"So where are you going?" Yu Mei had forgotten about the pain inflicted on her nose.
"To Auntie Feng's house. Why did you ask?"
"Nothing." She shook her head and fasten her walking speed.
Li Kong was utterly confused but he quickly regained his composure. The cogs in his brain started working swiftly until it reached a certain conclusion.
Although she acted like it was nothing but Li Kong's keen intuition was good enough to concluded her "nothing" wasn't nothing at all.
"Child surnamed Yu if there was something you wanted then you should say it clearly." Li Kong demanded.
Yu Mei was startled but shortly after, she tried to brush it off as nothing again but Li Kong was adamant and when she was opening her mouth to reproach him suddenly a rumble which came from lower reverberated, putting all into silent.
Yu Mei immediately turned cherry red and dropped her head downwards while Li Kong just nodded in understanding.
" I understand. I understand." Li Kong still nodding.
'What do you even understand?!' Yu Mei cursed in her heart.
Yu Mei's already red face became even redder as if ready to explode until she couldn't take it anymore and stormed off but just right before she wanted to walk away, her hand was grabbed by Li Kong.
She redirected her vision to Li Kong who was still nodding.
"It's okay. I understand! I really!" Li Kong comforted while nodding.
'What do you actually understand...' Yu Mei was a moment away from crying. She felt like she wanted to dig a hole and buried herself in it to save her from the embarrassment.
"It's really okay! If I were hungry, I sometime acted like that too." Li Kong said in understanding while still nodding.
'What..?' Just before Yu Mei able to finish her thoughts, she was dragged by Li Kong to somewhere.
"Li Kong, I-" Yu Mei wanted to clarify but was cut off short by Li Kong.
"Stt. Stt. It's okay just leave it to me." Li Kong assured her.
'And just like what I said what do you mean by that.' Yu Mei resigned to her fate and crying silently inside of her heart.
Like that, Li Kong, who was still holding Yu Mei's arm, guide her lifeless body on a detour.
...
"Li Kong, where are you dragging me to?" Yu Mei finally recovered a bit from the embarrassment.
"To your house." He calmly respond.
"My house?" Yu Mei tilted her head a bit, not understanding what her house had to do with anything.
"Of course. How else do we have to ask for your old man's permission?" He talked like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
'Permission? What permission?' Yu Mei was flabbergasted and couldn't keep the track of the conversation and when she wanted to ask further, she heard Li Kong's voice.
"And finally we've arrived."
Having not recovered yet, she could only watch Li Kong as he walked to her front door and knocked on it a few times before a voice appeared coming from the house.
"Yes. Who is it?"
Shortly after the door opened, the figure behind it was revealed. It was the village chief, Yu Hao. His height was almost the same as someone like Ye Cheng with him being a littler shorter than the latter. But unlike Ye Cheng that couldn't care less about his appearance, Yu Hao was well-kempt.
"Hi, Uncle Yu." Li Kong greeted him with a smile.
"Hi, Li Kong." Yu Hao sent a smile back. "How was your hunt with your uncle today?"
"It went great." Li Kong did a peace sign and beamed his teeth.
Yu Hao wasn't fazed by his strange demeanor and congratulated him before getting on the point.
"Now, I doubt that you come in this evening only to told me that."
"I come to ask for permission." Li Kong replied earnestly.
"Permission?" Yu Hao tilted his head a bit.
"Mhm." Li Kong nodded.
Now there was no door to hinder his vision, only now did Yu Hao realized that her daughter was just right behind Li Kong, looking worn out and exhausted. His line of vision met with his daughter for a brief moment.
Yu Mei consciousness came back to her at once and she immediately raised both of her arms to shape "X" and shook her head so fast it left afterimages.
Yu Hao was confused for a moment by this interaction and redirected his attention back to Li Kong, who watching him expectantly and at that moment, the fog of confusion clouding his thoughts were dispersed, leaving only enlightenment behind.
'Hah... The smell of the youth.' Yu Hao couldn't do anything except for sigh at the display of youthfulness.
