The Peach Blossoms White by the Village Edge

Chapter 76: First Delight

Even though it wasn't the first time the two had kissed, Qu Qingjiang's kiss still seemed quite inexperienced—like a fish happily swimming to the surface, only to shyly sink back down upon seeing a person. Even though she had initiated the kiss with Zhao Changxia, she was still hesitant, pulling back after just a couple of kisses.

Zhao Changxia didn't press further; instead, he followed her pace and gently ended the kiss.

Qu Qingjiang appeared a bit disappointed that Zhao Changxia had ended the kiss so quickly. She also wrestled with the fact that they were in an outdoor setting, making it unsuitable to kiss too long for fear of being seen.

"June, was that fireworks? But aren't fireworks supposed to shine only on the ground? How could they go so high? How did you get them?" Qu Qingjiang asked quietly.

Zhao Changxia took her hand, leading her home, and said, "That was a surprise I prepared for you. If I told you beforehand, it wouldn't have been a surprise, would it?"

In his mind, Zhao Changxia was negotiating with the system: "For the next New Year's event, let's aim for a 99-shot display. This is only 15 shots; it's a bit stingy to call it a grand display."

[......]

Just giving you fireworks is already generous. Complaining more is getting greedy!

"99 shots might be too much, but 18 shots would be fine. How about we add some variety? Maybe a countdown to the New Year, a heart shape, or patterns like the footprints from the Beijing Olympics..."

[......]

You really aren't afraid of causing a stir and causing a commotion!

Not only back then but even now, who knows how many people might be unable to sleep from excitement or fear.

Zhao Changxia didn't care about the villagers' sleep. She and Qu Qingjiang returned home, where Li Shi asked, "Did you go out? Did you hear the noise outside? I thought I saw lights in the sky, one after another. Was there some divine sign, or is it an ominous omen?"

Zhao Changxia realized that many people might not know what fireworks were and might even have never seen them in their lifetime, so they might associate fireworks with supernatural phenomena.

Qu Qingjiang's inquiry earlier had hinted at this, and it seemed that such fireworks might be rare for the common folk, or perhaps even unheard of. So, the 15-shot display could cause quite a stir in Gushan Township, possibly even alerting the authorities...

"Don't be afraid, it might just be fireworks," Qu Qingjiang comforted the anxious Li Shi.

Li Shi felt somewhat reassured but couldn't help but ask curiously, "Fireworks? Is that what they look like?"

"It should be, though it was my first time seeing them," Qu Qingjiang said, then looked back at Zhao Changxia. Without June, she might have never had a chance to see fireworks in her lifetime!

June had brought many touching moments and surprises, much like the brilliant fireworks that illuminated the colors of her life, but it was more than just that fleeting moment.

To soothe her, Zhao Changxia said with certainty, "Yes, those are fireworks, but this level of sophistication can only be created by artisans in the imperial palace of the capital."

Qu Qingjiang: "..."

For some reason, the more Zhao Changxia insisted on this, the more Qu Qingjiang felt that fireworks and things like scented sachets or eye drops might share a similar origin.