"Lianhua."
There seems to be a man in purple robe standing behind Lianhua's fence.
"Zise Wuye...? Oh! G-greetings my lord."
Lianhua bowed down to him. How dare he called the lord's full name? He has disrespected the only son of the Zise Clan.
"Haha.....didn't I tell you to stop acting so formal with me? I get it that I'm the 'only son' of the most respected clan here in this village but we're friends now are we? Or maybe mor-"
"I'm very sorry my lor- i-i mean Wuye..." Lianhua still couldn't believe that he has made a friend from a prominent family, and the famous Zise Wuye at that!
Zise Wuye chuckled and notices something.
"Lianhua...the sun still hasn't set. Mind if I show you a place where we could watch....the sunset?" He smiled.
"That would be wonderful. If I may, can you spare me a time to change my clothes? It will be too disrespectful of me to go with you while wearing these dirty clothes of mine."
"Oh..Y-you don't hav-"
Lianhua suddenly ran to his house and change clothes fastly without hearing Zise Wuye's another response.
Zise Wuye was stunned.
There's this strange feeling in his chest that still haven't disappeared since the very first time he laid his eyes on him.
"Wuye!" Lianhua called as if Wuye would leave him behind.
"Oh! That was fas-"
" !! "
Lianhua came out like a lotus that has fully bloomed. But, instead of wearing a pink robe like that of a lotus, he wore purple, the same as the color of Zise Wuye's clothes. Lianhua even adorned it with a tassel.
Zise Wuye was speechless of this sight.
(w-what is this feeling..?)
The rumors we're true.
---3 days ago---
"There's a mysterious man who just healed my neighbor! The parents cried when they heard that their daughter couldn't be healed anymore but someone just did! I wonder who they may be...."
Zise Wuye heard the man's gossips and it seems like it the news about this mysterious man has spread faster than he'd expect. This man just arrived today and now, he's the main talk of all these villagers.
"Hmm? A healer? Or a doctor...? I think I should pay him a visit tomorrow and thank him for saving the poor villagers life. It seems like he really is skilled of his arts."
Minutes later, Zise Wuye encountered a group of women gossiping about something.
"Hey hey! I met the healer on my way here!"
"Tell us something! Tell us something!"
" He has a long black hair with a bun tied with a beautifully decorated brown hairpin! And he has a very fair skin!"
"Oohhh~~"
"And his eyes, HIS EYES! I saw him planting some kind of a plant or herbs in his frontyard? But yeah! His eyes were the color of the herbs he planted! His eyes has that beautifully green color!"
Zise Wuye:(now I'm getting curious of this newcomer.....)
Zise Wuye decided that he should go back now and visit this healer tomorrow.
---the next day---
"Good afternoon!"
Lianhua who is just planting herbs, was startled at the man's voice.
"G-good afternoon..."
"I'll introduce myself first. My name is Zise Wuye from the Zise Clan. May I know yours?"
"M-my name is Lianhua and I am just a mere....herbalists who finds a village to help the one who is in need of treatments."
" An herbalist...." Zise Wuye never encountered an herbalist before.
"Then....thank you for helping the little girl yesterday. I'll make sure to pay back your hard work for I am deeply indebted to you. Our clan has supported this village for many years now and we have never helped the villagers the same way you did. This village may be large and is still growing but we have never found a great healer like you are. Doctors are hard to find since this is a village away from the capital. It's hard to hire one considering it's dangerous paths along the way."
"Lianhua, thank you and for all the things you've done for us. You are the light that I must protect and cherish with all my heart and soul."
Lianhua was flustered while hearing Zise Wuye's words.
"I-iv'e just arrived yesterday, my lord. You should not say those things to a lowly person like me. Shouldn't you be suspicious of me? A mysterious man who helped a sick girl? Not knowing this man's origins?.....I-i am a sinner who fled away from the capital, A SINNER! Have you known my sins there, you wouldn't even dare to start a conversation with me, much more approaching me. I do not deserve such praise, nor these poor villagers trust!"
Lianhua cried as he finished the last phrase. He suddenly collapsed on his knees and continued crying as if he were the only one in there.
Zise Wuye could only watch him crying beyond that fence. He felt his heart aching.
The fence is like a barrier that will forever separate them. Just like the real fence, prohibiting Zise Wuye to reach Lianhua's shattered condition. He could only watch the other crying and not be able to do anything. He felt ashamed of himself. Even so, will Lianhua accept Zise Wuye to enter it's fence?
"Okay then....should we properly introduce ourselves? Let's go to my favourite restaurant and continue our conversation there. Once you taste one of their dishes, maybe it could lift up someone's heart?"
Lianhua wiped his tears and focuses his gaze to Zise Wuye angrily.
"Why the hell are ignoring me"
"I did not. I may never know what you feel inside, but the least I can do is to listen to you words. I am willing to listen and stay by your side until the end. I am not good at comforting other so please do tell if I spit out some words that makes you uncomfortable or words that might upsets you. Then, shall we head now? I think I can hear your stomach growling."
