Power Up, Artist Yang!

Even though it was admittingly bland, the lack of seasoning or spices brought out the natural earthy flavor of the meat. Compared to normal meat such as chicken, the flavor was much more intense, which surprised Yujia since she expected it to be incredibly bland. In the modern era, she had rabbit before, but due to the fact that it was both a long time ago and seasoned to be extremely spicy, the taste of this natural, open-fire roasted rabbit was definitely a new experience for her.

In fact, Yujia had to say that over the time that she spent in this transmigrated world, her need for extreme flavors did decrease a bit. Fine salt was an expensive commodity, and so most of the common food was not heavily seasoned. Perhaps the Fourth Miss and her physical genetics also made it so that her tongue grew accustomed to eat less sodium and still taste great flavor.

Ultimately, the rabbit didn't taste bad at all. It was a good meal, for something out in the wild. 

Yujia passed on the praise in her thoughts to Zixu, applauding his ability to roast the rabbit. He seemed quite proud as well, a satisfied smile rising to his lips.

When the two of them neared the end of the meal, Yujia fed some scraps to Roubao. She then leaned back on a tree, lightly giving her sprained ankle a massage and stopping almost immediately when she realized that it pained her far too much. She looked up at the dark sky, sighing.

"I guess we really have to spend the night out here," she muttered. "I really didn't want to, but it seems like there's no other choice."

"It'll be fine," Zixu assured, "just like last time. I don't believe that there are any wolves or bears in the area, so no worries about that."

Yujia shuddered, pulling Roubao a little closer to her. "Why'd you have to mention bears?"

"Why? Are you scared?" he replied, tilting his head with a slight grin.

Yujia thought about a bear mauling her. And then, she had flashbacks to riding on a demonic horse which landed her in the "lost in the forest" scenario the first time around. The image of that horse, baring its teeth and rearing up into the sky, was practically seared in her mind.

She shook her head and placed a hand behind her neck. "No," she answered, "not at all. I've seen far worse animals."

"Horses?" Zixu asked. It was as if he read her thoughts.

Yujia parted her lips, about to ask how he knew, but then she realized that she told him about it before. And thus, of course Zixu remembered, with that genius brain of his.

She held her hands up. "Don't get me started on how scary they are, alright?" 

"How are we going to go traveling around the world if you're scared of riding a horse?" he continued with his questions. His eyebrows were knitted in concern.

"If fear is the problem, how about I teach you how to ride sometime soon? I have some experience."

"The last time someone tried to teach me, I almost died."

He blinked. "It won't be that way. Trust me. I wouldn't let you get into danger."

Yujia narrowed her eyes, wincing at the memory of Bo Zhizhong sending her flying on his demonic horse. Yet looking at Zixu, who was earnestly gazing back at her, she knew that an incident like that probably wouldn't happen again. Zhizhong was like a kid that only knew reckless fun without thinking of consequences. Zixu was different. Everything she knew about him to this point made that clear enough.

"What do you say?" Zixu pressed on, seeing her silence in contemplation.

"I trust you," she finally answered, the corners of her lips curving upwards. 

He nodded. "We'll add that to our to-do list, then, before traveling the world."

'We'. 

No matter how many times Yujia heard or spoke that word, it still brought a warm feeling to her heart when she thought about it. 

She knew that the two of them would have a struggle waiting ahead. Except right now, with Zixu looking at her so softly and smiles resting on both of their lips, she didn't want to ruin it all and talk about those negative things. Her small venting session before was enough for the day. Besides, like Zixu said before, they would face those struggles together.

…

It eventually came time to sleep. Yujia, leaning on the tree trunk, tried to make herself comfortable enough to doze off. 

Only then, Zixu, who was sitting next to her, on the adjacent side of the tree, took off the outer layer he wore over his disciple uniform robes. It was similar to the cloak he gave her last time, only thinner and more suitable for summer weather.

Reaching forward, he draped the fabric over her, making sure that they covered her entirely. 

"Hey," Yujia said, sitting straighter, "you really don't need to." Her hands raised up to the two edges of the "blanket".

He didn't pay much attention to her protests, leaning back. "I'm worried that you'll catch a cold. It's especially easy in this kind of summer weather, where you'd least expect it." 

"Last time, didn't you catch a cold because you lent me your cloak?" Yujia made a face at him.

"You have a point, but you should still take it," he insisted. "I won't catch a cold."

"If you do, it'll be quite the ironic joke. I'll be sure to laugh at you," she said.

He snorted. "Then, I apologize ahead of time for depriving you of that joke, since I shall not be getting sick from lending you this layer this evening."

Yujia's expression fell when she thought about a sick Zixu, and how he did poorly on his examinations because of his poor health. She didn't want something like that to happen again.

Sighing deeply, she moved herself closer to him, nudging him with her shoulder. She could feel his gaze on her as she moved the fabric over, draping it to cover both of them.

"There," she said, eyebrows raised, "doesn't that work?" She turned her face to look at him, realizing that their faces were close now.

Too close.

He had turned his head to face her, and when she looked over, their faces became perfectly lined up. Even with only dim light from the fire, she could see the slope of his nose and the angles of his features perfectly, along with his dark pupils. 

Yujia stared for a second, eyes sliding down to the shape of his lips, then glanced back down the moment she realized what she was doing. 

"Do you have any complaints?" she asked, feeling her heart skip just an extra beat.

He replied, as casual as ever, "This is fine."

"You'll be my shoulder pillow then," she hummed, distracting herself by leaning her head onto his shoulder. It was comfortable enough.

As Yujia stayed in that position, she realized, slowly, that she was more awake than ever. She squeezed her eyes shut. What topics could she think about to make herself fall asleep?

Her new puppy-son, Roubao? A new painting idea based on the sights she saw in the forest? Kissing Yu Zixu? Organizing her chaotic pile of paint supplies—

Wait.

Kissing Yu Zixu?

When did that idea slip into her mind? Yujia's eyes flew open, and she stared into the darkness.

The moment she acknowledged that thought as a resident in her mind, it was as if she could not chase it out. She promptly entered into mental-panic mode, all the while keeping her exterior self as calm as a rock.

She had never been in a relationship before, nor had she received any advice on being in a relationship. Her experience with romance was that of modern media and hearing gossip from a few ex-friends in college. Surely, modern standards couldn't be applied to ancient times. 

Wasn't kissing taboo until after marriage? Or was it not? Wasn't her using Zixu's shoulder as a pillow completely taboo and scandalous too, if kissing was not until after marriage?

At this thought, she stiffened up, recoiling away in a flash. 

"I'm sorry—" she blurted, "I don't think this is a good idea—"

"What?" Zixu, who had his eyes closed, opened them slowly. "Aren't you going to sleep?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"I was trying to—" 

"Then…" A soft smile still on his lips, his hand reached forward, cupping the side of her face. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. Once he did that, he pulled away, as if nothing just happened. "Good night. Sleep well," he wished her.

Yujia's face was completely flushed.

As if her mental screaming could not intensify any more… she knew that her brain was not going to calm down anytime soon after that. Yet how was Zixu just casually going to sleep like that?

…

Zixu had his eyes closed, head leaned back against the tree, regulating his breaths to appear calm.

On the inside, though…

What had he just done what had he just done what had he just done what had he just done what had he just done what had he just done what had he just done what had he just done what had he just done—