A Perfect Day to Swim

"Miss Bai!"

Xuxian listened to the echoes of his voice. He turned, scanning the landscape anxiously.

The rock ledge was empty. He realized, with a twinge of anxiety, that he had no idea where else to look for her. If she were not here, he did not know where to find her.

"Miss Bai?"

He waited, hopefully. A small black bird hopped out of the grass and looked at him with bright eyes, cocking its head on one side.

Xuxian stared back at it for a while, then took a deep breath. "I will wait here for her, that is all. She will come. I'm sure she will come eventually."

He set down his basket and found himself a comfortable spot to sit down on. The little black bird hopped closer with a hopeful expression as he took out a small bundle and unwrapped it to check on the baos inside. It strutted boldly up to him and pecked at the handkerchief.

Xuxian smiled. "No, none for you. I made these for her. Perhaps you can have the crumbs later, though."

As he folded back the handkerchief, the black bird backed away with a nervous chirp as Suzhen came up softly behind him.

She watched him for a while, with a new tenderness in her eyes, and suddenly pounced on his shoulders. "I smell food! What did you make for me today?"

"Miss Bai, you came!" Xuxian's face lit up.

Bai Suzhen sank down besides him in the grass. "Of course I came. Did you wait long for me?"

She reached out for the bundle eagerly but Xuxian whisked it out of her hand with a glint in his eye.

"You haven't even greeted me yet. I think you're only interested in the food I make for you."

Bai laughed. Springing to her feet, she made a low bow. "Bai Suzhen greets Physician Xuxian," she said demurely.

Her eyes glimmered as she raised her head. "Now, are you satisfied?"

Xuxian had to smile. "Yes. Sit down, then." He held out his hand to her.

The little black bird watched them warily from behind a rock as they unfolded the bundle together and Suzhen gave a cry of pleasure. "You made baos?"

"Well, I bought these on my way. I thought you must be tired of eating the pancakes that I make."

Xuxian took the bao from her hands and tore it into half, letting the steam escape in curling wisps. He blew on it carefully and handed it back to her. "Don't burn yourself. It's still very hot."

She chewed and swallowed thoughtfully. "It's very good," she said at last, and then unexpectedly she reached out and touched his cheek in a caressing gesture. "But I like your pancakes better."

Xuxian felt himself flush, and he hastily busied himself with wrapping up the remainder.

Suzhen rested her cheek on her arms and watched him, smiling happily.

He shook out the crumbs and beckoned encouragingly to the small black bird, still watching them timidly. "Come on. It's yours."

The bird darted a nervous glance at Suzhen. She realized her snake spirit aura was still very strong--she had only just transformed into her human form before she came. As Xuxian continued coaxing the bird, she quietly shifted backwards, and the bird came forward cautiously.

"There. You clearly wanted this, didn't you. Why fight shy when you were so bold just now?" Xuxian watched the little bird eating so timidly, with an amused expression. He turned, and was surprised to see Suzhen had moved about ten paces away from him. "Suzhen. Why are you sitting all the way over there?"

She smiled. "I'm watching you, the same way you're watching that little bird. Xuxian," she added quickly, changing the topic rapidly as she often did whenever she felt at a loss, "The weather is so lovely, let's go swimming."

"Swimming?" Xuxian repeated, surprised.

"Yes, don't you like swimming? It's one of my favourite things to do when the weather's like this. The water is so pleasant. Of course, we'll have to go downriver; it's too shallow here." She clasped her hands, looking at him expectantly.

"I don't know how to swim," he said apologetically.

There was a brief silence. Suzhen looked incredulous. "But why not?"

He shrugged. "Well, I'm not really sure why. My uncle was always scared of the water, so he never went near the river. I didn't have much time to play with the other boys, and even when we did it was always in the town, never up on the mountains. How did you learn how?"

Suzhen gestured impatiently. "Then of course you must learn how! I shall teach you. Me? I've been swimming for as long as I can remember."

She jumped up, scaring the little black bird, which took flight with a squawk of fear. "Come on, Xuxian. You will love it. Today is a perfect day to swim." Gaily, she took his hand and pulled him to his feet in a swift, effortless movement.

Surprised, Xuxian stumbled after her as she pulled him along. The breeze had a faint, spiced fragrance to it from some unseen bush's newly-opened flowers; the warm sun glinted on Suzhen's smooth dark head, and the white of her teeth as she looked back, laughing, at him.

He felt himself break into a smile without even realizing it, and wrapped his fingers tightly around hers.

With her hand held closely in his, it was indeed a beautiful day.