To Raise a Soul 49.1

Han Ya flagged down a taxi. She’d cut a sorry figure as she left the restaurant. Wu Xuan watched as the taxi steadily moved further away and turned at a street corner. His expression was blank for a moment before his normal look returned. Seeing Yin Yan finally stand up straight after a round of smooching, Wu Xuan shouted, “Yin Yan, come up for a drink!” 

Yin Yan touched Yu Zhen’s tomato colored face. Then he turned sideways to look up to the second floor of the restaurant, keeping Yu Zhen’s figure out of sight of the others. After Yin Yan’s gaze moved to the man dressed in the flax colored shirt, he looked down, took out his phone, and called Wu Xuan.

Wu Xuan was surprised to hear his phone ring. He eyed Yin Yan as he fished out his phone and said, “We’re facing each other, yet you’re calling. What? Do you think that shouting in the street is unsightly? Just now, you even had the guts to kiss in broad daylight.”

“Yu Zhen will be embarrassed.”

Yin Yan’s voice was transmitted through the phone. He had turned around again to look into the car. It seemed as if Yu Zhen had done something. 

“I won’t be heading up. I’ll invite you for a meal another day.”

“Ai, how can you…” Wu Xuan was about to add a few words when his gaze swept over Shi Qingyuan, who was standing beside him. In the end, he said, “Alright, alright. Family matters are more important. Let’s get together another time. Ok, ok, you don’t need to say sorry. I was the one who stupidly made a scene. Ai, you, didn’t I say you don’t need to say sorry? What do you mean you want to order us drinks? We’re all brothers here, don’t talk like we’re strangers. Alright, alright, go do your thing. I’m hanging up. I’m really hanging up.”

Yin Yan, who didn’t mention paying for drinks, or anything happening at home: “…”

After his solo act, Wu Xuan hung up the phone and turned back around. He closed the window and, with a smile, said to his brothers, “Yin Yan has something to deal with. Let’s not bother with him. Keep eating. After watching that show, the dishes will have almost gone cold.”

Shi Qingyuan’s line of sight was blocked by Wu Xuan shutting the window. He glanced at Wu Xuan and then returned to his seat. 

When others saw that he had taken a seat, they too returned to their seats, one by one. A slightly chubby friend, who had a closer relationship with Wu Xuan, took a seat and then asked,  “Wu Xuan, when did you and Yin Yan get so friendly? In the past, the two of you…”

When Wu Xuan finally sat down, he made a face which seemed to say that past issues shouldn’t be brought up again and said, “It was an unfortunate situation for everyone involved. At the time of my car accident, he was the one who helped me. Alright, that’s enough, don’t mention past foolishness that shouldn’t be mentioned. Leave me some face. Also, Yin Yan and his partner have a good relationship. In the future, if you guys bump into Yin Yan, don’t talk any nonsense, or you might ruin their husbandly mood.”

Understanding that he didn’t want to discuss the issue anymore, the slightly chubby man joked, “You sure know how to save face.”

Wu Xuan gave him a satisfied look and was about to change the topic when the usually quiet Shi Qingyuan spoke up. He looked at the low-key Guan Tianyu, who sat diagonally opposite him, and asked, “Young Master Guan, I heard that Yin Yan sold you the box of pearls which I had bought from you?”

Guan Tianyu was stunned and asked, “How did you know?”

He noticed too late that his tone was too casual and was about to fix it when Shi Qingyuan continued, “I learned about it by chance. The quality of those pearls was too good. If possible, I’d like to buy another box.”

With some awkwardness, Guan Tianyu replied, “To tell you the truth, I only had one box. I’d asked Yin Yan about it, thinking I could give one box to my Mom or find a supplier, but Yin Yan had bought it randomly while overseas. So I don’t know its origins, nor do I have any surplus.”

The slightly chubby friend asked curiously, “Why would Yin Yan sell pearls? He can’t be short on money?”

Guan Tianyu shook his head. “That’s not it. He came to me to purchase a property. I guess he didn’t want to owe me a favor for buying my personal property. He saw that I was in the gem and jewel industry, so he paid for it with the pearls.

“So that’s how it was. He was very thoughtful.” The slightly chubby man looked enlightened.

After hearing the explanation, Shi Qingyuan sighed that he didn’t have good fate with the pearls, and no longer mentioned buying them. He then asked the group for the reason that they had gathered.

The atmosphere of the banquet turned lively as Wu Xuan and the rest of the group began cheerfully giving toasts. However, in the back of his mind, Wu Xuan made a mental note of Shi Qingyuan’s words and decided to call Yin Yan about it later.

In a black car on the road, Yu Zhen sat in the passenger seat with his head down. His face was red, his ears were red, and his soul had escaped into the heavens. 

“Does your nose still hurt?”

The cool voice which usually made others feel calm suddenly seemed to hold a hint of heat, putting Yu Zhen’s body in an impatient and eager state.

Yu Zhen unconsciously held his breath and shook his head wildly. He wanted to look at Yin Yan, but didn’t dare to do so. His neck twisted to an awkward angle and he vaguely murmured, “You, you just…”

“What is it?” Yin Yan looked at him.

