Chapter 4: Accident

In the large dancing hall, beautiful, delicate lights were lit, reflected on the intricate crystal chandelier hanging tall above the floor, shinning little squares of rainbow onto the cold stone floor.

There were only people dressed in large colorful ball gowns and monotone suits- it was quite the atmosphere.

Lan YuQin approached the large entrance where he handed the guards two golden engraved envelopes, the guard smiled and bowed before him.

One hand at his blazer buttons, the other was looped around a dark and slender figure. The figure's coldness passed through multiple layers of cloth, gently touching Lan YuQin's skin.

"You're shaking." He reminded without taking his gaze off the beautiful woman standing at the center of the room. She wore a long regal dress in white, her dark hair loosely tied up in a bun. Lan YuQin did not reply, he too, was looking at the same woman.

"Age seems to catch up slowly." The man standing beside Lan YuQin muttered, his voice dangerously soft and low. Lan YuQin couldn't help but give him a glance, but all he saw was a dark and gloomy demeanour. "What do you mean?"

"Ah! Those beverages look refreshing, care for one?" The man slowly left his embrace and slid past the crowd of people towards a large rectangular table where he soon left Lan YuQin's line of sight. A sudden thought spread past Lan YuQin causing his fingers to shake harder.

The thought of something so precious disappearing- He quickly followed after, but there was no one at the table. Instead, the man was now walking towards the centre of all attention, a cup of wine in his hands. Lan YuQin swallowed back his discomfort, picked up a cup and hurriedly followed after him. His footsteps however, slowed down a few meters away from the two.

"Greetings Mrs. Yue, my upmost congratulations on your successful remarriage. Wishing you the best for your future." The man spoke brightly, he bent down and gave a gentle kiss on the back of her hand.

"Oh my-" Mrs. Yue retracted her hands hurriedly, "No need for the formality... you are-" She secretly glanced around, making sure no one saw the intimate act.

However Lan YuQin had already seen it clearly like day, his heart throbbed for a long time. He stood stiffly, unable to comprehend where this emotion was coming from.

He saw a dark cloud hover above Mrs. Yue's head for a split second, but when he blinked again everything was normal. A trick of light. He thought.

"You can refer to me as Mr. Peng, it is a pleasure to meet you." He smiled, the lips did not part but simply created a large arch.

"Yes, I see. Well then, Mr. Peng it is a pleasure to meet you too, I suppose your wife is... elsewhere tonight?" She lightly picked up a topic, hoping for a smooth conversation to pass time.

Lan YuQin's grip on the wine cup almost loosened, there was an unbearable weight pressing against his chest.

"Ah yes, she was too busy to attend, my apologies, I believe it would be great if the two of you met. You see, women usually have very similar topics and taste." His voice was soft but cold like ice, like a tiger who could see through the schemes of his prey.

Mrs. Yue laughed the coincidence away, finding much pleasure talking with this stranger. He brought a sort of ease and relaxation she was unable to feel with any other man.

"How long have you been married? Have you any children yet?" Once these words were spoken, she wished it hadn't.

The gentlemen in front, lost all human emotions, staring coldly into her eyes, into her heart and into everything she'd every committed. All her sins.

"No." Mr. Peng replied after a long pause. "No children yet. Have you, Mrs. Yue?"

Mrs. Yue had long prepared answers for this questions, questions into her past that she would leave behind on this very day.

"No, I am hoping for a beautiful boy. We are planning to name him after characteristics of his birth month." There was no evident quiver in her voice, Mrs. Yue must of practiced this in front of the mirror many times.

"I wish you the best of luck with your future children. However... How many children are you planning on?" Mr. Peng gently asked, his tone was extremely mesmerising.

"Hm." Mrs. Yue thought for a moment, "I plan on having a pair, a boy and a girl, so two I suppose." She smiled, making sure it did not seem like she was being sexist.

"Plan to have two... But you will have three? Regardless, I wish you the best of luck." He quickly spoke as the piano started to play; it was dance time.

"Mhm, yes, thank you very much." Mrs. Yue replied, until the same sentence echoed through her head.

"Three...?" She muttered confused. After all there was no way he would know.

The man returned to the side of Lan YuQin, the wine in both their hands well not touched.

"It is horribly boring no? Let us go get some rest, unless if you would like to dance." The man gestured with his chin towards the mountain of women in large, heavy gowns standing at the sidelines, their gaze heavy as they watched the bride and groom dance at the centre of the room: directly under the large crystal chandelier.

A thought of disgust swept over Lan YuQin and he quickly declined the offer and walked away from the hall and into the resting quarters of the palace.

"Will you not have anything to drink? Have you tried this wine?" The man beside him asked, his voice soft and tranquil.

"It is wine, I will get drunk." Lan YuQin simply answered, but his heart thought differently.

"Haha, it tastes good, give it a try."

The two of them chatted as they continued down the hallway towards their rooms.

"I'll try if you feed it to me." Lan YuQin joked. He then took out a small silver key and inserted it through the door.

Clack.

Once the doors were closed, Lan YuQin looked at the man opposite him, Lan YuQin opened his mouth but the figure spoke first, "You are jealous, I feel it."

Lan YuQin's eyes were restless, they landed anywhere but him. "No. I- It just felt weird, the way you talked..." He quickly replied. But it was true, jealousy wrapped itself all over him.

"I love you. No one else." The man spoke, those words were like a carving knife, dug hard into a large stone.

Lan YuQin was struck speechless, he simply stood at the door as he watched the other step inside and take off his jacket.

"Do you want to know me? Let's have a chat in the bedroom, come." His sweet and gentle words coated Lan YuQin in a layer of honey, his legs had gone soft.

"Yes." He managed before following him to the bedroom.

But by the time he got there, it was not the atmosphere he expected. The man was half naked, sitting on the bed, taking multiple little sips of red wine. His skin was extremely pale in the moonlight, so pale it was turning green and almost translucent.

Lan YuQin stood silently at the doorway, not knowing what to say.

The sun had risen and the two men were loosely wrapped in a thin layer of blanket.

There were a few things Lan YuQin had learnt that night; his name was Feng LiYing, nicknamed YunYun, and the taste of the wine... was sweeter than expected.

There had also been a strong earthquake that night, the wine had spilt all over the sheets, still scarlet this morning.

He gave Feng LiYing a glance, a calm and beautiful man sleeping mindlessly and defencelessly next to him. It felt so good.

"You are awake." Feng YiLing whispered, his eyes still closed.

"You- Does it hurt?" Lan YuQin helped him sit up.

"No."

However this romantic moment was broken by the ringing of the doorbell. "I'll get it. You can stay."

Lan YuQin walked out of bed and put on a white shirt and a pair of plain trousers.

"Hello?" He asked at the worried expression outside.

"You didn't hear? The earthquake was so bad that it destroyed part of the banquet hall, it even killed a person! It's not safe to stay here anymore, make sure you pack your belongings and leave quickly." As he spoke, a crowd of people pushed him over, rushing for the exit.