This time, Lin Feng didn’t argue. He left without looking back.
I thought he wouldn’t come the next day.
But at dawn, he came in again, carrying a basket of all kinds of fruit.
I was barely awake, but took the basket.
Lin Feng turned away, saying stiffly, “I’ll leave after you put on the medicine.”
He came so early, I could barely keep my eyes open. As I walked to the table, I tripped on a rock.
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, Lin Feng’s face was right in front of mine, and somehow, our lips met.
I quickly pushed him away.
Lin Feng was stunned, his lips swollen.
“Mei Chen…”
“Shut up. Take off your shirt for medicine.”
The process was quick and silent.
“I’ll come at noon tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
The next few days, things were peaceful between us.
We chatted about little things—mostly Lin Feng talking, me occasionally responding.
“I won’t come tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Your wounds aren’t healed yet. Try to use the medicine every day.”
I added, “That’s what Ling Ze said.”
Lin Feng’s eyes sparkled.
“Do you… want me to come?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll come tomorrow night.”
I spent the day cleaning the cave, but Lin Feng didn’t show up.
Thinking he wouldn’t come, I went to bed early.
But suddenly, Lin Feng appeared at the cave entrance.
He looked anxious, his tail flicking nervously.
“Come in for your medicine.”
Lin Feng hesitated.
“Mei Chen, tonight is the new moon.”
“The new moon… so?”
He shook his head and sat on the wooden chair.
“Why not the bed?”
“Uh… the chair is fine. My tail doesn’t need medicine tonight.”
I nodded.
“Take off your shirt.”
Lin Feng paused.
“Can we skip it tonight? Just do it like this.”
“If you don’t want me to help, don’t come anymore.”
Lin Feng immediately started taking off his shirt, trembling.
He seemed to be holding something back, his body burning hot and shaking.
“Do you have a fever?”
“No.”
“Mei Chen… can you touch my tail? Just for a bit…”
“Didn’t you say your tail doesn’t need medicine tonight?”
“Please… just touch it. Please…”
In the dim light, Lin Feng’s eyes glowed, drawing me in.
Almost against my will, I reached out and touched his tail.
It wasn’t cold as usual—it was burning hot.
Lin Feng’s breathing grew heavier.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sorry.”
Before I could ask what he was sorry for, his lips were on mine. I didn’t resist.
A faint fragrance drifted from him.
He pulled me onto the ice bed.
Lin Feng’s tail draped over my legs. I touched it again; he shuddered.
“Keep touching… I won’t do anything else, just let me feel this.”
He nuzzled my neck.
I stroked his tail again and again. Neither of us slept that night.
By morning, Lin Feng’s fever finally faded.
He touched my face with his warm hand.
“I like you. I want to be with you.”
“If you turn me down today, I’ll come every day and tell you again and again.”
I started to speak, but Lin Feng covered my mouth.
“Don’t say anything, Mei Chen. I can’t take any more right now…”
I pulled his hand away, looking at my reflection in his eyes.
“The hurt you caused me can’t be undone.”
Lin Feng’s face went pale as he lowered his head.
I lifted his face, forcing him to look at me.
“I’ll give you one more chance, Lin Feng. Can you give me your true heart?”
Big tears fell onto my hand.
“Yes, I’ll give you everything.”
Lin Feng pressed his forehead to my shoulder, sobbing.
I gently stroked his back.
“Why do you cry so much… You weren’t like this when we first met.”
“It’s your fault for not finishing your sentences. You scared me.”
“If you keep crying, I’ll take it back.”
“No!”
Looking at Lin Feng’s tear-reddened eyes, I realized even this side of him was endearing.
I sat up to fix my clothes, and Lin Feng kept blinking at me.
“What?”
“Can I have a kiss?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“We kissed yesterday… Mmph…”
It took a long time before Lin Feng finally let me go.
I collapsed in his arms, suddenly remembering last night.
“What happened to you last night?”
Lin Feng blushed.
“Last night was the new moon. It’s a special day for me.”
I shot him a look.
“Even male demons have a time of the month?”
“No!”
He whispered an explanation in my ear.
Okay, now it was my turn to blush.
Ling Ze found out about us.
He wasn’t surprised at all—just calm, almost too calm.
He patted Lin Feng on the shoulder.
“You’re slow, kid.”
Lin Feng looked apologetic.
“Master… I’ve let you down. I’m not going back to the heavens. I want to stay in the human world with Mei Chen.”
Ling Ze smiled, relieved.
“I knew long ago. Lin Feng, let go of your hatred. It’s time for us all to move on.”
