[Quick Transmigration] Black Lotus Upgrade System - Chapter 10

Just as Yu Xingliang’s hand slowly reached up to rest on Muxing’s shoulder, Muxing suddenly pulled away.

Catching sight of Yu Xingliang’s deeply flushed face, a trace of regret flashed across the depths of Muxing’s eyes.

“Lele,” Muxing peeked around to check the surrounding situation. They were hiding behind a large wooden panel, and no one had noticed their kiss just moments ago.

“Muxing,” Yu Xingliang pressed his lips together. “I thought you would come at night.”

Muxing’s gaze shifted, coming to rest on Zheng Lele’s short hair: “You cut your hair.”

“Oh, yeah,” Yu Xingliang touched his own hair and smiled: “Cut it short, it’s more refreshing.”

Muxing didn’t reply. A sense of loss lingered in his heart; over these past two months, Zheng Lele had changed so much, yet he hadn’t been by his side to witness any of it.

“Are we leaving right now?” Yu Xingliang asked.

Muxing’s gaze flickered. One of his reasons for coming here was indeed Zheng Lele, but…

“No rush for now.”

Without noticing anything amiss in Muxing’s demeanor, Yu Xingliang asked naively: “The people waiting outside to pick us up aren’t coming until tonight, right?”

“Huh?”

Yu Xingliang arched an eyebrow: “Generally speaking, this kind of elopement thing has to be done at night.”

Muxing lowered his head with a faint smile and simply answered: “Right, we can only leave at night.”

Pondering for a moment, Yu Xingliang took Muxing’s hand and said: “Then why don’t we go sit in my room and wait until tonight to leave?”

Muxing’s expression showed a trace of surprise, and the words that slipped out carried a touch of jealousy he didn’t even realize: “Fanshenggang even prepared a private room just for you. He really is quite the romantic playboy.”

Instead of being bothered, Yu Xingliang laughed. Staring at Muxing’s slightly upturned red lips, he leaned in and pressed his own lips against them without a second thought.

Caught completely off guard, Muxing stepped backward from the kiss.

“You guy,” Yu Xingliang thought Muxing looked like a startled little rabbit: “You’re allowed to kiss others, but when someone kisses you, you run away.”

This time, it was Muxing’s turn to blush a brilliant red.

“Tonight, I’ll wait for you at the side door of the front hall,” Muxing said, and hurried off as if fleeing.

Happily trailing behind Muxing, Yu Xingliang walked out into the open. All around them, busy crew members were setting up the movie set, yet Yu Xingliang’s eyes could only see Muxing’s straight, upright back.

Because he was paying too much attention and not watching his step, Yu Xingliang accidentally snagged a long cable running across the pathway.

The unsecured iron framework overhead instantly collapsed, and a steel reinforcing bar came crashing down straight toward Muxing.

Noticing it just as he untangled his foot from the wire, Yu Xingliang charged forward almost without a moment’s hesitation.

A piercing pain flared across his back shoulder as if a sharp sword had run right through him. Meeting Muxing’s panicked eyes, Yu Xingliang whispered, “Be careful, Muxing.”

A surge of agony rushed straight to his head, and Yu Xingliang plunged into a deep, heavy unconsciousness.

The last time he had acted with such reckless abandon was during winter break while rock climbing with Fan Zixi.

Yu Xingliang was never someone who favored thrills, but this was the first time Fan Zixi, whom he had worked so hard to get close to, had ever extended a date invitation to him.

Simply for the sake of that handsome face, Yu Xingliang couldn’t bring himself to utter a refusal.

That day, Yu Xingliang gifted Fan Zixi a matching mountaineering jacket. Fan Zixi, who historically never accepted gifts, made a rare exception and took it.

Yu Xingliang was thrilled out of his mind. Wasn’t this practically a pair of couple’s outfits in disguise?

Fan Zixi treated Yu Xingliang exceptionally well that day, granting practically every request he made.

They visited a professional outdoor rock-climbing spot, and Yu Xingliang made up his mind right then and there: once he reached the summit, he would confess his feelings to Fan Zixi.

