Chapter 13: Final Date
There was a strange atmosphere at Shen Yue's family home. His father and the elders seemed to believe the rumor about the city lord being fatally injured and they were probably looking forward to the banquet. Shen Yue stayed by himself in his room until the evening when he was scheduled to meet Zi Yun. He couldn't progress in his cultivation but he was practicing some of his skills with the dark lamp he looted from the ruins.
At City Square.
When Shen Yue arrived at square earlier than usual, he already spotted Zi Yun standing at the same place. He greeted her when she spotted him with a smile and they went to the park arm in arm. They sat down on a park bench on a quiet area as usual.
"Your information about the monsters attack was very helpful. I thank you on behalf of my father and Glory city for your help. " Zi Yun said with a brilliant smile a slight bow.
"I am glad I was useful. What about Ye Han? Did he try anything with your father?"
"I..that is. He...ahh..my father…" Zi Yun was very distressed as she didn't know how to answer. Her father had not given her permission to talk about his health.
"I understand. You don't need to speak anymore." Shen Yue was a little angry and disappointed. He thought he had earned the trust of the city lord by now. Zi Yun's reaction convinced him that there was a plan like in the story to fool the Sacred Family with rumors of city lord's ill health and corner them during the banquet. But he will not be given that information from the city lord. If he had stayed at home as usual, he might be caught in the cross-fire during the raid so he thought he deserved at least some warning.
"Well, I don't have any special information. They are all buying the rumors of your father's injury and are looking forward to the banquet. Since I can't be useful to you anymore, let us go back." Shen Yue's tone was a little cold.
Zi Yun's face had become strained. How did it end up like this? What could she say to relieve his distress? It hurts her to see him in this state. She unconsciously leaned closer to him.
"Shen Yue, I…l trust you." She wanted him to know that she trusts him even if her father didn't.
Shen Yue understood her meaning. He felt some relief from his emotions and whispered a soft thank you. They said there in silence before Zi Yun broke the silence.
"I feel sorry for you. You have sacrificed a lot for Glory City and I can't imagine the pain you must be feeling seeing your family like this."
"Please, I don't want your pity. A man would rather have a woman's hatred than her pity, especially from a beautif... that is a lady's pity can hurt a man's self-confidence."
Zi Yun thought she caught his unspoken word and trembled slightly. She felt a strange sensation in her chest. Her heart started to beat erratically.
"I don't pity you. I only worry for you. It hurts me to see you in pain. It's not pity. It's…" Zi Yun didn't know what she wanted to say so she just stopped speaking and tried to convey her feelings with her eyes and grabbed his right hand in her palms.
Shen Yue stared at Zi Yun's eyes for a long time and he saw deep concern for him. He felt touched and his earlier negative emotions calmed down. He then looked at his right hand in her palms thinking how soft they felt. Zi Yun saw his gaze and retreated her hands abruptly with an embarrassed expression. Neither spoke for a moment as both seemed to be absorbed in their own worlds. Some laughter and footsteps of some people from a distance broke the intimate atmosphere.
"We should go back." Shen Yue said softly.
"Yes. Let us go." Zi Yun took the offered arm and started walking back the way they came.
When they were about to reach the square, they saw a little girl crying in a corner of the street.
"Ahh, mommy…mommy! Where are you?"
"Hey little girl, calm down. We will find your mommy. Leave it to us. Come follow us."
They took her with them as they found out she got separated by her mother. They decided to walk towards the square which was more populated and likely to find the mother. When they reached the square, they were spotted by a teary-eyed woman who came running.
"Thank god. She's okay. I thank you very much for helping my daughter. Yaner thank the big brother and sister." The mother truly seemed grateful.
"Big brother, big sister, thank you very much…here it's a gift for you." The girl said with a cute voice and shoved a small necklace into Shen Yue's hand. The mother looked on with a smile and then took her daughter away after repeating her thanks.
The necklace was a very simple but unique handmade design with a heart-shaped gemstone which was most likely not very precious. It was something you can get from street stalls during festivals.
"Zi Yun, you can take this necklace. I have no use for it."
Zi Yun hesitated but answered with a small nod.
"Here, let me put it on for you. You can throw it away later if you don't like it." Before she could reply, Shen Yue went around her back and tied the necklace on her neck. When his hand touched the skin on her neck, he thought he saw her move a little.
When he came back around, he saw her blushing for a moment before saying. "Thank you. Ahh..Goodbye, Shen Yue." and turning around to walk back fast. She even forgot to tell him that this was the last time they could meet under these circumstances. Shen Yue stood there looking at her back for a while. After about twenty steps, Zi Yun turned back to only lock on to Shen Yue's gaze before hurriedly turning back in embarrassment and walking towards her home.
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FanDaoist
FanDaoist Just got overwatch and keep getting killed. Also listening to Christmas songs lately.
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