97 Revelation (1/2)
'What a formidable opponent, on both battlefield politics and even affairs of the heart.'
Zhan Beiye took in a deep breath, instantly feeling his emotions surge. His ever brewing bellicose genes rose as he glared at Zhangsun Wuji with glistening eyes. With a cold smile, he said, ”Good, very good. There's no way for the both of us to exist together anyway.”
”Thank you for your magnanimity,” Zhangsun Wuji bowed slightly, ”I'll use this jade to remind myself of how precious and worthy Meng Fuyao is. I'll also use it to warn myself that it's a betrothal gift for her, and if I fail to act in alignment with her heart, I'll hand this over to her.”
Zhan Beiye's eyes flashed as Meng Fuyao raised her brows. 'Return it to me? You'd do that? You look generous but are actually competitive and confident, huh…'
”But shouldn't you make an appropriate vow and consequence as well?” Zhangsun Wuji shifted the conversation toward Zhan Beiye, his tone sharp. ”If you can't treat her the way you promise and if you do not persevere, shouldn't you leave on your own accord and hand this valuable pendant over to the nation's treasury?”
Zhan Beiye opened his eyes wide, the expression in his eyes fluctuating. After some time he burst into laughter, responding, ”Trying to bind me? Good one, Zhangsun Wuji. Are you supervising me? I finally know why you took my jade. You know Fuyao's soft-hearted, and you are afraid that she would be touched by my words and accept it. You're apprehensive about the friendship we share and chose to ”retreat”, accepting this gift as an attack and forcing me to swear. If I were to slip in future, you would destroy it on her behalf, and she wouldn't say anything. I, too, would be too ashamed to continue my pursuit. How scheming!”
”Haven't you done the same? It's a verbal trap that one who is confident of his genuineness and ability to pass the test of time would jump into.” Zhangsun Wuji let out a subtle smile. ”War God, it's a battle between us two. Are you up for it?”
”Why not?” Zhan Beiye agreed immediately. ”There's nothing in this world that I daren't do. Do you really think that victory is in your hands? I'll show you that I, Zhan Beiye, can conquer the world and capture a heart.”
Zhangsun Wuji responded with a smile before keeping the pendant in his sleeves. Both men raised their gaze, instantly sending fiery sparks across the room. Again, Meng Fuyao felt a lightning bolt split, causing her a bout of dizziness, as if electrocuted.
Without a word she crawled onto her bed and covered her head with the quilt.
'Can't stand it, can't stand it… why such deep feelings? Why such a sentimental confession? Why such tenderness and meticulous? Why explain everything so clearly? Can't they just talk to themselves at different corners? I'm scared out of my wits right now…'
She pulled the quilt tightly against her skin in anguish. 'Please forget about me, please, please forget about me…'
It was then that Meng Fuyao felt how small a figure she was.
Her definition of ”a small figure” was a person who would never ever be able to grasp and control the thoughts and intentions of big figures.
After a night of insomnia, small figure Meng Fuyao finally comprehended Zhangsun Wuji's love tactics: Forcing isn't forcing, and not forcing is forcing. To force without pressure, and to force one's heart instead of the person himself…
'Alright then.'
Since things had turned out this way and both had claimed not to compel her into making a choice, they would only need to work hard and perform well. Yet, Meng Fuyao felt as though she had already been driven to a dead corner and the situation was absolutely helpless.
That night, her rest was disturbed time after time. Zhan Beiye had personally delivered medicine while Zhangsun Wuji had helped tuck her in. The former was eager to feed her but was sternly rejected: ”I'm able-bodied so why do you need to feed me?” As for Zhangsun Wuji, all Meng Fuyao could think of was: ”Please, do it quick. I've deliberately bared half a shoulder to catch your attention. Do it, and I'll fall sound asleep.”
Ultimately, War God ZHan snorted and carried the empty bowl out, while Zhangsun Wuji took a seat upon tucking her in. Fair fight indeed.
Now, with his usual smile, Zhangsun Wuji answered, ”Fuyao, only fools or people with a nerve short would believe in absolute fairness and that it is possible to abide by all rules.”
'… Alright.' Meng Fuyao tore at the fact that both Zhan Beiye and herself had been shut off without even noticing.
The good thing was that Zhangsun Wuji did not act inappropriately. All he did was to shift closer to the part above her shoulder. He had given reasonable space and time while doing that.
When those two were done disturbing her night, small figure Meng Fuyao detached herself and attempted to rationalize the situation from an outsider's perspective. Thinking about how events would develop in future, she couldn't help but sigh on behalf of the smart but honest Zhan Beiye.