Crossing the Sauvignon Blanc

Chapter 103: New Year, some are happy and some are sad

"Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. May all good things come as promised." Yan Mo stood on the edge of the cliff at Wangyue Peak, wrapped in a thick white fur cloak, looking towards the direction of Qingshui Town.

"What are you sighing about?" Xiang Liu hugged Yan Mo tightly from behind.

"I was thinking, every winter in Qingshui Town used to be difficult for every household. Now, everyone in Qingshui Town can support themselves, every child has an education, the elderly are cared for, the young are educated, the poor have someone to rely on, and those in need are helped. It feels just like my hometown."

"Mo'er is missing home again?" Xiangliu hugged her tighter.

"Yes, every festive season brings a yearning for family. Every New Year, no matter where our children are, they all rush towards one place—home. This is a deep-seated obsession of the people of my country."

Xiangliu didn't say anything. He couldn't help with this matter, so he could only stay with her so that she wouldn't be alone.

"Now, Wangyueding is my home, and you are my family, so I came back to celebrate the New Year. Xiangliu, where is my New Year's gift?"

Yan Mo didn't really want a gift. She just asked casually on a whim to tease him.

Xiangliu took out a large wooden box and held it in front of Yan Mo with both hands.

"For me? When did you prepare it?" Yan Mo was confused. Is there really a gift?

"Little Phoenix, remember that time when you used your ancient bloodline to seal the vortex and I wasn't with you? I was out looking for a gift for you then, intending to return with a surprise, but by the time I arrived, you had passed away. I hadn't had time to give you the gift, and it's been in the Dragon Ring ever since. I don't know why you had both the Dragon and Phoenix Rings. I only just remembered about it a while ago and found them. Now I'm returning them to their rightful owner. Open them and take a look."

Hearing this, Yan Mo felt touched and distressed. He was so stupid at that time, rushing in to accompany her...

Yan Mo took it and opened it. He saw a gorgeous bow. The bow seemed to be woven from pure gold and phoenix feathers. Yan Mo exclaimed, "Phoenix Feather Flame Bow? How did you get it? This is a divine artifact! Legend has it that this bow was made from ancient phoenix feathers and heavenly fire. It is extremely powerful and can even kill evil spirits."

"It's a coincidence. Do you like it? It suits you perfectly!" Xiang Liu looked at her and knew that she would definitely like it.

"Thank you, Xiangliu, I like it very much. But I didn't prepare any gifts for you." Yan Mo felt a little apologetic.

"You are the best gift. Why not just give yourself to me?" Xiangliu said with a wicked smile.

"Not serious!" Yan Mo glared at him.

"I will acknowledge my master first, and I will be at your disposal later. Be good and wait for me!" Yan Mo kissed Xiang Liu, and the blood from his cut finger dripped onto the bow and arrow. The Fengling Yan Bow flew up, like a phoenix with its wings spread. Feeling the breath of the same origin as Yan Mo, the Fengling Yan Bow made a joyful buzzing sound. Yan Mo also felt its emotions and gently stroked the bow.

"From now on, can we fight side by side?"

The bow made a stronger buzzing sound, as if responding to Yan Mo's question.

Yan Mo chuckled and said, "Collect!" The Fengling Flame Bow turned into a shadow and flew to Yan Mo's wrist, and a pattern of phoenix wings appeared.

"It's so beautiful!" Yan Mo exclaimed as he looked at the graphic.

"Yes, it's really beautiful. Madam, you look even better when you are not wearing anything!" Xiangliu looked at her playfully with a smile on his face and teased her.

"Ah, stinky Xiangliu, you ruined the atmosphere! Let me see how I deal with you!" Yan Mo squatted down, grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at Xiangliu, who ran away with a smile.

"Stop right there! If you don't stop, you won't get into bed tonight!"

Xiang Liu stopped obediently after hearing this, his expression still a little aggrieved. Yan Mo grabbed a handful of snow and walked towards him, tilting his head to look at his aggrieved expression, thinking he was so cute! With a sly smile, he stuffed the snowball into his chest.

"Are you cold, husband?" Yan Mo smiled cunningly.

"So what if it's cold? So what if it's not cold?"

"If you're cold, Madam will warm you up. If you're not cold, you can sleep by yourself."

"Hiss, the snowballs Madam threw are too cold!" After saying that, she picked up Yan Mo and went into the room...

Kaishundo

Wen Xuan had been here for over a month, and Xiao Liu had never taken the initiative to seek him out. Wu You, however, couldn't help but "run into" Xiao Liu a few times. They'd exchanged letters, taking advantage of the shoving and pushing, but outsiders only knew that Wen Xiao Liu and the wealthy girl weren't on good terms, arguing every time they met! Wen Xuan simply assumed that Wu You was taking his anger out on Wen Xiao Liu over the spirit stone incident.

There weren't many people in the pub tonight, as everyone was at home with their families.

"Old Sang, close the shop. I'll cook something delicious for Wuyou tonight. I don't know how the Chenrong Yijun army is doing. There has been no news for so long."

"Okay, the rebels have been checking very strictly recently, so they probably haven't found a chance to get out yet."

……

"Wuyou, come here and try your brother's cooking and the mulberry wine he brewed." Xuan gently called Wuyou to come for dinner. He really treated Wuyou as his sister. As for whether she was just a substitute, no one knew.

