Author's note: OMG how many times can I apologize for being slow at updating in one fic? T.T I'm really sorry about my lack of motivation for these months for writing. I really will try to finish this fic soon this time.
Qingti is a successful general: strong and brave, loyal, with a high status, and good-looking. His admirers lined the streets every time he made a victorious return, if only to get a glimpse of him as he rode off towards the palace. His valiant and refreshing figure on horseback, and his confident and radiant smile made it seem like he could have any girl he wanted easily... well, any girl but Xiaojiu, it seemed.
He could still be in Chengyu, serving his rightful duty as general and continuing his life normally, but instead here he was, in a small town he didn't even know the name of, running away with the woman who is not in love with him. The best that could happen was acceptance, not reciprocation; even now as he held onto Xiaojiu, he was holding her wrist, and not her hand.
Finally, Qingti and Xiaojiu had weaved through the crowd of people and made it to the dress shop. On display were dresses of all different styles and colours: some brightly shimmering, others more humble and muted in colour, but when taken off the rack and worn by a girl, they still would make her shine: that's what Qingti thought as he looked at the array of dresses and the girl in front of him.
Xiaojiu made a b-line for a purple dress that was displayed near the front. The deep purple colour of the fabric matched perfectly with the gemstones on her hairpiece, and even the pale yellow embroidery on the front of it matched with the platinum of the hairpiece. It was like the dress and hairpiece were made for each other, even someone who knew nothing about fashion like Qingti could see that. Xiaojiu smiled as she took the dress and put it over her body in front of the mirror. As she looked at it and stroked the intricate embroidery on it, she looked genuinely in love with the dress. Yes, no matter the cost of it, Qingti would buy it for her; they were leaving the small town tomorrow anyway, so it would be one of the last things he could buy for her from the Girl's Day festival. If one day he and Xiaojiu parted, which he figured was inevitable, would she think of him when she spots this dress in her wardrobe?
Xiaojiu looked at the dress and all the amazing fine details on it, running her fingers over the premium embroidery threads, the soft golden tassels that hung along the bottom of the dress, and the gauze fabric on the sleeves. She loved this dress, and though she smiled looking at it, her smile was not as wide as it could've been. This dress must be very expensive, she thought, but she knew Qingti wouldn't complain about buying it at all. Did she really deserve to be spoiled by him like this? Since their arrival in the town, there wasn't much she had done for him, but he still treated her like a princess. And her backfire wasn't something that could just go away if she wanted it to. At this point, she did want to stay with Qingti. If not for her backfire, maybe her one-sided feelings for Xuanren could really be labelled as futile. What was the point of chasing someone who didn't want her, when there is someone who loves her right next to her? If she physically could stay with Qingti, would she consider staying with him for the rest of her life, and even change her last name to his? Xiaojiu's hand stopped moving along the embroidery of a magpie on the dress. At the very least...when she went back to the immortal realm, she would have this dress, and this hairpiece, right? Maybe in the future when she opens her wardrobe and spots this dress, she would think of him.
Qingti looked fondly upon Xiaojiu and her dress, though there was some sadness in his eyes. As he was watching her, he wondered what she was thinking, especially when her hand paused over a certain part of the dress for a moment before she continued stroking it.
"Have you seen this girl or this man?"
The harsh and deep male voice from a short distance away caught Qingti's attention out of all the mixed chatter of the festival. He looked. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw a person holding a large scroll of paper, who had a familiar looking uniform on. Was it...
Qingti diverted his attention away from Xiaojiu and scanned the surrounding area. They were everywhere, and he would recognize the uniform anywhere...these were people dispatched from the palace. He knew there was no escape even if they ran now, so what else could he do? It was as if he could see the last few grains of sand in the hourglass falling down the narrow pipe towards the bottom right before his very eyes. His dream of life with Xiaojiu outside of Chengyu seemed to be coming to an end. In the state of half consciousness that comes before awakening, one last thing should be done, so that when he wakes up from the dream, it isn't filled with regret. Determined, he took confident steps towards and grabbed the girl looking in the mirror by her shoulders; the girl who was oblivious that the last grain of sand in the hourglass was about to fall.
