Chapter 46: A Branch of Red Apricot Comes Out from the Wall

  The chirping of insects, the faint glow of fireflies, the dark green trees and mountains, occasionally accompanied by the barking of village dogs. The crescent moon had just risen above the treetops, a solemn starry sky twinkling brightly. Strolling along the winding path under the trees, the gentle night breeze brought waves of comfort, yet it was more pleasant than the city's nightlife. The river flowed gently, and occasionally one could still see late-returning villagers leading their livestock across the river, but no matter how far they walked, there was no sign of Xiang Rong's figure.

  Hey, didn't go back, went to play somewhere else again, probably went to his uncle's house.

  Wang Hua-ting suddenly felt a bit bored and listlessly broke off a branch, walking slowly back and forth. This quiet and lonely night, everything around her was beautiful, but her mood couldn't be lifted. That day when she returned from the donkey farm, after washing the car, they each went home separately. When she came to Cai Ma Xiang, although she had come with a group of classmates, there were some things that were hard to talk about, especially since that time when Si Mu-xian and Shan Yong-gang had deliberately avoided her, making it seem like she was really Lei Da-peng's girlfriend.

  Although Wang Hua-ting wouldn't mind having Lei Da-peng as a friend, she couldn't possibly be his girlfriend. That silly guy might even dare to bet on his wife in the future. She smiled and walked slowly, but that nagging worry in her heart had nowhere to be expressed. Suddenly, she heard an unusual sound near the riverbank, which made her ears perk up, and she stopped in her tracks.

  The sound of music, it was the Bangzi opera, the kind that he and Lei Dapeng often hummed to themselves with great pleasure. Following the sound, they turned a corner, and their line of sight was blocked by a large stack of wheat straw. The sound was coming from within the straw pile. Wang Huating couldn't quite understand the tune, but it sounded very lively and cheerful. She tiptoed forward a few steps, and saw Shan Yong hiding in the straw pile, with his feet bare and his legs crossed, munching on a green apple, listening to the Bangzi opera with an air of great carefreeness.

  "Hey!" Wang Huating shouted loudly, and Shan Yong was startled. He turned his head to see Wang Huating laughing and pointing at him, saying "You're eating the stolen apples yourself, aren't you?"

  "Here, have one." Danyong raised his hand and Wang Huating caught it from a distance. It was an unripe green apple, probably picked from someone's tree nearby. In this place, there was no such thing as stealing, and every year, countless rotten apples went unsold. Wang Huating took a bite, but puckered her mouth and said, "It's not ripe yet, and it's still a bit sour."

  "Blindly eating, so particular." Dan Yong said disapprovingly. Wang Huating also became disapproving, chewing and savoring the flavor, spitting out the dregs, and sat down to persuade Dan Yong: "Hey, don't be angry with the class leader, he's just that kind of person, too rigid... I'm asking you."

  "Ask me what, I've long forgotten, it's you who still remembers."

  Shan Yongdao smiled and thought about how his phone was smashed by those students in the afternoon, not even a call could be made. He borrowed Wang Huating's phone to make a call home, everything was fine. When returning the phone, he saw a photo of Wang Huating on the screen, a lady with her chin resting on her hand, lost in thought. Shan Yongdao teased: "Wow, you took a great picture! This pose indicates that you have severe narcissistic tendencies!"

  "Mind your own business, and don't let you fall in love." Wang Huating took back her phone with a displeased expression, her face slightly red.

  "Who says I don't have a crush? Even Da Peng has a crush, you're the popular lover of all the boys in our school... Let me tell you a secret, we only told you this after graduation. One time when we were drinking in the dorm, there was me, Da Peng, Mu Xian, and also Stinky Foot from the sports department, Old Bao, Min Guang from class 3 who's also their class leader, and He Qiang from sophomore year... that guy with long hair who got caught by Director Shi to get a haircut... There were over ten people, and when we got drunk, we all started commenting on girls. After talking for a while, half of the topics were about you." said Shan Yong, jokingly.

  But unexpectedly Wang Hua-ting was concerned about asking: "What is the other half?"

  "Haha, the other half is not suitable for minors, they're all foreigners, you don't know them." Dan Yong said with a smile.

  "Few can escape, right? Led by Cang Laoshi and the others, they're a bunch of rascals." Wang Huating said with a smile, kicking Shan Yong's foot. She knew that most of the topics these boys usually discussed couldn't escape this category. Shan Yong was startled awake by the kick, his face pale with surprise: "Ah, so you girls are watching too? What, exchanging experiences and feelings?"

