Chapter 259: The Best Gift

On the banks of Luo Lake, the top courtesans of Luo City dressed in light, airy clothes danced gracefully. Red sleeves added fragrance, and red lanterns adorned Luo Lake, their scattered lights reflecting on the surface like stars in the sky.

Upon the arched bridge by the shore, a young girl in an elegant, simple long dress stood gracefully.

The girl’s small hand was pressed lightly against her heart, her eyes, even more brilliant than the stars, looking left and right.

Pedestrians passing by the arched bridge couldn’t help but look back at her.

Some who had girlfriends were so entranced that they were left behind by their girlfriends who were Qi, forced to hurry and catch up.

Some summoned their courage to try and strike up a conversation, but the girl only shook her head, saying she was waiting for the most important person.

Those rejected could say no more and could only walk away in regret.

Such a dignified and elegant personality, such a gentle and refined temperament—every movement was beyond what an ordinary daughter of a prestigious family could possess.

Thus, no one dared to be impudent.

On the bridge, the girl looked up at the stars.

It was already fifteen minutes past the appointed time.

The girl was a little anxious.

This wasn’t because she was anxious to blame Lin Xun for not arriving yet.

Rather, she had been out for nearly half an hour; if she didn’t return soon, Sister Nongqin and Sister Wangxing would worry.

Moreover, the longer Lin Xun didn’t show up, the more worried she became.

Sikong Wangxing knew that Lin Xun was not someone who breaks their word.

So, since Young Master Lin hadn’t come, had something happened? Was it serious? Could Young Master Lin have met with an accident?

“Make way.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“Miss, please don’t touch my butt.”

“Wait, little kid, I can’t give you this goldfish!”

“No, no, no, miss, this plushie isn’t for sale.”

Just as the girl clutched her sleeves, her heart growing more conflicted and worried, that familiar voice drifted over from the other side of the bridge.

The girl looked up and saw him running over in a hurry, cradling a plushie, carrying a bag with a goldfish, and holding many small items with his fingers.

Seeing him now, the girl finally felt truly at ease.

However, Lin Xun didn’t seem to see Sikong Wangxing and just kept his head down, walking forward.

Just as Lin Xun, his vision blocked by the plushie, was about to rush past Sikong Wangxing, the girl reached out her small hand and gently tugged at the hem of Lin Xun’s robe.

Feeling the gentle pull on his hem, Lin Xun stopped in his tracks.

“I… I’m here.”

Sikong Wangxing lowered her head with slightly flushed cheeks and spoke softly.

“Ah, that…” Seeing Wang Xing under the moonlight, Lin Xun’s old face felt a bit embarrassed. “Sorry. I’m late.”

“It’s fine.” Wang Xing looked up at the plushie and various small items in Lin Xun’s hands, her eyes blinking. “Do you need help?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Lin Xun handed the plushie, which was half as tall as a person, to the girl to hold. Only then did Lin Xun put away some of the small items into his Storage Pouch.

He had been in such a rush earlier that he forgot he even had a Storage Pouch.

As for the little goldfish, he didn’t put it away. If a living creature without spiritual power was put into a Storage Pouch, it would probably be ready to be cooked by the time it came out.

The plushie was styled like a little lion, with a bit of a chibi style feel.

That’s right, this was something Lin Xun had originally designed, and it had taken all of Luo City by storm.

Unfortunately, there were no intellectual property rights in ancient times; otherwise, Lin Xun felt he could have lived the life of a wealthy tycoon on copyright fees alone.

Looking at the girl in front of him holding the large plushie, her delicate frame seemed even smaller by comparison.

For some reason, Lin Xun felt that Wang Xing was exceptionally cute tonight.

As expected, women and water, girls and plushies—they were a perfect match!

“Um…”

Her cheeks flushing under Lin Xun’s gaze, Sikong Wangxing lowered her eyes and instinctively hugged the plushie tighter.

“Does Young Master Lin… have something… something he wants to say to Wang Xing tonight?”

“Ah, yes.”

Reminded by Sikong Wangxing, Lin Xun quickly snapped out of it and remembered the serious business he had to attend to tonight.

However, Lin Xun found himself at a loss for words.

And so, the scumbag carrying a goldfish and the girl holding a plushie stood facing each other.

The scumbag kept staring at the girl. The girl lowered her lovely head, and though she was very shy, she still let the scumbag look at her.

“(艹皿艹)”

Lin Xun really wanted to give himself a hard slap.

“What the hell am I doing? I just want to give a birthday gift, right? Such a simple thing, why am I acting like I’m about to confess? Besides, it’s not like the demon subduing pestle is something to be ashamed of… I have to act cool…”

“Wang Xing.” Lin Xun swallowed hard. “It’s your birthday today, right?”

“Eh? How did Young Master know?” Sikong Wangxing looked up, her eyes blinking at Lin Xun.

Lin Xun smiled as he looked at the girl, who was rarely so dazed. “Because the day before yesterday, Wang Xing said so herself.”

Only then did Sikong Wangxing remember when she met Lin Xun in Luo City; Young Master Lin had asked her how she managed to get out, and she had mentioned her birthday.

“Did Young Master Lin… remember Wang Xing’s casual remark?” Wang Xing buried her head even lower, her flushed face so shy she looked like she might run away at any moment.

“Well… I could still remember that.” Lin Xun felt a bit guilty.

She had remembered his birthday a long time ago, yet he only found out about Wang Xing’s birthday two days prior.

But she did not have any Life Qi at all; Lin Xun could even sense a hint of joy from Wang Xing.

“Sigh, if this were my previous life, this kind of girl would probably be extinct.” Lin Xun couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.

“Anyway,” Lin Xun steadied his mind, “I’ve prepared a gift for you, Wang Xing. It’s not of high value (it’s an Immortal-grade Buddhist weapon, the grade is definitely high, but I have to be modest, otherwise how can I act cool?), I hope you don’t mind it.”

As he spoke, Lin Xun reached into his Storage Pouch to take out the demon subduing pestle.

Although giving a girl a demon subduing pestle felt a bit strange, its value was high, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.

“Wang Xing likes it very much.”

“Hmm?”

“Wang Xing likes the gift Young Master Lin gave to Wang Xing very much.”

“Huh?”

Just as Lin Xun was about to pull out Wang Xing’s gift, her voice suddenly came from in front of him.

“Biu~~~ Boom~~~”

Immediately after, the sound of fireworks pierced through the air.

The moment Lin Xun looked up, his heart tightened slightly.

Splendid fireworks bloomed in the sky, reflected in the lake.

Beneath the fireworks, on the bridge of Luo Lake, the girl stood gracefully, tightly clutching the cartoon lion plushie in her arms.

Fireworks bloomed behind her, the five-colored flames highlighting her exquisite face.

“Wang Xing likes the gift Young Master sent very much.”

The girl repeated herself, her eyes, brighter than the stars in the sky, shimmering with a faint glint of tears.

The girl’s eyes curved. Even though it was winter, the girl holding the plushie felt like the scent of soda at a summer festival, reflecting the story of an entire summer:

“It is the best gift Wang Xing has ever received.”