The next day was very exciting for Zhang Euni as she was going to Ling city with her entire big group of friends and seniors as well. She woke up at 4 am and got ready quickly. Then she went to collect some black plum fruits so that they won't run out of food while their journey.

Soon it was 5:45 am. Hanguang-Jun, Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, and Zewu Jun along with the juniors reached the spot from where they decided to depart. But there was no sign of Euni.

"Where did this girl go!?" Jingyi exclaimed.
"Is she still sleeping?" Jin Ling asked.
"Zhiquiang, why don't you go to Euni's room and check what's she doing?" Wei Wuxian said.
"Me!?" Zhiquiang asked pointing himself.
"I think it's only you whose name is Zhiquiang." Wei Wuxian said annoyed.
"Okay."

Saying so Zhiquiang went to check what Euni was doing. After a few minutes, he returned back.

"Where is Euni?" Sizhui asked.
"She is not there in the room," Zhiquiang replied.
"Where did this girl go!?" Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

"Hah," Euni sighed " I am here." She said carrying a basket of black plum.
"A'Ni, you are here?!" Wei Wuxian smiled.
"Am I late!?" Euni asked.
"No. Its 5:55 am." Wangji replied.
"Where did you go, Euni?!" Jingyi asked.
"I went to collect these" Euni replied showing him the basket of fruits.
"Black plums!?" Zizhen exclaimed.
"Mn." Euni nodded. "Wei gege loves them."
"So you went to collect these for Wei Wuxian!?" Jiang Cheng exclaimed and looked at Wei Wuxian.
"Hehe. Yes." She smiled.
"Well, since everyone is here, let's go." Zewu Jun smiled.
"Zewu Jun, isn't Buqi Shijie coming?" Euni asked.
"She said she has to take care of something. So she won't come." Jin Ling replied.
"Okay." Euni pouted.
"Your hairpin looks beautiful," Zizhen said looking at Euni's hairdo.

"Really?"
"Mn."
"This is my favorite hairpin." Euni smiled.

Then they started their journey. On the way, she kept eating the black plums and shared it with her seniors and her friends. Zhiquiang kept refusing which made Euni a bit mad. Though Lan Wangji refused in the beginning, he later ate the plums. On the way, Wei Wuxian-HanguangJun and ZewuJun-Jiang Cheng kept walking together while the juniors followed them. Wei Wuxian kept clinging to Hanguang-Jun all the way, receiving glares from clan leader Jiang.

"Why do Senior Wei has to cling to Hanguang-Jun like that!?" Jingyi rolled his eyes.

Listening to this compliment, Wei Wuxian started to cling to Wangji, even more, trying to make Jingyi even annoyed.

"Husband, Xianxian is feeling bored. Why are you avoiding me? Look at me hubby." Wei Wuxian pouted.
"Wei Wuxian! Behave yourself! What are you doing in front of kids!?" Jiang Cheng roared
"What am I doing? I am trying to talk with my beloved husband. If you are feeling bored, talk to your husband." Wei Wuxian arched his brows.
"Shameless." Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes.
"I know. Lan Zhan, why are you not looking at me? Am I not looking handsome today?"

Wei Wuxian kept teasing Wangji while the later's ears turned bright red. This clinging behavior made all the juniors uncomfortable except Euni. She understood what to do next to stop her Wei gege.

"Hanguang-Jun, why are you avoiding Wei gege?" Euni said with an innocent face.
"Yeah. See my Meimei knows so much." Wei Wuxian said elbowing Wangji.
"Hanguang-Jun, Wei gege is expecting a kiss from you. Why don't you kiss him?" Euni smirked mischievously

Hearing Euni's words, everyone stopped their moments. All of them looked at Euni with disbelief in their eyes.

"What!?" Euni looked at everyone. "Why are you looking at me like that!?"
"How can you say that to Hanguang-Jun so easily!?" Jingyi said as his eyebrows almost got disappeared into his hairline.
"Oh! I was just helping Wei gege." She replied.
"You shouldn't say those words so openly to Hanguang-Jun," Sizhui whispered.
"Why?" Euni asked innocently
"Shameless." Zhiquiang blurted out.
"Hey! Cold prince, why do you always mock me!?" Euni yelled.
"Okay okay. I think we should continue our journey." Zewu Jun said smiling at Euni's smart trick.