  Wang Huating's face turned a little red, and when she kicked again, Shan Yong dodged it. He laughed loudly in an unseemly manner. Suddenly, Wang Huating used her ultimate move, pulling upwards with one hand, causing a pile of hay to collapse, burying Shan Yong underneath. When he crawled out, his head was covered in pieces of straw, looking like a mole. Wang Huating laughed and scolded: "You boys can't even be a bit civilized when you're together, always making such a mess."

  "Haha, it's all about food and sex, this is human nature, otherwise there wouldn't be such a huge industry." Shanyong said with a flourish. Wang Huating shook her head, not wanting to listen, and scolded: "Is that interesting? Is human nature just about desires? Nothing else?"

  "This is a philosophical issue, two people together depend on the comprehensive effect of desire and emotional density. High desire density is called infidelity, high emotional density is called love. This is also human nature, I think there won't be too much pure infidelity or love." Xian Yong said with a smile, his thinking was clear but his logic was slightly confusing. Wang Hua Ting listened to this and asked suddenly: "Then do you understand love?"

  "It's almost the same, love should be like a big meal."

  "Eat!?" Wang Huating was stunned, but unexpectedly there was a connection in this.

  "Of course, think about it. Sages all talk about food and sex together, can't there be a common ground?" Dan Yong said, counting on his fingers:

  "Similarly, a big meal requires selecting ingredients, preparing utensils, and knowing how to choose the right cooking method and seasonings. This is a long preparation process. Love is the same way. You need to choose an object of affection, know what type you like, and know what kind of gift can win someone's heart, which is equivalent to seasoning. You also need to understand how to develop the emotions between two people, which is equivalent to cooking methods - whether it's high heat or low heat, steaming or stir-frying, all depends on the personalities of the two individuals... In short, both require a long time of careful consideration in exchange for a very short period of indulgence."

  Wang Hua Ting listened, her eyes wide with surprise and incredulity. This guy's philosophical logic was probably inherited from that great master, she thought to herself, smiling wryly. But Dan Yong continued, wagging his finger: "Similarly, a good meal emphasizes color, fragrance, flavor, shape, meaning, and nutrition all in one. Isn't love the same? A chick who's pretty, fragrant, elegant, and delicious, isn't that just like a perfect dish? The effect is basically the same as a great meal - it's a feast for the eyes and heart."

  Wang Huating was stunned, and then she couldn't help but laugh. It seems that philosophy is not wrong, everything has a "way" hidden in it when it reaches a certain level. The person in front of her has already reached the "way" of eating. It turns out that this "way" is not shallow. Before Shan Yong could continue to boast, Wang Huating led him on, saying: "What about the third similarity?"

  "There are three similarities, all of which have a strong desire density, mainly relying on the desire density to sway. " Single Yong said with a smile, making Wang Huating laugh out loud. Afraid that Wang Huating wouldn't understand, Single Yong explained: "Don't be skeptical, remember that red soup abalone sauce stewed golden money? The color, fragrance, and taste are so enticing that it makes your heart itch and you feel flustered. Originally, you didn't like meat dishes, but unknowingly, you would cross the psychological barrier. Love is the same, for example, if there's someone you especially like, when you don't see them, your heart feels anxious; when you do see them, your heart itches. There's always an invisible force driving both parties to cross the distance between each other... and then, splash splash, they fall into the river of love together."

  "Haha...…." Wang Huating burst out laughing, then said ambiguously: "It's interesting, no wonder Lei Dapeng is full of nonsense, it turns out you taught him. Have you ever had this kind of lovesick, anxious romance?"

  "There is." Danyu said, nodding heavily.

  "Who are you talking about? I've never heard of anyone with you!" Wang Huating said deliberately.

  "Hehe, I was quite precocious, I had a crush in high school." Shanyong smiled and asked Wang Huating back: "How about you?"

  "I..." Wang Huating seemed to have difficulty speaking, paused for a moment, looked at Shan Yong, who was looking at her inquiringly. In the dark night, she could see the outline of his face, which was strong and wild, and his shining eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she avoided his gaze, muttering: "Nothing."

