NFBE Chapter 48 First Love (1)
Chapter 48 First Love (1)
Both of them were quite shy, so they only rode two laps before resting. After dismounting, He Mingfeng pointed to a stream in the distance and softly asked Cheng Ying if she wanted to go see it. Cheng Ying's eyes lit up instantly, filled with curiosity and anticipation. Seeing this, He Mingfeng grabbed Cheng Ying's hand and eagerly ran towards the stream.
When they arrived at the stream, Cheng Ying was captivated by the crystal-clear water. Excitedly, she pointed to the fish swimming around and exclaimed to He Mingfeng, "He Mingfeng, there are so many fish here!" He Mingfeng smiled and replied, "Well, how about I catch a few fish, and we'll have grilled fish for lunch?"
Cheng Ying looked at He Mingfeng in surprise and asked doubtfully, "You really know how to catch and grill fish?" He Mingfeng raised his eyebrows confidently and laughed, "You little rascal, who do you think you are! My grilled fish is delicious, I guarantee you'll want more after you try it." Hearing this, Cheng Ying's face beamed with happiness, and she said with great joy, "Wow, that's amazing! Then I'll be waiting to taste your cooking!"
At this moment, the shyness and awkwardness between them had vanished, replaced by a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. They stood by the stream, their eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation, as if the whole world consisted only of each other.
After He Mingfeng finished speaking, he began to look for some branches and straw ropes to make a simple fishing tool. He skillfully sharpened the branches and tied them with straw ropes to make a simple fishing net and a basket, while Cheng Ying sat quietly to the side watching his busy figure and quietly admiring him.
Just then, Cheng Ying suddenly remembered the strange dream she had last night. In the dream, He Mingfeng had also taken her to the river to catch fish, except that he had gotten his clothes wet while fishing in the stream. Although it was almost summer, the river water was still icy cold in the afternoon. So, she couldn't help but remind him, "He Mingfeng, be careful! Don't get your clothes wet, or you'll catch a cold."
Hearing Cheng Ying's concerned words, He Mingfeng couldn't help but smile. He looked up, his eyes filled with tenderness and joy, and softly replied, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Thank you for your concern."
Cheng Ying felt a little shy under He Mingfeng's gaze, and her cheeks flushed slightly. She quickly lowered her head and muttered softly, "Who...who cares about you!" However, despite saying that, she couldn't hide the sweetness deep inside her heart.
Seeing Cheng Ying's shy expression, He Mingfeng felt even more pleased. He chuckled and reassured her, "Don't worry, I have a way to catch fish without going into the water." With that, he picked up the simple fishing net he had just made and walked towards the riverbank, handing the basket he had made to Cheng Ying, saying, "You take this basket and wait for me here. I'll bring it over as soon as I catch any fish." Cheng Ying nodded in agreement.
Cheng Ying stood on the bank, nervously watching He Mingfeng's every move. She watched as he carefully placed the net into the water, gently shaking it to attract the fish. Soon enough, several small fish darted into the net. Excitedly, He Mingfeng lifted the net and poured the fish into the bamboo basket in Cheng Ying's hands.
Cheng Ying looked at the small fish in the basket and cheered with delight. Her eyes sparkled, and her face beamed with a happy smile. He Mingfeng, too, felt incredibly satisfied to be able to bring Cheng Ying joy.
Actually, catching fish isn't anything unusual. Her third brother had taken her fishing when she was little. But for some reason, she found it particularly novel when she saw He Mingfeng catching fish. Perhaps it was because she had never imagined that a prince of such high status would personally go down into the river to catch fish.
Thinking of this, Cheng Ying smiled unconsciously. She found the scene quite amusing, so she rested her chin on her hand and quietly watched He Mingfeng. As for He Mingfeng? He was concentrating on catching fish when he suddenly turned around to see what Cheng Ying was doing. He immediately saw the little girl staring at him with a bright smile on her face.
Her smile was as beautiful and captivating as a fairy in the forest, which made He Mingfeng fall in love with her.
He Mingfeng walked towards Cheng Ying carrying a fishing net. He was backlit, and the sunlight shone on him, making him look exceptionally radiant, like a vibrant young man.
