As I glanced back at the dispersing crowd before following Wei Xiaotian, I noticed we weren't heading back the way we came. I furrowed my brow but decided not to question him. As long as he didn't hurt me, I'd let him lead.
Soon, he dismissed the guards shadowing us. "From here, I'll take him. No need for you to follow. Go back and stand guard outside Lord Yu's room until we return."
The guards bowed deeply, offering their respects before retreating. Left alone with Wei, I finally asked, "Where are we going?"
Wei Xiaotian glanced at me, his lips curving into a small, mysterious smile. "Somewhere we left behind once," he said, his tone tinged with nostalgia.
We continued walking, leaving through a secluded exit that led us outside. The wind brushed against my skin as the scenery changed, and suddenly, Wei summoned his sword—a shimmering blade that seemed to hum with the energy of the wind itself. It hovered just above the ground, glinting under the light.
He stepped onto the sword effortlessly, his stance regal and steady. Then, he extended his hand toward me. "Come," he said.
I hesitated, shaking my head. "No way. That looks terrifying! What if I fall?"
Without a word, Wei reached out, pulling me up in one swift motion. I yelped as my feet left the ground, but before I could protest, his arms encircled me securely. Leaning close, his voice dropped to a soft whisper, his breath warm against my ear.
"Don't worry," he murmured, his gaze locking onto mine. "I won't let you fall. Never."
As we ascended higher into the skies, I instinctively clung to Wei Xiaotian, my arms tightening around him as I dared to glance downward. The vast expanse below was an abyss of darkness, a reminder of just how high we were. My breath hitched, fear tightening in my chest.
But then, I looked up.
The moon hung above us, radiant and full, its silvery light spilling across the endless blue-black canvas of the sky. Stars scattered like jewels, glittering in their quiet brilliance. The sight was so breathtaking, so serene, that it made me momentarily forget my fears.
The cold wind brushed past my face, sharp and crisp, yet the warmth of Wei's embrace balanced it perfectly, wrapping me in a cocoon of safety. The sky stretched infinitely, an expanse of beauty so overwhelming that it felt as though it was calling to something deep within me.
For a moment, it wasn't just the moon or the stars—it was everything. The wind that whispered of freedom, the warmth of an embrace that felt like home, the sky painted with dreams, and my heart that burned quietly, unsure if it was fear or something else entirely.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Wei's voice broke the silence, soft and low.
I nodded, unable to find the words.
The landing was soft, but my heart raced as Wei Xiaotian gently set me down. I turned to look at the place before me, and my breath hitched. The entrance was enchanting—a grand arch wrapped in vines that glowed faintly, their flowers shimmering in hues of blue, pink, and purple. The very air seemed to hum with a kind of ancient, serene energy.
As Wei stepped back to let me take it all in, I couldn't help but move forward, drawn to the beauty within. The garden opened up before me, filled with glowing flowers in every imaginable color. They seemed almost unreal, as if plucked from the dreams of a painter and scattered across the ground.
In the heart of the garden stood an enormous tree, its trunk wide and strong, its branches sprawling high and far into the sky. The leaves shimmered with a gentle glow, as though they held the light of a thousand moons. I stared at it, awe and joy flooding through me as I let my hanfu sleeve fall, running toward the tree like an excited child.
"This place… it's so beautiful!" I exclaimed, spinning in the vibrant garden. "How do you even know about it?"
Wei Xiaotian's voice was low but firm as he replied, "How wouldn't I? This is where we first met."
I froze, turning back to look at him. Something stirred in the foggy recesses of my mind. "This… this is where I used to pick flowers for Lingfu," I said slowly, the memory coming to me in pieces. "And you caught me when I almost fell. I was trying to climb the tree because I wanted to see the view from the top."
Wei's eyes lit up with hope and relief as he walked closer. "Yes," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "Yes, that's exactly what happened! You remember, don't you, Yu Hengtian? You are my Yu. My Yu Hengtian."
Before I could respond, he pulled me into a tight embrace. His arms were strong, steady, yet full of emotion.
My heart clenched, a strange ache spreading through me. The way he held me, the way he spoke with such unwavering certainty, filled me with guilt. I wasn't sure if I truly was the Yu Hengtian he remembered, and yet… my heart hurt for him. For the trust he placed in me, for the hope I might shatter.
As he held me, I whispered softly, almost inaudibly, "I wish I could be the Yu Hengtian you need me to be." My voice broke slightly
I pushed Wei Xiaotian back gently, my gaze dropping to the ground. "Enough," I muttered, my voice shaky. My shimmering eyes darted around the garden, captivated by the beauty of the glowing blossoms and the ancient tree. It was almost too perfect, like a fragile dream I didn't want to wake from.
"Yu," Wei Xiaotian called softly. I turned to find him standing nearby, holding a delicate pink bloom in his hand. Its once-vibrant glow had dimmed. He grinned playfully, holding it out. "Look, your favorite flower. You used to decorate your hair with these all the time."
I stepped forward, frowning as I took the flower from his hand. "Why did you pluck it? It was alive… it was glowing, full of light. Now it's gone," I whispered, caressing the faded petals. "You shouldn't have taken it. It had life, Wei. It was sparkling with its own beauty, and now…" My voice faltered as I crouched down, staring at the poor flower. "Now it's just… gone."
Wei chuckled softly. "It's not alive, Yu. Flowers don't feel pain. You're being sentimental."
I shook my head, as I cradled the bloom gently. "No," I said firmly. "It was alive in its own way. It didn't deserve this
Suddenly, a soft light began to radiate from the flower in my hand. I gasped, watching as the glow returned, brighter and more vibrant than before. The petals shimmered with a life of their own, as though they'd been reborn. My hands trembled slightly as I stared at it. "I… I did that?" I murmured in astonishment, lifting my hand to examine the bloom.
Wei Xiaotian stepped closer, "Yu Hengtian," he said, his tone soft yet questioning, "you… brought it back?"
I looked at him with wide eyes, the flower still glowing in my palm. "Wei, look!" I said excitedly, pushing the bloom toward him. "I did it! It's alive again. I—I don't know how, but I did it!" My voice was filled with awe and wonder,
Wei Xiaotian's POV
He wasn't like before. That much was clear. There was a new hesitance in his actions, an anxious edge to his demeanor. Yet, despite it all, he remembered so many things—things that only my Yu Hengtian could have known.
The way his eyes shimmered with awe as he admired the flower in his hands, the way he looked at Mother with such genuine warmth and respect, and even the way he called me "Wei," with that same soft affection, all reminded me of the man I had loved for so long.
But there was something more now, something deeper. He carried a weight, a sadness I didn't fully understand.
As I stood there, watching him cradle the flower with such tenderness, a wave of relief washed over me. Yes, he was different. But not in a way that could ever hurt me. If anything, this difference only made him shine brighter.
I smiled to myself, my gaze softening as I watched him turn the flower this way and that, marveling at the glow
"He still has that spark," I thought,
I realized that I didn't need him to be exactly the same. He was my Yu, whether he knew it yet or not.
("The flowers bloom like a brocade, old dreams linger; though no longer as they once were, they remain the only light in my heart.")