@ah_luck
Both Koala
Chap 7 "However, Xiang Liu took Xiao Liu and sneaked into the deep and quiet seabed. Whenever Xiao Liu's breath was about to expire, Xiang Liu would give him another breath."
Chap 13
" When the final breath was almost gone, Xiao Yao grabbed his hands and pleaded with him but he ignored her and kept swimming underwater. Xiao Yao felt her entire chest was about to explode and her hands no longer had any strength. She let go and Xiang Liu grabbed her around the waist with a smile and pointed to his lips indicating that if she wanted fresh air, she was going to have to get it herself."
"Xiao Yao shook her head. In the past, she was Wen Xiao Liu, she never saw herself as a woman. But now, no matter what happened, she couldn’t do it."
"Xiao Yao finally spoke “I was planning to pretend I didn’t know you when I saw you again.”
"Xiao Yao knew exactly what he was asking – why did she refuse to kiss him and would rather die. She pretended to be clueless “Why what?”
As you can see the 1rst one is not view as a kiss at all. And refering to it as such is wrong.
The 2nd one is refered to as a "kiss "by XY. And she rather die than have XL kiss her. This is XY action.
You will see in chapter 13, XY is explicitly telling herself and us that before when she did not see herself as a woman/ girl, it did not matter to her sharing air or " kiss XL here. But NOW since she is a woman , it is an act she cannot do it under any circumstances. She rather die that do this.
If she , like you said has see Xl in chapter 7 as a lover already why would she want to pretend not to know him now that she is a woman in chapter 13? Knowing fully well that this is the form XL is interested in? Why would she rather die that kiss the one who is like you said in her heart?
Also you are seeing a moment in chapter 7 as romantic when WXY does not . He is more interested in the flower and the fish than the sharing air with XL.
Proof : " swam in the silent eerie bottom of the ocean. Every time Xiao Liu ran out of oxygen, Xiang Liu would pass a breath of air to him.
The bottom of the ocean was more colorful than on land, with fishes of any shape and color and lots of strange creatures. Xiao Liu stared at everything with wonder and Xiang Liu did not rush him along. The Gods loved to use pearls and jellyfish to make lamps so Xiao Liu saw many of those in the palace but it was the first time she saw a living jellyfish. It’s body was clear and it was fluid, like a natural lantern. It would be an insult to it not to make it into a lamp.
A huge sea conch with brilliant hued shell, Xiao Liu tapped it wondering what its meat tasted like and Xiang Liu said “It’s not tasty.”
There was actually grass growing in the ocean, tall and so green it looked black, billowing in the waves without end. Xiang Liu took Xiao Liu walking through the ocean grass plains and he saw a pair of seahorses laying on the plains.
There was all sorts of flowers growing in the ocean as well and it was like a rainbow so bright. He tried to touch one only to have it spring teeth and try to bite back. So the flowers were predators, too, and Xiao Liu glared at Xiang Liu for not warning him. Xiang Liu smirked and then picked up Xiao Liu’s hand and then held it to touch the “flowers” again. This time the flowers were shivering with fear and Xiao Liu laughed before kicking those “flowers” a few times for good measure.
Xiao Liu knew they were being chased by Gao Xing soldiers but never felt in danger. Because Xiang Liu was so calm that it didn’t feel like they were on the run, it felt rather like Xiang Liu was taking him on a stroll through the ocean. They swam for so long underwater but Xiao Liu was really happy and the time didn’t feel long. It wasn’t until they were completely free of the chasing Gao Xing soldiers that Xiang Liu took Xiao Liu up to the surface."
TH is not detailing the air sharing because it is not important. WXL is not even thinking of it as romantic because it means nothing to him he is interested the flora and the fishes in the sea.
He felt happy about taking a stroll and having admired the sea plants and creature. Not once did WXL though of the air sharing not once did he even had a body reaction to it. Not once. So how could you say it was romantic? It looks romantic yes, but that does by no mean equal to it is romantic for WXL. Or WXL view this as romantic.
WXL was consciously sharing air because at that time it did not matter to him. He is a man. XY explain this in chapter 13. He did not see it as a kiss. And if he did, it did not matter to him.