What was that saying again? Oh, right! Gentle and refined, like a spring breeze—that's the perfect way to describe He Mingfeng at this moment.
A moment later, He Mingfeng walked up to Cheng Ying and found the little girl in a daze. He couldn't help but call out softly, "Aying?"
He Mingfeng sighed inwardly and said, "Sigh, I don't know if I'm too charming or too uncharming. Why is this girl always spacing out? Is it because I'm not handsome enough?" Thinking of this, He Mingfeng looked at his face again. He was still very handsome and dashing.
Upon hearing He Mingfeng's voice, Cheng Ying snapped back to reality, filled with regret. "Oh my god," she thought, "I've actually been captivated by his good looks! He'll definitely laugh at me." Cheng Ying quickly looked up, feigning composure as she gazed at He Mingfeng, but her eyes darted around, avoiding his direct eye contact.
"Um...you're back," Cheng Ying stammered, her voice tinged with nervousness and shyness.
Looking at Cheng Ying's expression, He Mingfeng couldn't help but smile slightly, finding it quite amusing. He chuckled and replied, "Yes, you're back. These fish should be enough for us."
At this moment, Cheng Ying noticed that He Mingfeng was carrying several live small fish in addition to the fishing net. She quickly stood up, took the fish from He Mingfeng, and put them into the basket. He Mingfeng then gathered some firewood, skillfully started a fire, and built a simple rack. Next, he cleaned the fish, skewered them with branches, and placed them on the rack to slowly roast.
Cheng Ying sat quietly beside He Mingfeng, the two of them around the fire, the atmosphere exceptionally warm. He Mingfeng occasionally turned the fish, ensuring each side was heated evenly. Soon, the fish emitted an enticing aroma, making one's mouth water.
Finally, He Mingfeng handed the grilled fish to Cheng Ying, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, and asked softly, "It's done. Try it and see if it's good."
Cheng Ying happily took the fish, a blissful smile spreading across her face. She asked softly, "Do you have any?" He Mingfeng smiled gently, his eyes sparkling with warmth, and replied, "Yes, mine is here, look."
As he spoke, he gently handed the fish in his hand to Cheng Ying so she could examine it. Cheng Ying looked over curiously and noticed that He Mingfeng's fish was significantly smaller than the one in her hand. She couldn't help but feel puzzled and asked with concern, "Is this small enough to eat? Why don't we switch?"
He Mingfeng gazed silently at Cheng Ying without responding. Cheng Ying mistakenly thought He Mingfeng was disgusted by the fish she had already eaten, and quickly explained, "It's clean, I haven't eaten it yet!" He Mingfeng smiled slightly and said softly, "I know, but it's alright." Cheng Ying looked at He Mingfeng with a puzzled expression, not understanding why he refused.
Just then, He Mingfeng took out several fish of similar size to the ones he was holding from the other side, showed them to Cheng Ying, and said, "These are enough for us to eat." Cheng Ying was relieved, a bright smile bloomed on her face, and she happily said, "Then I'll eat them."
After saying that, she gently took a bite of the fish, her eyes instantly brightening with surprise and satisfaction. The fish tasted absolutely amazing, tender and juicy, leaving a lingering aftertaste. He Mingfeng quietly watched Cheng Ying, asking with concern, "How is it? Is it delicious?" Cheng Ying nodded vigorously, praising it endlessly, "So delicious! How did you do that? You're amazing!"
Her eyes revealed admiration for He Mingfeng's culinary skills. Looking at Cheng Ying's adoring gaze, He Mingfeng felt a surge of accomplishment and smiled as he replied, "As long as you put your heart into it, you can make delicious food."
Cheng Ying laughed and joked, "I never expected you could cook!"
He Mingfeng scratched his head a little embarrassedly and said, "Actually... I don't know how to cook. I can only make grilled fish. I learned that when I was in the army."
Cheng Ying asked curiously, "You learned it in the military camp? Doesn't anyone cook for you in the military camp? Why does a prince like you have to cook for yourself?"
He Mingfeng shook his head slightly and explained, "No, I was sent on a mission, along with other soldiers. But because I was a prince, they not only had to protect me and complete the mission, but also had to take care of chores like cooking. Later, I couldn't bear to see everyone working so hard, not even having a hot meal, so I started learning how to make grilled fish to share some of their burden."
