Chapter 8
Lu Lin was momentarily stunned, then realized who Lu Mian’s target of revenge was. Speechlessness washed over him again.
“Stones don’t trip people with their legs,” he said, then corrected himself, “Stones don’t have legs.”
Lu Lin rubbed his temples. “Let’s go back.”
Lu Mian puffed out his cheeks, stubbornly refusing to move, as if he wouldn’t leave until he had his revenge.
The two stood there in a stalemate.
From behind, Chu Bai Xu’s gaze drifted over.
Look, they’re arguing. Who could tolerate Lu Mian’s awful temper?
Chu Bai Xu watched as Lu Lin raised his hand.
Oh ho, they’re going to fight.
The anticipated scene didn’t happen.
Chu Bai Xu: ?
This wasn’t how he imagined it. Chu Bai Xu stared in disbelief as Lu Lin hoisted Lu Mian onto his shoulder.
Lu Mian was caught off guard, his stomach pressed against Lu Lin’s shoulder. He hadn’t expected the villain to be able to carry him like this. He held his breath, about to suffocate, and was just about to hit him when…
Lu Lin, as if anticipating his move, said, “Move and I’ll drop you.”
Lu Mian froze, about to move again, when his mouth was pinched shut: o3o!
He predicted my move!
And he’s carrying me with one hand!
Seventeen or eighteen was the age of peak self-esteem.
After a brief pause, Lu Mian started struggling.
“You always like to bite,” a warm breath brushed against his gauze-wrapped palm, some escaping through his fingers. Lu Lin paused. “Are you a puppy?”
Lu Mian was even angrier upon hearing this.
If he were a dog, he would bite Lu Lin first.
Before Lu Mian could struggle again, Lu Lin tightened his hold, his strength surprising. Lu Mian had no room to resist this time. He kicked his legs, and when his legs were also restrained, he finally quieted down.
As they approached the carriage, Lu Mian was put down. He stomped his foot, and a cheerful female voice suddenly rang out, “Mian Mian!”
Lu Mian tilted his head in confusion, his eyes meeting Madam Chu’s as she strode towards them. “Long time no see, you’ve grown so much! Come here and let Auntie see you.”
Before Lu Mian could react, Madam Chu stepped forward and ruffled his hair, then pinched his cheeks. Having been on the battlefield with her husband, Madam Chu had some martial arts training. Although she didn’t use much force, Lu Mian’s cheeks flushed red.
“Hmm?” Madam Chu suddenly paused.
Lu Mian instantly became alert. He hadn’t said a word yet; could she have seen through his act? Thinking of his current persona, he was just about to do something when…
He heard the person in front of him say, “Why aren’t you hiding today?”
Madam Chu chuckled and rubbed Lu Mian’s cheeks again, sighing, “In the past, you would have slipped away as soon as I reached out. You never let me pinch your cheeks.” Now she was finally satisfying her urge.
Lu Mian: —。—
So his reaction wasn’t as fast as the original owner’s.
Lu Mian took advantage of her momentary distraction and ducked down. Madam Chu only managed to grab a strand of his hair. Lu Mian quickly moved a step away.
Madam Chu: “?”
Madam Chu reached out slightly.
Lu Mian was caught.
Lu Mian: 0.0.
Madam Chu couldn’t help but laugh. “Mian Mian, what are you doing?”
Lu Mian, his escape attempt foiled, blushed: Damn it! How is she so fast? Director! I want a redo!
“Mian Mian was injured a few days ago,” Tao Rouxuan said, walking over with a smile in her eyes, seeing her son becoming more lively these days. “He doesn’t remember some things.”
Madam Chu was stunned, then her gaze towards Lu Mian softened with sympathy. “I see. Are you feeling better now?”
Lu Mian didn’t speak, deciding to be a little mischievous.
Feeling guilty now, huh? Hmph, serves you right for rubbing and pinching me!
Tao Rouxuan explained further. Seeing the sadness in her eyes, Madam Chu said, “We’ll offer a few more incense sticks later. Buddha will bless Mian Mian.”
Madam Chu, whose husband was often away at war, had gradually become a Buddhist.
Just as Tao Rouxuan was about to reply, a voice suddenly interjected, “I don’t believe in Buddha, and I won’t spread Buddhism!”