Lin Feng hugged Ling Ze, eyes red.
“Enough, enough, your woman’s watching. Try to look dignified, will you?”
Ling Ze shooed him away.
He went to pack up our things in the cave—Lin Feng was coming home with me today.
“Is there something you want to tell me?” I asked Ling Ze.
He smiled gently.
“The Heavenly God had three wives. The Flower Goddess, Mi Xue, was Lin Feng’s mother and my teacher.”
“Mi Xue was the most beautiful and kind woman in the world. She treated me well, but after she married the Heavenly God, I never saw her again.”
“When she became pregnant, I saw her once more. I could tell she was unhappy, but I couldn’t take her away—I had my own clan to protect. Maybe that’s just an excuse for my weakness.”
“When I saw her, I also saw her child’s fate. I begged her not to have the baby, but she insisted—Lin Feng was her only hope in the heavens.”
“Why didn’t you tell her what you saw?”
Even with his eyes veiled, I could feel Ling Ze’s pain.
“She wouldn’t have listened. He was her only hope.”
“You know what happened after. Lin Feng was born under a bad sign. The Heavenly God despised him. To protect Lin Feng, I asked to be imprisoned with him on Bailing Mountain.”
“What about Mi Xue?”
“She died in front of the man she loved. The Heavenly God wouldn’t let her live.”
“I raised Lin Feng there. He was a lonely child, but very thoughtful—he looks just like his mother.”
“I’m sorry, Mei Chen.”
I hadn’t expected Ling Ze to apologize.
“Your mother’s dream was my doing. I used my power because fate tied you to Lin Feng.”
“You said you weren’t curious about your fate, but I kept checking it anyway. I’m sorry.”
“But I truly hope you two will be happy.”
After Ling Ze left, Lin Feng hugged me from behind.
“You heard all that?”
“N-no.”
“Then why are you choking up?”
“Hmph.”
“Lin Feng, have you ever hated anyone?”
“Yes.”
“The top of Bailing Mountain was so cold. I never understood why no one wanted me—only Ling Ze stayed with me.”
“But he’s so awkward. I never hugged him until today.”
“Mei Chen, no one ever taught me how to love. But because of you, I learned. Please, don’t leave me.”
I lowered my head and bit Lin Feng’s finger, letting his blood drip onto my wrist.
A deep red thread appeared between us.
“You…”
Lin Feng was so moved he couldn’t speak.
“This is my answer.”
“Lin Feng, stay by my side forever.”
Later, Ling Ze secretly told me Lin Feng’s tail could grow back.
But the method made me hesitate.
“So… how far have you two gone?” Ling Ze asked, sitting in front of my TV, eating sunflower seeds.
“What do you mean…?” I played dumb.
“You two have a red thread now. Have you completed the contract?”
I turned away stubbornly.
“Not yet.”
Ling Ze burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny! We have a contract and a red thread! You begged me for it, remember? And…”
Ling Ze lifted my hand, and I realized the red thread between us had vanished.
“Why?”
“Friendly reminder: if you don’t complete the contract, the red thread disappears~”
“Ah… what should I do?”
Ling Ze patted my shoulder.
“Another reminder: tonight is the new moon. I’ve already cleaned the cave for you two.”
My face turned bright red, and I hurried him out.
Lin Feng came out of my room, sniffing the air.
“Ling Ze was here?”
“Yeah, he just stopped by.”
Lin Feng looked unhappy.
“Why does he always come to you? Your contract with him should be over by now, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Mei Chen, I still mind that he made a contract with you before I did…”
I cut him off.
“Lin Feng… do you want to go on a date with me tonight?”
Lin Feng’s eyes narrowed.
“Tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Where?”
“Your cave.”
Lin Feng’s smile turned playful.
“A date at my cave, at night?”
I felt both annoyed and shy.
“Forget it, then.”
Lin Feng immediately clung to me.
“No, no, I want to! I really do~”
That night, Lin Feng was burning hot, keeping me warm all night long.
His tail wrapped around my leg.
“You’re different tonight.”
“What did Ling Ze talk to you about?”
I stroked his hot tail, feeling a little dazed.
“Your tail… he said it could grow back like this.”
Lin Feng paused, lips curving into a smile as he leaned into me and chuckled.
“Silly girl.”
“What?”
“My tail will grow back in a month. Ling Ze tricked you.”
“What?!”
I tried to get up and find Ling Ze, but Lin Feng’s tail pulled me back.
“Sleep a bit more. We’ll go see him together later.”
I lay in Lin Feng’s arms, listening to our heartbeats.
In that moment, I knew—
We were in love.
THE END