They resumed their journey. On the remaining journey, Wei Wuxian though walked by Wangji but he didn't cling to Wangji anymore. He was afraid if Euni would say something inappropriate next time. But Euni was secretly smiling at her success. Soon they reached Ling City. It was the first time for Euni to visit such a big city. She ran hither and thither like a kid. She kept looking at the hairpins, woman accessories, toys. Wei Wuxian smiled watching Euni. It reminded him of the times when Sizhui used to roam around for toys.

"A'Ni, you can buy whatever you want."
"But Wei gege, I don't have money."
"I will buy it for you."
"Nope." Euni pouted.
"Why? Don't you want them?"
"You don't have money. You will Hanguang-Jun's money. I don't want to waste his money."
"Ha? A'Ni? Who taught you these things?"
"None." Euni smiled. "I don't want them. I already have clothes to wear and hairpin for my hair. So I don't need anything else."

Wei Wuxian wanted to buy for her but she kept refusing. She hopped from shop to shop looking at snacks and other items. Watching Euni, a small curve of smile appeared on Jiang Cheng's face.

"Zhang Euni, take whatever you want. I will buy it for you."
"Huh!? Clan leader Jiang? Is it okay you buy things for me? I mean won't Zewu get mad at you?"
"Haha. Why would he get mad at me?" Jiang Cheng smiled? "I am a clan leader. So I have my own money. Now stop refusing and buy whatever you want."
"Thank you, Clan leader, Jiang."

She ran to a cotton candy shop and Jiang Cheng followed her.

"Do you want the cotton candy?" Jiang Cheng asked
"Mn." Euni nodded.
"Which one do you want?"
"Heart-shaped one."

Jiang Cheng was about to buy the cotton candy when Euni stopped him.

"Clan leader Jiang, let me ask Jin Ling if he wants to have a cotton candy."
"Okay."
"Jin Ling, do you want a cotton candy?" Euni asked.
"No. I have someone to buy things for me." Jin Ling said looking at Sizhui.
"Uh!? Are you mocking me for being single?"
"Hm. Of course."
"Well, I have Wanyin gege," Euni said hugging Jiang Cheng's arm tightly.
"What!? From when he became gege to you?" Jin Ling exclaimed.
"Am" Euni hesitated. "He became my gege right now," Euni said earning a smile from Jiang Cheng.
"No way. He is my uncle."
"So what!? If Yiling Laozu is my gege, then why cannot Clan leader Jiang become my gege?"
"I don't buy it. He is only my uncle."
"Jin Ling, being born in a rich family doesn't mean you must have everything," Euni yelled.
"What do you mean by I have everything!? I don't have parents to look after me. Yiling Laozu killed my parents." Jin Ling shouted.
"Yiling Laozu never killed your parents," Euni screamed. "It was Meng Yao who did it. And, talking about parents, you have your uncle to look after you. Having an uncle like Clan Leader Jiang is more than enough. And talking about me, I neither have parents nor relatives to look after me. I had to work in shops to support myself."

Tears started to form in Euni's eyes. Completing her sentence, she ran away from there. Jin Ling stood dumbfound after listening to Euni's life.

"You guys go ahead. I will join you with A'Ni."

Saying so Wei Wuxian left them to search for Euni. On the other hand, Euni was walking on the road kicking the pebbles.

"Wei gege never killed Clan leader Jin, Jin Ling's parents. He is such a good person. He was innocent at that time. He had no other option other than taking that path. He was never an evil person. How dare the clan leader Jin to say the words!?" Euni mumbled while kicking the pebbles. "Why no one understands Wei gege? He is always innocent and good person. Only Hanguang-Jun understands him. I wish clan leader Jin would understand him too."

