How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 45 - Bickering

With this man standing so close and those words lingering in his mind, it is difficult not to trail off into thoughts about the possibilities of waking up next to him. At least the man that he had been for the past weeks.

Realizing that he has taken too long to respond, though he had made it through his internal reaction without showing anything on the surface, he is not sure if he has just walked himself into a trap or not. Though he hates to admit it, the man is an expert at flirting and almost always one step ahead, or rather one step too far. Shameless.

Though, technically, he had just used the man for his own desire last time, not allowing the other to climax before he had walked away. Not that he hadn't deserved it. The only thing he has left towards this man's quite skilled advances that doesn't involve sex, though the thought makes his head tingle again, is still advance with more force. Attack is sometimes the best defense.

Figuring he can shave off some of that smugness and at the same time prod as to why Wen Ke Xing's behavior has changed the past week, he asks whilst staring into those black eyes that are so close their eyelashes almost tangle, "Lao Wen, since when do you care what I want?"

For some reason he thought that this unexpected flirting was going to lead towards him kissing that mouth that he had been obsessing over for more than a week now. Instead, he feels like he was just slapped, and strictly speaking he probably deserved it. Ah-Xu, how can you go from purring to sharpening your claws in just one exhale?

Without blinking, he meets those walnut-colored ones and responds, "Always." I always cared, I just... you just... Not even knowing how to finish his own thoughts, his mind blurs with the images of that smile against the image of bloody pearls.

Noticing Wen Ke Xing's eyes flinch behind those long dark eyelashes, Zhou Xu pokes a bit harder into this unexpected reaction, "Always? You didn't care when we got married, so why care now?"

His answer is too fast, his mind on auto-pilot due to the blurred memories of those early nights, "It is pointless to blame past events." (1) Realizing what he just said, he instantly regrets it, scolding himself inwardly. Wen Ke Xing, Wen Ke Xing, you will pay for this.

"Blame... Past... Events..." Each word leaves such a horrid aftertaste in his mouth he almost spits each of the words out as they leave his lips. What had started out as butterflies and a bit of not so harmless teasing, now brought back the vivid memories of those first nights that Zhou Xu had tried his best to ignore. The pain and suffering from the wounds, the humiliation of being tied up with any choice being taken from him. It all surface from that place he had locked them away. The smirk now gone from his lips and replaced by disdain, he continues with his voice oozing with contempt, "If you think you are coming anywhere near me again, you should think again."

Wen Ke Xing steps back and flicks open his fan, slowly swaying it whilst waying his options as he observes this brewing husband of his. Trying his best to joke about the situation and bring back the memories of that night a week ago rather than those first nights, he says jokingly but with a somewhat forced smile on his face, "Ah-Xu, I seem to recall someone taking advantage of me just a week ago. And I can't recall any complaints."

"Really? That's not how I remember it. I remember quite clearly that you were underperforming." With fiery eyes behind vibrating eyelashes, he somehow manages to smirk before he turns to walk out of the library.

Sighing, Wen Ke Xing shakes his head and scolds himself as he returns towards his bed chamber with anything but light steps. He had taken much care not to push forward during the past week. Spending time away from Zhou Xu, partly to figure out what that dream meant and partly to figure out his own reactions and behaviors. Unfortunately, he had not been able to do either of them, being so restless each night he found himself back at Hua Men and back into Zhou Xu's bed. Only by holding that hand could he relax. Like holding on to that hand made him feel less lonely. And he had felt lonely ever since that dream.

Stepping into the chamber, he walks towards the scroll that had been surreptitiously left on the table by his man. He hadn't had time to double check it before he had followed Zhou Xu through the walkways towards the library, but he was pretty certain it was the scroll that had been laying on the desk in the entrance at Hua Men. The one with the picture of the herb astilbe (2) that Zhou Xu had picked and was both growing and drying. Since the scroll didn't specifically state the use of the flower, it was more of an instruction on how to dry it, he still didn't know what Zhou Xu was up to.

With a crease between his eyebrows, he puts the scroll away to the side for safe keeping. Turning around to walk out again, he suddenly stops at the center of the room. Wait, did he just say that I was underperforming?

c( O.O )ɔ

It isn't until Zhou Xu is walking up the steps towards Hua Men that he realizes that he accidentally took the booklet with him. He had forgotten all about it as he stormed out of Jianchan. Well, maybe not stormed, more like left decisively. I did not overreact. I should be angry. I have the right to be angry.

The sound of approaching footsteps snaps him out of his irritation. It is the ghosts bringing a new batch of glowing hot coal for the drying process. Immediately perked up, he hurries up towards the pavilion with a slight spring in his steps, the argument gone from his mind for now.

He spends the day hovering over the drying process to keep himself occupied. To keep himself from not opening that booklet. To keep himself from getting angry again. When the night is approaching, Daiyu arrives with his dinner and he finds himself back at his chair and back staring out the window screen. Though, he can barely see anything outside as the surroundings are slowly fading into darkness. The only thing visible are the walkways, due to the flambeaus tracing each of them as they trail off either up or down the mountain side.

((⋋_⋌))

Author's Mini-Theatre:

When Ah-Xu arrives for dinner, he finds the Author is already sitting at the table ready to eat.

Ah-Xu: "You're in my spot."

Author: "But I like this spot."

Ah-Xu: "It's my spot. Move."

Author: "But I can look out the window from here."

Ah-Xu: "Then you can sit there tomorrow during lunch."

Author: "Why during lunch?"

Ah-Xu: "Just move. I always sit here during breakfast and dinner. You'll see more during lunch anyway because the sun is up."

Author: "Then, if the best view is during lunch, why do you always sit here during breakfast and dinner?"

Ah-Xu: "Just move already."

Author: "Oh, look. Isn't that Wen Ke Xing? Is he training? What is he doing? Oh, now he's gone. That was fast...!"

Ah-Xu: "..."

Author: "Okay, Okay, I'll move. Jeez."

Ah-Xu: "Never mind. You can sit there."

Author's Notes:

(1) 'It is pointless to blame past events' Chinese proverb, basically, 'what is done is done', i.e. it is pointless to live a life of regret for things that can't be changed. The English equivalent would be 'forgive and forget'.

(2) Astilbe chinensis, commonly known as false goat's beard, tall false-buck's-beard or Chinese astilbe, is a plant in the saxifrage family. It is commonly grown in shade gardens and can survive without a lot of light. I just made my own version that grows in Ghost Valley.