Plum Blossoms Has Disappeared

Li Hua thought twice about Su Fanlang's invite. It would be very satisfying to see the plum blossoms used to make such sweet wine, but at the very same time, Li Hua also had a reason to say no. Actually, she felt that she had a reason, but she didn't know the reason.

It was stuck at the tip of her tongue.

She was indecisive and as such, she eyed at Aunt Shui to help her decide.

Noting Li Hua's eyes, Shui decided that it was better for her to not go out.

"Fanlang, Li'er is still very young. I don't support the idea of her going out at this small age. When Li'er has grown to think much better, she can make the decisions on whether she will visit the blossoms with you."

Su Fanlang understood her meaning. Li Hua has been guarded by Shui for 15 years now and all decisions has been made by Shui. She had never once tried to make a decision for herself, so her decisions now may end up hurting her.

Although, he still felt hurt from an indirect rejection.

After the dinner, Su Fanlang left the Qi house and Li Hua stared out of the window, looking at the distance. Li Hua's thoughts as of now were unknown, just as always.

When Shui walked into Li Hua's room, she could feel the loneliness emanate from the girl's body. Shui thought to herself, "How could someone handle being trapped away unknown to the world since the day of birth? Of course you would be lonely."

At the same time, she could see that Li Hua was sketching something on a sheet of blank paper. It was magnifying how someone could stare off into space and yet, take up a skill. Just from this action, Shui knew that Li Hua was truly a pure-blooded lady of the Feng and Tang house.

Both of them were known for their greatness. Too bad such a thing occurred... Li Hua thought.

Whilst staring at the mountains covered by thick white fog, Li Hua was drawing. What she drew was like a prediction of the future. Sometimes it would be about the past.

Some would probably think that she was drawing what she was staring at, but she was drawing something different from her thoughts. Something different from the mountains far away that looked to be so calm.

While she was thinking how much she wished to leave this prison, she was staring at the birds that seemed to fly away from the mountain far away. While her thoughts her were in one place, her hands was drawing a garden.

It was very finely detailed and in the garden of which was full of alstroemeria and amaryllis that stood along the red painted wood beams, a shadow belonged there.

Many days passed by just like always and Li Hua continued just like always. Nothing was different. At least it did not seem like there was nothing different.

"Auntie Shui... I have a request."

"Go ahead."

"I want to make decisions for myself. I want to see the evilness of the world with my own eyes and also the beauty of it."

Shui stared at the girl in front of her. She was tongue-tied. At this moment, she didn't know how to respond to the girl's determined eyes.

"Li'er, have I been a bad mother-figure to you?"

"No."

"Have I been neglecting you of some sort?"

"No."

"Then, why would you want to leave from this nest? Li'er... In this world, there is no one more willing to protect you more than your Aunt Shui here, so why do you want to leave?"

"Because... I don't want to remain oblivious to the world. I don't want to lie to myself everyday to satisfy the needs of others."

After saying this, Li Hua knew that her sentence came out wrong.

Shui stared at Li Hua in shock and surprise only. Shui never knew that the smile she always showed to her was nothing more than to succeed in making her reassured. She was hurt to say the least.

"I'm very sorry! I didn't mean it to come out that way... I just-... Uh... I-" Li Hua was trying to figure how to word it in order to not hurt Shui's feelings.

Seeing the girl stammer, Shui could only sigh. "Never mind me. I have been greedy for the past few years."

As if this was her sign of resignation, she left the room. Li Hua was happy to leave this stalemate, but she was sad at the same time.

She was raised by Shui and had never had felt anyone's warmth more than Shui's. Unfortunately, Li Hua knew she meant for more. She had always known that there was something out there in the world waiting for her.

She didn't know what it was, but she knew that it was warm and cozy like a fox's fur.

Li Hua then threw her emotions aside and started to pack things she thought she might need. Some of the things may be unnecessary, but you never knew what could happen out there. So her pack that she had sewn herself was full of many items.

Such were dry foods, extra warm clothing, a blanket, a small knife, lighter and the list goes on and on. Her bag could only be thankful that it was sewn with a thick and stretchy fabric.

As the sun set, Li Hua was getting prepared. When the moon had come out, she left the house with everyone sleeping. The only exception being of Shui.

Li Hua didn't say goodbye to Uncle Qi, nor did she say anything to Shui other than leaving a letter with the words, "I know it doesn't seem fair, but I'll send you a letter when I get there."

Nobody knew what "there" was. Not even the person who wrote it, but the word had some power into it of which made it seem like a big goal.

As the night shifted into morning, the only thing from the house being heard was a woman's wailing voice coming after a man's scream of shock.

"Shui! Li'er disappeared! I saw this on her window side! Read it!"

Uncle Qi handed the letter to Shui, to see her drown herself in tears. It's been 15 years since he last saw her cry... Was his thought.