[TanGua] «Clear Stream» 02 - Novice driver Ye Tan’s first time on the road.

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Ye Tan returned to the Sword Pavilion.

The next day at noon, Ye Tan and Jun Xuanheng knelt on the bed after carefully bathing and burning incense.

The two of them wore unlined garments since, according to the Eldest Young Master’s suggestion, their clothes shouldn’t be too hard to take off, because it would break the rhythm when doing things, but they also shouldn’t be too easy to take off, because it would leave less opportunities for flirting.

Ye Tan was more serious than usual, and Jun Xuanheng didn’t even dare to breathe.

They sat for the length of half a cup of tea, and Jun Xuanheng couldn’t help but ask: “A-Tan, what are you waiting for?”

Ye Tan said: “The time.”

Jun Xuanheng: “What time?”

Ye Tan: “The time to sleep together.”

Jun Xuanheng: “How do you determine the time?”

Ye Tan: “You just know.”

Jun Xuanheng couldn’t help but praising him in his heart: Turns out this matter was so complex and elaborate, he really deserves to be my Ye Tan, luckily he has thought of everything.

Within a short time of kneeling, Jun Xuanheng’s legs were already sore, and it was hard for him to maintain a proper kneeling position.

Ye Tan naturally knew his health had never been good, so he let him do whatever he wanted.

Jun Xuanheng hurriedly shook his head: “No no, how could just I do whatever for such a serious matter?”

Ye Tan said: “Then we can discuss it another day.”

“That’s fine too.” Jun Xuanheng already deeply felt like this matter might be no fun at all, and he massaged his knees as he said: “A-Tan, there’ll be coloured lanterns at Qinhuai tonight, come to see them with me.”

Moling was located in the rainy Jiangnan, and Jun Xuanheng had always been fond of water, so the Sword Pavilion had countless decorated boats ready.

Today, they picked a small boat, and drifted along from the lake behind the Sword Pavilion all the way towards the river inside the city. Jun Xuanheng sat barefoot at the bow of the boat, the little bells between his ankles ringing out with the current. He didn’t know how to swim, and it was only because Ye Tan was by his side that he dared to be this unrestrained. Normally, he wouldn’t even dare to get on a boat alone.

1 A combination of two poems: The first part is from “Pipa Xing” by Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi about a pipa player, and the second part is from “Meeting Li Guinian South of the River” by Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu about a musician at the court of the emperor. Note that, for the second poem, the author used ‘便’ instead of the original ‘又’, so I changed the translation to be “meet [him] soon” instead of “meet [him] again”.