94 Reunion (1/2)

King De was locked up, and no one could yet convict him. The only person that could determine his plight wasn't in the palace.

On the 4th of March. Beginning of Spring.

Early in the morning Zong Yue delivered a few letters to Meng Fuyao but was stopped by Ya Lanzhu at the door. Breathing out, she said, ”Let her sleep. She only fell asleep at dawn.”

After some hesitation, he kept the items in his hand. ”That's good too.”

Sharp-eyed, Ya Lanzhu questioned, ”What's that?” She snatched the item over and gave it a read, her eyes quickly lighting up.

”Ah!” She then let out, before tears fell.

Startled, Zong Yue asked, ”Why are you crying?”

”In this life, I hope to meet someone who loves me…” she sobbed.

Zong Yue responded with silence and walked off a short while later, but not before adding, ”It's a timely stroke of luck, neither one second too early nor late.”

When Meng Fuyao woke up, she kept her eyes shut, waiting as she always did.

She hadn't been in a deep sleep but woke up feeling slightly faint nevertheless. She heard a vague rustling of branches from outside the window. The soft chirping of birds on the branches amplified the gradual blooming of spring. Meng Fuyao could imagine the leaves brushing against a bridge railing before falling into the lake. It could be the jade bridge that stood in the middle of the city, and the leaves sounded especially crisp.

The sounds mashed together but the breathing she had wanted to hear was missing.

Meng Fuyao sighed, pulling the quilt up to her eye area and shutting them tightly, in hope of blocking out the tears that were on the verge of collapsing.

Meng Fuyao did not reach her hands out to feel the spot beside her. What was the point? A bitter humiliation awaited her every day. She had imagined his return many times, and in her illusion, he would climb onto her bed. Of course, one mustn't be overly shameless. He was simply not here, and even Yuan Bao had confirmed it.

Meng Fuyao covered her eyes with the quilt and continued sleeping.

Suddenly, Meng Fuyao felt something tickling her forehead. Something was brushing across the space between her brows. She slapped it, mumbling, ”Move, Yuan Bao, stop disturbing me…”

Her slap landed on a palm.

It was warm and smooth, its pulse strong and it's fingers slender.

Meng Fuyao's eyes shot open. Before she could lift the quilt, she was greeted by a wave of light. Someone had pulled the quilt down and was looking down at her. ”Why so skinny?” he let out a low chuckle.

Meng Fuyao stared foolishly at his diagonal brows and deep ocean eyes. His skin was covered in a crystal-like luster, and his light purple robe was draping before her body. She looked as he smiled and lay down beside her, his fingertips lightly grazing her forehead.

'Yuan Zhaoxu! Zhangsun Wuji!'

Meng Fuyao reached out, slightly dazed, to pinch his hand. ”This isn't a dream, is it?”

”Exchange allowed if fake,” he joked cheekily.

”You actually know your way back… you actually know your way back huh?!” Her first line sounded soft and willow-like but the second sentence was no different from a lion's roar. She snapped out of her daze, and upon realizing that Yuan Zhaoxu, Zhangsun Wuji, had really returned, she went on to kick him. ”I'll kill you, I'll kill you!”

Zhangsun Wuji raised his brows, reaching a hand out to clasp her foot, instantly numbing and turning her body limp. He then dragged the quilt and wrapped it around her. Within a split second, he had groped her whole body. Relaxing his hand, he sighed. ”Why so skinny?”

Meng Fuyao buried her head in the blanket of shame, murmuring her answer, ”On a diet.”

Zhangsun Wuji observed the girl, whose bark was louder than her bite, sighing helplessly. He dug her head from under the quilt and studied her face carefully. Her eyes flickered as she was flustered, but since there was nowhere to hide she looked him right in the eye. ”What do you want, what do you want!”

Zhangsun Wuji broke into a smile, his hand extending toward her neck. She shrunk in surprise, and he explained, ”Let me have a look at the wound. Don't move.”

Guilt overcame her at this point. She spoke softly, ”I wasn't really planning to slit… it was for fun.”

Before her voice fell, Meng Fuyao saw him lower his head slightly, his warm and soft lips approaching and eventually touching her bare neck. She remained motionless as his lips brushed across her faint pink scar. It was ticklish as though someone was using a willow plant to sweep the cold, lonely winter away. She felt the deep, shattered ice pieces that was her heart melt, and lush, green grass started to grow.

Meng Fuyao felt her body turning soft as the greenery spread within her heart. Where it grew, flowers bloomed, and amid that wonderful state, she wanted to cry and smile. Yet, a wave of pain radiated from her heart and clogged her veins, and it felt as though a venomous snake had bitten her. She trembled a little, to which Zhangsun Wuji detected and shifted away. She bit her lips and smiled, pushing him while calling out, ”You gangster.”