Yet, the accident happened right at the peak.

While Yu Xingliang was marveling at the scenery from the top, he suddenly heard Fan Zixi gasp in terror behind him.

Turning his head, Yu Xingliang felt his heart nearly stop beating.

Fan Zixi’s safety anchor, the end of the climbing rope hooked onto a rock face, while the other end secured to the harness around the climber’s waist, had somehow slipped off the cliff edge. Without his safety lock unfastened, Fan Zixi was being dragged down toward a sheer drop.

Without a second to waste on thought, Yu Xingliang lunged forward and grabbed Fan Zixi, but his strength was minimal, and he simply got dragged down the cliff right along with him.

Fortunately, Yu Xingliang hadn’t undone the safety lock on his own waist harness. As they neared the ground, the safety rope caught them.

Although Yu Xingliang dislocated his shoulder in the process, thankfully both he and Fan Zixi emerged completely safe.

Yet right up until the end, Yu Xingliang never realized that the climbing accident had actually been an elaborate conspiracy orchestrated by Fan Zixi himself.

On that day, Fan Zixi had originally intended to use the accident to quietly eliminate Yu Xingliang.

However, Yu Xingliang’s eager and foolish devotion made Fan Zixi change his mind, deciding instead to keep him around and use Yu Xingliang’s affection to pave the way for his future plans.

Yu Xingliang was probably the world’s premier pioneer in self-preservation through sheer absolute density and a simp brain.

“Lele, Lele?”

It felt as though a dark cloth had been peeled away from his eyes, and Yu Xingliang’s vision slowly cleared up: “Muxing.”

Breathing a long sigh of relief, Muxing said, “Your fever broke. You’re finally awake.”

Only then did Yu Xingliang realize he was lying inside a dilapidated shack.

“Did we already leave the general’s estate?” Yu Xingliang asked.

Muxing’s expression stiffened for a split second before he nodded: “Yeah, we made it out safely. The steel bar pierced straight through your back shoulder, but thankfully it missed your vital organs. It’s a true miracle.”

Dully blinking his eyes, Yu Xingliang asked, “How did we get out?”

Instead of giving a direct answer, Muxing turned around to pour water at a nearby table: “You’ve been running a fever for two whole days and talking nonsense while delirious. You really scared me to death.”

Touching his own forehead, Yu Xingliang found it soaked in sweat.

“Here, drink some water.” Supporting Yu Xingliang into a sitting position, Muxing held the cup to his lips: “You must be hungry.”

Obediently drinking the water, Yu Xingliang admitted, “I am a little hungry.”

“Good.” Muxing leaned in and pressed a kiss to Yu Xingliang’s forehead, intimate as any lover.

Feeling a warm sweetness bloom in his chest, Yu Xingliang stopped Muxing as he turned to fetch food: “Muxing.”

Stopping in his tracks, Muxing turned around with a gentle expression: “What is it?”

Looking at Muxing’s face, Yu Xingliang smiled faintly: “Thank you for making sure that the first thing I saw when I woke up from unconsciousness was you.”

Muxing offered a guilt-ridden smile in response: “Lele…”

Yu Xingliang waited quietly for what Muxing was about to say next, but Muxing merely lowered his head as if swallowing back the words he had intended to voice.

“Get some proper rest first, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

Once Muxing left, Yu Xingliang endured the lingering pain and climbed out of bed.

Pushing the window open to look outside, he was greeted by an endless expanse of the open sea. Yu Xingliang paused in confusion. Had Muxing not taken him back to Langya Village?

Harboring doubts, Yu Xingliang stepped outside the shack.

The surroundings were desolate, filled entirely with jagged cliffs and the ocean. The house stood like an isolated island perched atop a towering precipice thousands of feet high.

An ominous premonition crept into his heart, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on the cause just yet.

“Lele!” Carrying an armful of wild fruits, Muxing returned and spotted Yu Xingliang standing near the cliff edge. Terrified, he dropped the fruit and rushed forward to grab him.

“Hiss!” Wincing in pain, Yu Xingliang screwed his face up into a tight ball.

