My Dress Up Darling

ᴛʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴ

Days had passed since the Qixi festival, and I found myself consumed by frustration over my emotions regarding Cheng.

I couldn't understand why I had been crying and why I felt so much pain. I spent the entire night sobbing like a broken sprinkler before finally falling asleep.

In the following days, I decided to focus on Mr. Han's training, immersing myself in it completely. I could feel myself improving and becoming stronger.

At school, I started tutoring Zhuang, but when he asked me about what had happened, I simply brushed it off and told him that nothing had happened.

He grew silent, probably realizing I was full of it, and we continued our studies without further discussion.

During lunch breaks, I would often see Cheng sitting with Meiying. To avoid any trouble or confrontation, I chose to sit with my other friends or by myself.

Whenever Cheng caught sight of me with Meiying, he would say nasty things, so I made a conscious effort to avoid Meiying and stay out of any conflicts.

Now, Mr. Han and I were on our way to a temple. As we arrived, I was amazed by the sight of numerous stairs leading up to the entrance.

It seemed like a monumental challenge, and with every step I took, I found myself gasping for breath while Mr. Han walked effortlessly beside me, like he was on a Sunday stroll.

"Are we there yet?" I groaned, feeling the strain in my legs with each step. Mr. Han responded with a smile, "Soon." I struggled to keep up, my body aching from the exertion.

Then, in between breaths, I asked, "By the way, how do you say water in Chinese?"

"Shui," he replied.

"Shui," I wheezed, "I really need some shui, Mr. Han. I think I'm going to die," I exclaimed, and he glanced at me before continuing up the stairs. After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the top.

"I'm so thirsty, Mr. Han," I said, looking around and noticing a well in front of me with a kung fu symbol on it. Slowly, I approached the well, and Mr. Han took a sip, then said, "Is this a dragon well?"

"Xiao [name], your challenge is complete. Take a sip from the well. Legend has it that if you drink from it, no one will be able to defeat you," he explained, urging me to try it.

Excitedly, I dipped my face into the well and began drinking like a starved camel in a desert. Suddenly, Mr. Han slapped my shoulder, causing me to look at him in confusion.

"I said take a sip, don't put your face in there," he reprimanded, and I rolled my eyes. "But it's so tasty," I exclaimed, savoring the refreshing water.

"The best water I've ever tasted," Mr. Han added, chuckling. I looked around and noticed a snake perched on the edge of the well.

Curiosity piqued, I slowly approached the snake, observing its movements. Then, I saw a woman near a small window, lifting her foot and catching the snake's attention.

The snake seemed to follow her every move, and I couldn't help but stare in astonishment. Sensing my bewilderment, Mr. Han joined me at the window.

"What is she doing, Mr. Han?" I asked, my eyes still fixed on the woman, trying to memorize her every posture.

"That woman is demonstrating the art of slicing through water, calm and composed," he explained, as we continued observing her.

"So, the snake mirrors her actions, just like still water," I mused, fascinated by the woman's serene expression.