(Jin Guangyao/Reader) You're my sun, my universe

Chapter 11: All good things must come to an end

Y/N age = 22

It soon reached the late evening, and whilst others would begin to feel tired, for you staying awake was of no issue, as you regularly stayed up late. Meng Yao throughout it all never left your side, snuggling up close to your figure and curling on your lap, finding comfort in each-other's presence.

"This is a beautiful area" you muttered absentmindedly as you contemplated the view before you where the lake stretched out.

Meng Yao simply hummed in agreement, "I come here to relax every now and then...when daylight ceases most local residents leave the area in fear of evil beings, for everyone believes that they are most active at night" at this he let out a light chuckle, "Though whether it be day or evening, if evil sentiment truly wanted to wreak havoc it would."

You laughed in amusement, "I see that those old folktales no longer have a grasp on you?" you teased lightly.

Meng Yao simply gave a lopsided smile in reply, "I can certainly the strangeness in them now that I am exposed to the cultivation world and realise how many cases happen in broad daylight as well as the evening."

"Hmm...I see so it makes no difference?" you questioned lightly.

"I wouldn't say it does not make a difference...it is true that while some prefer the evening, just as many ghosts and spirts prefer the daylight as well. In the end it really depends on how well they can evade dangers" he answered, while continuing to gaze upwards at you from his current position.

It was strange, before Meng Yao would not be able to give you such a detailed answer on the affairs of the cultivation world; after-all knowledge of ghosts and other creatures were all limited amongst the common populace, and yet now...

"I see you're now very knowledgeable on this" you noted, a fondness seeping into your tone, "Before you were just as clueless as me."

Meng Yao's eyes softened as he let out a cheerful chuckle, "It's hard to stay clueless when you're constantly surrounded by it."

"I guess that's true" you mused in reply before allowing your eyes to drift across his figure, of which was spread across the grass, as you did so you noted something dangling on his belt, that you did not before due to other distractions.

"That's..."

Feeling the sudden intense gaze Meng Yao followed your eyes, of which landed on the familiar red tassel.

"You...kept it." The surprise in your tone flooding through, though it wasn't without a hint of fondness.

"Did you think I would not?" he asked in a questioning manner, his expression showcasing his confusion.

A pause.

'I thought you had already thrown it away...with all the riches would must be flooded in now, why would you keep such an ordinary and cheap tassel.'

"Mhm." You replied aloud instead, shaking your head in disagreement "Ignore me I was just rambling on."

Even so a tender smile spread across your lips, and you hoped the darkened lightning would help to hide your flush, as you could feel heat spreading across your cheeks.

You forgot of course that with a cultivator and their heightened senses, dim lighting would do little to hide that.

***

The rest of the evening continued in a calm manner; with Meng Yao laying his head on your lap, as you gently caressed his hair and the two of you chattered about the most mundane things. Eventually as the two of you ran out of topics to talk about you began to hum a familiar, soft lullaby that Meng Shi always did to fill in the silence.