《Legend of the Phoenix》: Ao Xingyuan Fanmade Dates

Housewarming

It has been a few days since you moved into your new mansion. With the help of Pu Liu, you were able to get basic furnishings for your mansion including a bed, bathtub, tables, and ample potted plants and lanterns.

However, when looking around the space, you still felt something was missing. Although the Imperial Wood furniture was all gorgeous, you felt your mansion lacked something... unique.

As if on cue, a knock came to your front door just as you were pondering how to spruce up the mansion.

When you went to answer it, you were greeted by a tall man holding several large purple boxes, their contents a mystery. You crane your neck upwards to see the handsome face of the box holder.

Me: Xingyuan!! Wow, I wasn't expecting guests so early. What brings you here?

Ao Xingyuan: I heard you were moving into your new place, and ever since have been preparing housewarming gifts for you. I... I hope you like them!

Me: Oh, so that's what's in these boxes? Wow, you really prepared a lot for me. You didn't carry those all the way over... did you? I hope the journey here wasn't too difficult.

Ao Xingyuan: Not at all, it was no trouble. The excitement of bringing these to you overwhelmed the difficulty of the journey.

Me: Silly, you should've gotten a carriage or something to come here in. Quickly come in and sit down! Those boxes look really heavy.

Ao Xingyuan nodded and smiled, and began walking towards the door. He was so focused on coming inside and showing you all his gifts that he didn't even realize the door was too short—or rather, he was too tall.

With a loud, solid "thump", Ao Xingyuan hit his forehead right into the top of the doorframe.

Ao Xingyuan: Ow! That hurt...

Me: 【Approaches him】Are you okay?!

Ao Xingyuan: 【Rubbing his forehead】I'll be fine just... ow.

Me: 【Reaches up to help rub his forehead】You fool, be more careful! If you keep this up, you won't be Ao Xingyuan anymore, you'll be Ow Xingyuan.

You look up at Xingyuan, laughing wholeheartedly at your joke despite the throbbing pain on his forehead. It was only when you could barely reach his forehead even on tip toes that you realized how tall he was.

Even without the long dragon horns on the top of his head, he still wouldn't be able to fit through the door.

Me: Man, I guess I should've waited a bit longer to build the mansion... Who knew the door frame would be this much too short?

Ao Xingyuan: Don't worry about me, I'll just watch my head every time I come to visit. Anyways, I'm so excited to show you what I brought!! So excited that apparently I wasn't paying attention to where I was going...

You giggle at his remark as he ducks down to fit through the door frame, setting the several boxes down with a thud and a sigh of relief.

As he bent down to open the first box, you got a clear view of his tail, which he had fully unfurled in all its glory. It had been a while since you've seen it up close.

Me: You've brought out your tail, Xingyuan. What a rare occasion.

Ao Xingyuan: Yeah erm... Because you always say you want to touch it and see it.

Ao Xingyuan: Go ahead and touch it while I unpack everything, it's going to take a while.

You blush slightly at Ao Xingyuan's thoughtful and heartwarming gesture, and reach out to stroke his tail. In response, the tail swished back and forth like that of a dog's, as if it welcomed your touch.

Unbeknownst to either of you, as Ao Xingyuan got up from his bent over position, his tail swished a little bit *too* vigorously, swiftly knocking a vase off the nearby table and straight onto the stone floor.

With a series of shattering noises, the vase broke into multiple pieces.

Me: Xingyuan! We just discussed how you should be more careful! This vase was one of the antiques I bought from that scammy merchant! At barely any discount too...

Ao Xingyuan: Ahh! I'm so sorry... I...

Ao Xingyuan: 【Retrieves a blue vase from his box】Erm well... I've brought you some vases as well. Out with the old, in with the new? I guess?

Watching Ao Xingyuan chuckle nervously and try to salvage the situation, you found yourself unable to stifle your smile despite the shattered vase. You approach him and take the blue vase from his hands, observing it more closely.

The vase is a vibrant blue colour, akin to the shimmering ocean, and the slight white marbling in it reminded you of a gentle tide. There was even a cute porcelain starfish attached near the top of the vase.

Me: Well I gotta say Xingyuan, the new vase is quite gorgeous. And... since it's from you, it's many times more precious than the one you broke.

Ao Xingyuan: 【Eyes lighting up with relief】Really? You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?

Me: Not at all! I love this vase, Xingyuan. I hope you brought multiple.

Ao Xingyuan: 【Beaming, he reaches into the box and pulls two more out, one in each hand】I bought as many as I could afford! I'm so glad you like them.

Me: I love them! I really like ocean themed objects. Let me see what else you've brought!

Ao Xingyuan: Bedding, a vanity, lanterns, and some rocking chairs... I brought everything I could carry! There's also some tiles I ordered, and a bathtub! I bought everything I could think of.

Me: Wow, really!? Thank you Xingyuan!! That's so thoughtful of you.

Me: With that much furniture, we could decorate an entire room of the mansion with it all!

Ao Xingyuan: 【He leans in and speaks in a low voice, nearly a whisper】That was exactly my thoughts. A room we decorate together, that belongs exclusively to us. If you know what I mean.