While Euni was mumbling, Wei Wuxian entered the scene. He heard every single word of Euni. A smile formed on his lips hearing to her words. Wei Wuxian felt a type of warm, closeness and love in the words. Those words were very similar and familiar. Those words of Zhang Euni almost sounded like his Shijie to Wei Wuxian.

"A'Ni, what are you doing here?" Wei Wuxian went to Euni.
"Wei gege!? When did you come?"
"Just now. Are you still mad at Jin Ling?"
"Yes. Why did he say that you killed his parents? It was that cruel Meng Yao who did so."
"Leave it A'Ni. Why are you so serious about this?"
"No. I won't tolerate anyone who badmouths you and Hanguang-Jun."
"It's okay my little girl. Jin Ling loves me. He just became emotional when you said about his parents."
"Huh?! Doesn't he hate you?"
"No." Wei Wuxian smiled. "He loves me. He is bad at expressing like his uncle Jiang Cheng."
"Aiya...did I create a scene there?"
"Its okay A'Ni. Let's go back."
"I think I should apologize to Clan leader Jin."
"Sure."
"Well, what does he like? I want to buy him something."
"But whatever you want. You can buy him cotton candy."
"Nope. Girls like cotton candy."

Euni's eyes swiftly examined the shops. Suddenly her eyes fell on dog collars.

"Wei gege, how about dog collars?" Euni smiled.
"Not bad."
"Then I am going to buy it."
"But A'Ni, you said you don't have money."
"I have my own ways gege."

Saying so Euni went to the shop. The shopkeeper was a lady.

"Excuse me jiejie, can I have this dog collar please?" Euni smiled like a kid.
"Of course." The lady replied
"But jiejie, I don't have money. Can I exchange it with my favorite hairpin?" Euni pouted.
"Well..."
"Please jiejie." Euni tried to act cute.

The lady chuckled at Euni's cuteness. She got impressed by Euni as the later addressed her as jiejie. Normally customers call the lady as miss or a young lady, but Euni used different phrase which made her melt.

"Okay, little girl."
"Thank you jiejie."

Euni smiled. She was about to take out her hairpin, Wei Wuxian stopped her.

"A'Ni, you said it was your favorite hairpin."
"Its okay gege. I can buy another one."
"But A'Ni..."
"Wei gege, don't think about it too much. Clan leader Jin would love this gift."

Saying so Euni took out her hairpin from hair. As a result, her hair became untied. She exchanged her hairpin and got the dog collar.

"It's beautiful!" Euni smiled. "Ah! Wei gege does my hair look terrible? I mean my hair is untied and it is hanging up to my waist, am I looking like a witch?"
"Your hair became a little messy." Wei Wuxian helped her to fix her untied hair. "Hm. Now it looks good."
"Are you sure?"
"Hm. You look like a cute girl now. You shouldn't keep your hair untied often."
"Why Wei gege!?"
"Because I am afraid that the male students of Gusu will forget to breathe."
"Huh!? Do I look that terrible?!"
"No A'Ni. You look so sweet and breathtaking."
"Aiya, Wei gege. Don't make me blush." Euni smiled.
"Let's go now."
"Mn."

On the other hand, Jin Ling felt bad about fighting with Euni. He asked Jiang Cheng if he acted too much. Jiang Cheng replied to him by rolling his eyes saying that girls' hearts are so soft that even a few harsh words would hurt them. Jin Ling regretted. So he bought a little gift for Euni.

Soon Wei Wuxian joined Hanguang-Jun along with Euni. Hanguang-Jun and the remaining member were waiting in a nearby inn for them.