'Suddenly I remembered back then that her mother was like this too. Always acting like she didn't want it but deep down I know that she always expecting for it and would sulk if I ignored her. Truly like mother, like daughter.' Yu Hao basked in the nostalgic memories.
Well although that he had problems with Yu Mei befriending Li Kong at their childhood but truly he didn't had any problem having Li Kong as her daughter's companion after knowing him a bit more.
Rather than angry, he would be enthralled to have Li Kong as his in-law. He's diligent, polite to elderly, and helpful to everyone. What's there to ask for more? To ask for more would be just plain greed. Although, he could be mischievous sometimes. Too mischievous even.
Yu Hao recalled the pranks Li Kong pulled off at his friend, Zheng Liyang, and couldn't help but shivered at the thoughts that he would went through what his dear friend experienced before.
At smaller scale, Li Kong's pranks could considered harmless and fun prank that little children would do from time to time. The problem was Li Kong wasn't doing it from time to time but every single time, opportunity presented in front of him.
'But that was a long time ago. Surely, he has grow past that age right? Right?' Yu Hao had to reassured himself twice.
Yu Hao got his attention back at the situation and looked back at her daughter with a warm gaze.
'Don't worry, sweetheart. Father got this.' He conveyed through his eyes.
Yu Mei received her father's message and relaxed her body. 'I believe in you, dad.' Yu Mei replied back with her eyes.
On the other hand, Li Kong wordlessly stood there without making a sound, still waiting for an answer, not aware of the telepathic communication between the father and daughter.
Yu Hao realized that he had made the youth waited for a long time. He cleared his throat and met Li Kong's eyes.
"Li Kong." Yu Hao's tone was solemn.
Subconsciously, Li Kong fixed his posture and stand upright.
"Next time..." Li Kong and Yu Mei simultaneously gulped.
"... you don't have to ask for any permissions." Yu Hao ended it with a smile.
Li Kong was delighted and started to thanking his kind uncle while Yu Mei was dejected and utterly confounded by her father's betrayal.
"Do you hear that, Yu Mei? Now we can go to Auntie Feng's house!"
Yu Hao was swept up by Li Kong's cheerful voice before suddenly, he realized something was wrong.
"Why are you going to Feng's house?" Yu Hao confused now.
"Hmm? I thought that you already know the reasons, Uncle." Li Kong was also confused now. If his uncle didn't know what he's going to do, therefore what kind of permission that his uncle gave to him?
Yu Hao realized that the conversations earlier went off track and asked Li Kong again. Li Kong explained from playing with the twins and to the Yu Mei's incident.
After Li Kong's explanation did Yu Hao only realized that her daughter's reaction wasn't about what he think it was but rather an attempt to escape from embarrassing situation.
Realizing his mistake, Yu Hao burst into laughter while Li Kong was once again standing there, still clueless as before, and behind Li Kong's back, Yu Mei already started digging.
"So, it was like that. I thought you..."
"You thought me what?"
Yu Hao refrained from speaking any further instead he smiled a little and sent a meaningful gaze to his embarrassed daughter.
"If it's only to have a dinner, I don't see the problem." Yu Hao said plainly.
"Thank you, uncle!" Li Kong bowed before going to Yu Mei's side. "Hey, what you're doing? We're going to be late!" He said to the listless Yu Mei and dragged her with him.
"See you later, uncle!" Li Kong waved goodbye and pulled Yu Mei with him.
Yu Hao returned the wave then looked at the far distance with a solemn yet tender gaze.
"How nostalgic it was, isn't it dear?" He said to no one and let out a little smile. "The smell of the youth."
...
'How did I get here?' was what on Yu Mei's mind right now.
It felt like she's just blinked and suddenly here she was sitting compliantly in someone else house.
In front of her was platter of food, line up at a certain manner to appeared pleasing to the eyes. The food's ingredients mainly rabbit and deer meat with herb and sauce to enhanced the flavor.