"Xiaojiu... I-"
The look on his face as Xiaojiu looked at him told her that something was wrong, even if he didn't say a word. Lowering the dress from across her shoulders, she finally saw the situation at hand. For her, it seemed this was all a dream, it was all imaginary and meant to be forgotten some hours after awakening. The only sequel to this dream would be the slim chance of deja vu.
"There! I think I see them!"
The same harsh male voice, which was louder and nearer than the last time he spoke, called out. Despite their attempts to blend in with the crowd, wearing the same style of clothes and everything, it was all in vain now. The shrill call of the man called the attention of all the other surrounding uniformed men, and they all charged in Qingti and Xiaojiu's direction as worried townspeople watched helplessly.
Xiaojiu thought the look on Qingti's face as he looked into her eyes was very pitiful. "I'm so sorry, for putting you in such a dangerous situation," she thought to herself, though the words couldn't come out of her mouth, and all she could do was gently put her hand on his arm, as a futile attempt at comforting him. The gaze Qingti gave her as the palace guards neared was not only helpless and sorrowful, but she could also feel a burn of passion in it. She knew him well enough to be able to detect this, but yet couldn't figure out the reasoning until it hit her.
The reason was this; Qingti's last actions in his dream, taking advantage of the half conscious state before awakening. Because while in this state, one is not completely sane yet. The lawless nature of dreams allows one's true desires to be displayed, even moments before waking. Knowing they were about to get caught, Qingti couldn't help himself. Grasping her shoulders, with her directly facing him, he leaned in and kissed her.
The palace guards, who had mostly gathered, some with drawn swords, nearly dropped their weapons along with their jaws that practically hit the ground. Not only were they here as General Ye's former subordinates to arrest him and forcefully bring him back to Chengyu, but now they had to witness this event that nobody was prepared for. It would be a fair bet to say even Qingti wasn't ready for this.
As his eyes closed, Xiaojiu's eyes opened wider. What was happening!? So this was what his gaze meant, she realized. Subconsciously, she squeezed his arm tighter. She didn't have the heart to push him away, but she also couldn't kiss him back. With no other ideas, she closed her eyes and just let him continue, standing completely still. Perhaps, after all this time, this was all she could do for him.
"What are you guys doing, just standing there? Did we hire a bunch of useless palace guards!? GO GET THEM!!" The same sharp male voice yelled at the circle of palace guards that surrounded Xiaojiu and Qingti who were just watching in pure shock. The ear-piercing yells of the man made Qingti instinctively pull away from Xiaojiu and draw his sword which hung by his waist. His eyes were so intense it seemed that fervent flames burned in them, and it was clear that he was ready to fight all the palace guards. It wasn't like he had no chance to win, but still, he was even willing to fight his former subordinates...all for what?
Xiaojiu didn't want this outcome. There were so many guards and only one of him, what use was getting hurt if the chances of winning were so small?
"Qingti, no..." she whispered, wrapping her hand around his wrist gently. As she touched him with such tenderness, the sword in Qingti's hand faltered. It was the first time Xiaojiu touched him so earnestly, and it subconsciously affected him. He knew she didn't want him to fight, and lifelessly dropped the sword to the ground.
"If we're going to die, I'll die with you." His words hung in the silent air. Qingti held his two hands out in front of him. He was allowing himself to be captured. This was the first time Xiaojiu saw him being vulnerable, and all it took was one touch of her hand and two words from her mouth.
YOU ARE READING
Affectionate Dream ✔
FanfictionWhere did it all go wrong? Was it when he sent that letter, and told her there was an escape? Or was it even earlier, when he held the Cotton Rose cream gently in his two hands, deep in thought? Or perhaps, were things already not meant to be from t...
