CH 23

Passing by a small town, Feng Si stopped the car and asked Lujing Shen to wait inside as he went to buy cigarettes.

“Just had the last one,” he reminded Lujing Shen. “I’ll be back soon. Stay here.”

Lujing Shen’s gaze followed him as he turned and saw Feng Si casually chatting and laughing with someone inside the cigarette shop. Five minutes later, when he came out, he had not only bought a pack of cigarettes but also two bottles of mineral water.

He threw one bottle to Lujing Shen, sat back in the car, twisted open the cap of the mineral water bottle with one hand, and skillfully unwrapped the cigarette pack with the other.

“Do you want more cigarettes?” he asked with a smile while looking at the person who had been staring at him.

Lujing Shen asked, “Do you know the people here too?”

“kinda,” Feng Si said nonchalantly, “I came here once two years ago with some friends on a road trip. We passed by this town and bought cigarettes at this shop. At the time, I didn’t have enough change, so I bought a lottery ticket. I didn’t take it with me and gave it to the shop owner. He just told me that the lottery ticket won him a hundred thousand euros. So, he remembered me. He recognized me as soon as I walked in, and the cigarettes and mineral water are his treat, free of charge.”

Lujing Shen looked at him, seemingly not entirely convinced. Feng Si casually lit a cigarette and flicked the ash off. “It’s true. Do you think I’m making up stories to amuse you?”

“A hundred thousand euros… and you gave it away?” Lujing Shen’s tone sounded like he couldn’t understand.

“At the time, I didn’t know it would win,” Feng Si said dismissively. “It was just a hundred thousand euros.”

“And also,” he continued, “a person’s luck is conserved. If I receive a windfall and give it away, maybe I’ll get some other good luck from elsewhere.”

He said that cryptically, and Lujing Shen pondered for a moment but couldn’t figure out what he was hinting at. He was too lazy to ask again, redirected Feng Si, and instructed him to continue driving forward.

Twenty minutes later, the car entered a sprawling estate nestled among green hills and clear waters.

Vast vineyards could be seen, and workers were busy with the final stages of the harvest. Further ahead was a European-style castle, hidden at the foot of the mountain and out of sight.

When they got out of the car, Feng Si looked around. Without someone to guide them, they would hardly have found their way there.

After Lujing Shen explained some matters to the estate steward who came to greet them, he left, and Feng Si called him back, “Alex, in the past, what month did you usually come here for vacation?”

Lujing Shen hesitated for a moment and said, “Early March.”

After the Spring Festival, the company had the least amount of work, so he had time to travel there. Also, during March, there were fewer workers on that side of the estate, unlike in the last two months, when people were everywhere for the grape harvest season.

But what Feng Si was thinking about was something else: two years ago, he also passed through that small town in early March.

Perhaps that was the moment when he was closest to Lujing Shen in over seven years.

Not finding him,he spent another two years, circling half the globe, before finally reaching this point.

If it weren’t for a bit of luck, he didn’t know how many more years he would have to travel.

“It seems like we’ve come at the wrong time,” Feng Si smiled and said, “I hope we won’t be interrupting anyone’s work.”

Lujing Shen said lightly, “It will be over in a few days, and the vineyards and winery are on the outskirts of the estate. No one will come here.”

Even the steward and the maids cleaning the castle had just taken their time off.

“Oh,” Feng Si’s smile held a deeper meaning. “Then why don’t you show me around and give me a tour?”

Lujing Shen turned around. “Let’s go.”

They descended along the spiral staircase, leading to the underground wine cellar. The aroma of wine mixed with a cool breeze greeted them.

Feng Si’s eyes lit up at the sight of the cellar, which contained at least tens of thousands of bottles of fine wine.

He casually picked up a bottle from the wine rack, looked at the origin and year, and asked Lujing Shen, “With so much wine, you can’t possibly drink it all by yourself?”

“It can be air freighted back to the country; there are many places it can be used,” Lujing Shen explained absentmindedly, showing little interest in discussing the topic further.

Feng Si asked, “How did you come up with the idea of buying this winery?”

Lujing Shen fell silent for a moment, not answering.

Feng Si didn’t press him, saying, “Shall we open two bottles and try them?”

Lujing Shen nodded slightly.

Feng Si selected a few bottles and skillfully opened and aired them. “Every time you come here, you don’t bring a friend to enjoy the wine together. Isn’t it more enjoyable to share it with someone?”

Lujing Shen remained silent, and Feng Si handed him a glass of wine. “Please.”

As if he were the owner of that wine cellar.

Lujing Shen accepted it, avoiding his overly focused gaze, and took a sip.

“Why are you in such a hurry, Mr Lu?” Feng Si leaned against the wall, looking at him with a smile, holding his wine glass out for a light touch. “Let’s drink together.”

Lujing Shen hesitated for a moment, then looked back at him and brought the wine to his lips again. The red wine flowed into his mouth, its rich and mellow aroma even more intoxicating than before.

For the rest of the afternoon, they continued to taste the wines in the cellar.