"Zhang Euni, where did you go!?" Jingyi asked.
Though Zhiquiang kept a stoic face, he was too worried for her.
"Answer it Euni. Where did you go!?" Zizhen said?
"I...I..." Euni hesitated
"She went to buy Jin Ling a gift." Wei Wuxian said.
"Huh? She went to buy me a gift!? But why?!" Jin Ling exclaimed.
"Its...I...I am sorry Clan leader Jin. I didn't indent to hurt you. But...I..." Euni struggled to speak.
"Euni, you don't need to apologize. It's me who should apologize to you. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I know that uncle Wei didn't kill my parents. I just blurted out. I am sorry." Jin Ling said.
"Aiya...You don't need to apologize. I shouldn't use the topic parents."
"Euni, why are you calling me Clan Leader Jin? Call me Jin Ling. We are friends."
"How about if I call you Lingling?"
"No. It sounds like a girl."
"Not at all. It sounds cute. So cuteeeee."
"Yes. It sounds cute." Sizhui smiled.
"Euni!!! Don't call me Lingling." Jin Ling made an angry face.
"Haha, okay Jin Ling. It's for you." Euni gave the dog collar.
"Ha!? It's for Fairy right?"
"Mn."
"Wow! It's so pretty. I love it. I am going to change Fairy's collar right now."
"Euni, why did you keep your hair untied?" Jiang Cheng asked.
"Well, its..."
"She exchanged the dog collar with her favorite hairpin for you Jin Ling." Wei Wuxian said.
"What!? She gave her favorite hairpin for Jin Ling?!" Zhiquiang sharply looked at Euni.
"Well... it's not that important you know. It's just a hairpin." Euni smiled awkwardly.
"So what? How can you sacrifice your favorite thing for someone else?" Jingyi roared
"I...I am sorry." Euni lowered her head
"Euni, I...I bought this for you." Jin Ling gave his gift to her.

"Huh!? A hairpin??" Euni exclaimed.
"I don't know if you will like it or..."
"I love it, Jin Ling. It's so pretty."
"You like it!?"
"Mn. I have never seen such a beautiful hairpin before."
"Its because you never used girls' hairpin before," Zizhen said.
"Hehe. Actually, boys' hairpins are very easy to use." Euni smiled sheepishly.
"You can use it to tie your hair," Jingyi said.
"Yep. I am using it right now. But how to use it?"

Euni tried to tie her hair with the pin but it fell. She took it and again it fell. She again tried to tie her hair.

"So clumsy." Zhiquiang took the hairpin from her hand and tied her hair into a ponytail.
"Thank you Zhiquiang." Euni smiled
"I am hungry. Aren't you guys hungry?" Wei Wuxian said caressing his abdomen.
"I am hungry too." Euni, Jingyi and Jin Ling said together.
"I already have ordered our dinner." Zewu Jun smiled.

All of them sat around two adjacent tables. Wei Wuxian-Wangji, Euni, and Jingyi-Zizhen sat together while Jiang Cheng-Xichen, Sizhui-Jinling and Zhiquiang sat together. The Lan clan students are bland foods while others ate spicy ones. Specially Wei Wuxian ate the most spicy one.

"Wei gege, why the color of your dish looks so red and yummy?" Euni asked pointing towards Wuxian's bowl.
"Because it's very much spicy." Wei Wuxian replied.
"Don't you dare to try Euni," Jingyi said.
"Why?" Euni asked innocently.
"Because it's so spicy that you cannot survive," Zizhen said drinking his tea.
"Really? Then I wanna try it for sure." Euni said.
"Then take a bite." Wei Wuxian put a spoonful of food into Euni's mouth.
"..." Euni gave a blank expression.
"How's it?! Is it too spicy?" Zizhen asked.
"Nope." Euni said." It's so tasty. I wanna order it next time."
"What?! Is it really tasty? I too wanna try." Jin Ling said coming to Wei Wuxian for a bite.
"Take it." Wei Wuxian gave the bowl to Jin Ling.

Jin Ling took a spoonful of food and ate it.

