T/N: This is bonus content from the paperback version. From the pinned post on the author's Weibo, it looks like she also posted this chapter for free on Lofter.
The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus
Translator: Fuyu
Chapter 123.1 - New Year's (Modern-day)
Part 1 of 7
When Ling Miaomiao dragged her suitcase out of her dorm, there was almost no one left on campus. Winter in the capital was chilly and windy. She was wearing a woolen hat, a wool scarf, and knitted gloves. The hood of her down jacket was trimmed with a circle of fur… She had turned herself into an Inuit.
The suitcase made a loud clattering sound, and its wheels crushed the thin ice on the ground as she dragged it.
University A's main entrance faced a busy main road with cars coming and going. There were always a few people standing in the small courtyard to take pictures of the university's name at the entrance.
When Ling Miaomiao passed by the group, the young women were pointing towards the designated green space on the west side.
She stretched her neck out to look and saw a person that looked like he wanted to be an immortal.
The teenager was dressed in formal clothing and sitting on the edge of a low flower bed. His head was lowered, and he had nowhere to stretch out his long legs. His dress pants were ironed straight, and his leather shoes were polished. He looked as if he was about to attend a wedding. Was this person crazy? Not only was the collar of his suit open, his bare hands were propped up on the icy edge of the flower bed. The image was truly inspiring of reverence.
The next second, that person raised his head and made eye contact with her. Ling Miaomiao almost fell over her suitcase in surprise.
Ah, it was her black lotus.
Under a sea of strange gazes from the nearby people, Ling Miaomiao almost left her suitcase behind to claim her little black lotus that had been waiting for her in the bitter cold. "Let's go."
The teenager stood up and reached out for a hug. Her down jacket felt as soft as a cloud. His arms tightened around her. He lowered his head to look her over. He hooked the scarf that Ling Miaomiao had tightly wrapped around herself and gently pulled on it to bring her closer. Before she could complain, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.
(Passerby: I'm going, I'm going. You treat me as if I'm blind.)
A cool touch.
Ling Miaomiao exhaled a breath of white air. She didn't know if she should scold him or laugh. She raised her head to look at him.
"Mu Ziqi, you must be freezing. Why are you dressed like this?" She quickly buttoned up his clothing, took off her scarf and stuffed it into his arms. "Hurry up, put it on."
Mu Sheng put the scarf back on her neck. He lowered his long, slender eyelashes and slowly tidied up his clothes. His tone was nonchalant as he said, "It's buttoned wrong."
Ling Miaomiao didn't know what to say.
Mu Sheng grabbed her suitcase and offered his free hand. "Let's go."
His good walking posture along with the formal clothing gave off the impression that he had walked out of an elegant, vintage photo. If he added a valuable watch to his outfit, he could pass for an elite young noble.
Ling Miaomiao curiously walked to his other side. "Did you just come back from an office party?"
The teenager paused. His gaze rested on his hand, a bit unhappy that she didn't hold his hand. "Office party?"
What was that?
Ling Miaomiao looked him over. "Then you…"
Then why did he dress up like an MC?
Mu Sheng stopped, turned around to block her, and seriously looked at her with his bright eyes. "Did you forget what we're going to do today?"
"We're just…" Ling Miaomiao blinked. "... going home."
The teenager pursed his lips. He showed a rare trace of nervousness. He resolutely repeated, "Right, going home."
Their eyes met.
Ling Miaomiao was silent for a long time before she burst into howling laughter. She laughed so hard that she bent over and supported her knees with her hands.
Mu Sheng quietly looked at her. Could he pick her up, place her on her suitcase, and carry her there this way?
Then, the cloud jumped over and held his neck. Miaomiao's grin was so wide that white air escaped from her mouth. "My parents aren't Director Xu! You're not going for an interview. Why are you nervous?"
(Passerby: It's endless. Let's go!)
—
Part 2 of 7
Although Mu Sheng was the one dragging the suitcase, it was Ling Miaomiao that was leading the way. As if she was the one in control of the steering wheel, she led the little black lotus to the mall.