Everyone looked at Lu Mian, even Lu Lin, who had been standing to the side, turned his head slightly. Lu Mian’s face was full of disbelief, his demeanor radiating an air of “I’m the best in the world.”
“Amitabha,” Tao Rouxuan quickly bowed towards Han Guang Temple on the mountaintop. “Children’s words are innocent, may Buddha forgive him.”
Lu Mian was unconvinced. Buddha is powerful, Buddha is almighty, why doesn’t Buddha send me back? So he started spouting nonsense. “Buddha doesn’t offer free shipping, but I offer free shipping nationwide!”
Tao Rouxuan interrupted him in a low voice. “Mian Mian!”
She was a bit anxious, but Madam Chu, hearing Lu Mian’s nonsense, couldn’t help but smile.
Who said he was a fool? Isn’t this quite interesting?
Lu Mian exchanged a glance with Tao Rouxuan, his thick eyelashes fluttering, his gaze drifting. “Free shipping, really.”
Tao Rouxuan parted her lips to speak, but a burst of laughter came from afar. “Hahaha, hahaha.”
Everyone looked towards the source of the sound again.
Chu Bai Xu, who had followed Lu Mian and Lu Lin, was surprised to see Madam Chu. Having trained in martial arts since childhood, his hearing was excellent. He had overheard the conversation between Madam Chu and Tao Rouxuan and was surprised to learn that Lu Mian had lost his memory.
And had become a fool.
Just as he was wondering about it, he heard Lu Mian comparing himself to Buddha and couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing everyone looking at him, he paused, and his laughter abruptly stopped when he met Lu Mian’s gaze.
Lu Mian: →v→.
He stared at Chu Bai Xu, unblinking.
Chu Bai Xu felt uncomfortable under his gaze, the shame of having his poems recited to his face by Lu Mian resurfacing.
Was he really a fool, or was he faking it?
Lu Mian continued to stare, his curiosity piqued.
The book said that Chu Bai Xu knew martial arts, with a strong body and the ability to leap across rooftops and scale walls. He wondered if he could give him a ride.
He thought for a moment, then said to Chu Bai Xu, “Accept mount.”
Chu Bai Xu: “???”
What was this fool talking about?
The others were also confused.
Lu Mian was about to speak again when Lu Lin suddenly appeared before him. He stared at him, wondering what he was doing here.
After a pause, Lu Mian looked at Lu Lin hesitantly. “Mount full, accept disciple?”
One disciple, one mount, just the right amount.
Lu Lin’s expression darkened.
A roar suddenly erupted.
“Why am I the mount?!” Chu Bai Xu strode forward.
Lu Mian exclaimed, his eyes sparkling as he looked past Lu Lin at Chu Bai Xu.
Chu Bai Xu suddenly realized his outburst and fell silent.
“I have a mount now,” Lu Mian said to Lu Lin, smiling, a dimple appearing on his left cheek, his eyes sparkling like stars.
Lu Lin fell silent, the emotions in his heart dissipating. He nodded. “Mm.”
Chu Bai Xu: “…” He’s not even listening to me, is he?
Feeling a blockage in his chest, Chu Bai Xu turned to look at Madam Chu.
The next second, laughter erupted.
Chu Bai Xu saw Madam Chu doubled over with laughter. “See, I told you the two brothers would have something to talk about.”
Seeing the sparkle in her son’s eyes, Tao Rouxuan felt a pang of nostalgia and nodded. “Mm.”
Before even entering the temple, Lu Mian had already gained a lot. He happily followed the group towards Han Guang Temple, finding everything fascinating.
The group walked and stopped, looking at Lu Mian’s curious figure with amusement.
Chu Bai Xu, who had inexplicably become someone’s mount, looked at the figure in front of him, a complicated expression on his face.
As they were about to reach Han Guang Temple, Chu Bai Xu, while the others were talking to the young monk who had come to greet them, quietly walked towards Lu Mian, who was squatting by a stone lantern in front of the temple.
Lu Lin, standing beside Tao Rouxuan, raised his eyes slightly.
Chu Bai Xu walked up to Lu Mian. “Hey.”
After saying that, he felt awkward.
Lu Mian slowly raised his head to look at him. “First, my name is not ‘Hey’!”
Chu Bai Xu: “…”
His awkwardness instantly vanished. He touched his face and carefully studied Lu Mian.
Previously, in Chu Bai Xu’s eyes, Lu Mian had been a despicable, sneaky little villain, never worthy of a direct glance.