"Aiyaaaaa...It's so spicy." Jin Ling quickly gulped it and immediately drank tea to get rid of the spice. "Euni, how did you eat it? It's extremely spicy."
"I love it, Jin Ling." Euni smiled.
"By the way, A'Ni, have you ever tried drinking wine?" Wei Wuxian said.
"Not yet." Euni smiled.
"Uh!? You never drank wine. Look at Jiang Cheng and me. We used to drink wine when we were 14."
"Wei Wuxian! Stop making me ashamed." Jiang Cheng roared.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of." Wei Wuxian stuck his tongue out.
"Can I try wine?" Euni asked.
"Sure." Wei Wuxian poured a cup of wine for her.
Euni drank it.
"Yummy. It tastes so good." Euni smiled.
"Then how about having a competition." Wei Wuxian smirked.
What competition?"Jin Ling asked.
"Who will drink the most bottles of wine." Wei Wuxian said.
"I am in," Euni said.
"Count me in too." Zizhen raised his hand.
"Me as well." Jin Ling said.
"I think both our brothers are in as well." Wei Wuxian said.
"I have a condition." Euni interrupted.
"What condition?" Wei Wuxian asked.
"The Lan Sect members cannot try wine. They became the most crazy ones when they drink wine." Euni said.
"I agree." Jiang Cheng said.
"So, let's start." Wei Wuxian said.

Soon the so-called competition started. The Lan clan members sat on a table while others sat on the other one. The first one to get knocked down was ZiZhen. He went flat on 6th bottle. Jin Ling became drunk on 9th bottle. The war is now between pride twins and Euni. Jiang Cheng went flat on 11th bottle.

"A'Ni, do you still want to play?" Wei Wuxian asked drinking his wine.

"I am not drunk yet," Euni said finishing her 12th bottle.
"Your alcohol capacity is quite good."

After finishing 14Th the bottle, finally, both Wei Wuxian and Zhang Euni got drunk. Wei Wuxian tried to pour the wine in his cup but failed.

"Gege, what happened!?" Euni said with her half-closed lids.
"I can see two cups here." Wei Wuxian said pointing his own cup. Actually, Wei Wuxian became so drunk that he started to see everything double.
"Where?" Euni crawled towards Wei Wuxian. "Oh!! I can two cups as well. But why are there two cups?" Euni said.

She too got so drunk that she saw a single cup as double.

"I get it." Euni nodded her head.
"What did you get?"
"There are two cups. One for my gege and other for..."
"My meimei. Haha." Wei Wuxian laughed like crazy.
"Wei gege, you know, you are so lucky to have Lan Zhan."
"Ai...don't call my husband by his name. Only I am allowed to call him like that."
"Shhhh." She said putting her finger on her lips. "I won't say that anymore. Hanguang-Jun right?"
"Mn. Call him Hanguang-Jun."
"Hey! Wei Wuxian! Why on the earth are you clinging on that girl?" A drunk Jiang Cheng crawled towards Wei Wuxian.
"She is our Meimei." Wei Wuxian said putting arm his around her shoulder.
"Oh! Yes. She is our little girl Zhang Euni." Jiang Cheng smiled.
"Zhang Euni where are you?" A drunk Jin Ling screamed who was sitting beside Euni.
"I am here Lingling." Euni waved her hand while feeling drowsy.
"Where? I cannot see her. Do you know where my friend is?" Jin Ling asked holding Euni's hand.
"Lingling, it's me, your friend," Euni said holding Jin Ling's face. "Look at my face. Do you remember me?"
"Ah...you are Euni." Jin Ling couldn't maintain his balance. "You know you look so pretty when you smile."
"Lingling, stay away. Sizhui will get angry." Euni pushed him.
"Yes, Sizhui. Sizhui, where are you? My husband, where are you?" Jin Ling screamed.
"Jin Ling, control." Sizhui held him.
"Aww, my husband. You are so good." Jin Ling said.

"Wangji, take Wei Gonzi to the room. I will take Jiang Cheng with me. Jingyi, take care of Zizhen and Sizhui, go to your room with Jin Ling." Zewu Jun said holding Jiang Cheng.
"Zhiquiang, take Euni to your room and take care of her," Wangji ordered.
"Mn." Zhiquiang nodded.

"My husband, you are so handsome. I am feeling so horny right now." Wei Wuxian said cupping Wangji's face.
"Let's go to our room first," Wangji said with a stoic face.
"Promise?"
"Mn."
"Let's go."

