94 Reunion (2/2)
”It was for fun,” he copied her answer while looking at her. ”That wasn't actually what I've been wishing to do the most.”
Mouth wide opened, Meng Fuyao appeared rather silly. That did not hinder a certain someone's determination. Zhangsun Wuji raised a hand and smacked her bottom before letting out a slight smile. ”For not listening to me,” he explained. Before she could react, Meng Fuyao was rewarded with yet another spank on her bum. ”For attempting suicide.”
Meng Fuyao immediately recalled the scenarios she had rehearsed countless times before, but the sequence seemed off, as though he had brought forward certain details. It did not matter. She jumped up to retaliate while reciting her lines, ”You bastard! You scared me!”
Still, it seemed that he had outmatched her scolding. 'No, I mustn't lose.' She threw another punch, yelling, ”For faking death! For keeping it from me!”
Zhangsun Wuji extended his hand to grab her punch, conveniently pulling her into his embrace before holding her waist in place with his fingers. Three movements were executed speedily and flawlessly, and since her waist had gotten so tiny, he had easily managed to trap her.
”I didn't keep it from you…” Zhangsun Wuji inhaled deeply, stroking her long hair and whispering, ”How could I bear to have you worry for me? You've become so skinny… am I not going to be the one spending effort to fatten you up?”
The first part had warmed her heart but the second wasn't acceptable. Meng Fuyao turned to glare at him, retorting, ”Stop digressing. I know you were trying to lure King De out, and to keep it a secret you couldn't have told anyone… but, but…” she trailed off, shutting her mouth and not wanting to finish her sentence, ”you should've told me at least…”
”I could have told you, but warring does not mean that I would sacrifice someone I like.” It seemed that Zhangsun Wuji's mind-reading technique had gotten stronger. ”I sent out three batches of men when leaving the coastal line camp. They wore my clothes and went to three different routes. I went by the sea route.”
”Sea route?”
”Yes. I went by sea. King De guessed that I'd go by land since that was the faster route, but what was the point if I couldn't pass through? Some things can't be rushed.”
”Agreed.” Meng Fuyao nodded in satisfaction. ”You've always been scheming.”
Zhangsun Wuji smiled, adding, ”The moment trouble brewed in Wanzhou I knew something was wrong in the army. There must have been a spy. Under those circumstances, I could only cut off all contact, but not before receiving news of your safety. I then went back to camp to gather my backup guards. They're more cumbersome to transfer, and by the time they reached Yaocheng you weren't there anymore.”
”Ah,” she let out. She had already become a transportation officer in Wuling at that point and had two capable bodyguards by her side. 'What good timing… how lucky.'
”I couldn't do anything when after gaining news. It was simply bad timing, and I couldn't leave. King De's decade worth of secret plotting was finally about to be shattered, and I couldn't let it go down the drain. The good thing is that I share a telepathic connection with Yuan Bao and he would've told you sooner or later.”
”My ass!” She was about to explode. ”He arranged three words: Ta, Mei, Le. I almost saw Buddha, and it was his fault.”
”Eh?” Zhangsun Wuji turned to look for Lord Yuan Bao. ”I know you're there, come out or face the consequences.”
Meng Fuyao pursed her lips. What was the point of throwing such an insubstantial threat?
However, immediately after, a grey ball crawled out from under the table. Meng Fuyao opened her mouth wide and stared at him. 'How aggravating.'
Lord Yuan Bao was in plain clothes that day, and it was his least favorite color at that. He hated that it made him look like a rat. He squatted obediently before Zhangsun Wuji and let out weak and timid squeaks.
'That's too much, isn't it?' Meng Fuyao thought to herself. 'Is he taking the chance to express his grievances and love again? What is he saying exactly?' She felt a little guilty somehow.
Zhangsun Wuji listened with a smile, his eyes glistening and warm, and as his smile widened into a laugh almost, she could feel the joy he felt from the reunion.
”Know what you've done wrong?” he asked.
Lord Yuan Bao lowered his noble little head right after.
”Since it was due to your greed, you're not allowed to have snacks for a week.”
In regard to his punishment, Lord Yuan Bao slapped both claws on his face, evidently in sorrow.
Zhangsun Wuji quickly transferred him to the side. ”Go reflect and close the door when you're leaving.”
Lord Yuan Bao crawled out from the hole in the paper window before diligently using his saliva to mend it.
”Wow wow, the guinea pig is a changed man,” Meng Fuyao commented in shock. ”What has he done?”
”He caused your tears.” Zhangsun Wuji pulled her into his arms naturally, adding, ”And so he has to be punished.”
Meng Fuyao rested comfortably against Zhangsun Wuji's shoulder. It was an indescribable feeling, as though her heart was finally at home and in the right place. Her internal organs seemed to have instantly adjusted themselves. A faint scent drifted into her nostrils, and her mind floated blissfully as her eyelids became heavy.Ta Mei Le means he's gone.