Unexpectedly, after his injury and memory loss, he was much more pleasing to the eye.
Chu Bai Xu crossed his arms and looked Lu Mian up and down, his eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of menace. “What did you just say?”
Regardless of what Lu Mian had been like before, he was a fool now, so why was he still acting so smug?
Lu Mian, completely oblivious, beckoned him.
Chu Bai Xu frowned. “What do you mean?”
Lu Mian beckoned again, rubbing his neck, his intention clear.
Chu Bai Xu understood. Lu Mian was still beckoning, signaling him to squat down.
He had been looking up for a while, and his neck was sore.
Chu Bai Xu couldn’t help but squat down with a disdainful look on his face.
Lu Mian only slightly raised his eyes, their gazes finally level. He repeated word by word, “Accept mount.”
Chu Bai Xu’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”
He was exasperated. “Who told you to say that!”
Lu Mian blinked.
Hadn’t he asked? If not that, then what?
Chu Bai Xu said, “What skills do you have? You still want me to be your mount.”
Lu Mian gave a nonsensical reply: “You’re unskilled.”
Chu Bai Xu was repeatedly rendered speechless by his answers, and he laughed in exasperation. “I’m unskilled?”
Lu Mian nodded, affirming his words.
Chu Bai Xu was about to explode when Lu Mian continued, “I’ll test you, if you don’t believe me.”
“Test me?” Chu Bai Xu, now engaged in the conversation without a second thought, said, “Fine, go ahead.”
Confident in both his martial and literary skills, Chu Bai Xu scoffed inwardly. A little fool wanted to test him?
Lu Mian asked, “When I was walking just now, did I step with my left foot or my right foot first?”
Chu Bai Xu, who had been prepared to show off his knowledge, froze, his smile vanishing. “What?”
Lu Mian said proudly, “I bet you don’t even know which foot you stepped with first just now!”
Chu Bai Xu paused, lost in thought.
Which foot had he stepped with first?
Lu Mian chuckled.
Chu Bai Xu continued to think, his voice uncertain. “Left foot?”
Lu Mian narrowed his eyes, smiling like a little fox.
“Wait!” Seeing his expression, Chu Bai Xu quickly said, “Right foot!”
“Right foot! Is that right?” Chu Bai Xu looked at him eagerly.
Lu Mian touched his head, puzzled. “You don’t even know yourself, and you’re asking me?”
Who knew which foot he stepped with first?
Lu Mian turned the tables. “You’re so strange.”
Chu Bai Xu choked, feeling suffocated.
He really was a fool.
And he, a fool himself, was here arguing with a little fool.
Seeing Chu Bai Xu’s frustrated expression, Lu Mian laughed inwardly, his dimples appearing: 0v0.
After having his fun, Lu Mian immediately got up and ran.
He scanned the courtyard and dashed towards a certain direction, hiding behind Lu Lin.
Chu Bai Xu stood there, wondering why he had even entertained Lu Mian’s question, before finally catching up. “Hey, brat, come here!”
He pointed at Lu Mian, who shrank further behind Lu Lin.
Lu Mian hid completely behind Lu Lin, clutching his robe. Only a fool would go out there.
Just as he thought this, the person in front of him suddenly moved aside. His fingers grasped at air, and he was exposed to Chu Bai Xu, his expression a mixture of terror and resentment as he looked at Lu Lin, who had stepped away.
Oh no, I’ve become a real fool.
Chu Bai Xu sneered, clenching his fists. “You dare trick me, huh?”
He reached for Lu Mian, who was about to dodge, when a familiar figure flashed before him, blocking his path.
“Young Master Lu, step aside,” Chu Bai Xu said, looking at Lu Lin.
Lu Lin didn’t speak.
Lu Mian instantly darted behind Lu Lin. “Blegh.”
Lu Lin paused and turned around.
Lu Mian: OuO.
He froze mid-blegh, retracting his tongue, then blinked and smiled at him.
The boy’s lips were red, his teeth white, his face fair. A thin layer of sweat covered his cheeks from running, shimmering like gold dust under the sunlight. His smile was faint, his dimples hidden.
Lu Lin looked away, no longer looking at him.
Chu Bai Xu, unable to catch him, gritted his teeth. Seeing Lu Mian’s smiling eyes and playful tongue, he unexpectedly felt a flicker of amusement.