Lianhua has stopped crying and thought that he needs to let go of the past and must never do the same thing again.
He stood up and went outside to join Zise Wuye.
"....you."
"Lianhua?"
"Thank you, my lord, for giving me an attention even though I did not deserve it."
Zise Wuye smiled. He stopped walking and slowly approached Lianhua who is following him in the back.
They both faced each other.
Lianhua was confused on why the other suddenly turned around and faced him.
But suddenly, Zise Wuye leaned closer.
"There is no such thing you didn't deserve. Like, my heart! You truly deserve this heart of mine, even if it means ripping it out of my chest and give it just to prove how I much you deserved it."
Lianhua was startled by the small distance their faces has! He retreated a few steps, confused on why the other must lean closer and say those words!
"E-hem....Just you know, I am not interested in men."
"And I am no exception. But then, why is your cheek showing a bit hue of red?"
Lianhua didn't noticed his cheeks turning red!
"E-enough! Let's just go!" Lianhua was embarrassed and angry at that same time.
He could only walk fastly and hide his face from Zise Wuye.
Well, the possible cause of his blushing must be the part where Zise Wuye suddenly leaned closer to him.
He doesn't even want a lover, much more a boyfriend.
Zise Wuye chuckled and started following Lianhua to the restaurant.
---present---
The two suddenly sat at the bench.
They have arrived.
"Woah...this spot is so nice! Both the lotus pond and the sunset that was about set later, all of it was just right infront of you! All it takes is just a little walk and a bench!"
Lianhua really likes this kind of sceneries. Not to mention, he really likes to see the sun setting.
"Hahaha...I'm glad you liked it."
Zise Wuye really love this view since he was a child. He comes here daily. But now that he is an adult, he rarely comes to this spot. Surprisingly, Lianhua is the first person he invited to watch the sunset with him and the very first visit again after weeks of not visiting this spot.
The sound of trees rustling, the beautiful scent of flowers, the vibrant orange color from the sunset that is covering the whole scene, the lotuses in the pond with it's elegant and graceful beauty, and Lianhua, the person he will dedicate to protect with his whole life, is seeing the same scenery with him.
"Lianhua, I'm glad to have you as my friend." He smiled as he said this phrase.
"Same as here. You are the first person to approach me. I'll look forward in these following days with you, Wuye!" Lianhua smiled so brightly, it was beautiful.
Zise Wuye couldn't understand his feelings right now and could only smile back at him and left these unknown feelings.
"Me too...Oh! The sun is setting!"
Both of them were excited to see the sun slowly sets.
"Lianhua, the sunset is really beautiful, isn't it?"
Lianhua looked at Zise Wuye who is staring at the the sun.' Did he make himself look tidy too? His brown hair really looks good with the ponytail, and his robe...the taste of a nobleman indeed. Even his face features are so perfect. I'm a bit jealous..'
Lianhua regained his senses and responded to Zise Wuye "Yes, it's beautiful as it is."
.....
Lianhua yawned and looked up only to see a star-filled sky. He was stunned on how beautiful it was.
"Wow..... it's been a long time since I looked up at a night sky."
Zise Wuye couldn't believe it.
"Are you not interested in the night sky?"
"No, I like it. It's just that these past few yea- I mean days, has been tiri-"
"Okay let's not talk about that and think of the days ahead of us." Zise Wuye interrupts knowing that it might lead to another crying Lianhua, he doesn't want that.
"Y-yeah.....your'e right...."
Just then, Lianhua took a glance at the lotuses in the pond and a word suddenly appeared in his mind.
".....Midnight Lotus..."
Zise Wuye turned to Lianhua. He heard what Lianhua had just said and he took a glance at the lotuses.
"Midnight lotus? Why would you think that?"
Lianhua shrugged "I don't know. The lotuses still looks beautiful as ever even with or without the sun. Right now, you can barely see the lotuses because of the night sky that has taken over it. It almost seems like the night sky is helping the lotuses to shine and emit that beautiful aura despite not seen clearly. Even thought you can't see the lotuses that properly, you can still feel it's elegant and graceful beauty."
Zise Wuye was shocked on how deep these words are and can barely understand the hidden meaning of it.
"....and that is how you created the name? Hahaha....from now on, we'll call these 'Midnight Lotus'." Zise Wuye is finally at ease now that Lianhua is happy. He's proud of himself to be able to continue this conversation without going back to Lianhua's past.
Lianhua chuckled and took another glance of the lotuses.
He is happy now that he found his new home.
Small note from me, the author:
I'm very sorry for not updating. I know it's been a month, or more since the last chapter I released.
Last month was the busiest month in in this school year, and so is the last school year.
October will forever the busiest month in our school.
Once again I'm very sorry (〒﹏〒)
I'll probably post the next chapter next week ⊂((・▽・))⊃
Bye bye~