PETALS OF DECEIT: UNDER THE FORBIDDEN BLOSSOM

LOTUS SEED PANCAKE.

CHAPTER 4.

"The night is beautiful today...I wanted to watch" while she glanced at the snowy mood in the sky, Meiqing replied nonchalantly with low voice at Liu Yan's question. Then she sat down against the large tree trunk and pulled her one knee up. her forearm immediately resting on her knee.

Liu Yan took a short glance at the sky and then averted his gaze back to Meiqing before he took time to settle next to her. With intentions to accompany her through her sky gazing.

"qing'er,  then let me stay and watch with you"

Meiqing's head twisted to meet Liu Yan's gaze on her with a mischievous smile on his face.
She returned a barely noticeable, well composed smile, approvingly "All right."

"Eh!...I brought you something" Liu Yan spoke, while already dipping his hand inside his clothes. He drew his hand back with something wrapped in a bronze paper. He was wearing a white and red robe, and a narrow thin mo-er decorated by a pearl jade stone was wrapped around his forehead, matching his clothes.

"What is it?" Meiqing was suddenly eager to find out, her eyes held tint of curiosity. Even though her face remained hostile.

She unwrapped the parcel, only for her eyes to sparkle in delight. A gentle smile couldn't help but appear on her lips. Liu Yan had bought her favourite treat.

"I asked the kitchen to make it a little more sweeter. Try it!" Liu Yan's eyes were holding a smile, and so was his face. He was deep down patting himself on the back for the job well done. He was the only one who knew that Meiqing as hostile, tough and strong as she was, she had a sweet tooth.

"Yua'er, you always remember to bring me lotus seed pancakes" her voice came out gently, her gaze looking over at Liu Yan.

Liu Yan and Meiqing's relationship was on a tight level. She was thankful to have someone like him to call a brother. He was someone she could count on. He was always there for her with open arms when she needed a hug and an open mind when she needed someone to understand. She could be herself without worry around Liu Yan. He knew her qualities and her faults, but he never mistreated her nor treated her unfairly.

They grew up together after all. Side by side they learned to rely on each other. They shared a lot in common, they were both once bullied and treated as outcasts in the Pavilion. Liu Yan was once bullied by the other disciples for being the only male figure in the Pavilion among so many girls. One sunny day, Meiqing stood up for him when Sun Li, the top bully had encouraged the other girls to gang up on Liu Yan and beat him to a palp. Meiqing acted without much thought and came to the rescue, shielded Liu Yan from the beating with her body. But they did not stop, the beating was landing on Meiqing's back. From there on, Meiqing and Liu Yan's friendship began.

"The girls were eating like wild beasts. I feared, if I didn't save you a slice, you wouldn't have any. Turns out they also like Locus seed pancakes" a proud smile didn't go unnoticed on his face. Liu Yan was a kind young man, calm and free spirited.

"Thank you!" Meiqing ruffled his hair while smiling warmly at him. She was a year older than him. Therefore, she treated him like a little brother.

"I told you to stop doing that, I'm not a little boy anymore!" He pouted while fixing his hair. He loved it when Meiqing called him 'brother', although that came with a treatment of a young brother. He saw himself as the elder one between them. He always said he was older than Meiqing, although he knew that he was born later than Meiqing.

"You do remember what Master said-"

"Aiya! Stop it! stop it!. I know what Master said, you are older than me Senior. Now eat the pancake before it turns completely cold" his face folded in anticipation as he waited for Meiqing to finally take that one bite and tell him, how it tasted.