Chapter Text
A bench scraped against the floor, but Er Yue Hong’s eyes remained fixed in the distance. The click of china, the sound of tea being poured.
“How did you know where I was?”
“I didn’t. I happened to pass by.”
A smile forced its way onto his face. “And you happened to pass by today.”
“Er Yue–”
“Not today, my Lord. Just for today, let me… let me remember.”
Zhang Qishan stood slowly, adjusting his cap.
“It will be worth it,” he said.
The words were swallowed by the click of china.
It was a mix of pity and rage that settled in his chest as he watched the striking figure in military green disappear into the crowd. How many years had it been? How many days? And yet.
The cup of tea sat on the table behind him, untouched. His gaze summoned up a scene from uncountable years ago–but it was an image that refused to appear.
“I had no choice, there was no other way,” he’d once said.
“There’s always a choice,” had been his reply.
Yet, watching that stiffly held retreating back–if he searched his heart of hearts, he knew–but no, not today.
Today, he would remember. Just for today.
The moon had lit the courtyard that night. Zhang Qishan had seemed even taller in the half darkness, his shadow cast across the stones, his profile cast in shadow. Yet, his eyes had been earnest, and it was in that earnestness that Er Yue Hong saw Zhang Qishan’s true self, with all his fears, his doubts, his worries.
It was the faintest of movements with which he’d raised his hand, but it was Zhang Qishan who took the first step.
Yet, as they touched, Er Yue Hong knew that the true first step had been taken by him.
“You think you are wrong.”
“I know I am wrong,” he said, yet he still leaned back into Zhang Qishan’s touch, letting his head fall against his shoulder.
Outside, the storm raged, tearing petals from the branches, the paths littered red. He knew what Zhang Qishan would say, that Yatou would want him to live his life fully, and worse, he knew that he was right.
“Am I wrong?” The words were murmured against the top of his head, settling deep inside his thoughts.
No, he thought. Yes.
“It’s raining hard.”
“Yes,” he said. “It is.”