75 Lantern Festival (1/2)

”I used to think that these 17 years have been horrible. I've lost things that are precious to me, and I have arrived at a place I do not want to. Yet, I've noticed recently that when God takes something away from you, he'll compensate your loss with something else. For example, I've met good people and have had good things happening. I've met you. You all.”

Meng Fuyao smiled, raising her cup once more as the audience broke out in applause. She turned her crystal clear eyes toward Yuan Zhaoxu.

'I've met you.'

Yuan Zhaoxu returned her gaze, his fingers slowly and meticulously brushing across the glazed cup in his hand.

”This is a day to reunite, and I've once felt regret over my loss. Perhaps my future reunions would too be broken up by Fate, but this day might just be able to make up for it.”

There was a layer of gloss in her smiling eyes, but it was hardly noticeable.

”I'd like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude. Thank you to those whom I've met, those who have helped, protected, and been generous to me. I thank those who have cherished me, accompanied me and been tolerant. Because of them, I do not feel completely abandoned by the gods. At the same time, I feel ashamed for accepting their kindness while not being able to reciprocate. As such, I've gathered all of you here to borrow your blessings in order to extend my thanks.”

Some smiled while more fell deep in thought.

Meng Fuyao diverted her gaze away from the corner, but she could still feel the warmth and light of the gaze radiating toward her, threatening her willpower.

Her voice became gentler. ”I would like to thank this person. He must be living a lonely life on a tall building that overlooks the horizon. He can see everything and thus does not derive joy and meaning from it. This is his fate and gift. I can't do anything about it and feel a foreboding that my existence will add hail to snow. As such, I'm about to make it up to him first. My gift to him is a lively and bustling scene. It is an experience that he might never get to go through no matter what he possesses. The joy and fulfillment are unique and irreplaceable, and they contain the most ordinary yet dear and heartwarming flavors.”

She raised her cup again and shut her eyes. Sighing, she finished, ”Hope you like it.”

Silence filled the garden as the ladies and gentlemen looked on at their usually cheerful and lively mayor. There was a foreign and shocking expression in her eyes, and her short speech contained deep meaning and unexplainable sadness. The more emotional ladies had already started to sob. They did not understand Meng Fuyao's words and who she was referring to, but they felt their heart sink. Nevertheless, they were indescribably moved, and there seemed to be a ball of mist rising from their chest and congealing into a layer of cool dew.

They raised their cups and echoed sincerely, ”Hope you like it.”

The gentle wave of their blessing rolled up small gusts of wind. Yuan Zhaoxu's hands, which had always been as steady as a rock, trembled.

The cup in his hand almost slipped from his hand, and a few drops of alcohol splashed onto the hollow of his palm before flowing along the vein lines on his skin.

Yao Xun, who stood beside him, hurriedly handed a dry towel. Yet, instead of wiping his hand Yuan Zhaoxu used it to wipe the nonexistent stain on the table.

Yao Xun opened his eyes wide. He had never imagined that Yuan Zhaoxu could also fall into a state of disengagement. Nevertheless, the latter maintained a calm look, no different from his usual self.

Yao Xun felt a slight heartache and finally understood what the later part of Meng Fuyao's speech meant. Apart from his naturally calm disposition, a man like Yuan Zhaoxu must have had grown up in a different environment and educational system from the rest.

Was it possible for anyone to be born graceful and flawless? Was it possible for anyone to reach such a state of calmness and confidence? And what had he sacrificed to achieve it? His life would inevitably lack the richness and plethora of emotions that ordinary citizens experienced.

Yao Xun sobbed, thinking about how Meng Fuyao's coarse and careless attitude was merely an exterior front. Deep down, she was delicate and meticulous.

How rare was it for two individuals to understand each other?

Yao Xun sighed, slowly retreating. He planned to see if the fresh flowers in the meditation hall had wilted due to the candle flames. If so, he would get them replaced, in order not to spoil the perfect gift that she had so specially prepared.

The alcohol in Yuan Zhaoxu's palm gradually dried up. He looked at Meng Fuyao, who raised a toast in his direction before gulping her drink down. He raised his own slowly but did not drink it straight. Instead, he sipped on it bit by bit, as if that was his last cup ever.

The dance party had started, and the youths who had finished learning the dance left the stage in pairs. The exquisite mounted soldier uniforms and the fluttering skirts drew fast and colorful circles in the air while releasing the scent of fresh clothes.

These were all part of the ”bustle” she had so painstakingly prepared for him.

With the faint fragrance of alcohol lingering on his hand, Yuan Zhaoxu felt as though he was in a beautiful dream.

He did not drink much but felt intoxicated.

Opposite of him, a young girl walked toward him with a cup in hand and plopped down beside him. ”I spoke well, didn't I?”