Chapter 70: Side Story Four
Su Muluo brought back a small black dragon.
He pinched the dragon’s horn, its long, slender body flailing in the air, squealing and twisting, trying to hook its phoenix’s wrist with its tail.
Su Muluo ignored it, one hand holding the little dragon and the other tapping on his phone to check the call records.
—— There was nothing on the call record; maybe his dragon had deleted them.
Su Muluo raised an eyebrow and turned to the small black dragon, saying, “What were you up to just now?”
Small black dragon: “Roar!”
Nothing!
The phoenix bullied me!
It stubbornly refused to admit it, and Su Muluo clicked his tongue, shaking it like a small fish, saying, “Were you trying to flirt with someone else in front of me?”
Small black dragon: “Squeak!”
I would never flirt with anyone else!
No one looks as good as the phoenix, so I wouldn’t even bother with them!
Stubborn as it was, it still sweet-talked its phoenix. Su Muluo fell for it and stopped shaking it, letting the little dragon crawl onto his palm and affectionately hug his finger.
“Squeak.”
The phoenix is the best.
“I’m not good,” Su Muluo said with a frown. “You were up to something behind my back and didn’t tell me.”
The small black dragon remained silent, its soft horns rubbing against Su Muluo’s fingers, its tail clinging to his wrist, trying to change the subject with affection.
Su Muluo stared at the dragon for a while, feeling mischievous and full of strange thoughts, so he poked it.
But he didn’t press further because he believed his dragon would tell him sooner or later.
—— Although he didn’t press further, whether out of guilt or fear of his phoenix’s inquiries, Long Ling didn’t transform back into human form afterward but stuck to his phoenix in the form of a small black dragon… until bedtime, when it grew larger and wrapped its phoenix in its arms.
Su Muluo shifted it around until it found a comfortable position, saying, “Your scales are cool.”
The black dragon roared and took the blanket, covering its phoenix.
Su Muluo yawned lazily, feeling drowsy, and fell asleep leaning against his dragon.
They planned to depart for Songcheng the next morning at ten o’clock. At half-past eight, the alarm went off, and Su Muluo opened his eyes.
His dragon wasn’t beside him when he woke up. Su Muluo looked around and found the door open, Long Ling standing at the doorway, just finishing a call.
Perhaps having learned from their last hotel experience, this time Long Ling didn’t stray far while Su Muluo slept but stood at the door, visible to his phoenix when he woke up.
Seeing his phoenix sit up in bed, Long Ling walked over quickly, holding him affectionately and asking, “Phoenix, what do you want for breakfast?”
Su Muluo leaned his head on Long Ling’s shoulder, still a bit sleepy, and rubbed against him, saying, “Anything.” Then he asked, “What were you doing just now?”
Long Ling replied, “There were some issues at the company, but they’ve been resolved.”
Su Muluo just nodded, thinking to himself, he didn’t believe it at all.
After the incident at the hotel last time, if it really was company business, his dragon would definitely have hung up first, waited for him to wake up, and then called back—instead of leaving while he was asleep and taking the call at the door.
So, that call must have been about something more important, and it must concern his dragon… It’s very likely related to what Long Ling hid from him yesterday.
Thinking about this, Su Muluo squinted slightly, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he planned to pretend not to know and see how long his dragon could keep it from him.
Later, the two of them went to the bathroom to freshen up, changed their clothes, and set off for Song City.
Song City was several hours’ drive from Lin City, but with the speed of Long and Fenghuang, that was another matter altogether—before long, they arrived here.
The city was picturesque, known for its hot springs and delicious food. Long Ling had booked a hot spring inn, and their room was a traditional-style duplex building with exquisite wooden lattice windows overlooking a bamboo forest hot spring.
Su Muluo couldn’t take his eyes off the hot spring and really wanted to take a dip—but Long Ling hugged his waist and pulled him back.