This all happened because she skipped eating in the afternoon and that caused her tummy to growled when she was having conversations with Li Kong. Now, she wanted to smack her former self in the afternoon.
If only I didn't skip lunch. Would all of this happened? She cried silently in her heart.
"And for the last..." A feminine voice was heard coming from the kitchen.
A lady, looking in her prime, entered the table with plates full of food.
Seeing this, Li Kong, who was chatting with Ye Cheng, immediately got up from his seat.
"Let me carry it for you, auntie." Li Kong offered his hands.
"Oh, you don't have to do that dear." Feng Rouyi said with a cheery voice and put the pan on the center of the table.
"Yeah, listen to her Li Kong. Age haven't caught up to her yet." Ye Cheng honestly said while taking food to his platter.
Bang!
The table and Yu Mei jumped in unison and fortunately for Li Kong, who was waiting to eat since the very start, there wasn't a single spilled out on the table.
"And what was that supposed to mean, my dear lovely husband?" Feng Rouyi gazed warmly at her husband, a bit too warm even. Ye Cheng felt shivered ran through his spine as she stared at him with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
But Ye Cheng didn't waste his entire life to achieve nothing, years of experiences had honed him to becoming the man he was now. From the said experience, he had gained the most important skill to guaranteed happiness and well-being of his life and the said skill was to be professional husband.
With almost instinctual reaction, Ye Cheng arose from his seat and pushed her wife's body downwards to leaned at the arm that he already placed at his wife's back.
"I mean that you're still as beautiful as the first day I found you. Looked at your face. There isn't any wrinkles and even if there were, I would be only loving you more because that meant time had not lessen our love yet." Ye Cheng with warm voice and his eyes shone charmingly.
Unable to react in time, Feng Rouyi was left dazed but shortly after, she blushed uncontrollably and rosy red painted her beautiful face.
"Yes..." She replied in almost docile voice.
While on the other side of the table, Yu Mei already gasped and covered her mouth with both of her hand while Li Kong on her side was more impressed at his uncle quick thinking and reaction.
Feng Rouyi noticed that her guests were staring at her with strange look and she immediately got out from Ye Cheng's clasp. She tidied herself up even though there was no need for it. After that, she sat silently and followed by Ye Cheng.
Feng Rouyi was still hadn't recovered from Ye Cheng's sudden declaration and with rosy blush on her cheek, she whispered something to Ye Cheng. Soon after she was done whispering, Ye Cheng's brain short-circuited for a moment before he looked in disbelief at his wife for while Feng Rouyi still tried to hide her embarrasment.
Awkwardness filled the air and no one could said anything for a moment before a starve-stricken voice appeared.
"When will we eat the food, uncle? Yu Mei starving already!" Li Kong complained.
"I didn't say that." Yu Mei further complained.
Ye Cheng regained his composure and coughed before replying to Li Kong.
"It's not good to let the guest waiting for too long. Let's eat."
Li Kong immediately aimed for the soup and everyone followed him and ate together.
The atmosphere was lively with Li Kong always chatting and eating merrily and Feng Rouyi felt satisfied watching Li Kong ate with full appetite and that was where she suddenly became curious and she redirected her gaze to Yu Mei.
"So what makes you suddenly want to join us, Xiao Mei?" Feng Rouyi piqued. "You couldn't be dragged here by Li Kong right?" Feng Rouyi jokingly said and laughed.
'But that's what really happened.' Yu Mei recited silently while stuffing her mouth.
"Iw bekaws Yu Mwe wa stwarvin so I brouw her hir." Li Kong stated clearly.
"No talking while chewing!" Ye Cheng berated him.
Yu Mei chuckled a bit while watching Li Kong got scolded, not aware of the observing eyes.
"Is that so?" Feng Rouyi muttered to herself before smiling.
Recalling the scene that happened before, Yu Mei suddenly grew curious about how Feng Rouyi and Ye Cheng came to be.
"So, auntie. How did you and uncle Ye met?"