Shielding Yu Xingliang from the danger with his own body, Muxing finally dared to release him.

“You were trying to jump into the sea?” Muxing demanded angrily: “You already promised to give me your life! Until I say you can die, you aren’t allowed to die!”

Enduring Muxing’s fierce, precious display of anger, Yu Xingliang felt a wave of happiness at knowing Muxing cared so much about his safety: “I wasn’t trying to jump into the sea.”

“Then why were you standing right at the edge of the cliff?”

“How can you blame me?” Using his hand to measure the distance between the side of the house and the cliff drop in the air, Yu Xingliang pouted: “Isn’t it because the house you picked is way too close to the cliff? I only took two steps and gave you the wrong idea that I was trying to jump.”

Feeling apologetic for losing his temper just now, Muxing said, “It was my fault.”

Yu Xingliang shook his head and offered an open, carefree smile.

Muxing spoke in a soft tone: “Wait a bit longer, and I’ll go find a much more suitable house.”

Nodding, Yu Xingliang asked, “Oh right, what about your sister Chu Muyao? And why didn’t we go back to Langya Village, but ended up living here instead?”

Faced with Yu Xingliang’s questions, Muxing showed a flicker of panic. He awkwardly steadied Yu Xingliang and guided him back indoors: “The sea breeze outside is too strong, let’s head inside first.”

Sensing Muxing’s evasion, Yu Xingliang chose not to press further: “Alright.”

Back inside the room, Muxing fetched a quilt to drape around Yu Xingliang’s shoulders: “I’m going to go pick up the fruit I dropped.”

Yu Xingliang obediently nodded.

“I’ll cook you some fish soup later tonight.”

“I actually prefer grilled fish,” Yu Xingliang joked with a playful wink.

Unfamiliar with banter, Muxing replied seriously: “Once you’re fully healed, I can make grilled fish for you every single day. But for now, you shouldn’t eat it.”

Warmth flooded Yu Xingliang’s chest once more at Muxing’s caring concern.

“I’ll listen to you.”

Muxing’s brow relaxed visibly.

After snacking on some seaside fruits to tide himself over, Yu Xingliang wrapped himself in the quilt and watched Muxing prepare the fish soup.

Muxing poured a small amount of oil into the pot, slowly frying both sides of the fish until they turned a crispy, golden brown.

“It smells so good!” Yu Xingliang took a deep breath, marveling: “Muxing, were you a professional chef in your past life?”

Muxing smiled in silence, pouring freshly boiled water into the sizzling pan. A rich, savory fragrance instantly billowed out from the broth.

“Men who can cook are seriously the coolest.” Gazing at Muxing with adoration, Yu Xingliang completely forgot about the pain in his body.

Muxing offered a gentle smile: “It’ll be ready to drink in just a moment.”

“Mhm mhm mhm.” Yu Xingliang went up behind Muxing to massage his shoulders: “Hard work, Chef Mu.”

Muxing’s long eyelashes fluttered. Yu Xingliang had no idea that he, too, was a comforting presence in Muxing’s world.

The fish soup was finished in no time, milky white like pure cream.

Muxing ladled a bowl for Yu Xingliang, cautioning him: “Watch out, it’s hot.”

Accepting it, Yu Xingliang sniffed the aroma, blew on it gently, and then downed the fish soup like fine wine.

“Drink slower.” Fearing Yu Xingliang might burn himself, Muxing handed over his own canteen filled with cool water.

“Not hot, not hot at all.” Yu Xingliang licked his lips, looking utterly unsatisfied and craving more.

Muxing stared fixedly at Yu Xingliang’s pale red lips, completely forgetting to pull back the canteen he was holding out.

Catching the canteen Muxing was extending out of the corner of his eye, Yu Xingliang assumed Muxing thought he had scalded himself and was insisting he take a sip of cool water.

So, turning his head, he stuck the tip of his tongue out to show Muxing: “See, I really didn’t burn myself.”

The next second, his tongue was captured by the person leaning in close, the ambiguous atmosphere chilling the fish soup completely.