Getting Caught Up In His Cycle Of Passionate Love - Chapter 21

Xu Tao Yue, I miss you so much.

In the end, Xu Tao Yue couldn’t run anymore. Lu Que had taken a phone call and gone somewhere. After resting for a few minutes, she started walking on her own. She didn’t know where she was going, but after taking a winding, roundabout path, she ended up in front of a ginkgo tree.

A wind chime hung from it, and a gentle breeze would create a clear, echoing sound. Red ribbons were tied to the trunk, each one bearing people’s most beautiful wishes. Xu Tao Yue followed the stone path and found herself face-to-face with an old man selling red ribbons. He smiled at her and offered her one. “Are you here to make a wish too, little girl?”

“A wish?”

“That’s right. That’s our wishing tree here. It’s very powerful,” the old man explained kindly. “This red ribbon is only given to the fated. This place is secluded, so people usually don’t come here. If someone comes, it means they were guided by destiny.”

Xu Tao Yue took a red ribbon and ran her fingers over it. Thinking there was no harm in it, she was happy to leave a wish here. “Thank you, Grandpa.”

Xu Tao Yue took a pen and carefully wrote down the wish in her heart, stroke by stroke. The old man watched her with a smile as she walked toward the tree. She stopped in front of it and wondered if a higher spot would have a better chance of her wish coming true. She looked for a way to climb the tree but couldn’t find one. With no other options, she decided to just start climbing.

She put her left foot on the trunk and quickly scrambled up to a fork in the tree. Xu Tao Yue worked hard to get up, but then she didn’t dare go any higher. She had to comfort herself. “That’s high enough, that’s high enough. This spot is good.”

Finally, after choosing a spot, she started tying a knot. But the red ribbon suddenly slipped and fell to a lower branch. Xu Tao Yue sighed and had to climb down to get it. With the experience from the first two tries, she easily tied a tight knot.

She clapped her hands, satisfied with her accomplishment, and put her hands on her hips. After making sure the ribbon wouldn’t fall off, she glanced down. It was a good thing she looked. Lu Que had been standing at the base of the tree for who knows how long. Xu Tao Yue was so startled that she shook, causing the branch she was sitting on to wobble. Lu Que was also startled by her sudden movement and instinctively reached out his hands as if to catch her.

Xu Tao Yue steadied herself and was amused by his reaction. Lu Que, seeing this ungrateful girl still rocking back and forth, felt his heart jump to his throat. “Stop laughing, and get down. Don’t you know this is dangerous?”

Xu Tao Yue smiled at him and pointed to where she had just tied the ribbon. “Lu Que, look! It’s not the highest spot, but I can guarantee it’s the most secure!”

Lu Que couldn’t hear a word she was saying. He hadn’t spoken while she was tying the ribbon, but now that he saw her being so reckless, he just wanted her to get down safely. Xu Tao Yue knew it was a little dangerous, so she carefully made her way down. She finally landed on the ground. She was actually quite proud of herself. She patted the dust off her clothes, put her hands on Lu Que’s shoulders, and raised an eyebrow. “See? I’m so capable. How could I fall and hurt myself?”

Now that she was down, Lu Que’s sarcastic tongue returned. “You didn’t fall this time, but be careful next time, no one might dare to catch you.”

Xu Tao Yue leaned in closer. “How could that be? Student Lu will always be there to help me!”

“That’s not a guarantee.” Lu Que finally had the leisure to look at the place.

“Hmph, I don’t believe you.” Xu Tao Yue had endless confidence in Lu Que.

Lu Que glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “How did you find this place?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Xu Tao Yue said, wagging her index finger. “This was a guidance of destiny.”

Lu Que chuckled, but he couldn’t help but ask, “So what did you write on it?”

Xu Tao Yue shook her head, mysteriously replying, “You guess.”

Lu Que: “…”

“In that case, never mind.”

Lu Que held up a red ribbon in his hand. Xu Tao Yue’s eyes lit up instantly. “Let me see, let me see! What did you write, Lu Que?”

Lu Que raised his arm slightly to keep Xu Tao Yue from reaching it. “You guess.”

Xu Tao Yue was immediately deflated. She tugged on his clothes. “Please, Lu Que, just tell me.”

Lu Que pointed to the red ribbon Xu Tao Yue had just hung on the tree. “So, it’s a double standard?”

Xu Tao Yue laughed awkwardly. “Well, in that case, I don’t really want to know anyway.” Even as she said this, Xu Tao Yue was secretly leaning forward, trying to catch a glimpse of what Lu Que had written from the corner of her eye.

Lu Que was much faster and more agile at climbing the tree than Xu Tao Yue. Seeing him walk straight toward her red ribbon, Xu Tao Yue, who was standing below, grew anxious. “Lu Que!! I don’t allow your wish ribbon to be next to mine.”

Lu Que looked down at her. Xu Tao Yue stood with her hands on her hips, looking up at him. “Why not?” Lu Que asked, wanting to tease her.

“Because if you do that, you’ll be able to see what I wrote!” Xu Tao Yue was so anxious she started hopping. “I forbid you to go over there! You have to hang yours on the right!”

Lu Que had no choice. He turned around and hung his ribbon right next to hers, just a step away. Xu Tao Yue nodded in satisfaction. “Now come down! Don’t stay up there. That height is actually a little scary.”

