanghulu (candied hawthorn stick) and said, "Um...look some bing tanghulu, you want some?" while pointing in the direction of the street vendor with a beaming smile. Qie Ranzhe was about to refuse but was a tad bit late with Lin Jingxie flying over there in an instant.

He was fully aware of what Lin Jingxie was trying to do but didn't have the energy to keep pressing the truth out of him. He was just glad that he got to spend time with him. Wen Qinxi scampered back holding two sticks before grabbing Qie Ranzhe's wrist leading him out of the crowd, over the bridge and stopping at the riverside in the middle of town. Qie Ranzhe was stuck in a daze with his heart palpitating so fast staring at Lin Jingxie's hand dragging him along that he didn't even notice when they stopped running.

"Here," said Wen Qinxi handing Qie Ranzhe both sticks before taking off his brocade boots and rolling up his pants with the intention of dipping his feet in the river while having a snack. This was one of the ways he passed time in the game, enjoying the beautiful scenery which was especially relaxing. Once done he took one bing tanghulu back while saying, "Eat, big brother bought this for you but you are not eating," to a daydreaming Qie Ranzhe.

Qie Ranzhe finally snapped out of his trance shaking his head refusing but Wen Qinxi didn't accept defeat as he took one hawthorn berry off the stick and gently shoved it into his mouth. This took Qie Ranzhe by surprise, blushing to the roots of his hair as he chewed watching Lin Jingxie walk over to the riverside before sitting down dipping his toes in the cool water. 'If you are being like that, how am I supposed to hold back?' he thought walking over to sit next to him.

Wen Qinxi glanced over at Qie Ranzhe who was drooping his head as though hiding something. He leaned closer tilting his head to see what Qie Ranzhe was hiding but all he saw was a flushed adorable face and couldn't hold back teasing him. "Qie Ranzhe you must be feeling so hot, let this big brother cool you down," he said leaning so close to Qie Ranzhe's face with a sly grin on his face. Qie Ranzhe flinched backwards looking at him when a few droplets of water were sprinkled in his face. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Cooled down enough?" said Wen Qinxi laughing his ass off at a rigid Qie Ranzhe tightly shutting his eyes.

Qie Ranzhe wouldn't be Qie Ranzhe if he didn't retaliate and so he paid him back two-fold sprinkling water on his garments and face while chuckling. Wen Qinxi frowned saying, "You see this is why people don't play pranks on you. You escalate things, do you always have to be this excessive?" cupping his hand planing to splash water back at him but his action abruptly stopped when he noticed a familiar gorgeous figure across the lake.

"Wow!" he said gawking at the person on the other side evoking Qie Ranzhe's curiosity as he followed Lin Jingxie's line of sight. 'Shit!' cursed Qie Ranzhe with a resentful look on his face.