Wangji carried Wei Wuxian in bridal style and went upstairs of the inn. Zewu Jun took Jiang Cheng to their room while Sizhui carried Jin Ling in a piggyback style and Jingyi dragged Zizhen to their respective rooms.

"Euni, let's go," Zhiquiang said sitting before Euni.
"Where is Wei gege? I cannot see him."
"He already went to his room."
"Why did he leave me?" Euni started to cry.
"Don't cry Euni." Zhiquiang wiped her tears.
"I have no one to take care of." Euni sobbed.
"I am here. I will take care of you. Let's go to our room."
"Our room?" Euni tried to open her half-closed eyes.
"Yes. You are afraid of dark, so I will accompany you."
"You know so much about me, Lan er gege," Euni said wrapping her arms around Zhiquiang's neck.
"Euni, let me go."
"Why? I want to go to our room."
"Mn."

Zhiquiang sighed and carried her to their room in bridal style. Upon reaching the room, he gently put her on the bed. Euni sat like a good girl. Zhiquiang turned back to bring wet cloth, Euni pulled him making him sit beside her.

"Lan er gege, you know, you don't look good when you keep that face." Euni tried to mimic Zhiquiang.
"Really?" Zhiquiang chuckled.
"Mn. Why don't you smile? Do you think people will ask you money if you smile?"
"Euni, you need to sleep now."
"No. I wanna talk."
"Hm."
"Lan er gege, why do you always mock me?"
"I don't mock you."
"Don't lie to me. You always try to fight with me."
"Its because you always act stupid."
"Tch. Lan er gege, you are so mean."
"I am sorry okay," Zhiquiang said caressing Euni's face while she put her face on his big palm.
"Your hands are so warm Lan er gege."
"Mn."
"I want to sleep in your warm arms, Lan er gege."
"Huh? No Euni."
"Why?" Euni pouted.
"We...we cannot sleep like that."
"Why? Do you hate me that much?"
"No. But..."

Before Zhiquiang could complete his words, Euni already put her head on Zhiquiang's broad chest with her hands clinging on his shoulder. For a moment, Zhiquiang couldn't understand how he should react. Suddenly he felt his heartbeat increased. Euni nuzzled into his chest.

"Lan er gege, you are so warm," Euni said closing her eyes.
"..."
"Lan er gege, won't you talk to me?" Euni asked with closed eyes.
"..."
"Lan er gege?" Euni lifted her eyes, with her head still on Zhiquiang's chest, to see his reaction. "Are you feeling sick?"
"No. Why?"
"Your heartbeat...its faster than normal heartbeat."
"No. It's my normal one."
"What!?" Euni at once sat up.
"What happened, Euni?"
"Are you a heart patient? It means you are going to die soon. Oh no! My Lan er gege is going to die soon. No!" Euni cried.
"Euni, I am not a patient." Zhiquiang fondly caressed Euni's hair. "And I am not going to die."
"But your heartbeat."
"Its because you are with me."
"Huh? Your heartbeat responds to me? Your heart wants to talk with me?"
"Yes." Zhiquiang smiled at Euni's childish questions.
"Oh hooooo." Euni made a face as if she understood something as important as ever.
"Now sleep, my princess." Zhiquiang smiled.
"Princess? I love the name. Will you call me princess all the time."
"Nope."
"Why?"
"Because I will only call you like that when you get drunk."
"So bad."
"Princess, let's sleep." Zhiquiang spread his arms asking her to come.

Euni crawled and put her head on Zhiquiang's chest while Zhiquiang gently caressed her back. Suddenly the candles went off. As a reflex Euni sat straight on the bed.
"Who is it?" Euni shouted

The next what she heard, was the clashing sound of two swords.

________________________

1. Sorry for not making the dialogue inclined. Today's update is of 4010 words. I am too lazy to scroll so much and make the dialogues inclined. Sorry for the inconvenience.

2. And yes, if you guys find mistakes, then please then me. I cannot back read 4010 words. They are so many.

3. Sorry for typing mistakes.

4. English is not my first language, so please compromise with it.