Feng Rouyi was taken back by the sudden question but shortly after her expression turned warm and nostalgic.
"Oh, you don't want to know how I met this hunk of steel." She then started to weave the tale and Yu Mei began attentively listening while asking a few questions along the way. On the other part of table, Li Kong slowed his eating pace while Ye Cheng gave up on battling the portion of deer meat to Li Kong and shifted his attention to something else.
It all started with a naughty child that wandered deep into the forest and met with another equally disobedient child in an accident.
The girl was always curious about the forest and one day, she decided to ventured deep into the forest and when she wanted to get back to home, she was unable to traced back her way. She walked without direction until the day was getting darker and unfortunately, the girl wandered too far and accidentally set foot in a boar's territory. The girl fell on her back and desperately trying to get away from the boar and then.
Silently, an arrow whistled through the bushes and hit the boar and penetrated deeply into its skull. The girl stopped crying and looked at the direction where the arrow came from and from there, emerged a tall figure. It was a familiar face. She had seen the young boy's face, he was the son of the hunter not far away from her house. Although she knew about him, but because he was too boorish, she never took the chance to approached him and neither did he too.
The young boy asked her what she was doing and then, exasperatedly sighed. He inspected the girl and found that she twisted her ankle while trying to run away from the boar. The boy sat the girl on top of the boulder they found not far away and took out bandages and ointment and treated the girl's ankle carefully and gently and comforting the girl each time she grunted from the pain and without her noticing, her ankle had completely wrapped.
But even after applying ointment and massaged her ankle for a bit, the girl still couldn't walk properly. The boy once again sighed and wordlessly carried the girl on his back without her permission. The girl protested for a bit but not long after, she fell silent and leaned to his back.
On the way, the girl was amazed by the young boy's readiness as he seemed to able to anticipate anything and act accordingly. The young boy maneuvered through the forest, avoiding the beasts' territory.
The girl muttered courage and tried to strike a conversation with the boy and the girl found that the boy also went to the forest without permission. The girl and the boy talked about many things and without they noticing, they already arrived on the village's entrance.
A commotion was could be seen from afar and suddenly, a woman in her thirties separated herself from the crowds and ran into their direction. The young boy helped the girl to stand up properly and the woman hugged her child tightly and cried. The girl's body finally relaxed and she returned her mother's hug and cried also.
After crying for a while, the girl cleared her eyes and saw that the young boy who had helped him was rubbing his head and looked tearfully at the tall muscular man besides him who's hand still up in the air.
She saw her mother looked at the boy and bowed gratefully. The boy was surprised and hurriedly tried to lift up the woman.
The woman sincerely gave her thanks once again and dragged the girl to home. There she was disciplined and berated in the name of love by her mother and her father only watching silently, pity filled his eyes but he was resolute that his daughter had to be disciplined. Probably.
After love-filled discipline by her mother last night, the girl went back to her daily life, but for some unknown reason, she couldn't take off her eyes from the boy today. The way he talked, the way he reacted, his mannerisms. It continued till tomorrow, the day after it and before she realized, a week had passed by. Each day passed by only made the girl's curiosity grew even bigger.
She tried strike a conversation with the boy but she couldn't muttered any words. The boy looked at her incredulously and asked what was she doing. The sudden words from the boy startled her and many thoughts surged on her mind but ultimately, only "thank you" was sounded.
The boy was surprised but the next moment, he laughed it off and said that it was what a man should've done. After that, the pair chatted with each other until the boy was called by a tall looming figure in the far. The boy said his goodbye to the girl and although she was feeling a bit down, she replied to his greeting. But suddenly when walking, the boy stopped for a moment, coughed for no apparent reason, and said. "See you again".
The words shook the girl's entire being and warm feeling filled her whole heart.
The girl looked upon the boy's departing figure and with a smile, she replied.
"You too."
It all started with a little talk, then a little greeting at the way, a little company at random times, a little time spent together.
A little closer to each other and finally a little close to each other's heart.