In front of the house, beneath a peach tree, two people sat awkwardly.
Li Wei's large eyes were glued onto Khan Bojing's face. She purposely chose the seat across from him so that she could look at him. Earlier, his response was so different from his previous self she knew.
He would be even more scared if she was seriously pursuing him? Hmph!
How could she, a villainess, accept such an answer? Of course, she couldn't.
Khan Bojing felt her eyes on him but he pretended to be busy by studying the patterns of the wooden table in front of him. He couldn't help wondering, did he do something wrong again?
Finally, this awkward moment between them was interrupted by Mother Xu, who came outside carrying a jar of wine. She sat next to Li Wei and spoke excitedly, "I'm so glad you're here. We haven't had a visitor in months. Let me tell you, this jar of wine is the finest you'll find here in Hai'an. It's made with Father Xu's secret recipe."
"Ahh, I must try it today then!" Li Wei eagerly reached out to pour some wine into her cup, but her hands were stopped by another pair of larger hands.
Khan Bojing finally looked at Li Wei as his hands stopped her hands from reaching the jar of wine. In a stern voice, he said, "Eat first, drink later."
Li Wei was happy from this little interaction with him and she immediately agreed, "Okay."
"You two start eating first, I'm going to wait for Father Xu just over there, at the small intersection below." Mother Xu quickly walked away after she spoke, wanting to leave the two young people a moment of privacy. After all, how often was it that a girl come looking for her son?
Once Mother Xu walked away, Li Wei whispered, "Hey, will your mother be alright? It's starting to get dark."
"If my father's not home, my mother always wait for his arrival at the intersection. If my mother's not home, my father always wait for her. This is one of the many ways they show their love," Khan Bojing slowly explained his parents to Li Wei.
Earlier, it was awkward for him, but that was because she stared strongly at him. After she smiled earlier, he immediately felt relieve and converse easily with her. With her smile, he knew she wasn't angry at him.
"Is Father Xu your step father?" Li Wei couldn't help but asked.
Khan Bojing nodded. "Father Xu Qingsheng married my mother after we moved to Ta'Lin Village. He had been kind to my mother and treated me like his son. When we came here, I was only ten years old. Father Xu taught me everything from how to cut woods, to cooking, and learning medicine."
While he was talking, she couldn't help but admire the sparkle in his eyes and the dimples dancing on his cheeks. It was clear that Father Xu was the father figure Khan Bojing needed in his life. When he was in his most desperate time, Father Xu was the one who helped him back onto his feet. Father Xu was someone Khan Bojing deeply admired.
As her gaze lingered on him, she couldn't help but suddenly noticed, "Wait, your beard was fake."
He laughed in amusement at her random statement. She was really too innocent sometimes. "You finally noticed? Of course, I had to hide my identity."
Li Wei gasped loudly, her small mouth hanging. No wonder she didn't recognize him! In all the years she had known Khan Bojing, he didn't like growing his facial hair. When she asked him, he would only smile as if he knew something she didn't.
Her fingers brushed on his chin where there was a beard the last time they met. Once her fingers touch his skin, she lingered for a moment longer than necessary.
"Oh my," Father Xu exclaimed in surprise at the scene in front of him. After a long day of work, never would he imagine such a scene like this waiting for him at home.
Li Wei's hand quickly returned back to her side as she looked guiltily at Mother Xu and Father Xu who stood just a couple feet away. Her cheeks turned red in embarrassment as her gaze fell to the ground.
Ah, how embarrassing...
Noting Li Wei's discomfort, Khan Bojing changed the topic. "Father, you're back!"
Father Xu was a simple man. Once his son spoke, he quickly forgot about the scene a second ago. "En. Yebai, you won't believe this. This afternoon, I sat down for lunch and two yellow birds flew towards me!"
"Whoa, you have to show me the location tomorrow. That sounds cool to me, but I don't know how mother feels about you attracting birds now," Khan Bojing raised his eyebrow naughtily. In a pretend whisper that everyone could clearly hear, he continued, "Mother might feel a bit jealous knowing that birds think you're handsome."
Father Xu was absolutely entertained by Khan Bojing's teasing and laughed uncontrollably. In this family, he really appreciated his son's sense of humor.
Mother Xu rolled her eyes at the ridiculous idea and led her husband to where their son was seated. "Xu Yebai, your mind is running crazy again. Now, now, let's eat before the food becomes cold."
Watching this scene from the side, Li Wei was filled an unfamiliar warmth in her heart. Such a lovely family. She could watch them naturally interact for hours. Even when she married Khan Bojing, his background was a top secret she never knew.
In the public's eye, the late queen was dead. She, too, believed that his mother died from sickness. It was unfortunate that she never got close to Khan Bojing and never met his real mother and loving step father before. The couple was old, but they were still in love and their eyes filled with happiness from each other's company.
"I'm Li Wei," she introduced herself to Father Xu as he sat down next to Khan Bojing.
Father Xu smiled kindly at the young lady across the table and nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm Xu Qingsheng, but you can call me Father Xu."
The dinner between Li Wei and the Xu family went on quite comfortably. After eating, his parents left to rest for the night.
Now, she was alone with just Khan Bojing. Under the peach tree, peach blossoms scattered about. In the moonlight, she stole glances at him as he watched the peach blossoms danced in the wind.
After a long time of silence, Khan Bojing stood up to leave, but she stopped him, "Before you go, can I ask you something?"
"En, what is it?"
"I have to ask you before I leave back to Na'an. Earlier... Why did you say it'd be more scary if I pursue you?" These words were barely audible. Li Wei was hesitant to speak the words that's been filling her mind.
Despite being usually confident, she was confused about where they stood. This was only the third time they've met. To him, she was a stranger. After all, she probably scared him with her direct words before.
Khan Bojing's playfulness from dinner disappeared. He gave a sad empty smile before he spoke, "Li Wei, you're a wonderful person. You're kind to other's and you're fun to be around. You even cared about an annoying person who's done nothing good for you. I'll probably have to use all of my luck this lifetime to love a woman like you. But as the only prince of Hai'an, even if I'm not after the crown, I am left with no choice. Between my personal interest and my people's future, how can I choose myself over thousands of lives?"
He paused and sat down again, facing her.
Li Wei couldn't bear to look as him and diverted her gaze towards the moon. As the night wind blew by, tears glazed her eyes. In her heart, she knew of his next words.
When she couldn't stand the silence anymore, she finally looked at him.
Khan Bojing thought he would be able to continue once her gaze fell on him, but when she looked, he was the one to turn away. "From the day I was born, the weight of this kingdom was placed on my shoulders. Because of my name, my life has been pre-determined. I've never lived my life the same as others my age. The crown is something I can never take off. Since you're leaving Hai'an, now is a good time to say our farewell. Three years ago, we met as strangers. Tonight, we'll part our ways as friends."
Her heart fell like the peach blossoms.
"In the future, you will meet someone better than me, someone you like more than me."
No, I won't.
"You will fall in love and forget about me, a worthless runaway prince you once met in your youth."
No, I won't...