Man On The Moon

XX

The next day, Vettel and Jingliu stay in Jiaoqiu's house. Seele, Topaz, and Jiaoqiu look over at Vettel and Jingliu, who are engaged in a light-hearted banter. Seele, her face lighting up with a mix of surprised and amused, gasps.

Seele: "Wait a minute, are you guys... married?"

Her question hangs in the air, making Jiaoqiu and Topaz both turn to look at the pair, their expressions a mix of disbelief and intrigue.

Vettel breaks away from his banter with Jingliu, a smirk on his face.

Vettel: "Not yet. But we're engaged."

He wraps an arm around Jingliu's waist, pulling her closer. She leans into him, a soft smile playing on her lips.

Jingliu: "Soon enough, we will be."

Seele's eyes widen in surprise.

Seele: "Engaged? You mean, you guys are going to get married?"

Her disbelief is evident, but there's a hint of excitement in her voice. Jiaoqiu and Topaz remain silent, absorbing the news, but their interest is obvious. Vettel nods, a smile on his face.

Vettel: "Yeah, we're getting married."

He glances over at Jingliu, his eyes filled with love and pride. Jingliu, in turn, rests her hand gently on his, their fingers intertwining. Seele seems to grapple with this information, a range of emotions flitting across her face. Surprise, disbelief, and a hint of amusement. Then, her expression hardens slightly.

Seele: "Jingliu... the legendary Luofu swordmaster? Seriously?"

Vettel laughs softly at his sister's reaction, enjoying her mix of surprise and disbelief.

Vettel: "Yeah, the one and only."

He glances over at Jingliu, a hint of humour in his eyes. Jingliu, for her part, simply smiles and nods, used to the reactions her identity often elicits. Topaz and Jiaoqiu, having remained somewhat silent until now, finally chime in.

Topaz: "Well, well... this is certainly unexpected."

Jiaoqiu chimes in, his voice soft yet filled with curiosity.

Jiaoqiu: "But... I can see it. There's an obvious connection between you two."

Vettel grins at his friends' reactions.

Vettel: "Unexpected, but not surprising. I've been chasing after her for years."

He squeezes Jingliu's waist affectionately, clearly content with the way things have panned out. Jingliu simply blushes slightly, but there's a hint of pride in her eyes. Jingliu speaks up for the first time since the revelation, her tone almost amused.

Jingliu: "Different, yes. But sometimes opposites attract, don't they?"

Her words echo in the room, and a hush falls as everyone processes them. Seele still looks unconvinced, but Topaz and Jiaoqiu can't help but smile. Vettel, his arm still around Jingliu, grins widely.

Vettel: "You said it, my love."

The room is filled with a comfortable quiet, each person seemingly lost in thought, taking this new information to heart. Topaz breaks the silence, her voice soft yet sincere.

Topaz: "I never would've pictured you guys together, but now that I see it... it makes sense. I'm happy for you both."

Jiaoqiu echoes her sentiment, his eyes lighting up.

Jiaoqiu: "Me too. Everyone deserves happiness, and I can see it in your eyes. Congratulations."Seele, still a bit sceptical, grunts in half-hearted acknowledgement. But even she can't hide the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

****

Meanwhile, in another place, Acheron, sitting next to Kafka, is scrolling through her phone when she stumbles upon the news—her younger brother, Vettel, is engaged to the legendary sword master Jingliu. Her eyes widen in bewilderment, and she glances over at Kafka.

Acheron: "You won't believe this..."

Kafka: "What is it?"

Acheron: "Vettel... he's engaged. To Jingliu, the sword master from the Luofu."

Kafka's eyebrows shoot up, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.

Kafka: "Seriously? Your brother is marrying a Luofu swordmaster?"