As a sudden loud noise echoed through the chamber, the crowd parted in a flurry, murmurs of confusion rippling through the air. A flash of blue streaked across the room as someone rushed forward, their steps frantic and uncoordinated. The delicate figure, dressed in a shimmering blue hanfu adorned with intricate water patterns, nearly stumbled onto the polished floor.
Before he could fall, a man clad in an imposing black hanfu appeared like a shadow, his arm snaking around the figure's waist in one swift motion. His voice, deep and calm, broke through the commotion. "Careful, Lian."
The delicate man—Lian—looked up, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and urgency. He quickly straightened himself, brushing imaginary dust from his robes. "How can I stay calm when my best friend just woke up?" he shot back, his voice laced with exasperation and a hint of joy.
His attention immediately turned to me, and his eyes lit up as though he had just found a long-lost treasure. "Hengtian!" he exclaimed, rushing to take my hands in his. His touch was warm and trembling slightly.
"Do you know how much I've missed you? After that accident—" His voice caught, and for a moment, his composure wavered. "This guy wouldn't even let me out of the place to come see you!"
Lian shot a pointed glare at the man in black, his annoyance palpable.
The black-clad figure remained unbothered, his expression stoic as he responded evenly, "It was for your own safety, Lian. You tend to rush into things without thinking."
Lian huffed, turning his full attention back to me. "Ignore him, Hengtian. He thinks he can control me just because he's a little taller and a lot more annoying."
The man in black, still standing a few steps away, cleared his throat. "Lian, don't overwhelm him. He's been through enough as it is."
Lian shot him another glare. "Overwhelm him? I'm bringing joy back into his life! You should try it sometime instead of standing there like a stone statue."
Wei Xiaotian, who had been silently observing, let out a small chuckle. "It's good to see some things never change," he remarked, stepping forward with a knowing look.
As Wei Xiaotian approached, his authoritative presence silencing the room, I turned to him, my expression filled with silent questioning. My face clearly asked, Who is he?
Wei Xiaotian cleared his throat, a small smirk playing on his lips as he began to explain. "Yu Hengtian, this is Xian Lian," he said, his tone patient but amused. "Your best friend. You grew up together practically from the day you were born. He's from the Shuiyin Sect—commonly called the Shore Sect—and practically lives on water."
Xian Lian beamed at me, his bright expression making it clear he was proud of his origins.
Wei Xiaotian's gaze shifted to the man in black standing stoically beside Xian Lian. "And as for him," he continued, his tone turning slightly teasing, "that's Yan Yue. He's from the Yueliang Sect, the Moonlight Sect. He's Xian Lian's husband—they were married not long after us."
I blinked in surprise. "They're married?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief.
Wei Xiaotian chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "You must remember their ring exchange ceremony, right? You were there, causing chaos as usual. If I recall correctly, you even blew up part of the ceremonial platform."
Xian Lian laughed at that, leaning closer to me. "You did! You said something about needing more water lilies, and then—boom! Half the platform was gone. It was the best part of the whole ceremony." His eyes sparkled with mischief as he relived the memory.
Yan Yue sighed, though there was a faint trace of amusement in his otherwise stoic demeanor. "That 'boom' also delayed the ceremony by three days," he said.
"And then… three days later, the shore was high," I blurted out, the words tumbling from my mouth before I could stop them. "So, it got delayed for a week."
Silence fell over the room as all eyes turned toward me in shock. Xian Lian froze mid-laugh, his expression shifting from joy to wide-eyed surprise.
"You… remember?" Wei Xiaotian asked, his voice low, as if afraid speaking too loudly might break the fragile moment.
I hesitated, my fingers curling at my side as I tried to grasp the faint memory slipping through my mind like water through my hands. "I just… I guess I do," I said softly.
Xian Lian gasped, his grip tightening on my arm. "Hengtian! You remembered something!" His face lit up like a child's, his excitement palpable. "See? I told you it'd come back eventually!"
I managed a small smile, the warmth of their reactions easing some of the unease in my chest. Wei Xiaotian's hand brushed against mine again, grounding me.
"It's just one memory," I said softly, looking at him. "But… it feels real. Like it actually happened."
As we settled into our thrones, Xian Lian, ever the mischievous one, leaned toward me with a grin, his playful energy palpable. But before he could get too close, his husband, Yan Yue, who appeared much more serious and composed, gently pulled him back, his hand firm but gentle. Xian Lian huffed, giving a mock pout, and lightly hit Yan Yue's chest. "You're too serious," he teased.
Yan Yue only shook his head with a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Someone has to be," he replied evenly.
I couldn't help but smile at the pair of them. Watching them, I felt a warmth spread in my chest. They were just like the couples I'd read about in the wuxia novels I used to devour as a child—playful yet devoted, with a mix of sweetness and light-hearted conflict.
"It's just like the stories," I thought to myself, as I glanced at Wei Xiaotian, who gave me a small, knowing smile.