As soon as he got inside, he locked himself in his room. He flung himself on the bed, face down, and hid his face in the comfort of the pillows. He let out a muffled scream into his pillow. He sat up and stared at his hand as a warm glow of pink crept up his face. He realized that he had been holding his breath the entire time. Slowly, he exhaled and felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that he needed to gather his thoughts and find a way to confront the overwhelming emotions that had consumed him.
'What the hell did I do?'
The gentle chimes of bells cleared away the clouds in his head. The mature Gongzi was back.
His drum, which sat at the room's far end, gave out a soft glow as its bells chimed. He went towards the drum and sat behind it. As soon as his hands caressed the smooth surface of the drum, the chiming stopped. He saw a flash of light pass by his sight and a slight itch on his palms.
His hands began beating the surface in a rhythm that only it knew—the spring breeze, which melts like snow and ice.
The strums of seventy-stringed qin, echoing the distant walls, moan their longing.
The sweet scent of several flowers and moist, cold air embraced him. He closed his eyes, allowing the music to transport him to a serene garden, where cherry blossoms danced in the wind and a gentle stream whispered secrets. The drum became an extension of his being, each beat resonating with his emotions and releasing them into the air.
His whole body felt light as if it were on air. It was on the air. His body was several cun above a glowing river. The river gave out a soft blue glow above him, like a blue dragon winding through the fog. The moon's light danced on its surface, casting shimmering shadows on the water and his dumbfounded reflection. The sparkling, wide mouth of the water is like a mirror, like a white jade, like a ribbon embellished with gems, falling graciously. The sound of the river flowing and the waterfall was like an ode, solemn and peaceful.
He cleaned his eyes to be sure he wasn't imagining things. That flick of light flashed across his eyes probably making him hallucinate.
But he wasn't. Everything felt and sounded real.
He stared down at his reflection in the glowing river, and the hidden fear deep within burst forth. As he stared down, he wondered about the depth of the river. The more he stared, the more he felt he might lose his balance and plunge deep into its unseen abyss, never to be seen again. The hair on his skin rose at the thought. The soft chimes of bells forced him to tear his eyes off its magnetic surface.
'The drum came along?'
His eyes caught something floating in the dense fog. It was getting slowly nearer as he strained his sight to figure out what it was.
Without warning, the figure lunged towards him with full speed. The sudden attack took him by surprise; his body froze to a spot until an icy tip stopped right in between his eyes. His eyes were closed tight in fear, and he waited for his death. However, nothing just chills between his eyes. He slowly opened his eyes but found nothing. His attacker was hidden in the fog as if it didn't want to be seen. Its icy aura was still felt.
Three incense sticks had been burned, and nothing happened. Just the icy air blew between his eyes, and it was already beginning to make his eyes roll. He could feel the weight of anticipation building within him, wondering when the next chilling encounter would occur. The mysterious presence seemed to taunt him, lurking just out of sight, leaving him on edge with each passing moment.
"Don't just stay still."
He got up slowly, mindful of the unknown beneath him. He was beyond surprised that he didn't fall immediately and could balance properly as he stood on the invisible ground.
Not only that, as soon as he got up, the river rose with him as if it were awoken from its slumber. A lukewarm tingling arose deep within him as he stared at the liquid jade. It was beautiful.
Caught in the middle of two forces; one is his hidden attacker, and the other is beckoning beauty.
Since the attacker refused to attack, he got bored and focused his attention on the current dance with every movement. Some coiled around his body like a big snake, and surprisingly, his clothes did not get wet—they were still dry and crisp. The sensation of the water caressing his skin brought a sense of tranquillity as if the river was comforting him in its gentle embrace, adding an element of enchantment to the scene.
It was all fun till the current swallowed him like a snake. He wasn't given time to react as he saw himself drowning Inside a blue abyss. He had no trouble breathing---he just kept sinking, as weightless as a pin. Not only that, but he had a faint sense of Déjà vu as if this had happened before. But when?
"Dada?"
'How can A-Xiang be here?'
He tried to look everywhere but found himself in his room, still seated where he was with his hands on the drum.
'Didn't I …?'
He was so confused that it showed on his face. There is no doubt he was hallucinating. He still felt that warm, tingling feeling and the center of his brows felt so cold. As he tried to make sense of his surroundings, he noticed a peculiar symbol etched on the surface of his drum. It was a symbol he had never seen before, yet it felt oddly familiar. The more he stared at it, the more his mind raced to uncover its meaning.
He was brought back to reality by a little tug on his sleeve---that saved him from delving deeper which could lead him to be more confused than how he was.
It was his little fragrant bird staring at him with his big doe eyes--- concern and confusion filled them for him.
"Come here."
Wei Xiang happily accepted the invitation into his arms. He wrapped his small hands around his neck and buried his face there. After making sure it was his father's warmth, he cupped his warm cheeks and stared deep into those warm eyes that held everlasting affection for him; ever full of colour and sparkles. He loved it.
They were his.
But none of it was there.
It was still full of affection but something—Something hidden in-depth—he might never know. it made him unhappy.
"A-Xiang, Haha—What are you doing?"
Shen Zhufu was caught unaware by the sudden darkness--- Two tiny hands were covering his eyes. He tried to get those hands off his face but they were determined and persistent.
He soon gave up resisting and remained still. He knew if he continued to resist…. Wei Xiang is just so stubborn to continue.
'What is my dear baby doing?'
They stayed like this in silence. No one neither moved nor talk.
A sweet hum resonated in the thick darkness Shen Zhufu was. It was gentle and clear.
Surge of comfort washed his whole being--it washed away every thought till he started drowning deeper into the warmth that embraced him.
His eyelids got heavier as he got drowsy. He tried to keep himself from falling asleep but it was too comforting.
He submitted willingly to the soporific voice that gradually sounded distant till he couldn't hear it anymore.
Wei Xiang removed his hands and gazed at the closed eyes with a soft smile on his transparent lips.
It vanished when the door suddenly opened with a certain peacock calling out at the top of his voice as if the person, he was looking for had gone missing.
"Gege~"
Wei Xiang glared at the intruder who looked unsorry for his sudden intrusion. He placed a finger on his lips to instruct total silence from this noisy peacock.
He went back to totally ignoring the other person and just gazing on the soft face of his asleep father.
He was mesmerized by his beauty.
His father before him looked so peaceful; no wrinkles that made him worry so much for him. He wanted him like this—peaceful.
Not so peaceful, that he almost hit his head on the wall due to his head tossing here and there, thankfully, his swift reflex saved it. He gently laid him on the floor and let out a short sigh of relief.
He stretched his hand towards the bed as if beckoning and a pillow and a blanket answered.
He gently placed the pillow under his head and covered him with the duvet.
He brushed off the hair off his face and smiled a satisfied smile.
Then returning to the forgotten intruder, with his eyebrow raised at him---he didn't look a bit surprised.
"What?"
Wei Xiang just shook his head and begin to clap his hands and giggle, while leaving the room but not without taking the peacock with him.