Bab 9: Teasing
I slowly grin, as I tap the chopsticks on my lower lip. His dark eyes snap up to my grey eyes as I watch his Adam's apple bobble. He glances away and picks up a cup before drinking the whole thing. Suddenly, Li Mei says "Can you show them what you did with the sword earlier?"
Her eyes glittered with eagerness as she practically begs. Her mother looks a little awkward but tries to laugh it off. Li Jie says, "Enough little Mei." Li Mei pouts as she glares at her brother. They don't believe her. I smile as I take another bite.
Li Mei huffs and says "It's true brother Jie! I saw it with my own eyes!" Li Jie looks at her with a frown and says "You were in shock. That can happen. Eat your food." Their mother suddenly says "That's right! This will be the last time we can eat outside like this until next year. Winter is coming so let's enjoy it while we can."
I nod not saying anything but when I hear a sniffle, I freeze. I turn and see Li Mei trying to fight back her tears. I suddenly feel like the bad guy here... The sun was beginning to drop, causing the temperature to drop as well.
As the wind blows, I use a little of my magic and blow a leaf to me. I lift my hand, silently grabbing the leaf. I look back at Li Mei and say, "Don't be upset, I'm sorry" Li Mei looks up at me with tears in her eyes. Li Jie was about to say something, so I lift the leaf to my lips.
I look him in the eyes as I blow on the leaf. Suddenly, the leaf transforms into a golden, glowing butterfly! Li Jie's eyes widen with wonder and disbelief. As everyone watches the golden butterfly fluttering around the table, I get up and walked to the nearby tree.
I place my hand on the tree and say, "Li Mei wasn't in shock." When my magic hits the tree, the remaining leaves take flight as golden butterflies. Li Mei laughs in excitement as she says "See! I told you so! She's a beautiful deity!"
Li Jie stands up in shock, torn between looking at the beautiful woman before him and the golden butterflies. How!? How was this even possible? A butterfly lands on his hand, making him question everything. Was she really a deity!?
I make all the butterflies fly to the side before turning them back into leaves. Li Mei speaks nonstop, throwing question after question at me but I could only give her vague answers. I still know nothing of this world, and I don't know what my being here could do to this world.
Harmless tricks like this should be fine, right? I take another bite but frown when I realize there's no more. Before I could look up, a piece of food is placed on my plate. I look up to find Li Jie placing it on my plate with his chopsticks.
His dark eyes watch me as I blink at him. One minute he's hostile, the next he's acting like a little schoolboy and now he's completely blank. As if he's wearing a mask. Why though? I give him a small smile and say, "Thank you" As I eat it.
The action wasn't missed by his mother though. He's always been cold towards women, no matter how pretty they were but even he can't withstand a beauty that could ruin empires! She smirks, liking the idea of the two of them together.
They would indeed make beautiful grandchildren. Even though Li Jie said she wasn't a cultivator, she was clearly strong with this mysterious power. Yes, she was a great fit for her secretive but powerful son. How can I help create sparks?
She taps her chin deep in thought but then finds herself thinking about her husband. He was supposed to be back last week. Had something happened? They would have heard something by now if something had happened, right?
Li Mei then asks "What else can you do? Can you turn my brother into a cute bunny?" I raise my eyebrows before slowly looking over to Li Jie. He narrows his eyes at me, almost as if silently saying "Don't you dare."
I lightly giggle but when I look back, his face had changed once again. His eyes were watching me in a different manner. Almost in the same way Dade would watch me but unlike Dade, Li Jie's gaze wasn't unpleasant. If anything, it was warm... and a slightly uncomfortable.
Every so often his dark eyes would carry a dark, cold look. Other times it carried a warm, kind look. Then like right now, his dark eyes held a hunger in them. I knew that look. I may have to watch out for this dear brother of hers.
I refuse to look away as I catch him watching me with that look. He looks back at me for several moments before looking away and taking a drink. He turns to his mother and asks, "You said father will be back next week, right?"
His mother looks up a little dazed "Huh? Oh, yes." Li Jie narrows his dark eyes on his mother and says, "What are you not telling me?" His mother presses her lips together before softly saying "He was supposed to be back last week. I haven't heard anything though. If something had happened, I would have heard about it right?"
Li Jie's face hardens as he says, "I will leave tomorrow to look for father." He abruptly stands up and walks away. If I'm not mistaken, someone dressed in all black appeared next to him for a moment. I take a bite of the dessert as I file that away for later.
After dinner, I walk back to my room with Li Mei. She was silent for once and it was slightly concerning. When we reached my door, she grabs my hand and says "I know you've already saved me, and I have no right to ask you for this, but can you go with my brother? I have a bad feeling about this. My father is not an easy man. He's extremely powerful. If something's happened to him then Brother Jie will be..."
I give her a knowing smile and tap the tip of her nose as I say, "In danger?" Li Mei nods her head in shame and says, "I know it'll be dangerous, but I feel like they'll both come back if you go." Surprised by her, my eyebrows lift.
I tap her nose again as I say "I will go. You just have to convince that brother of yours."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone