After dinner, it started raining. In Yue Shangwu's study, he sat by the window sipping on a cup of chrysanthemum tea. The soft pacing sound of footsteps outside the door had been going on for a while. "Biya, what are you hesitating for?"
Li Wei, who had been debating if she should enter, eagerly opened the door. She walked over to her father and sat down. "Father, can you tell me more about your mission to Le'kai?"
Despite it being highly confidential information, Yue Shangwu answered as if she just asked about his day. "Recently, there's been rumors of an upcoming war. After the old emperor died, Le'kai broke into chaos."
"Yishan said it can go on for years?" Li Wei asked.
"Correct, Le'kai is fighting with itself in an endless cycle. Officials don't trust the new emperor, the emperor doesn't know which official is on his side, and the citizens are left with no answers."
Yue Shangwu placed the cup of tea in his hands onto the table. "I was to study the situation and report back so we could make preparations ahead of time. After all, our two kingdoms haven't been on good terms for decades. Under pressure and pressed for time, there's no guarantee on their emperor's next move."
Li Wei sighed lightly. Her father was not in the best condition to be sent off to an enemy kingdom. "Father, have your mission been cancelled or postponed?"
"Postponed..." He sighed, mirroring her worries. He didn't want to leave his daughter after they've just reunited. But no one would dare to defy the emperor's orders... "Biya, I'll talk to the emperor and see if he'll pardon more time for me to stay here. If I leave now, I may not return for who knows how long."
Her fingers tapped slowly on the tabletop as she considered the situation. Le'kai... What did Khan Bojing told her again? That time, why didn't she pay more attention?
"Child, stop worrying. Don't think too much." Yue Shangwu abruptly stood up. "Let father solve it, just focus on taking a good rest."
"Alright, father. Sleep well." Li Wei reluctantly stood up and bade her father goodnight. She walked down the corridor towards her bedroom, carrying her peach lantern.
Despite her father's abundance of wealth and status, his manor was simple. It wasn't too big or overly extravagant. After all, he had been living alone. Her father wasn't the type to care much about fitting in. He lived by his own rules, on his own terms.
Yue Shangwu wouldn't reinforce strict rules and could careless to judge her behavior, as long as it wasn't ridiculously horrible. Song Yishan was playful and fun. If anything, he would encourage her to play. She found it comforting in her new home, there was no need to play noble in front of either.
Li Wei let out a quiet yelp in surprise. In front of her room, Khan Bojing stood with his arms crossed. In his fancy clothes, he looked awkward against the wooden backdrop of the corridor. His forehead was slightly sweaty, as if he just rushed over.
She placed the lantern close to his face so she could see him better. "Yebai? What are you doing here?"
At the sight of her, he sighed in relief and pulled her inside. His eyes studied the courtyard before closing the doors. "Xiao Wei, thank goodness you're alright."
"What happened?" Li Wei asked, a bit too natural. If it was any other man, she wouldn't be this calm. She was married to him before after all. Frankly, she trusted him more than herself sometimes.
Khan Bojing placed his hands on her shoulders and calmed himself. "My father will make a visit tomorrow."
"What for?" Li Wei's fingers gently wiped off the sweat on his forehead, patiently waiting for his response.
Khan Bojing felt his heartbeat speeding faster and faster the longer her hands touched him. This was not the first time they were alone, but somehow, it felt almost different.
Her sweet lips are so close. Just one swoop and he can get a taste... He was really affected, to the point of not being able to think clearly. He forced himself to look away. "Xiao Wei... I can't focus."
Li Wei found herself dumbfounded. She didn't know what to say and walked over to the table in the corner.
Khan Bojing followed and poured himself a cup of tea. It was not a good idea.
His face was burning, and the hot tea seemed to make it worse. He had the urge to open the window, but in this situation, he couldn't either.
If Yue Shangwu finds out he sneaked in to meet Li Wei...
In the end, Khan Bojing laid his head onto the table hopelessly. To stop his mind from wandering, he started studying the patterns of the wooden table.
Across from him, she watched with amusement. Witnessing him sort through his feelings, it was cute and somehow, charming.
He sat back up, clearing his throat as he composed himself. Focus and just get to the point. "I wanted to tell you, my father will call for you soon. Be careful around him. My father, he is very different from me."
