On the Petals of a Flower, I found something that does not belong to me

10

For all of you. Crying doesn'e mean you're weak. It just shows how strong you are and have been.

 When I got out, I took a path that I didn't even know where it lead. I didn't care to go somewhere. I wanted to go back. I didn't know why I had exploded back there like that for nothing. I owed nothing to Wen Ning. But maybe I felt a little hidden debt. Anyway, I couldn't stand them anymore. I couldn't stand this period anymore, its perceptions and its beliefs. I just wanted to go home.

 When I reached a small bridge near a small harbor with moored boats, where no one was there, I let my back rest on the bridge deck and slid down.

 And the tears I held back all these two days fell.

                                                                                            ***

 When my eyes were dry and the tears were no longer coming out, I wiped my face awkwardly and got up. Unaware of where I was and what path I had taken to get here, I looked around.

 My gaze hardened when I saw a green figure at the edge of the bridge.

 "What do you want here?" I hissed.

 "Uh?" did the figure.

 The voice sounded different from Nie Mingjue. And now that I noticed it, it didn't have such wide shoulders and back.

 But because of my myopia, I couldn't figure out if it really was him or not.

 "Why are you crying? It's not right to make a maiden cry."

 I looked at the figure on the edge of the bridge and half-closed my eyes to see well. The figure was holding a fan.

 Yes. I was sure. This was definitely not Nie Mingjue.

 I sighed. "I'm sorry for before. I confused you with another person with similar clothes. Same color actually."

 The young man in the green walked on the bridge with light steps. "Really? With whom?"

 "Well, I don't think you know him," I said.

 When he came closer to me, I could see how different he was from Nie Mingjue. His features were youthful and sleek. He had a style of innocence and the smirk on his face and his physique was more subtle than Nie Mingjue.

 "What beautiful clothes. And what bright colors!" he exclaimed and grabbed the edge of my pajamas.

 I took a step back. I didn't even know him to touch me. "Thank you," I said. He looked quite excited. His eyes were shining.

 "How? How is it possible for such colors to come out? How did you do it?" he dropped the questions one after the other and took more and more steps towards me.

 I took steps backwards. "Wait dude, personal space" I said firstly. "As for the colors" I looked at my pajamas, "I didn't choose this color, although I like it. The one who made the clothes did" I had no idea how the phosphorescent colors came out.

 "Hmm. I see," he said and opened his fan in front of his face. "Your name?" his gaze was playful.

 Either he was hitting on me or it was just my idea.

 "Charlie," I replied coldly, like Jiang Cheng or Lan Zhan.

 "Nie Huaisang. Pleasure to meet you" he said and extended his hand.

 I spread mine too. "It's a pleasure to meet you too..."

 Nei Huaisang went to kiss my hand when I pulled it back sharply. "Just a moment," I said. "Nie? As Nie Mingjue?"

 Huaisang fluttered his eyelashes. "Eh? Do you know my brother?"

 "Your brother?" I was surprised.

 "Yes," he replied. Then he closed his fan. I could say that he was quite a handsome young man. "My brother. Why? Don't we look alike?"

 I put my hand on my chin. "Let's say your brother is more..." I kissed my three fingers. "Chef's, kiss."

 "Eh?" Huaisang did.

 I sighed. Nobody at this time was ready for my jokes yet. What a boomer.

 "It's nothing. It was supposed to be funny."

 "Funny?" a smile played on his lips. "I'm now interested. Can you explain it to me one more please?"

 I tried to think and started rubbing my chin lightly as if I had a beard. "Hm..."

 "Huaisang!"

 "Eek!" Huaisang was shaken whole and hid behind me in fractions of a second.

 In front of me, a pissed Nie Mingjue walked towards us with heavy steps. I felt the earth shake.

 I stretched my body. I wondered how he found me.

 "What are you doing here?" he spoke – more like he shouted. He seemed to be addressing the person behind me. Having said his name before.

 "Uhh .. I... I came for a walk. I really like Lotus Pier and..."

 "You will love it when I make you train until you drip blood!" he cried. I felt the atmosphere tense.

 As if realizing this, Nie Mingjue looked at me as I looked at him angrily and then lowered his tone. "Go back. Now," he ordered.

 "N..yes brother" Nie Huaisang obeyed and with heavy steps went to the direction from where he had probably come.

 I scoffed and I proceeded to follow Nie Huaisang, passing next from Nie Mingjue.

 "Stop."

 My steps stopped. I turned my head slightly back.

 Nie Mingjue looked at me. "Do not cry again. Stand strong. You are strong."

 I opened my mouth to speak, but closed it immediately. Then, without a word, I turned to leave.

 What was that now? Words of consolation?

 Wait a minute. If he saw me crying, then did he see my conversation with Nie Huaisang?

 The image of myself kissing my fingers and saying 'Chef's kiss', played in my mind.

 I hit my forehead with my hand.

 How much embarrassing could I become?