Chapter 239:

The Bund.

When it comes to tourism, Chu Ge felt like he was only interested in historical sites and had no interest in landscapes…

The significance of historical sites didn’t necessarily have to be ancient; it lay in what era they represented.

So, since he was in Shanghai, the Bund was a must-visit place. Looking at the Republican-era buildings along the riverbank, it felt like he could immerse himself in the flames of that era and the splendor depicted by writers.

Qiu Wuji, in her shirt and jeans with a ponytail swaying, held a crepe and chewed away, showing no interest in what Chu Ge saw as “Eileen Chang’s Shanghai.”

Cultural differences were still present. She found it hard to immerse herself in the myriad thoughts that burst forth from people here. Even though she delved into Marxist philosophy and even read several books on modern and contemporary history to understand it more deeply, that sense of immersion was still different. She couldn’t quite comprehend Chu Ge’s contemplative strolls by the river, as if he was about to compose a hundred poems.

In Qiu Wuji’s eyes, the Huangpu River waters were more captivating than those buildings.

Of course, nothing was more delicious than the Chinese crepe.

Actually, Chu Ge was also eating crepe. It was their lunch.

Qiu Wuji misunderstood; Chu Ge wasn’t lost in historical thoughts. It was more like he didn’t know how to strike up a proper conversation with her…

Should he ask, “Qiu Wuji, how did you learn this move?”

Or maybe, “Qiu Wuji, did you see this in the codes before?”

No matter how he phrased it, he felt like he’d get hit.

Better to remain silent and enjoy the moment… Watching Qiu Wuji eating with gusto, her cheeks puffed out, looking around at the scenery, was quite adorable.

Adorable in every way!

Qiu Wuji stopped in confusion.

Chu Ge also stopped.

She continued walking, and so did he.

Qiu Wuji understood, “Are you looking at the foreign-style houses over there or at me?”

Chu Ge honestly replied, “I’m glancing at the architecture, but my main focus is on you.”

Qiu Wuji said while eating her snack, “…Boring. Did you really come here just to specifically look at me?”

Saying it was boring, but in reality, her eyes and lips betrayed a hint of joy. So, he was still looking at me after all. Of course, those buildings are nothing compared to me.

“Is there any story behind this river?” Qiu Wuji asked. “It’s called the Huangpu River. Is it because it’s very yellow and turbid? It looks fine to me; Nanjiang’s waters aren’t necessarily much clearer.”

“It’s said that the name Huangpu comes from Marquis Chunshen Huang. It’s not about the water being muddy. Of course, I’m not sure of the specifics either.” Chu Ge explained, “Are you more interested in this river?”

“Yes, everything related to water and sky is my way.”

Looking at the girl with her hair in a ponytail, nibbling on the crepe while talking seriously, it actually made her appear even cuter. Chu Ge couldn’t help but laugh, “You should listen to the song later, ‘Roaring waves and flowing tides~’ It’s a classic. Once I arrived here, my mind was filled with that song.”

Qiu Wuji nodded, “I will listen to it later. Music indeed has the power to resonate with people. It’s not surprising that you find yourself immersed in it. As for last night’s opponent… um… let’s not talk about it and spoil the mood.”

Chu Ge, on the other hand, couldn’t contain his curiosity, “What’s wrong? Isn’t he using sound waves? How is it related to music?”

“There is music involved…. It can evoke emotions and stir one’s spirit.” Qiu Wuji explained, “For those who practice sound manipulation, it can’t be just about sound. If they can master the way of sound, it’s likely closely related to music. Even though supernatural abilities are different from immortal cultivation, they probably share similarities in this aspect. Awakening abilities must have a reason behind them, just like you writing books, Wan Zijun doing copywriting, and Panda playing games. Supernatural abilities often tie into these pursuits.”

Chu Ge was taken aback, “Musicians… I need to tell this clue to Gu Ruoyan.”

Qiu Wuji raised her eyebrows and suppressed a hum of dissatisfaction, turning her head to look at the river.

She felt like she been played by that woman. She even had him drifting a cart of milk into the snowy mountains because of this unnecessary jealousy. In the future, she must suppress this feeling. Apart from needlessly making him happy, it had no other use…

Qiu Wuji indignantly finished her crepe, tossed the paper bag into a roadside trash bin, and then noisily delved into Chu Ge’s personal space, fishing out a bottle of milk tea to gulp down.

