Blood Bonds And Golden Ties

Chapter 14: I Owe You

[Luo Xiao Zhao]

Xiao Zhao had been eating a while when he asked the man, "What's your name?"

"Fang Han Jun."

"You kept saying it was your fault he died. Who is he?"

Xiao Zhao looked at Han Jun but he merely looked at the ground.

"Fine, you don't have to answer. But I'm guessing he was very important to you." Xiao Zhao glanced at Han Jun.

He nodded. "He was very important to me...he...sacrificed himself for me. We've known each other since we were kids. I see him as a brother. I once told him I would protect him but..." Han Jun buried his face in his sleeves. His voice trailed off. "I am so useless," he whispered.

Xiao Zhao sighed and put down the chopsticks. He walked over to Han Jun and sat down on his bed. "I'm sorry for your loss. Jié āi. I have lost someone I knew too. It's okay to be down for a bit, but you have to keep living. You can't let your brother's sacrifice be for nothing, so you must continue living." He put his hand on Han Jun's shoulder.

Han Jun met Xiao Zhao's eyes and said, "You're right. I can't just let his sacrifice mean nothing. I must live on." He straightened his shoulders. "I want to eat." He stood up and strode to the table. Sitting down, he picked up a pair of chopsticks. However, before eating, he wiped his bowl, the chopsticks, and the outside of all the other bowls.

Xiao Zhao was fascinated by this behavior and yet felt disdain. "You think my bowls are dirty?"

Han Jun glanced up. "Oh, no, I didn't mean to offend you. I just have this habit that I must clean everything before I use it. Don't mind me."

Xiao Zhao eyed the fish. He reached for it, but his sleeve fell into the food. Han jun grabbed his sleeve and pulled it upward. The mutilated petal shown. Xiao Zhao snatched his sleeve away, sliding the sleeve down, covering the scar. "Don't touch me."

Han Jun looked at Xiao Zhao strangely. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Xiao Zhao asked uncomfortably.

Han Jun shook his head, but the rest of the meal, he kept staring at Xiao Zhao's arm.

When Han Jun had lain down on the bed to sleep, Xiao Zhao rolled out his mat and also lay down. He turned his back to Han Jun.

In the darkness, Xiao Zhao said, "Tomorrow, you will be well enough to go on your way. We will part ways and both walk our own paths. May we never see each other again."

Instead of an answer, he heard snoring. He shook his head and sighing, he closed his eyes.

The next day, after they had eaten, Xiao Zhao picked up his bags and was about to leave.

"Hey wait. Where are you going?" Han Jun asked as he put his arm up across the doorway to block Xiao Zhao.

"None of your business? Get out of my way. You're already healed. We can both go our separate ways," Xiao Zhao said as he tried to move past him.

This time, Han Jun used his whole body to block the doorway. "I'm afraid we can't separate yet."

"Why?"

"You saved my life and I'm not a wàng ēn fù yì de rén."

"What wàng ēn fù yì person? The best way you can show your gratitude is by leaving me alone," Xiao Zhao said as he roughly pushed Han Jun aside.

"Wait up!" Han Jun called as he followed Xiao Zhao who was quickly striding away.

When he had caught up, he walked beside Xiao Zhao while also trying to talk to him. "Xiao Zhao, can you please slow down?"