Cheng Ying listened quietly without interrupting. She knew that the best approach at that moment was to listen attentively.
Seeing Cheng Ying remain silent, He Mingfeng assumed she didn't believe him and continued, "I really don't want to see them working so hard without even a decent meal. Besides, this way, I can feel that I'm still useful." Seeing He Mingfeng's slight disappointment, Cheng Ying quickly swallowed the fish in her mouth and comforted him, "You're really excellent. Although you don't know anything, no one is born knowing everything!" She paused, then continued, "And I think you're so much better than those privileged young masters who only know how to eat, drink, and have fun. At least you have the heart to protect the people and are willing to work hard to become stronger."
He Mingfeng was amused and replied gently, "Yes, it turns out I'm a useful person too." After saying that, he looked at Cheng Ying, his eyes sparkling.
Cheng Ying smiled and nodded in agreement, giving He Mingfeng a thumbs-up to affirm and encourage him. Seeing Cheng Ying's approval, He Mingfeng's smile grew even brighter. A warm and pleasant atmosphere filled the space between them.
The two quickly finished their grilled fish and drank some water. Feeling satisfied, they decided to take a stroll. He Mingfeng said to Cheng Ying, "Let's go take a look ahead." Cheng Ying nodded. The two then headed forward.
As they walked, Cheng Ying saw many unidentified flowers in the woods ahead, all of them very beautiful. Cheng Ying happily walked towards the flowerbed, with He Mingfeng following behind. Cheng Ying turned to He Mingfeng and said, "He Mingfeng, look how beautiful these flowers are!"
He Mingfeng quickened his pace, caught up with Cheng Ying, picked a beautiful flower and put it in her hair, saying, "It looks good." Cheng Ying smiled too.
As the two were strolling, Cheng Ying tripped over a flower vine and fell forward. He Mingfeng reacted quickly and pulled her back, catching her in his arms. They both spoke at the same time. He Mingfeng asked, "Are you alright?" Cheng Ying replied, "Thank you." She looked up at He Mingfeng; his eyes were clear and bright, seemingly able to see through everything, and a gentle smile played on his lips, warming her heart.
Cheng Ying's heart raced, and a blush crept onto her face. He Mingfeng felt her gaze, looked down at her, and their eyes met, creating a slightly ambiguous atmosphere. They gazed at each other silently, as if time had stopped, and a subtle emotion seemed to fill the air around them.
After a while, Cheng Ying finally snapped out of her daze. She gently nudged He Mingfeng, then lowered her head to straighten her hair and clothes, trying to hide her embarrassment. He Mingfeng also realized that his actions had been a bit too intimate. He scratched his head sheepishly, then changed the subject, saying, "These flowers are really beautiful!"
Cheng Ying nodded after listening, and then followed He Mingfeng to admire the magnificent sea of flowers. The two strolled leisurely, chatting enthusiastically about various topics, their laughter echoing in the air. Despite the small incident that had just occurred, it didn't affect their relaxed and joyful atmosphere at all; in fact, it made their relationship even closer. Just then, He Mingfeng looked down at Cheng Ying, and Cheng Ying looked up at the same time. Suddenly, without warning, their lips accidentally brushed against each other. For a moment, both of them froze, their faces instantly turning bright red.
When the two realized what was happening, they quickly turned their heads away. Cheng Ying thought to herself, "We didn't kiss in my dream last night, so this shouldn't count, right? But He Mingfeng's lips are so cool, I really want to touch them again. Cheng Ying, how can you be so shameless, actually thinking about his lips? I didn't say I wanted to kiss him, can't I just touch them?" Thinking of this, Cheng Ying's face turned even redder.
He Mingfeng, however, was savoring the sensation of the touch. He thought to himself, "Aying's lips are so soft. I really want to taste them again, especially now that Cheng Ying's face is flushed, it makes me want to pluck them." Thinking this, he did just that. He Mingfeng gently called out to Cheng Ying, "Aying." Cheng Ying responded and looked up. In that instant, He Mingfeng swiftly lowered his head and kissed those luscious lips.