Chu Ge was exasperated, “Next time, let me know before you start rummaging in my space. I need to mentally prepare.”

“It’s a good opportunity to test our rapport.” Qiu Wuji drank her milk tea and then turned to see Chu Ge’s strange expression, irritably saying, “Is your brain already filled with this liquid? Why are you looking at everything weirdly?”

Chu Ge awkwardly grinned.

Qiu Wuji gulped her tea, mumbling incoherently, “Who’s soft?”

Finally, the conversation circled back to this topic, in the midst of the Republican-era style and the Huangpu River…

Chu Ge could only cautiously say, “Of course, it’s you who’s the softest… No, actually, whether others are soft or hard, I’ve never paid much attention.”

“Are you suggesting I’ve been imagining things?”

“No, no…” Chu Ge grinned apologetically, “That… Qiuqiu…”

“What is it?”

“I think Cloud Horizon Mountain should be given a new name.”

Qiu Wuji paused, “What should it be changed to?”

“It’s your mountain, right? In your name, we could call it Qiu Wuji Peak from now on.”

Qiu Wuji took a sip of tea, thought for a moment, then confirmed, “That name works. If you want to change it, go ahead. Should I change it in the book, or will I do it when I get back?”

“Changing it in the book would break the immersion for readers. Let’s just use that name privately…”

“What a mess,” Qiu Wuji realized that his words were likely not well-intentioned and decided to ask the search engine when she got back.

It was frustrating. She thought she was quite modern, but she still exposed her ignorance in the details. Whether it was the song he had just hummed or that strange mountain talk.

“I’m not going any further!” Qiu Wuji exclaimed in frustration.

“Then, how about we take a break by the river? Or do you want to take that sightseeing boat?”

Qiu Wuji hesitated, glanced at the distant tourist boat, and shook her head, “I’d rather row ourselves.”

She paused and whispered, “The appearance of cities is more or less the same. This trip, I’ve seen a cocktail party, experienced the Republic of China era, and admired the riverside… I’ve also witnessed dandies chasing after me, bloodshed in the suburbs, combat against formidable enemies… this journey has met my wishes and satisfied my curiosity.”

It’s been a long time since Chu Ge, the self-proclaimed literary youth, heard such old-fashioned sentences. Her previous display of extreme tenderness seemed to have left little impact, and it sounded like she wanted to go home.

Actually, Chu Ge didn’t fully understand. He thought Qiu Wuji was the type who wanted to explore the world and should be eager to see more of this modern metropolis. The bustling city offered things that couldn’t be found in Nanjiang, and he was prepared to spend a lot of money.

But it seemed that she was genuinely content.

Perhaps it was because the cities were more or less the same, without any particularly unique points of interest?

But then Qiu Wuji muttered to herself softly, “What I’m looking forward to the most now isn’t sightseeing in this world… Instead, I want to go back early and depict our world, showcasing its splendor to the people. The world of rivers and lakes, the mountains of immortality, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and my divine sword.”

Chu Ge’s heart stirred slightly as he turned to look at Qiu Wuji’s profile, who was gazing into the distance at the river.

Perhaps he had underestimated the significance of the comic in Qiuqiu’s heart. She truly cared…

No wonder she was so enthusiastic about learning to draw comics. She really wanted to showcase all of this to the world with her own hands.

Qiu Wuji turned to him and smiled slightly, “If we’re talking about sightseeing, my heart has already flown to that other world, where we can roam together. Chu Ge, the rules here are too restrictive at times, and it can feel suffocating. Our real adventure lies there, in the wuxia world you write about and the free rivers and lakes in your heart.”

Chu Ge gently held her hand, “Alright, then… if you feel content here, we can go back.”

Suddenly, Qiu Wuji pulled out her phone, nearly ruining the delicate atmosphere that had been created, “I haven’t posted on Weibo for a long time, at least let’s take a picture before we go…”

Chu Ge almost stumbled in surprise.

“What’s with that expression? Come a bit closer, yes, this angle captures the river perfectly, doesn’t it look nice?”

“… It looks nice.”

“Say ‘eggplant’!”

“Click!” In the photo, the couple flashed V-shaped hand signs, their smiles were sweet and enchanting.

Chu Ge looked at it somewhat dazedly, feeling like he was the one with split personalities.