  "Really? Hasn't anyone ever pursued you?" Dan Yong said intentionally, Wang Huating belonged to the kind of well-educated and would make ordinary people feel ashamed and not dare to pursue. Even if there were, they would probably be exceptional.

  "Actually, I didn't have any. I attended Luzhou No. 5 Middle School in high school, and the school was even stricter than a prison. Let alone early love, if you were late or left early, you would be caught by the political education department for reflection. I actually belonged to a mediocre student, and I didn't do well on the college entrance exam either. But I didn't want to repeat that kind of hellish life in high school again, so I went to Luzhou College... However, our school is typical of yin sheng yang shuai (overly strict), and I really haven't found a boy who makes my heart flutter." Wang Huating said, somewhat insincerely, and this sentence was obviously a test. After speaking, she glanced at Shan Yong's expression.

  He couldn't see clearly, he smiled, and it was unclear whether it was a subtle or indifferent smile. At this moment, Wang Huating really felt a sense of heart palpitations. The moon was hanging low in the willow trees, and the night was quiet. A man and a woman were discussing love, and their conversation gradually became ambiguous.

  "Then you..." Dan Yong's voice was very low, so low that it seemed to be hidden underground, but it was very clear and reached Wang Huating's ears: "How old were you when you had your first kiss?"

  "How old?"

  "Oh, no, in your teens?"

  "How old?"

  "Oh no, you've never been kissed before?"

  "Does it count for my parents?"

  "That can't be counted..."

  "Does it count if I kissed Xiao Tang's photo?"

  "Wow, didn't expect you still have a strong taste? Like foreigners?"

  "You're going to die."

  Shan Yong asked, as if intentionally teasing Wang Hua Ting, who occasionally looked a little shy and slapped him lightly. At this time, even he felt a bit nervous and panicked, like the party flower girl sitting on the haystack, was like a green apple that had just been picked from the tree, although it was unripe, but definitely had a refreshing taste. The safe distance was already close, and the faint fragrance of Tan Tan could be smelled, although in the wheat fragrance, Shan Yong's sense of smell could distinguish it, it was body fragrance, without any mixed perfume flavor, even though she wore a long-sleeved shirt, those vaguely visible twin peaks were already indicating the source of the fragrance.

  Without saying a word, after the sound stopped abruptly, Wang Huating discovered that Shan Yongru's gaze and movements when examining food were also examining herself. Perhaps, in his eyes, she too met the standards of a great meal? A thought flashed by, and suddenly she asked: "What do you want to do?"

  Her low voice was like a rebuke, like a stick hitting the head, and Wang Huating woke up with a start. She smiled and said: "You're regretting pushing me to Lei Dapeng now, aren't you? Even if I liked you, I'm afraid you can't get over that hurdle... Ah!?"

  Suddenly, Wang Huating was forced onto the haystack, frightened and stunned. Then she saw Shan Yong rushing towards her face to face, his hands supporting him, just a few inches from her face. Every time this scene happened in her imagination, it always made people so unprepared. When Wang Huating stretched out her hand to block him, she was caught by Shan Yong. She struggled and resisted, shouting: "What are you doing? I'm calling for help!"

  "I'll prove it to you. If you don't call for help, I can be your lover," said Shan Yong, grasping Wang Huating's hands.

  "I'm just calling out to someone..." Wang Huating said, but her voice was very low, as if she were doing something stealthy.

  "If you want to call someone, I can only be a hooligan." Dan Yong smiled and said.

  "Ah!" Wang Huating cursed, struggling and kicking, scratching, and scolding Shan Yong: "Let me go, what do you want to do?"

  "What did you say? I'm going to take your first kiss."

  Shan Yong laughed, and this sentence first amused himself. Wang Huating didn't really shout, but Shan Yong was actually coming to steal a kiss. When the two of them were struggling, their bodies inevitably came into contact with each other. The soft chest, the fragrant neck... Suddenly, the strength increased, and the two of them fell into the wheat stack together. The falling wheat straw covered them, forming a natural barrier. In an instant, Wang Huating smelled that intoxicating masculine scent on Shan Yong's body. Her resistance became weak and futile. When Shan Yong held her face in the darkness and felt her faint breath, she calmed down, like a gentle lamb.