Perhaps Lu Mian becoming a fool wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
At least he wasn’t as annoying as before.
Just as he was thinking this, a voice reached his ears.
“Mount!”
Chu Bai Xu’s eyes instantly sharpened.
Wrong, wrong!
Still annoying.
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to grab him again. Lu Mian clung to Lu Lin like a lifeline, refusing to let go.
With Lu Lin in the way, Chu Bai Xu couldn’t reach him, feeling rather helpless.
Madam Chu, who had finished talking to the young monk, burst out laughing at this scene. “Sister-in-law, look, the children are having fun together.”
Seeing the three of them messing around, Tao Rouxuan didn’t bother correcting her address and smiled. “Let’s go then.” She would leave them here; she and Madam Chu would go in and pay their respects.
Madam Chu nodded. She hadn’t brought her son along to accompany her to offer incense. Knowing his temperament, he wouldn’t be able to sit still inside, and she didn’t want to bring him in and risk disrespecting Buddha.
When the two ladies returned from offering incense, the three boys were nowhere to be seen. The servants who had stayed behind informed them that they had gone to the bamboo grove behind the temple’s meditation hall.
The two ladies exchanged glances and headed towards the bamboo grove.
In the bamboo grove, Lu Mian was sprawled on a large rock in a small clearing. Chu Bai Xu, his hands on his hips, said with a triumphant smile, “Brat, do you know you’re wrong now?”
Lu Mian ignored him, staring intently at Lu Lin.
“No helping him!” Chu Bai Xu knew he would call for help.
Lu Mian puffed out his cheeks angrily. “Why not!”
He just wanted someone to be his mount so he could experience the feeling of flying. Why was he being so persistent? Emboldened by Lu Lin’s protection, Lu Mian shouted at Chu Bai Xu, “I don’t have any cough syrup!”
“What syrup?” Chu Bai Xu was puzzled.
Lu Mian ignored him, one hand clutching Lu Lin’s sleeve, careful to avoid his fingers, remembering his aversion to physical contact.
Lu Lin lowered his eyes, his mind wandering. The boy’s soft mumbling voice, slightly complaining, tickled his ears.
The sleeve in his hand was tugged. Lu Lin lowered his head, and Lu Mian looked up at him. “Tired.”
Lu Mian wanted Lu Lin to shield him from Chu Bai Xu so he could rest.
He didn’t know how far they had run; he couldn’t walk another step, his whole body felt weak.
Chu Bai Xu said, “Admit defeat if you’re tired.”
Lu Mian refused to talk to his mount and turned his head away.
Ignored, Chu Bai Xu found Lu Mian increasingly amusing. He hadn’t realized that his foolish cousin could be so entertaining. He should have become a fool sooner.
Lu Mian, completely unaware of being mocked, noticed Lu Lin staring at him, his gaze unwavering. He raised his hand and rubbed his face.
No flowers growing there.
Lu Mian: 0.0.
Then why was he staring?
Lu Lin’s gaze deepened, and under Lu Mian’s watchful eyes, he bent down.
The next moment, Lu Mian was scooped up into his arms.
Lu Mian: OvO!
He… he’s carrying me!
Remembering Lu Lin’s tendencies from the book, Lu Mian instinctively reached behind him to cover himself.
“Restless again.”
Lu Mian looked up and saw Lu Lin’s sharp jawline, more defined than his life plan. Lu Lin looked down at him with a cold expression, his eyes flashing with a sharp glint.
Lu Mian froze, the words “move and I’ll drop you” echoing in his mind. He obediently curled up, trying to minimize contact with the other.
He was being good now, so no touching allowed.
Lu Mian stayed alert for a few moments, but perhaps because of the excessive exercise, or perhaps because the embrace was too warm, he soon closed his eyes.
Lu Lin, who had only taken a few steps, noticed something and looked down.
Lu Mian: zzzZZZ
Chu Bai Xu caught up, about to speak, when Lu Lin glared at him.
At the same time, he saw Lu Mian sleeping soundly in Lu Lin’s arms.
“Is he a pig?” Chu Bai Xu whispered. He had never seen anyone fall asleep so fast.
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard a voice: “Shut up!”
Lu Mian, seemingly sensing something in his sleep, threw a punch at the air. “This is rock, this is paper! Your rock and paper are both pigs!”