"En, I'll keep that in mind."
"Chu Fangyin, she too, will be watching you because you are Master Yue's daughter. Always be cautious of your surroundings when I'm not around."
Li Wei nodded obediently. She understood his concerns. Both his parents were undoubtedly interested in her, in more bad than good ways. They each had their own hidden agenda and she was the subject of their individual tests.
"Big sister, are you asleep yet?" Song Yishan knocked on the door, completely oblivious of the guest inside. In his hands was a bag of ripe mangoes he wanted to share. The mangoes are yellow and sweet, for sure the big sister will love it!
Li Wei's heart almost jumped out of her chest although they were not doing anything inappropriate. Somehow, she managed to calmly answer, "I'm still awake."
"That's great! Big sister, I have a surprise for you."
Khan Bojing's lips pressed tightly. Inside his head, he silently cursed Song Yishan. Yishan, your sense of timing is really horrible!
Li Wei's eyes move from Khan Bojing's gloomy face towards the door, then focuses on him again. A moment later, she opened the door.
Song Yishan excitedly walked inside, not noticing the man in the corner yet. He opened the bag of mangoes proudly. "Big sister, look here. Ripe mangoes just for us!"
She embarrassingly nodded, her eyes signaling to him towards the corner. "Eh..."
Song Yishan took her hint and gasped. He hurriedly hid the bag of mangoes behind his back while walking towards Khan Bojing with caution. "Bojing, don't be mad. Listen to me before you say something. I'm just here to share some goodies..."
"Share? Put it on the table then." Khan Bojing muttered coldly.
Li Wei came back to her seat. Because the mangoes were so ripe, all she had to do was pull down the skin and it came off easily.
"Big sister, isn't it delicious?" Song Yishan had already peeled a mango for himself and he was almost done eating it. He was busy with the yummy mangoes and forgot about the other man's cold glare.
"En, delicious!" She licked the sweet juice on her lips. She never knew eating mangoes at night would taste so good. Soon, she was on her second mango. She, too, forgot about the man across from her.
Khan Bojing sulked quietly, watching the two gluttons eat away. He couldn't believe they just ignored him... The tea in his hand tasted sour, as if it's gone bad in just minutes.
A while later, Li Wei gently patted her stomach. Both Song Yishan and her finished the bag of mangoes. She grinned and gave him a thumbs up. "Good job, little brother."
"En. You too, big sister." Song Yishan cleaned the table happily, the big sister liked the mangoes!
He pretended to not notice it, but he knew Khan Bojing's mood was only getting darker and darker. The longer he stayed, the more trouble he would be in tomorrow!
She laid her head on the table. Ah, how nice it felt to be in bliss with food.
"Big sister, I'm heading to bed now." Song Yishan quickly dashed away. He had offended His Highness. Must earn some points before leaving!
Before closing the door and running off, he winked. "You two, enjoy!"
Li Wei's face glowed a crimson color. She peeked up, trying to read Khan Bojing's face.
His eyes studied her. He didn't seem happy or mad. All he said was, "Having fun?"
"En... fun." She pulled herself up, daring to level herself with him. They were just inches away and her naughty finger closed the distance, poking on his cheek where his dimple usually appeared.
His skin was smooth and soft to the touch. She couldn't help smiling shamelessly. "Feels... good."
Khan Bojing's mood suddenly soared at her compliment, the sourness from before disappearing as if it was never there.
He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, slowly planting a kiss on her skin. "Mango is sweeter or kiss is sweeter?"
She giggled at his childish question, a warm and bubbly feeling filling up her heart. She answered promptly without hesitation, "Kiss is sweeter."
Khan Bojing broke into a smile, clearly satisfied with her answer. "Come here."
Thump, thump, thump.
Her heart pounded against her chest. She boldly walked over and stood in front of him. Her body trembled slightly from immense nervousness.
He pulled her onto his lap, his strong arms wrapping around her waist. His gaze lingered on her lips before leaning towards her ear.
They were so close, his breath fluttered against her skin. In a low voice so only she could hear, he whispered teasingly, "Want another one?"
Thump, thump, thump.
If it was possible, then she was falling deeper in love with him.
"Want."