An unexpected encounter

An unexpected encounter for Maomao

The day was reaching its end, and the sky changing its grayish color to orange and red hues as the last rays of sunlight made their way through the clouds and the window of Jinshi's office. Not a single word was uttered while the aforementioned one was sitting there, bent over his desk and slaving away at the usual mountain of papers, with his aide Gaoshun standing behind him like he usually did.

Jinshi was looking as gorgeous as always, staring with high concentration at the document lying in front of him which he was currently working on, and letting his brush slide over the paper. Like a heavenly nymph straight out of a legend...

...a pale nymph with dark circles around the eyes that made him look as if he hadn't slept for days. Which wasn't exactly a lie.

There was a deep line between Gaoshun's brows, a product of all the worry his young master was causing him. He had repeatedly warned Jinshi neither to slack off work, nor to overdo it, but did that stubborn young man listen to him? Of course not. He just refused to, wanting to get done as much as possible in order to have more free time afterward. Free time to spend around Maomao, without a doubt. Gaoshun sighed. He had already noticed quite some time ago just how much his master livened up every time he was near that girl. As if her presence alone would fill him up with some kind of special energy.

Yes, there was no doubt that Jinshi couldn't live without her anymore. It was just that Gaoshun didn't know whether this was good or bad.

The last sun rays finally left the room, and he lit the lamp.

"Perhaps you should leave this for tomorrow and go to sleep, sir," he tried again. "You could commit mistakes if you cannot focus properly on what you are writing."

"I'm fine," Jinshi objected, without averting his gaze from the document. "Just a bit more. I will be done soon."

He finally looked up at his aide.

"In fact, you can go to bed yourself. I will manage on my own."

"But sir..."

Jinshi waved his hand, as if shooing him away.

"Just go. I will finish in a few minutes, anyway."

Alright, so what other choices did Gaoshun have?

"Very well."

He took a brief bow and left the room, after having cast a last worried look at his master. But, oh well, the latter wasn't a child anymore, so he should be alright.

Being left alone, Jinshi placed the brush on the table, let out something between a sigh and a yawn and rubbed his eyes, trying to gather all the strength he had still left in order to finish that dang paper. Oh, but he was indeed tired. So very tired...

***

The entrance door of the now pitch-dark house opened silently, and a small shadow carefully tiptoed inside, trying to not make any unnecessary noise.

After having looked around and made sure that no one had seen her, Maomao closed the door after herself and resumed her path to her room, hoping that no one had noticed her absence at such a late time. She had absolutely no desire to deal with a lecture, and Jinshi could get quite scary when he was really angry... not to mention Suiren...

She didn't understand what their deal was, she had already gone out a couple of times at night when she couldn't sleep, and nothing had ever happened to her. This wasn't the pleasure district, after all. Somehow, the people here tended to act too overprotective towards her, and she had not the slightest idea why.

It wasn't as if she had intended to stay out so late in the first place, only having needed one single plant for a concoction she was planning to make, but then she had spotted another medicinal herb growing nearby and then another and another, which had made her completely forget about time and come to her senses only when her basket was already full, and it was dark outside. Well, Maomao at collecting herbs was just like a child in a sweets shop, never able to control herself.