“Fenghuang left, let’s go play outside first,” Long Ling seemed to have his own plans, saying, “We can come back and soak later.”
Su Muluo looked longingly at the hot spring and said, “This hot spring is so beautiful, and there’s bamboo too.” It was much prettier than the lush green spring he often soaked in the mountains!
Long Ling thought for a moment and said, “When spring comes, we’ll go back to Muyuan. We’ll plant flowers there, and then we’ll dig a pond and a hot spring for Fenghuang—by then, the hot spring will look beautiful, and Fenghuang can soak in it however he likes.”
Su Muluo imagined that scene, his eyes and brows softened, and then he finally agreed to go with his dragon.
The rest of the day, they first climbed the famous mountain in Song City and bought a lover’s lock at a lover’s bridge on the mountain, engraved with their names, firmly hanging between the bridge rails—Su Muluo even cast a spell on it, ensuring that no matter how many years passed or how harsh the weather, the lock would neither rust nor deteriorate.
After coming down from the mountain, Long Ling took his Fenghuang to a bustling food street. Su Muluo held his dragon’s hand, trying this and tasting that—before they knew it, they had strolled from dawn to dusk.
They returned to the inn and enjoyed a relaxing hot spring, then went to the most famous restaurant in Song City for dinner. By the time they returned to the inn again, the starry sky adorned the night, and the cozy little building was lit with orange lights at the doorstep.
Su Muluo had a very happy day today, unwilling to let go of his dragon’s hand. Just before opening the door, Long Ling casually asked him, “Does Fenghuang want cake?”
Without hesitation, Su Muluo replied, “No.”
He was already full from dinner and didn’t feel like having dessert.
Long Ling paused for a second, then repeated, “Does Fenghuang want cake?”
Su Muluo looked at him and asked, “What’s wrong? Do you want cake?”
Long Ling met his gaze but didn’t say anything.
Su Muluo felt something was off with this dragon. After a few seconds, he said, “Is there a cake in the room?”
Long Ling immediately nodded.
Su Muluo smiled and said, “Okay then, I’ll have some.”
Although he didn’t know why his dragon suddenly bought cake, since it was prepared by his dragon for him, he was willing to have some.
Long Ling happily opened the door, and they walked in. In the living room, a small lamp was on, its light focused in one corner where a beautifully crafted three-tiered cake stood.
“A three-tiered cake.”
Su Muluo: “…”
Su Muluo: “Do you think we can finish it?”
This is too big!
It’s almost half the height of a person!
Long Ling gently shook the hand they held together, saying, “Even if we can’t finish it, it’s okay. Phoenix, taste it first. If you like it, I’ll order from this bakery next time.”
Su Muluo felt Long Ling’s strange intentions and said, “But if it’s just for tasting, there’s no need to order such a big cake.”
Long Ling insisted, “No, it won’t feel ceremonial if it’s not big.”
Su Muluo asked, “Ceremonial?”
He sensed something from this and asked, “What do you mean by ‘ceremonial’?”
Long Ling immediately fell silent.
Su Muluo looked at him, then at his own Phoenix, and after a while, casually picked up the cake knife and fork as if nothing had happened, saying, “Phoenix, come and cut a piece to taste.”
“…”
Su Muluo felt Long Ling was even stranger now, but under Long Ling’s expectant gaze, he still took the knife and fork to cut a small piece from the bottom.
However, Long Ling said, “Cut here, not there.”
He gestured for Su Muluo to cut the topmost piece, specifically pointing it out. Su Muluo said nothing, picked up the knife and fork, and cut there—
He hit something hard.
Su Muluo: “?”
At that moment, he seemed to realize something, looked at Long Ling again, and found Long Ling also looking at him with bright golden eyes, clearly very eager for him to discover what it was.
So Su Muluo used the knife and fork to uncover that piece of cake and found a small hidden compartment inside, separated by cream and containing an exquisite velvet box.
Su Muluo: “!”
