Yuxuan (REMASTERED)

Chapter Nineteen

I was brought out of my thoughts the moment we arrived back to the tribe. We were both bombarded by the men and women. They all kept trying to speak with Yuxuan.

These were moments I wish I could understand what they were saying.

I was dragged away from Yuxuan abruptly by the women. I barely had the chance to register what was happening before the women yanked off my clothes and began washing me.

"Hey! What are you— Oi!" I gasped when I felt the cloth Feng used brushed around an area in a way I wasn't at all comfortable with. "Stop it!"

No matter how many times I tried yanking my arms and legs away, they were very rough with me and kept me in place. I wondered what was going through their minds.

Bei discarded my clothes. Then she brought me a longer garment made of plant fiber. As they dressed me in different clothes, the garment felt extremely itchy. It covered my entire front, both chest and lower region.

There were straps that Bei tied to secure it around my back. Feng motioned Shu over, whose arms were full of flowers. Then she began decorating my hair with them.

I felt one of the women, I think her name was Lin smear something on my face. She was holding a bowl of red liquid, using her thumb to glaze the substance on my cheeks and forehead.

My arms were painted in the substance as well.

They were dressing me up for something important. Usually, whenever they washed and dressed up, it wasn't this much work. Why were they using so much of their efforts to do this?

I wished I could ask them why.

Feng pushed me forward. I was guided to the middle of the camp. There, near the pots and bowls of various food items, I saw Yuxuan standing dressed in similar attire. He was talking with Feng's husband and he was very focused on their conversation too.

When they spotted me, Yuxuan was shoved forward. I noticed that his lower region was completely covered. He had weaved cloth wrapped around his waist and topped with a heavier skirt of animal skin. There was a thick belt holding up both wraps.

Sheng wrapped a cloth around his head and placed a necklace full of teeth and beads over his shoulder.

When we were forced to stand side by side, I realized what was happening.

It was a wedding. The tribe had thrown us a surprise wedding.

I was very shocked. But when I looked at Yuxuan, I noticed that he was very calm and collected. Maybe the wedding was a surprise for me.

It wasn't until he turned to face me and played with the gift of the carving around my neck that I understood it was an engagement totem. I didn't at first, because he gave it to me so subtly.

But now that I knew, I could see why he thought I accepted him so willingly. Yuxuan grabbed me by my face and pressed his forehead against mine.

"Alex..."

"Yuxuan, I can't..." I huffed. This was the worst possible timing. I let our act go on for too long. I wish I had known so I could've rejected the proposal before he planned all of this. "I can't do this..."

I pulled away from him, and he yanked me back toward his chest. "Yuxuan! Let me go!"

"No,"

"Unhand me!" I narrowed my eyes.

I felt very horrible about the words I was going to say next. "Yuxuan! Release me! I won't marry you! I can't marry you! I don't want to!"

"Why?" His voice faltered. I never taught him that word. His question made me think.