"I heard that my sister used to like drinking mulberry wine? My brother has been looking for her for so long but still can't find her. Maybe she has already..." Wuyou wanted to break his lungs.

"Wuyou! It's a big holiday, we need to say auspicious words and eat!"

Well, I can finally eat in peace. I hate it when he picks food for himself. It’s disgusting. Or am I smart?

After Wuyou finished eating and left, Xuanxuan took out the fox tail and stroked it tenderly.

"Xiaoyao, where are you? I miss you so much! You must be alive and well."

Xiaoliu and Laomu were all very happy tonight. They drank quite a bit of wine, and Laomu cooked a lot of his signature dishes. It was a truly wonderful night. Xiaoliu drank, looking out at the heavy snow falling. He wondered what Xiangyao was doing. He really wanted to go find him, but Laomu and the others were still awake. He'd better go later!

"I'm sleepy. I'll go back to sleep first. You should also go to bed early. It's too cold. The quilt is more comfortable!" Xiaoliu thought that if she went to bed early, they would also go to bed early.

Wen Xiaoliu shook his head, wondering how he'd gotten drunk. He'd definitely drunk quite a bit tonight, and now the aftereffects were kicking in. Finally, dazed, he found the door, pushed it open, and backed out. He looked around again, dazed. Sure enough, it was her room, but why was that handsome man lying on her bed? Haha, he was so handsome.

Wen Xiaoliu closed the door and staggered towards the bed.

"Who are you, and why are you in my bed? Are you here to warm me? You're so pretty, you look just like an old friend of mine!"

Xiang Yao looked at Xiao Liu, who was so drunk that he couldn't even recognize her, and really wanted to give her a good beating. There was a hint of anger between his brows, and he hooked his finger at Xiao Liu.

"come over!"

Xiaoliu didn't know why, but she felt that she had to be obedient, otherwise the consequences would be serious.

There were so many figures in front of her that Xiaoliu couldn't see his face clearly. Her intuition told her that they were very familiar and she seemed to have this scene in her memory. She patted her head, trying to see more clearly.

Xiang Yao lost his temper, stood up and pulled her to sit down, then handed the hangover soup to Xiao Liu.

"Be good, drink it, and your headache will go away."

Xiaoliu didn't answer. He raised his head and stared at Xiang Yao blankly. He reached out to touch his silver hair, but then retracted his hand.

"Xiangliu, you appeared in my dream again. Why are you so gentle in my dream? It must be a dream. He was so fierce, I was afraid of him, but I couldn't help wanting to get close to him. But every time I got close to him, he always said something that hurt me so much. I felt so uncomfortable, sobbing... But now he's dead. I don't even have the chance to be scolded by him. My heart feels like it's been twisted into pieces. It hurts so much..."

"Xiao Liu, you're drunk, but I'm still here. I'm not dead. If you don't believe me, just touch me." Xiang Yao felt incredibly distressed as he watched Xiao Liu, now drunk and lost in a nightmare of her past life. It was his fault; he'd hurt her so much!

Xiang Yao took Xiaoliu's hand and put her palm against his chest. The strong heartbeat there made her a little dazed. Then she smiled foolishly, but quickly pulled her hand back.

"Hehe, you're not dead. Sister saved you. It's good that you're not dead. It's good that you're not dead..." Xiaoliu stepped back.

Xiang Yao seemed to notice her alienation. Was she being stupid again?

"Xiao Liu, I'm not Xiang Liu. My name is Xiang Yao now! Your Xiang Yao!"

"Xiang Yao? My Xiang Yao?"

"Yes, yours, the Xiang Yao who kisses and hugs you, loves and protects you!" Xiang Yao squatted down, letting her look him in the eye, so that she no longer had to look up at him. He was willing to bend his proud back for her! He had never given her a sense of security. In her heart, he was a beloved toy that could disappear at any moment, a hand that wanted to touch but withdrew...

"Really?" Xiaoliu's face was full of doubt.

"Really, have you forgotten? Your sister has already packed me up and given me to you. I am yours, and will always belong to you. I will love you, protect you, and accompany you. As long as you need me, I will be there!" Xiang Yao gently stroked her hair and coaxed her in a low voice.

"You're back? Oh, right! My Lord Xiangliu is back, wuwu... Why did you come back just now? Do you know that I've been looking for you for a long time, but I couldn't find you. I couldn't even find your clothes. I have nothing left, I have nothing..." Xiaoliu's face was covered with tears as he spoke, waving his hands desperately as if he was looking for something, but he found nothing...

Xiang Yao held her waving hand and coaxed her lovingly, "Here, I'm here, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere. Wherever you are, I'll be there!"

Xiang Yao hugged Xiao Liu tightly. It was he who made her suffer so much and it was he who made it impossible for her to find him.

Xiaoliu hugged Xiangyao tightly, muttering to himself, "I found you, I found you...

After a long silence, Xiang Yao tried to pry her open, but he couldn't. Listening to her even breathing, he knew she was asleep. Xiang Yao gently rubbed his face against hers. Unbeknownst to anyone, tears were already streaming down his face. He felt so sorry for his girl. There was no place for her in the world, and he, the only person who had brought her peace of mind and happiness, had left her. How desperate was she to choose to go with him, even though she had originally chosen to endure the heartache of life...