  Then, I felt two thick and warm lips coming on, slightly resisting, but being kissed, my teeth were pried open, my tongue was caught, I was kissed to the point of breathlessness, and I was hugged to the point of almost suffocating. The feeling was like having drunk a strong liquor, my mind was out of control, and it felt like suffocation was a kind of unprecedented pleasure. Slightly leaning apart, gasping for air like an itch, then being hugged again, heavily... very wild, handsome, and domineering, my first kiss was taken away...

  Conquering and being conquered may both have a component of pleasure. Single courage, holding the once-proud party flower, didn't dare to imagine today's bold attempt would bring unexpected joy. Or perhaps it was because of those subtle hints and suggestions that he dared to try today, but unexpectedly... In the fragrant lips, in the fragrant dew, the intoxicating pleasure made Single Courage reluctant to let go. The suppressed emotions that had been hidden for so long didn't expect to burst out in this unintentional opportunity, kissing until his heart was dizzy, kissing until he couldn't help but stretch his hand into the thin clothes of Single Shirt, touching one of the round and plump twin peaks, a small, delicate, and tender peach that had just begun to ripen, feeling extremely comfortable and refreshing.

  "Don't... don't be like this... we can't be like this..."

  Wang Hua-ting felt her bra being unfastened, and her chest was touched. She suddenly became resistant, forcibly pulling out Shuang Yong's hand, then tightly hugging him, not letting him touch that place again. She panted heavily, afraid that if she crossed the line even a little bit more, she would immediately fall into it.

  It's not very convenient to do that here... When Single Courage slowed down, he felt that his body was surrounded by wheat straw, some of which were still prickly. He kissed Wang Huating's earlobe, and as their faces rubbed against each other, he slowly moved his cheek to the tip of her nose, then to her lips, lightly kissing her, slowly waiting for the passion to subside. After a long time, when they parted, Single Courage whispered: "Sorry, I..."

  "You deliberately did it on purpose and then said sorry afterwards?" Wang Huating said in a low voice, seemingly not blaming her very much.

  "Hehe... I won't say it next time." Dan Yong said softly, almost whispering against her cheek, with a hint of ambiguity.

  "Hmph, do you think there will be a next time?" Wang Huating said, these words were quite stimulating to Shan Yong. Shan Yong was speechless, but Wang Huating suddenly changed the subject and said: "It's possible, but you have to openly and honorably pursue me."

  "That... how can that be." Danyong was in a difficult situation, he couldn't just go and steal Leiguo's dream lover, even if he knew the two were definitely not possible, but it shouldn't be him either, otherwise Le Dapeng would hold a grudge against him for the rest of his life.

  "Hmph..." Wang Huating let out a heavy hum, pushing Shan Yong away. Still not satisfied, she kicked him heavily again and punched him, saying angrily: "You don't pursue me? Fine, just wait, tomorrow I'll tell everyone that you lured me to the haystack and took advantage of me... If you're not a lover, then you're a rascal, choose for yourself."

  After that, she crawled out of the haystack and ran away. Single bravery couldn't catch up with her, and no matter how much he begged, she wouldn't listen to him. She occasionally kicked Single off and chased after him all the way to the school gate. The two of them stopped at the same time, adjusting their clothes like thieves and brushing off the hay from their bodies. Thinking about the sudden loss of her first kiss and the places where she was touched, Wang Huating angrily kicked Single twice and threatened him with many things before turning around and heading back to the dormitory.

  This sudden ambiguousness made Wang Huating's heart flutter, and when she walked up to the dormitory door, she adjusted her clothes again, afraid that Liu Cuicui would notice something. After a while, she entered the room, turned on the light, and saw that Liu Cuicui was already asleep. She asked Wang Huating where she had been, saying she had waited for a long time. Wang Huating casually replied that she had gone to the riverbank to cool off for a bit. As soon as she took off her outer clothes, Liu Cuicui burst out laughing and buried her head in the quilt. Wang Huating was startled, and when she unfastened her bra, several strands of wheat straw fell down. However, what made Liu Cuicui laugh wasn't this - it was the deep kiss mark on her neck that showed up clearly in the mirror.

  Now, Wang Huating was embarrassed, with just a few people, no need to guess who it was, and she was so ashamed that she rushed into the quilt and played with Liu Cuicui, threatening Liu Cuicui after a while: "No one is allowed to say anything."

  "Need I say more? Leigong had a premonition, no wonder he kept using the red apricot branch to compose poetry..."

  Liu Cuicui laughed until she was out of breath, the two of them rolling around and wrestling in bed, chatting nonstop till midnight...