198 Fulfillmen (2/2)
”Old illness?” An Sun's frown deepened.
He seemed to recall the words he heard that night from General Guo and Bai Han. It was an illness that resurfaced during the winter. With this in mind, his eyes dimmed a little. He suddenly stopped walking, causing Rin to turn around and glance at him with a puzzled expression.
”Then during those first days, you stayed with my men and I…Did that happen to worsen it?”
Rin didn't say anything while she looked at An Sun. After a while, she sighed.
”I won't deny it may have, but that was all in the past now. There was no way of you knowing.” She lowered her eyes to the hands resting in front of her.
”That doesn't mean I can't have regrets.” An Sun's voice got deeper.
The clear displeasure in his voice caused Rin to lift her head and sigh.
”I take it this isn't what you wanted to discuss with me?”
Noticing she wanted to shift the subject, An Sun bit back the words he wanted to say and huffed with a grim expression.
”Well?” Rin curiously tilted her head.
An Sun glanced down and sighed, his gaze shifting to look out at the water surrounding the pavilion.
”I'm leaving tomorrow.”
Rin froze at his words, and her eyes widened. Elevating her head to look at An Sun, she gave a stunned and bewildered expression.
”So soon?”
The edge of An Sun's mouth curved a little. ”Are you going to miss me?”
Surprised flashed across Rin's expression. She blinked her eyes rapidly before a faint blush bloomed on her cheeks and she glanced away. She cleared her throat and tried to compose herself.
”I was just surprised. If I remember correctly, you said you needed time to prepare.”
An Sun nodded with arms crossed. ”A week is a long enough time to prepare.”
'So it had already been a week.'
Rin grew quiet. Her hands rested on the rail of the bridge as her eyes looked down into the clear, jade-colored water.
”Where…Where will you be returning when you complete your goal?”
An Sun shifted his gaze from the lake to Rin, seeing the controlled expression on her face as she spoke. However, for the briefest moment, he detected a trace of conflict flash before her eyes.
His eyes curved and he chuckled.
”Of course here.” He looked back at the water and chuckled deeply. ”The Bai family is my most reliable alliance, after all.”
Hearing his words Rin's smiles were gentle as she lowered her gaze and looked back at the water, a few koi fish moving around.
”Then, hopefully, the next time we meet, both of us will have fulfilled our lifelong wish.”
An Sun wordlessly hummed in agreement. The two figures stared out at the lake surrounding the pavilion in silence. As a gentle breeze passed by, it carried along with it the mild fragrance of the chrysanthemum blossoms.