Kyoto Night Kiss

Qu Yun lowered her eyes, gently shook her head, and said in a distant tone, "No need, I can walk by myself."

She had barely moved when Lu Junhe grabbed her hand, which was hanging by her side.

The man's voice was deep and alluring, and he called out again, trailing off, "Wife."

"Are you sick in the head?" Qu Yun's face flushed red. She took a few steps forward, then realized she was going the wrong way, and awkwardly turned back, adding another curse: "Lu Junhe, you really are sick in the head!"

In her anger, she felt nothing when she walked barefoot on the country path.

Lu Junhe quickly stood up and said worriedly, "Be careful not to hurt yourself with stones."

He watched as Qu Yun quickened her pace, her hands and feet moving in unison in a comical manner. He turned his head away and chuckled silently.

Who exactly is the difficult Empress Dowager to please?

He doesn't say.

Lu Junhe, carrying his high heels in one hand, caught up with two elderly women not far away, intending to exchange a watch for a pair of overshoes.

"Oh dear, no, no, these shoes aren't worth much. How can I exchange them for something so precious?" The old lady quickly waved her hand and declined repeatedly, her smile kind and simple.

She shoved the brand-new overshoes, which she had barely worn twice, into Lu Junhe's hands. "I'm giving these shoes to you. You just need to focus on taking good care of your wife."

Lu Junhe obeyed the imperial order and personally put shoes on Qu Yun.

As he stood up, his shoulder twitched, and the pain seemed to intensify.

Qu Yun found Master Pan's house according to the address. It was a simple and elegant courtyard house with a faint fragrance of sandalwood. She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door knocker.

A moment later, the courtyard gate opened, and a gentle-looking young woman, probably the old master's daughter, stepped in.

Qu Yun spoke in a humble and polite tone: "Hello, I apologize for disturbing you by coming here. I have come here specifically to visit Master Pan."

Seeing that Qu Yun was polite, Xiao Pan stepped aside to make way for her to enter.

The room was equally elegant and tranquil, with an old-fashioned eight-immortal table placed in the center of the main room, and a plain white porcelain vase on the table, filled with fresh real flowers.

Qu Yun looked up and saw a huge black and white old photograph hanging in the center of the entire white wall, showing a smiling woman.

Master Pan sat down on the rattan bench below the photo.

Qu Yun stepped forward and bowed slightly to the old man, showing proper manners: "Greetings, Master. I am Qu Yun, the general manager of Lanting Hotel."

"I came here today because I heard that your glass flower making skills are unparalleled in the industry, so I would like to ask you to make one for me. You can name your fee."

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Pan smiled and declined, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, young lady, but I really can't accept this order."

The melody softly inquired about the reason.

The old craftsman looked out of the courtyard and replied, "Years ago, my late wife and I made a promise that when we reached the age of sixty, we would completely put down our work."

He raised his hand and stroked the ornament beside him, his face full of nostalgia: "Now I am over sixty years old. For the rest of my life, I only want to cherish the memories of my late wife and live out my remaining years in peace. I will no longer bother with my craft. I hope Miss Qu can understand."

No one spoke.

Xiao Pan knew that her father was stubborn, especially when it came to matters concerning her mother; once he made up his mind, he would never budge.

But Lu Junhe remained indifferent, as if the wedding had nothing to do with him.

Qu Yun pursed her lips and noticed that the corners of the portrait on the wall were yellowed, but it had been wiped clean. Her eyes flickered, and she stood next to Lu Junhe.

Qu Yun reached out and firmly grasped Lu Junhe's wrist, clasping her fingers together. When she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with tenderness, and she softly called out, "Husband."

This address was so natural and affectionate that even Master Pan glanced at it slightly.

Qu Yun then turned her head to look at the old man, her tone sincere and earnest: "Master, to be honest, my husband and I have had a very difficult journey together. We are deeply in love and have decided to stay together for the rest of our lives."

"We are about to have our wedding, which is of great significance. I have been thinking about the glass flowers you made by hand. You don't need to worry about the large number of orders. I just need to learn a skill."

After speaking, Qu Yun turned her head to look at the man beside her. She blinked, signaling him to say something as well.

Lu Junhe was still stunned. When Qu Yun turned around just now, a strand of her hair brushed against the tip of his nose, carrying her unique scent, which made him swallow hard.

But he couldn't speak.

Old Pan broke the silence first: "Is that really true?"

"Really!" Qu Yun took out her phone and showed the old man a picture of Lu Jinxing. She wasn't entirely lying, though. "Look, our son is already seven years old."

Old Pan nodded. "This child is very cute and looks a lot like you."

"Really?" Qu Yun's joy was genuine. She continued flipping through the photos and actually started chatting with the old man: "I've always thought he looked like my father."

"Your facial features and expressions are all similar. You're the first person to say that the child looks like me."

Lu Junhe lowered his head, looking at his suddenly empty palm, and subconsciously curled his fingers.

He felt a strange downward pull in his heart, and a dull ache began to throb.

As Old Pan flipped through the photos, he seemed to soften his stance, "Since you two are so deeply in love, then I will..."

Before he could finish saying "I agree," Lu Junhe stepped forward and grabbed Qu Yun's wrist.

His eyes were filled with coldness as he questioned, "Qu Yun, is it really you who wants to marry me?"

Do you love me?

Qu Yun froze, her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.

She instinctively twisted her wrists to try and break free, but the man's strength was steady and firm, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free.

She could only stare blankly at Lu Junhe, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

She went to great lengths to ensure his wedding went well, and even nearly lost her life on the way there.

But what is he doing now?

Qu Yun felt a lump in her throat, and turned around, wanting to first explain a few words to the stunned Master Pan.

But Lu Junhe didn't give her a chance at all. He tightened his grip on her wrist and pressed her again, "Say it, say you love me."

The atmosphere inside the room froze completely.

Lu Junhe's eyes gradually turned dark.

He released his grip, his voice extremely hoarse: "I understand."

The weather forecast was accurate; a dark cloud drifted by, and a torrential downpour immediately began, pattering against the roof tiles and bluestone ground, turning the world into a white expanse.

The force on Qu Yun's wrist suddenly disappeared, but the lingering pain remained.

She opened her mouth, but before she could speak.

Lu Junhe had already stepped into the torrential rain outside, his tall figure quickly becoming blurred until he disappeared completely.