Lu Que stood up, then his foot slipped. His hand instinctively reached out to grab something, but he lost his grip and slid down. Xu Tao Yue was shocked. A million thoughts rushed through her mind in the instant Lu Que fell. What’s going on? Why are the plots in novels always reversed?

Xu Tao Yue closed her eyes, and they both fell onto the grassy lawn. Lu Que held Xu Tao Yue close and quickly got up to check if she was hurt. “Why did you suddenly catch me? I was just going to fall, and now you’ve fallen too…”

Xu Tao Yue rubbed her hips and quickly shook her head. “It’s fine, it’s fine, I’m really okay.”

Lu Que sighed. “I should have known not to hang it so high.”

Xu Tao Yue rubbed his face. “It’s okay. Since we hung ours so high, we’ll be the first to have our wishes come true.”

Lu Que looked down at her. “How are you? Can you walk?”

Xu Tao Yue nodded, then immediately shook her head. As if she had just thought of something, Xu Tao Yue let out a strange cackling laugh. “Oh no, Lu Que, I’m in pain. Do you think you’ll have to carry me down the mountain?”

Hmph. There was no way she was going to let this great opportunity go. Get ready for an intense cuddle session, Xu Tao Yue thought, her eyes filled with mischievous intent.

Lu Que: “…”

Xu Tao Yue smiled at Lu Que, with the light behind her. A breeze blew by, and the wind chimes on the tree began to dance again. The red ribbons they had just hung also fluttered in the wind, wrapping around each other and then separating again. The clouds in the sky parted and then came back together. The weather was just right.

Lu Que suddenly smiled. He pinched Xu Tao Yue’s face and crouched down to meet her gaze. “Student Xu has ulterior motives for me.”

Xu Tao Yue’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him. “Student Lu, haven’t you known for a long time that I have ulterior motives for you?”

Lu Que took his hand away and crouched down in front of her. “Alright, Student Xu. Get on.”

Xu Tao Yue was stunned for a moment. Most of the time, Xu Tao Yue was all talk and not much action. Lu Que had already figured this out about her. A moment ago, she was all “mighty and imposing,” but now that Lu Que was actually crouching to carry her, she started to stammer. “Wait… Lu Que… are you really going to carry me?”

“What else?”

Xu Tao Yue walked behind Lu Que with clumsy, uncoordinated steps. “But… I’m a little heavy…”

“It’s okay. You’re not heavy, and I’m strong.”

Xu Tao Yue was still a little hesitant. “But…”

Lu Que stood up and told her seriously, “A man’s strength is 1.9 to 2.3 times that of a woman’s, so you don’t have to worry at all. I could carry three of you.”

Hearing him say this, Xu Tao Yue was genuinely a little touched. Lu Que looked at her with a helpless expression. “Come on. I lost the bet anyway, so this evens it out.”

Xu Tao Yue: “!!” She would not be taken advantage of. She immediately refused. “No way! You’re the one who offered to carry me!”

Lu Que smiled. He knew it.

Xu Tao Yue gently got onto Lu Que’s back. It was broad and warm. This feeling was very comforting. She felt sleepy the moment she got on. Lu Que let her. By the time they found the other two people, Xu Tao Yue was already fast asleep on his back.

Ye Wan was startled and mouthed a question to him. “Why is she asleep?”

Lu Que shook his head. “Maybe she didn’t get enough sleep last night. Are you two done? We can go back now.”

Ye Wan nodded. “We’re tired from a whole night of fun. We’ll head down first. You and Taozi take your time.”

Lu Que nodded slightly. After watching them leave, he started walking down the mountain.

Xu Tao Yue instinctively snuggled into the crook of his neck, which made Lu Que’s skin tickle. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He turned his head to look at her and finally let out a helpless sigh. “Xu Tao Yue… I must have done something to deserve this.”

Xu Tao Yue couldn’t hear what Lu Que was saying. She must have been dreaming about something, because she was mumbling some strange words in her sleep. Lu Que lowered his head and walked down the hill, listening to her breathing by his ear. His heart, which had been pounding like a frantic little deer, had now calmed down.

“Actually…”

“I heard you.”

Just then, a few petals from the roadside snow willow fell onto Xu Tao Yue’s head. Xu Tao Yue seemed to be disturbed and buried her head even deeper. Lu Que smiled and soothed her. Then, he quietly said to her, “Actually, I already know.”

“So, when did you start knowing me?”

Lu Que lowered his head and spoke to himself, as if he had found an outlet, pouring out everything he wanted to say. “Xu Tao Yue, where did you go during that year you disappeared?”

“When are you going to truly tell us?”

“When are you going to stop hiding things from us, without any reservations?”

“Xu Tao Yue, I miss you so much.”

“Do you miss me as much as I miss you?”

“You said you liked me, so I guess you do.”

“Didn’t you want to know my wish?”

Lu Que’s lips curled into a slight smile. “I wrote on it: I hope Xu Tao Yue keeps her word.”

“You can’t leave again.”

After all, Lu Que still cared deeply about Xu Tao Yue’s leaving without saying goodbye.

As Lu Que passed the flower field, he seemed to see the Xu Tao Yue from yesterday again. She was softly murmuring, “Actually, I’ve liked you for a very, very, very long time.”