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Yu Ai had his sword drawn and was carefully watching Shen Qiao who was equally focused. Before a normal person could take a breath or blink, the two dashed forwards and exchanged a few moves before returning to their original positions again. The two young men were smiling widely, their breaths, although light, were coming out in little clouds as it hit the freezing air.
They charged once more, but this time aimed to take the other down, using their hands and feet. Unfortunately, they both managed to hook the other person’s ankle with their feet and both struggled to remain standing. Shen Qiao attempted to take a step back, but unfortunately, the grass was covered in ice and he managed to slip. Yu Ai quickly reached a hand out to grab him, but unfortunately, Shen Qiao ended up taking him down with him and caused Yu Ai to fall on top of him.
They both just lay there for a bit, trying to catch the breath which was knocked out of them in the impact.
Yu Ai was the first to pull himself together and hurriedly started gently patting around Shen Qiao’s head, looking for any sign of blood or injury. “Ah Qiao, are you alright? You fell down quite awkwardly.” Yu Ai asked as he still continued to fret and check Shen Qiao’s limbs.
Shen Qiao laughed lightly and waved his hands in a placating manner. “I’m alright, I may have a few bruises later, but nothing that won’t heal in a day or two.”
Yu Ai smiled in relief and then turned his gaze back down to Shen Qiao and suddenly, looking down, he realised the position they were in; Yu Ai straddling Shen Qiao, while gently cradling his head.
“Oh.” Shen Qiao also noticed their position and turned a bright scarlet, while turning his head away to avoid Yu Ai’s gaze.
Yu Ai just stared down at the beautiful sight which was Shen Qiao blushing, and before he could stop it, his hand moved to caress some strands of hair out of Shen Qiao’s face.
Shen Qiao, if possible turned an even deeper shade of red and looked up at Yu Ai with slightly parted lips. He sat up and let his eyes dart back and forth from Yu Ai’s lips. Swallowing heavily, Shen Qiao slowly moved his head forward before biting his lip and hesitating.
Yu Ai saw what Shen Qiao was planning to do and quickly moved his head forward, intending to capture Shen Qiao’s lips with his own.
Unfortunately, they both moved too suddenly and at the same time, causing them to bump their noses against each other. They rubbed their noses in pain and attempted to blink away the tears that formed in their eyes. The pair looked at each other, scarlet faced and smiling shyly.
The two of them then leaned in again and managed to get it right. Soon Yu Ai deepend the kiss, causing Shen Qiao to moan. They both broke away for breath, before Yu Ai slowly lowered Shen Qiao down to the ground again and resumed kissing him.
The two were so lost in each other they didn’t pay attention to their surroundings, so it wasn’t until they heard the snap of a branch that they broke away with a flinch and they quickly scanned the area for the source of the sound.
Eventually, their sight landed on two disciples, one of who looked like he was about fourteen who was currently covering the eyes of the second disciple who looked like he was about five.
Realising he was noticed, the elder disciple went pale and quickly waved his hands around. “I swear we didn’t see anything! We-We’ll just be on our way!”
“Huh? What’s going on shixiong? What about the wood from the woodshed?” The young disciple asked confused as he was literally left in the dark.
“Nothing for you to be concerned about shidi! Come along, we can finish other taks instead.” The elder said as he practically dragged his shidi behind him with how quickly he was walking to get away.”
“Ah? No-wait! It’s not-we weren't!” Shen Qiao made a sound of embarrassment as he tried to explain the situation, but the two fellow disciples were already gone, leaving him and Yu Ai alone and blushing a bright red.
The Second Time Was A Kiss Stolen In The Library~
Yu Ai and Shen Qiao made sure to shake the snow off their boots before they came to the library.
Shen Qiao pulled out the list of books their shizun requested and scanned them over before nodding. “It’s easier if we begin here.” He motioned at a nearby line of shelves and Yu Ai nodded with a smile.
It was freezing outside and Shen Qiao didn’t think he needed gloves for the short walk to the library, so he had no one to blame for his currently frozen hands but himself and as such just resigns himself to blowing on them in an attempt to warm them up.
He scanned the shelf and stopped when he caught sight of the scroll they needed. “Ah, this should be the first one shizun wants.” Shen Qiao mused as he reached out a hand to grab the scroll from the top shelf.
Unfortunately. Even standing on his tiptoes he was a bit too short to be able to grab ahold of it and his frozen fingers were just barely able to touch it. Suddenly a hand appeared in front of him and easily retrieved the scroll. Shen Qiao sighed and offered Yu Ai a small smile as he took the scroll. But they both suddenly realised how close they were causing both of them to blush brightly and shyly look down.
