The divination commission has hired a new jade abacus engineer to maintain their Matrix of Prescience, a new maintainer. As a reward for doing a great first job, Fu Xuan decides to give him a divination, but the divination goes awry as the vision it...
I stood there. The door taunted me: the master diviner Fu Xuan, head of the Divination Commission. My hands reached forward, knocking on the hard wood. High Elder Bailu? I've come to seek your... guidance.
"Diviner Fu? I will not listen to another 2 hour lecture about proper conduct! I'll fall asleep before I make any of the medicine for my clients."
No... I'm here looking for a remedy.
"A remedy? That's rare. You never get sick."
High Elder of the Vidyadharans, Bailu. A master of medicine, able to cure even the mara-struck. Surely something like this is a piece of cake for her, right?
The high elder prepared tea and sat me down.
"So what's your problem? The great Bailu can cure you of anything! Anything but shortness... I've been struggling with that myself."
She stood in front of me, head held high and chest puffed out, boasting.
Well, it all started when I gave an employee a divination as a reward...
I recounted everything that had happened during my divination of the maintainer's future, down to the part at the end where we- where he kissed me... Even though it was just a vision, I could still feel his breath tickling my nose, and the feeling of his hand on my cheek was still warm.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"YOU DID WHAT?! This is why you don't give personal divinations!"
Well he- he did such a good job, I thought it'd be fine just this once!
"I was worried when you opened your mouth and you weren't using big words for once, but I didn't know it was this serious..." I'm afraid I might not be able to work with him anymore, even though he is such a skilled maintainer... Every time I walk by him, my heart starts pounding and I have to avert my eyes. Every time I look at his face I remember it being so close in the divination and my face grows hot... Do you know what's wrong with me, High Elder Bailu?
"Calling me High Elder won't get you special treatment, Fu. I've only read about it in books, but I think you've got a case of either love, lust, or both." L- Love? Lust?! That can't be! I admit he's a little cute but, surely not...
I could feel the blood rush to my face as my hands raised to hide my flush expression.
"Well, to be honest I don't think you have much to worry about. Before the divination you didn't feel anything for him right? And everyone knows that personal divinations are also the most inaccurate, so really, it shouldn't take you long to forget about him and return to normal..."
She was right. Why didn't I realize that? I am the Master Diviner Fu Xuan! Next in line for the general's seat! Something like this can't stump me!
"But to think that Diviner Fu might have the hots for her lackey... hehe."
And just like that, all my hard-earned willpower crumpled into a hot pool of embarrassment. Stop teasing me!
"It's revenge for all the times you put me to sleep with your lectures, Fu."
Is there anything I can take to at least make it bearable to look him in the face?
"I don't know, I've never dealt with anything like this before... Maybe exposure therapy?" I'd die from embarrassment!! I can barely speak a word to him, let alone hang out!
"Haha, who knew the Diviner Fu could act so cute. Imagine if Qingque saw you like this. Alright, how about this special herbal tea for relaxation? I have some every time Jing- General Jing Yuan ticks me off. It works wonders!"
After shuffling through a series of cupboards, her iconic tail swinging back and forth, she finally found the bag of tea leaves and handed it over to me.
Thank you Bailu. I'll try this and get back to you.
***
Alright, today is the day I overcome maintainer! Down goes the tea...! It was fresh and a little minty, with a slightly bittersweet aftertaste. I do certainly feel much more relaxed.
I am currently in my office in the commission. I made sure to have 2 extra servings of the tea just in case before I headed out for my regular inspection. I tried to make sure I supervised everyone equally, but perhaps out of anticipation, excitement or that... love thing, my eyes kept looking for him, for maintainer.
It wasn't long until I found him. He was talking to little Huixing, tending to the Matrix of Prescience Ultima with her. His back was so wide as he aligned the nodes and operated on it- I mean uh, he was clearly very skilled at his job. Yes.
I began walking towards him, one step at a time. My heart was at a perfect standstill. Slowly and steadily. The tea was working! My eyes stared straight forward, ready to face down any challenge. I'm sure that even if the maintainer were to grab me right now and kiss me on the cheek, i'd be able to withstand it!
"Ah, Diviner Fu! Long time no see-"
Eek~!
...I hid. He suddenly turned around and looked straight at me, waving with a smile like he doesn't know how much anguish he has caused me! And so I hid behind the nearest wall and pretended I wasn't there. How shameful...
I took a little peek from behind the wall. He looked a little puzzled, but otherwise went back to work. It's almost as if he wasn't curious about me at all, like he doesn't care! That shouldn't bother me at all, but why does it make me feel so... sad?
...Clearly the tea Bailu gave me was faulty. What was that other remedy she recommended? Exposure therapy? Yes that was it. At this point I've got no choice, I can't keep going like this. I slap both my cheeks at the same time, clearing my head of unnecessary thoughts. Out of sight, out of mind! Alright, here goes nothing!