Yu Zhen looked outside the window, raised his voice, and replied, “Nothing! I-I was talking about your car! Your car is still parked outside of the Japanese restaurant.”

“A driver will bring it back.” From the corner of his eyes, Yin Yan could see that Yu Zhen had been staring out of the window the whole time. The emotion he passed onto Yin Yan hadn’t calmed at all. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Yin Yan began, “Yu Zhen, I…”

“Don’t say it!” Yu Zhen suddenly turned his head to look at Yin Yan with bright eyes. “Pay attention when you’re driving! Don’t talk! Starting from now, until the car stops, whoever talks first is a dog!”

“…”

Yan Yan simply pulled over to the side of the road.

Yu Zhen’s eyes widened. He turned to open the car door, his heart thumping energetically as if it were ready to leap out of his chest at any second.

But the door was locked, so he couldn’t open it.

Yin Yan undid his seat belt and leaned over. He placed his hands on Yu Zhen’s shoulders and pulled him back, then looked at him quietly. 

Eyes wide, Yu Zhen looked at him, and then he retracted his hands so that they rested on his chest. Bit by bit, his face, ears, and neck turned red, and his head dipped lower. He averted his gaze as if his life depended on it. 

Yin Yan’s grip on Yu Zhen’s shoulder tightened and he pulled Yu Zhen closer.

Badump. Badump. Badump.

It was hard to tell whose heart was making the noise. There was an ambiguous and thick atmosphere about them. Yin Yan’s breath moved closer and Yu Zhen found his body leaning forwards. He seemed to already feel the heat from the person before him. 

Help. I can’t breathe.

Yu Zhen wanted to take a deep breath, but he didn’t dare to. When he finally noticed that Yin Yan had hooked a finger around his chin, he reflexively shut his eyes, preparing himself to give away his third kiss. 

In the darkened world, his senses were magnified.

Yin Yan’s thumb gently pressed on his lips as his eyelashes quivered. Then, his courage suddenly made its comeback and he lowered his hands from his chest, and moved them towards Yin Yan. 

I-if we could…

“Open your mouth.”

Yin Yan moved closer and pressure was added to the thumb on his lips. Yu Zhen couldn’t help pursing his lips. When he realized his lips were pressed up against Yin Yan’s thumb, he quickly relaxed them. He obediently opened his lips and his body trembled in his nervousness.

I-is it happening?

Open mouth. I-is it a french kiss?

It’s only the third kiss. Is it going too fast?

No! No! No! That doesn’t matter! Let’s kiss. If Yin Yan wants it, I-I’d be alright with it.

The thumb on his lips moved away and his body was pulled further forward. Yu Zhen’s eyelashes quivered again. He wanted to see what Yin Yan looked like at that moment, but he was too shy to try. 

The familiar energy drew nearer, and a warm breath seemed to brush against his face. 

It’s – it’s happening! 

Yu Zhen’s outstretched hand finally grasped Yan Yan’s shirt, and he grasped it firmly.

“Eat this, take a deep breath, and calm your heart.”

Yin Yan’s voice rang in Yu Zhen’s ears, then he felt a coolness on his lips. A pill was pressed in. Once it touched his tongue, it turned into a cool liquid which quickly ended up in his stomach. The energy moved through him, spreading into his four limbs.

Fwoosh.

The restlessness in his body and heart were all swept away by the cool energy, leaving only a vague desire to become an immortal.

Yu Zhen opened his eyes. His face was no longer red. His heart no longer beat quickly. His gaze was neither full of desires nor demands. He had a numb expression.

Yin Yan placed a hand on Yu Zhen’s forehead and said, “Don’t think unnecessary things. Intense moods are not good for your cultivation.”

“……”

“…………”

“………………”

Your sister! What cultivation?!

The cool feeling was overtaken by resentment and anger. Yu Zhen’s eyes met with Yin Yan’s gaze, which had been calm and tolerant the whole time. He couldn’t help but lean against Yin Yan’s chest and listen intently.

An unreasonably steady heartbeat sounded in his ears. It was a sharp contrast to his earlier excitement. 

Yu Zhen became even more frustrated. He straightened himself up and placed his hands on Yin Yan’s shoulders. His gaze dropped to Yin Yan’s lips, and with wicked intent rising from his anger-born courage, he leaned down and bit Yin Yan’s lip until it split. Then he licked the blood and leaned back confidently. Like a hoodlum, he rubbed his lips and smiled, “This beauty’s taste is not bad. It’s sweet.”

Inside the jade pendant, San’er was shocked. Fuck! Master is very bold!

The energy around Yin Yan immediately did a one-eighty and he stared at Yu Zhen with a profound look.

Just as terror began to rise within him, Yin Yan suddenly sat back down, started the car, and stepped on the accelerator.

“!!!”

Yu Zhen quickly fastened his seatbelt and firmly gripped the grab handle above him. The courage from before all disappeared, leaving him to shrink into his seat as he shivered.

I-I’m finished.

He swallowed his saliva as he felt the cool energy emanating from Yin Yan. Recalling his earlier prank, he concluded that he didn’t have long to live.