29 Sprout and Peach 2 (1/2)
From a stranger to a friend, she slowly became someone he wanted to remain by his side. Her honesty, her kindness, and the way she was as a person was growing upon him. So many thoughts circulated in his mind, but all he muttered was, ”I hope you enjoy yourself then.”
At his response, Li Wei leaned back onto the chair and laughed with so much amusement her eyes turned into crescent moon shapes. ”Of course.”
Khan Bojing cleared his throat and hurriedly changed the topic. She was strongly distracting him from the main point. ”I... I will be gone from Na'an for a while.”
”En...” She wasn't exactly surprised. She had long suspected he had another reason why he wanted to meet today. So it was to say farewell to her, she was someone of enough importance to him. This thought alone brightened her day.
”During our run, we separated ways. I led the assassins astray and came to Na'an since I was the main target. I'll be heading to Yu'an to meet as we promised.” His eyes glanced briefly out the window onto the busy streets where villagers went about their day. When he looked at her again, his gaze had softened. ”Take care while I'm gone.”
”I will,” She quickly assured him. Taking care of herself was something she did well at. Li Wei was only worried about him. From Na'an to Yu'an was not an easy journey. Yu'an was located between Na'an and Hai'an. It was a distant town more in the countryside, but there was more than what met the eyes. Yu'an was in itself more like a city, a heavily populated and modern city at that. She could even compare to the capital cities of Na'an and Hai'an.
The one downfall was, it wasn't easy to get there. There were two routes. You could either take the well traveled road, which was safer but longer, or trek through the risky and densed mountains. There was no doubt he would take the dangerous, but shorter route to meet his parents as soon as possible. To add to it, he also prolonged his trip by being in Na'an for the last couple days. To be exact, he had spent almost everyday here with her...
”You're worrying about me, arent' you?” He could see the concerns in her eyes as she pondered upon his trip. Khan Bojing could read her thoughts so easily. Her smile disappeared, her eyes lowered, and her lips pressed lightly together. ”Will you feel better if I say, I've been there many times before?”
Li Wei stubbornly shook her head. No matter how many times he's traveled there, she wasn't reassured. There was only one way she would feel better. ”I can only stop worrying if I'm there with you.”
”Don't think too much. I'll have your lantern, remember?” All his life, she was the first aside from his parents to genuinely cared about his wellbeing. His hand reached over and his thumb lightly grazed across her cheek. When he spoke, his voice was soft and tender, ”Just knowing that you're doing well is enough for me. Be good and wait for me.”
His soft caress made her heart skipped a beat as she stared at him. The him now in front of her was like how she remembered him to be. His request was so simple, she couldn't deny it. She smiled and nodded her agreement. ”En, remember to come find me. If you can't come to me, I can come to you too.”
”What a silly sprout you are.” His finger touched and bounced off her forehead lightly. ”I don't want others talking about you. Just wait and I'll come find you when the time is right.”
”Alright,” She agreed. He was reasonable, if it wasn't necessary and she'd rather stay on the low. She didn't want to attract extra attention after the banquet's performance. Considering the time, she only said, ”Yebai, you should leave soon.”