Lujing Shen was knowledgeable in that area, and he could discern even the most subtle differences in wine quality. As a result, he was quite picky.

Feng Si, on the other hand, didn’t pay much attention to such details, relying entirely on his intuition to pick wines from the shelf. Surprisingly, each wine he chose satisfied Lujing Shen.

In a way, they did indeed have a natural understanding of each other.

After drinking a bit too much wine, Lujing Shen felt a little dizzy and sleepy. He returned to his room on the third floor and quickly fell asleep. Seeing how soundly he was sleeping, Feng Si didn’t disturb him and walked to the window to pull back the curtains.

In front of them lay a vast sunflower field, basking in the sunlight and stretching towards the distant lake.

Feng Si squinted his eyes and looked for a while before reminiscing about something from the past.

When they first set out on their journey, they had driven past a sunflower field just like the one before them. They got out of the car and wandered among the flowers, enjoying the afterglow of the sunset. Naturally, they embraced, kissed, and made love in that field of flowers.

It was their first time together, just one week after they had met as strangers.

When Lujing Shen woke up, Feng Si was sitting on the couch playing with his phone. Hearing some movement, he turned his head and raised an eyebrow, “Awake?”

Lujing Shen was a bit dazed for a moment, then nodded and got up to wash his face in the bathroom.

Feng Si followed him and leaned against the door. “What do you want for dinner? Since you’ve given the staff time off, we’ll have to cook for ourselves.”

Lujing Shen splashed some cold water on his face and shook his head. “Anything is fine. The kitchen has everything you need; you decide.”

“I have to say,” Feng Si pulled him up and looked at his face, water droplets and shimmering eyes. He chuckled, “You seem a bit off today, don’t you think?”

Lujing Shen allowed him to hand him a towel to wipe his face, and he closed his eyes lightly.

Feng Si had a faint sense that since Lujing Shen had agreed to his proposal earlier in the day, there had been a subtle change in the atmosphere between them.

Lujing Shen had agreed, and there was no hint of regret.

Feng Si curved his lips and gently pressed at the corner of his eyes.

After going downstairs to the kitchen, Feng Si rummaged around casually. All the ingredients were there, already prepared by the steward in advance. It wouldn’t be a problem even if they were isolated there for two months.

He rolled up his sleeves. “Let’s cook dinner together.Let’s give it a try. Don’t judge me too harshly if it doesn’t turn out well, Mr Lu.”

Lujing Shen didn’t object and came forward after taking off his jacket to help him.

Feng Si looked at him with a smile and didn’t say anything.

After making dinner together, as the evening descended, they walked out from the back of the castle and strolled through the sunflower field.

Lujing Shen remained silent all the way, and Feng Si turned back to ask him, “Did you have someone plant these?”

Lujing Shen replied, “This sunflower field was already here when I bought the winery.”

“Is that so?” Feng Si’s tone sounded somewhat regretful. “I thought there was some special meaning behind it.”

Lujing Shen knew what Feng Si was referring to. When he bought the winery, he was immediately drawn to that field of flowers. Perhaps there was some special meaning, or perhaps not, but only there, he could find a moment of relaxation and peace.

He had never imagined that one day he would bring Feng Si there.

“The sun is setting soon,” Feng Si suddenly said.

Lujing Shen snapped out of his thoughts and followed Feng Si’s gaze. The twilight was beautiful, the setting sun cast a warm glow, and the clouds on the horizon merged with the dusky sky.

The bells from the church on the mountain rang out, faintly carried by the wind.

Lost in thought for a moment, Lujing Shen turned his gaze back to Feng Si. “What is it, Alex?”

Feng Si took a step forward, his tall figure casting a shadow over Lujing Shen, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Were you daydreaming again just now?”

Lujing Shen replied, “…No.”

Feng Si came almost face to face with him and said, “You were definitely daydreaming. You seem really off today, don’t you?”

Being too close, Lujing Shen’s breathing became slightly uneasy. He was drawn to Feng Si’s intense gaze, those black and bright eyes captivating him. After a moment, he finally spoke, “No.”

Feng Si said, “With you acting like this, I feel like kissing you.”

Before Lujing Shen could react, Feng Si pulled him closer by the waist and leaned in to kiss him naturally.

Lujing Shen didn’t refuse.

Sensing his compliance, Feng Si pulled him even closer, and their kisses became more and more lingering.

A quiet and prolonged kiss, and when they parted, not only Lujing Shen but even Feng Si’s breath was in disarray.

Feng Si’s fingers lightly brushed against Lujing Shen’s lips, a smile appearing in his eyes. “Do you want to go back?”

Lujing Shen didn’t answer, staring at him in a daze.

Feng Si withdrew his hand. “Then let’s go back.”

As Feng Si turned around, Lujing Shen reached out and grabbed his arm.

Feng Si turned back, raising an eyebrow. 

Lujing Shen’s fingers tightened, and he struggled to speak, “I accept your proposal.”

Feng Si asked, “I know?”

His throat rolled, and he finally said, “So make love to me like you used to, take me.”