Long Ling took out the velvet box, cleared his throat as if he had practiced many times, and opened it in front of Su Muluo, saying, “This is a gift for Phoenix.”
Inside the box was a shiny diamond ring.
Su Muluo didn’t speak. Long Ling continued, “As I promised, when I earn enough money, I’ll give Phoenix a beautiful diamond ring.”
He seemed a little proud as he said, “And according to human customs, accepting the ring is like accepting a marriage proposal—so this way, I can marry Phoenix!”
“…”
Su Muluo didn’t speak for a while, just looked at Long Ling, and suddenly asked, “Where did you learn this method?”
Long Ling showed him his phone and said, “I looked it up online.”
Su Muluo looked at the screen, where there was a headline saying: “The Most Classic Marriage Proposal Methods. How to Get Your Girlfriend Moved to Tears.”
—The accompanying picture was of a girl covering her face and crying.
Su Muluo: “…”
At this moment, Long Ling leaned over again, lightly touching Su Muluo’s forehead, smiling as he said, “So, Phoenix, do you want to marry me?”
Su Muluo remained silent.
Long Ling continued, “Phoenix—Phoenix—I want to marry Phoenix and take her home as my wife. Phoenix, please say yes—”
His tone lingered slightly, and he affectionately nudged Su Muluo, seeming determined not to stop until he got a response.
Listening to his dragon’s coquettish words, Su Muluo looked into those golden eyes filled with laughter and deep love, couldn’t help but smile softly.
“Okay,” his brows and eyes curved, the ink-colored eyes reflecting the lights, like reflecting a sky full of dazzling stars, “I agree.”
Long Ling’s eyes lit up, immediately hugged his Phoenix tightly, happily kissed his face.
And kissed again.
Another kiss.
He still continued kissing.
Su Muluo: “…”
Su Muluo covered Long Ling’s mouth and said, “I won’t let you kiss me so much.”
Long Ling responded with an “Oh,” a suppressed smile appearing on his face. He whispered near Su Muluo’s ear, “Then I’ll kiss you more when we go to sleep.”
Su Muluo remained silent.
Long Ling understood his consent and couldn’t help but happily kiss him once more. Then, with great care, he took Su Muluo’s hand, placing a diamond ring on his slender fingers.
Su Muluo remarked, “The diamond is quite large, it’s quite shiny.”
Long Ling replied, “But it looks good, it suits the Phoenix.”
A smile spread across Su Muluo’s eyes as he said, “Then I want to give you a gift too.”
Long Ling eagerly asked, “What does the Phoenix want to give me?”
Su Muluo pondered for a moment and said, “I’m not sure.” Glancing at the time, he realized it was getting late. “Shall we go back to bed first?”
Long Ling was even happier hearing this and followed Su Muluo back to the room, lying down on the bed—
Only to watch his Phoenix take out his phone and start searching for “gifts for boyfriends.”
Long Ling: “…”
Long Ling asked, “What is my Phoenix doing?”
“Choosing a gift for you,” Su Muluo replied. “Didn’t I just say that?”
Long Ling: “… Then why did the Phoenix say let’s go back to bed first?”
Su Muluo looked at him, blinked, and said, “Because it’s late, so we should go back to bed.”
Long Ling: “…………”
He looked at his Phoenix with a resentful expression, and Su Muluo couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.
“Alright,” Su Muluo put down his phone. “We can search again tomorrow.”
Long Ling remained silent, so Su Muluo leaned over, softly rubbing his cheek against Long Ling’s, and quickly kissed the corner of his mouth.
Long Ling’s eyes flickered slightly. He heard his Phoenix softly ask, “So… are we going to sleep?”
Long Ling naturally understood the meaning behind these words, his lips curling up slightly as he tenderly embraced his Phoenix, returning the kiss.
— The night was long, with plenty of time until dawn.
T/N: Hello hello! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’
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What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep
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