Xu Mey kept glancing at Ye Jie while eat in silence making her feel uncomfortable. She wasn't used to his silence. She was starting to like his sweet and smooth talking. Him always trying to tease her with his words. Or warming her heart with his actions.
Today, he had the same gentle look in his twinkling brown eyes. That beautiful charming smile that could melt her anytime and anywhere. But he felt distant. Like he was alone. Surrounded by a shadow of gloominess.
After the dinner, Ye Jie helped her with the dishes. And they walked to the living room with Maojian tea and sat down on the sofa. "Ye Jie!" Xu Mey called out his name softly. Ye Jie looked up at her and smiled gently. "Is everything alright?"
Ye Jie nodded. "Of course. What could be wrong?" Ye Jie was avoiding her discernible gaze knowing well enough that she could see things even he couldn't.
"Well, I thought you'd have many questions to ask but you don't seem to?" Ye Jie frowned looking at her. "Like who sent that wooden box?" She suggested.
"Would you tell me, if I ask?"
Xu Mey sighed loudly. "I might not be able to tell you everything but I can tell you who that person is."
"Really?" He was surprised. It really came out of the blue. "Then please do tell."
Xu Mey wanted him to lose his gloominess and to do that she brought out the things he was curious about. After all, a men's curiosity can take over gloominess sometimes.
Or make it worse.
"Well…" Xu Mey turned to look at him. "The person who sent that wooden box is my Sensei."
"Sensei?" His brows quirked.
"Yes, my Sensei. I can't tell you much about Sensei. But I can tell you that Sensei means a lot to me. Sensei didn't just save me from the world. He saved me from me. I haven't seen Sensei in a decade but I get to talk to him... Once in a while… The rest, I won't be able to explain." She lamented.
"That's enough for me to know… For now…" He replied as he fell into deep thought.
Xu Mey stared at his thoughtful expression before she spoke again. "Do you know there are three kinds of people in this world?" Ye Jie turned to her. "The loneliest people… The saddest people… And the most damaged people…"
She slid closer to Ye Jie and took his hand in her own asking, "Do you know which one are you?" Ye Jie didn't reply waiting for to speak herself. She sighed softly. "You're in the first category; the loneliest people." Looking at his questioning eyes she continued. "The most damaged people are the wisest ones just like my Sensei." She smiled sadly. "The saddest people like to smile brightly like me." She smiled bitterly this time. "And the loneliest people are the kindest ones just like you." She pointed at him.
"Do I look kind to you?" He asked.
"You don't have to look kind... You have a kind heart." She replied calmly.
"But I'm surrounded by people; friends, family and you." He said.
"'The worst thing in the world isn't being alone, it's being surrounded by people who make you feel alone.'" She quoted with a serious look.
"Which great person's words are you quoting?" Ye Jie asked with a pleasant look making her choke on air.
"I was trying to act wiser. Did you have to ruin it?" She glared at him with no hostility just sheer playfulness. Ye Jie chuckled at her wife's look. His chuckle made Xu Mey's feature to turn gentle.
"I learned it from this great person, " Xu Mey pulled off her cardigan and pointed at her white top. There was a figure in an orange and black suit with a head of yellow spiky hairs and a headband tied around his forehead. He was smiling brightly flashing his teeth and looking quite like an idiot. And a name was written under his figure which read, 'Naruto'. A kunai shuriken was piercing his name in the middle.
"Don't tell me, he's also like your Sabastian San?" Ye Jie passed an odd look to his wife.
Xu Mey frowned. "Don't compare Sabastian San with Naruto Kun. Sebastian San is charming in his own ways with a devilish aura. But Naruto Kun is different. When I was at my worst, Naruto Kun made me realize a lot of things. Even with his mistakes, he taught me to stand tall and smile. He taught me that my tears won't change anything but even if my smile couldn't bring a change, it'll make my enemies burn with envy."
"What else did he teach you, my cherry wife?" Ye Jie grabbed her shoulder as he pulled her towards himself.
And played with her hair.
Xu Mey wasn't paying attention to what he was doing. Instead, she spoke, "He said, 'The strongest people aren't always those who win, but the people who don't give up even when they lose.'" Her eyes were brimming with passion and strength.
Ye Jie nuzzled his nose in her hair and kissed her forehead softly before speaking, "I'll have to watch Our great Naruto Kun as well then." He wasn't mocking her at all. Watching Black Butler made him understand Xu Mey at a different level. Therefore, he felt like watching Naruto will bring greater insight about her life.
Xu Mey rubbed her eyes as she kept talking about Naruto with enthusiasm as her head was placed on his shoulder and his head was resting on her head. He listened to every word attentively. She was feeling the spell of sleep falling on her but she stubbornly stayed awake trying to justify the reasons for liking Naruto so much.
Ye Jie figured that her watching Anime as a grown-up was not her childishness. On the other hand, she watched them to learn something, not just to pass the time. She needed an escape. To learn to deal with her sadness and Anime gave her that escape. 'Why are you turning into an ocean, I want to drown in, My cherry wife?' Ye Jie thought to himself as he felt her head drooping down and voice fading as she fell into a deep slumber.
I learned the same things from Naruto as well. I've grown-up watching Naruto and he never failed me. He really can bring a smile to your face. It was one of the most inspirational anime for me at least.
As one of the best things I learned was, people, walking out of our life doesn't make us lonely. They make us stronger.
Hope you enjoyed their sweet time together.
See you soon!!!