“You keep rubbing your hands Ah Qiao, here I’ll warm them up.” Yu Ai offered as he first took the strool from Shen Qiao’s hands, placing it on a nearby table and then took Shen Qiao’s hands, gently rubbing them and occasionally pressing kisses to them.
Shen Qiao was getting restless having his hands held and kissed like that and after a quick dart of his eyes around the library to make sure they were alone, placed his hands on Yu Ai’s shoulders and stood on his tiptoes to kiss him.
After a moment of surprise, Yu Ai placed his hands on Shen Qiao’s head, bringing him closer so he could deepen the kiss and Shen Qiao relaxed into it, resting his weight against the shelf.
This kiss had none of the awkwardness of the first time they tried it. It felt good and addicting and Shen Qiao didn’t want it to end as he lost himself to the feeling.
Suddenly the sound of a throat being cleared caused them to jump away.
“You two were taking a while to find the books and scrolls that I asked you to retrieve, so I came to lend you a hand in case you were having a hard time finding them. But it seems like you got slightly sidetracked instead.” The familiar voice of their shizun broke them out of their thoughts.
“Sh-Shizun?!” Yu Ai stuttered out, while Shen Qiao turned around so abruptly he hit his shoulder on the shelf and caused a pile of scrolls to fall on his head.
“Ah Qiao, are you alright?” Qi Fengge asked his disciple, face frowning in worry.
“Yes-Yes shizun. I-We–” Yu Ai stuttered for an explanation and failed to find one.
Qi Fengge held up a hand. “No need to explain, you’re both young. Just try not to get carried away in the library where anyone can walk in on you. Oh and Yu Ai? You might want to fix your robe before you walk out again.” and with laughter, Qi Fengge left his disciples alone in the library once more.
Left alone, Yu Ai and Shen Qiao stood there in silence, burning with embarrassment at being caught and being caught a second time at that.
“Ah Yu… your robe, do-do you want me to fix it, or?” Shen Qiao hesitantly asked, gesturing at the robe falling off of Yu Ai’s shoulder with his hand. Shen Qiao didn’t even remember when he managed to do that to him.
Yu Ai noticed it and hurriedly fixed his robes, “I, we should go and retrieve those books that shizun wanted.”
Shen Qiao nodded but looked at the scattered and half-open scrolls on the floor. “We should put these back first.” But as he reached down to pick up a few scrolls on the floor, another hand was doing the same and he ended up grabbing Yu Ai’s hand instead. He quickly retracted it. “I’m sorry!”
Yu Ai also scarlet red shook his head and placed the scrolls back onto the shelf. Once they cleaned up the mess and had all the books that were on the list, they hurried to return to their shizun.
When Their Shizun Decided He Needs To Have A Word With Them~
Yu Ai and Shen Qiao both avoided eye contact as they sat down in front of their shizun, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
Qi Fengge poured his two disciples tea as he looked at them with a smile and laughing eyes. “I’m sure you both know why I have asked you to come and meet with me…” He waits for a moment and observes how both Yu Ai and Shen Qiao tense, eyes burning holes into their knees.
He sighed and shook his head. “You two aren’t in any trouble, so no need to look so tense. But, your Huang Shibo wanted to reprimand you about your actions, yet I said I would do it instead as it concerns my disciples and he would not be as kind about it. Apparently, two of his disciples spotted you kissing on the floor in the clearing and his eldest one was quite traumatised by the sight.”
Both Shen Qiao and Yu Ai made a noise of strangled embarrassment, clearly remembering being walked in on that day.
Qi Fengge sighed, “There is also the matter of two days ago where I walked in on you two in the library, preoccupied with each other as opposed to searching for the books I sent you to find. If it was a one time incident, I would have let it go, but twice is grounds for a lecture. I understand that you are both young and this is all very new and exciting to you.” Qi Fengge paused to take a sip of his tea before continuing, “However, I urge you to remember your propriety and the feelings of others. Please doon’t let these circumstances happen again, are we clear?”
Both Yu Ai and Shen Qiao nodded, mumbling “Yes shizun” and “Sorry Shizun” respectively.
Qi Fengge smiled and nodded, “Alright. I will tell your shibo I have spoken to you. Now this matter can be placed behind us. If the two of you are up for it, why don’t you have some tea with me, it’s been a while since I had a chance to sit down and speak to you.”
Despite feeling embarrassed at the lecture they have received from their shizun, both Shen Qiao and Yu Ai accepted the invitation with a smile, not willing to pass up spending time with their shizun.