Countless huge snowflakes were hanging from the ceiling of the mall's atrium. It was a festive and joyful scene with bright red decorations that looked as warm as fire, and the stores were playing Happy New Year's songs.
The Japanese-style trench coat was understated elegance with a few white plum blossoms embroidered on the black collar. Mu Sheng looked down as he buttoned the coat. Under the warm light, his face was like white nephrite.
The assisting saleswoman couldn't resist taking a few extra looks.
Ling Miaomiao was sunk into the soft sofa. Her elbows were resting on her knees, and her face was resting in her hands with only her almond-shaped eyes exposed. She shook her head.
The saleswoman's expression suddenly turned extremely guilty. "Huh?"
Ling Miaomiao felt a bit guilty too. "Actually…"
Mu Sheng took it off without hesitation. "She doesn't like it."
The saleswoman turned her head away to hide her grin. When she turned her head back, her professional smile was back in place. "Miss, what kind of style do you like?"
Ling Miaomiao thought it over and pointed at a nearby down-filled jacket with a black furry collar. "That one?"
Once Mu Sheng put on that puffy down-filled jacket, the fluffy collar set off his face's smooth silhouette and made him look much younger. Mu Sheng zipped up the zipper and glanced at her from his peripheral vision. When he lowered his eyes, there was an almost imperceptible curve to his lips.
She seemed to like this kind of fluffy thing.
"This one."
—
Part 3 of 7
"Actually… that first one looked very good."
"Oh?" The teenager turned his head.
At noon, the roads were still jammed. The driver slapped the steering wheel in annoyance. The car in front had a small red flag on the rearview mirror that was fluttering in the wind.
"Mhm." Ling Miaomiao had already pulled out several fluffy down from her jacket and was playing with them. The car had ample heating. She put her scarf on her knees and rolled it into a ball. When she blew on the down, her cheeks bulged.
She raised her head to look at him. Her smile was a bit silly. "Am I very bad? I want to dress you up to show your cuteness."
When they first met, he was like a goose-yellow* winter jasmine falling from the sky. Youthful and bright, the sight of him made her heart beat fast.
(T/N: Goose-yellow as in that light, warm yellow color similar to the down of a goose chick.)
After all these years, he still looked the same as when they first met.
Mu Sheng didn't understand why she called herself bad. The Demon Restraining Circlet on his wrist vibrated, and a red light flashed at the top. He was still looking at Ling Miaomiao and calmly turned off the red light.
He was somewhat regretful that he had handed his magic weapon over to the department for modifications. They added a communication function.
He was extremely unhappy with this feeling of being controlled, especially on his authorized time off.
Ling Miaomiao carefully caught the floating down with her hands, rubbed them into a ball, and smiled. "Wait until you're 30 to wear that style."
The teenager paused, and his expression suddenly softened.
What would it be like to be 30?
This time, they could walk through the years together, hand in hand. When she combs her hair into a married woman's hairstyle in the future, he could openly count the new crow's feet on her face.
That would be wonderful, extremely wonderful.
But, that moment was so far off from this winter. Today was the day before the New Year's, and it felt like the pause button had been pressed for a long time on the busy streets of the capital.
Such a short life, when calculated this way, felt surprisingly long.
He reached out and guided her head to rest on his shoulder.
Ling Miaomiao looked at him in bafflement, hmm, once her head was down, she did feel a bit sleepy…
She moved a bit before comfortably settling her weight onto his arm and closed her eyes.
The air was dry, and the fluffy down on their jackets collided and created a string of static sparks.
The teenager turned his head and kissed her hair.
The car finally moved forward.
Translator Ramblings: I thought Chapters 121 and 122 (Collapsing Fanciful Imagination AKA Brain Crash Pit) were hilarious, but they left me with the feeling of and then… and then?! Ahhh, author, how could you end the story that way? So, I finally bought the paperback version =).
I read the novel a long time ago, but I still remember Director Xu's convincing Mu Sheng to cut his beautiful hair short. A crime I say!
Below is fan art by 饱饱吃饱不吃饱 of Mu Sheng visiting Miaomiao to show off his work badge in chapter 121.
