Where Passion takes Root

Chapter 2

The next morning Shen Qingqiu woke up feeling unnaturally relaxed. His sleep had for once been rather undisturbed. He had dreamt a little, but there were no nightmares. Even though he was unable to recall just what he had dreamt, it felt like it had been something very nice. It was an understatement to say that such an occurrence was rare. It was more true to say that it had never happened before.

Though Shen Qingqiu denied that it might have anything to do with the way he fell asleep the night before, since now he had the opportunity to think about it objectively, it was undeniable that it may have something to do with where he had slept. Well, the house was built safer and the bed was more comfortable. Yes, that was a suitable excuse.

Thinking about the whole previous day now, Shen Qingqiu did think that he had been behaving rather strangely after all. Now that he had a bit of distance he even felt ashamed about his reactions. Feeling that now he was very reflected and calm, Shen Qingqiu got out of bed, noticing that his body was in a way better state this morning, though he should change the dressing on the back of his neck.

Just when he had decided that today he should be fine and that there was no more reason for him to think or feel weird stuff there was a quiet knock on his door. Thinking it was probably Yue Qingyuan, his heart immediately gave a jump. Feeling extremely disappointed in himself, Shen Qingqiu told the man to come inside.

The small smile Yue Qingyuan entered with quickly turned a bit brighter when he saw that Shen Qingqiu looked well rested. In his hands he was carrying a few pieces of folded clothing, their origin Shen Qingqiu's closet, judging by the color. He placed them on the bed and then he greeted the other.

"Good morning, I hope you slept well," he said, "I went to get you a couple of clothes this morning, I hope you don't mind that I went to your closet... It's just that I thought you wouldn't want to go back like this and maybe I shouldn't send a disciple, so–"

"Thank you," Shen Qingqiu just said, feeling overwhelmed by the amount of thoughtfulness again.

"I'll...urm...I'll wait outside until you're dressed," Yue Qingyuan said, going right back out the door while saying that.

Shen Qingqiu frowned a little. Normally someone would not be leaving the room just because another person was changing. At least not if they were both men. But well, Yue Qingyuan was being forthcoming again. And Shen Qingqiu did have to say, he may have felt a bit embarrassed after all. For whatever reason.

When he was done, he went out of the room to see Yue Qingyuan leaning on the wall by the door, looking at his feet quietly. He quickly looked up though once he saw that Shen Qingqiu had finished getting dressed.

"You need to help me redo the dressing on my wound," Shen Qingqiu said, not waiting for Yue Qingyuan to say anything about how he could also have come back in to save Shen Qingqiu the trouble.

"Of course, I will look for bandages immediately," Yue Qingyuan said, walking off right away.

Shen Qingqiu just walked after him looking at the thing Yue Qingyuan was carrying in his hand. Only when Yue Qingyuan tried to use the hand to open up a cabinet he also realized that he was still holding it and he turned around quickly, giving the thing to Shen Qingqiu who was already expectantly waiting for his fan.

"I found this by your bed, so I...brought it with me," Yue Qingyuan explained.

Shen Qingqiu nodded, fumbling with his fan, feeling somehow glad to have it with him too.

"I also picked up your clothes when I was at it. Put them with your laundry."

"Hm," Shen Qingqiu replied, fanning himself. He didn't really mind that much. He was just confused that Yue Qingyuan would do so much for him. He was the sect leader, yet he treated him instead like he was the higher ranked one. Sure, they were friends and the man had always kind of been doing things for him when they were younger, but had living as the head of this sect really not made Yue Qingyuan feel a little, even a tiny bit more above that? He could easily have asked a disciple to get the things, that was true and he could also just have asked someone else to cook for them the day before, but he had done it himself. The sect leader standing in the kitchen, perhaps getting his uniform dirty. How ridiculous.