Hot flashes

The mountain wind whistled against his face and into his collar. Xiao Jue was drenched in sweat, but his pace didn't slow down at all. He ran through the woods, crossed the mountain stream, and followed the familiar mountain path all the way to Fuyun Manor.

Floating Cloud Villa is nestled halfway up the mountain, a tranquil estate. With its white walls and blue tiles, it is hidden deep in the bamboo forest and easily overlooked.

When Xiao Jue was seven years old, he was sent here to follow a reclusive master to recuperate and learn skills. He stayed here for six years.

Xiao Jue ran to the entrance of the manor. The two servants guarding the gate were dozing off. Hearing footsteps, they groggily opened their eyes and saw their young master rush in like a gust of wind.

"Young master?" A servant rubbed his eyes. "What happened?"

The other shook his head, also looking bewildered.

Xiao Jue ignored them and rushed towards the kitchen, startling several sparrows that were pecking at food, which then fluttered away into the distance.

In the kitchen, the cook, Aunt Zhou, was busy at the stove. Hearing the noise, she turned around and saw Xiao Jue rushing in.

"Young master? This is—"

Xiao Jue ignored her and rushed straight to the cabinet where the snacks were kept. He opened the cabinet door and took out all the dishes of his favorite snacks. Osmanthus cake, jujube paste pastry, and cloud cake were piled up on the table.

Aunt Zhou was dumbfounded.

"Young master, what are you doing?"

Xiao Jue didn't answer, and went to rummage through the food boxes again. He found the largest one, opened the lid, and carefully arranged the pastries inside.

After stacking one layer, I thought for a moment, then ran back to the stove, lifted the pot lid, and scooped out some of the rice and dishes that Aunt Zhou had just steamed, putting them into the bottom layer of the food box.

Xiao Jue finished packing, closed the lid, and held it in his arms, weighing it in his hand.

heavy.

He nodded in satisfaction, then turned and ran outside.

"Young master—" Aunt Zhou called from behind, "Who are you delivering this to?"

Xiao Jue didn't even turn his head.

"For the gods!"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already run far away.

Aunt Zhou stood there, stunned.

immortal?

What kind of deity?

Xiao Jue ran back all the way.

This time, he ran even more carefully than before. He held the food box tightly in his arms, steady and firm, not daring to sway at all.

The servants saw Xiao Jue rush out like a gust of wind, carrying a food box in his arms, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What's wrong with you today, young master?"

"I don't know..."

"She just ran back, and now she's running out again, still holding a food box in her arms..."

"Who are you going to deliver food to?"

"have no idea……"

The mountain path was even more difficult to traverse than the way up, with ups and downs and potholes everywhere. Finally, we saw the abandoned Taoist temple.

In the distance, the walls of the Taoist temple could already be seen. Xiao Jue's heart suddenly began to race.

Is that person still around?

Will they leave?

Will the wait be too long? Should I give up?

Xiao Jue quickened his pace, almost rushing into the Taoist temple.

In the courtyard, under the old tree, on the stone bench.

Zhou Heng was still sitting there.

He heard footsteps, looked up, and met Xiao Jue's gaze.

Xiao Jue stood there, panting heavily, holding a food box in his arms, his face covered in sweat. He saw Zhou Heng and grinned.

"I didn't know what you liked to eat," he said, his voice still slightly breathless, "so I just got you a little of everything, try it."

Zhou Heng looked at the sweat-drenched boy in front of him and the huge food box in his arms, and suddenly didn't know what to say.

Xiao Jue walked over, placed the food box on the stone table, and opened the lid.

The top layer was filled with pastries: osmanthus cake, jujube paste pastry, and cloud cake, all neatly arranged. The bottom layer was filled with food, still steaming hot, its aroma wafting out, and Zhou Heng's stomach rumbled again.

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Jue moved even faster.

"Eat up," he said. "It's all for you."

Zhou Heng lowered his head, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, and took a bite.

Xiao Jue sat down next to him, resting his chin on his hands and staring at him intently.

"Is it tasty?"

Zhou Heng nodded.

Xiao Jue laughed even more heartily.

Zhou Heng sat on the stone bench, eating his snacks bite by bite.

Xiao Jue sat opposite him, resting his chin on his hands, staring at him intently.

The gaze was so direct that Zhou Heng found it hard to bear.

"What are you looking at?" Zhou Heng finally couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Jue blinked, denying it: "I wasn't looking at you."

Zhou Heng "...".

After finishing his snack, Zhou Heng felt sticky on his face, covered in mud and sweat, which made him very uncomfortable. He stood up and looked around.

"Is there a place to wash my face around here?"

Xiao Jue immediately stood up.

"Yes! I'll take you there!"

Zhou Heng followed Xiao Jue through a grove of trees, where a mountain stream came into view.

The stream was narrow, flowing between the rocks, and its depths were visible. Several large stones were scattered along the stream's edge, smoothed and shiny by the water.

Xiao Jue pointed to the stream.

"Right here, I usually wash my face here too."

Zhou Heng walked to the stream, squatted down, and scooped up water to splash on his face.

The water was so cold that it made him shiver. But after washing, he did feel much refreshed.

He washed his face several times, scrubbing off the dried mud, and then used his hands to remove the grass blades stuck in his hair.

Xiao Jue stood opposite him.

Zhou Heng finished washing his face and looked up.

Water droplets dripped down his cheeks, wetting his clothes. After washing his face, he looked even more handsome than before—his eyebrows and eyes were delicate and refined, his skin was fair, and beneath his wet eyelashes were a pair of amber eyes.

Xiao Jue was stunned.

Zhou Heng felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and raised his hand to wipe the water off his face.

"What are you looking at?"

Xiao Jue snapped out of his daze, his face suddenly turning slightly red.

"N-nothing."

He lowered his head, pretending to look at the stream.