章節 26: Meeting His Family (4)
"Long Jie doesn't just tend to anyone so quickly," said Yin Hao.
It stunned her.
"What do you mean?" she asked him.
Yin Hao let out an exasperated sigh. He sat next to her on the bench, clasping his hands together. He gazed at the vast body of water ahead of them as the waterbugs lept on the surface.
"I mean, Long Jie is rather considerate of you," he said.
"Why wouldn't he be?" Song Luli asked.
Yin Hao shrugged, almost unsure himself. "He's someone that doesn't warm up to others so readily. He had trouble with consistency in his past. His parents often travelled, taking him with them, without stopping."
Song Luli thought for a moment. She knew he was a busy person even before they met again. She sighed, "To be honest, I'm still confused as to why he picked me, though I do know why. It's the same reason, I wanted this."
She had been thinking this for a while; she wasn't anyone particularly interesting or outstanding, but yes, they both had similar views on marriage and courtship.
Yin Hao chuckled. He leaned back from his original posture. "Well, isn't it obvious?" he asked her.
Song Luli glanced at him, waiting for an answer.
"Long Jie told me the interaction between you two at the marriage meeting, and oh, it was entertaining to hear. You didn't heed to his demands; you suggested that the marriage would have no infatuation or love. You said things he wanted to hear, and that was the difference with the others," he said.
"Why does he want a loveless marriage?" Song Luli asked him curiously. Though, she knew the answer already. It was the same reason why she wanted it.
Yin Hao shrugged again, "I don't think he wants a loveless marriage; I think he's afraid to have something that may hurt him."
Song Luli glanced away and saw Long Jie returning; he wore a pair of shorts and a white-button shirt that wasn't clasped at all, revealing his bare skin.
Indeed, she was afraid to have something that might hurt her.
It was not long ago when she had yearned for love and romance, to be cared for, to have those banters and fights, but also to communicate and mend. But, the things she heard and seen, she was afraid of being committed. Song Luli was worried that if she falls, she'll fall hard. But would anyone be able to land with her? It didn't matter now, she was with Long Jie now, but it had to be platonic, for the sake of helping both of them.
Long Jie approached them; his hair had dried quickly since his hair was short, and it swayed against his forehead.
'Luli, you should seduce him!' her cousin said to her once. She shook the memory away.
He sat next to her on the bench, as they began to eat the grilled food she and Yin Hao prepared. Long Jie scarfed down his meal, and afterward, he took her to pick some berries from the bushes.
Not too far, they walked through the narrow gaps of trees, stepping over logs and branches carefully. The hem of her dress kept flapping due to the wind. But she rather liked the walk. Nearby Song Luli could hear a water stream, which sounded different because it was the sound of the lake meeting boulders, loud and apparent.
There were cliff edges shaped like mismatched stairs, dangerous narrow paths, but they were able to walk on them. Song Luli hated heights, and Long Jie glanced behind him to find her visibly shaken.
He held out his hand.
Song Luli narrowed her gaze and hesitated, but she took it. Long Jie helped her walk the rough paths, until they reached the bottom, finding streambeds with moss over rocks. There were small cascades at different spots from nearby cliffs that met the lake.
Song Luli was at a loss for words; it was a stunning view. The sun reflected upon the ripples, waves of light dancing over the smooth rocks like stars. Her mouth hung open, floored as she gazed around.
Long Jie stepped to her side. "Yin Hao and I found this when we were curious to find out where the paths led us. But he ended up with a broken arm because of our recklessness."
Song Luli gave out a small smile. She could imagine his memory. She wondered what he was like in their teenage days, though, if they had ever gone to the same school, she would have just enrolled, whereas he would have been a senior.
Her eye caught a reddish flower, and she dashed towards it. She had never seen it before and didn't know what it was, and there weren't many.
"Peonies don't typically thrive near the water. Others need a winter chill for it to bloom. But it seems that the soil isn't too wet this season."
Song Luli gazed at the few of them. Indeed, it seemed like not many survived. But they were fully bloomed and gorgeous.
Long Jie picked one up, offering it to her casually. Song Luli didn't know why, but she felt embarrassed, and not the type where it felt wrong, but she felt younger than she already was for some reason.
Song Luli took it, holding it in her hand, as Long Jie began to walk back. She followed after him, catching up until they met the others again.
They rode the boats back to the house, where Long Jie and Song Luli parted with his family.
"Please come again," Aunt Teegan said to her.
"I will," Song Luli responded as she parted with them all. She didn't know how to describe it, but she felt as if she was part of them now, she felt like a Long.
In the car, Long Jie drove them back home, and sleep washed over her.
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