~ As his gaze falls upon the unknown - III ~

After seeing what was in the box, I couldn't hold still.

I nodded, touching each one of them to feel their luster, texture and making. "These are gorgeous."

The owner rubbed his nose with satisfaction, "I have one more box, let me take that out for you."

And the moment he opened the dark box, which smelled like pine... the contents surprised me, for they all looked very ordinary, all of them bright colored and different materials. Well watching the owner, I could feel like they were his secret treasure, so it must mean that all of them had quality to them.

"These are made from jade, all of them, torched under different heat and mixes, they are more expensive but are also more powerful."

"Oh, so say, these charms bring luck right?"

He nodded, "There are four blessings, longevity, prosperity, good health and good morality. The more expensive they are the more blessings you receive in one charm. And a wearer cannot wear more than four charms, since it goes against nature."

"Oh... right, so what is that, that dark one?" I pointed at the glistening charm, which was pure black.

"Ah, this one?" the owner picked it up, bringing up a small clip, attached with five long chains, each dangling at different lengths.

The moment I saw it, I almost forgot about the other charms, because this one was too enticing, the black chains beautifully placed in between the much narrower white chains. The whole dangling nature of it felt feminine, but also very bold.

"I like this." I took hold of the charm, feeling the cold metal which was falling gracefully on my palm and through my fingers. The charm felt very nice in my hands, good to touch. It had jade clip, but metal threads.

"So which one did you choose?" the owner asked, shifting his eyes between the previous choice and the one now.

"Which do you think will suit me?" I asked him in return, wanting to know what an ornament seller would suggest.

But I was surprised to get a different response than the one I had expected.

"Your eyes are very bright and big, innocent like a child's, and your aura is cheerful, almost gentle in a sense." The owner pointed out kindly, "Even your hair is dark, so I suggest you go for a more contrasting charm which doesn't blends badly with your features. I know as a business man I should be looking for profit, but frankly stating, the black one is too subtle for you, and it would clash with your style."

The owner was right, I was wearing a blue and cream colored dress, and I wasn't a fan of black or even white, since the charm was both the colors which weren't to my liking.

Yet...

I looked at Xi Ken, raising my head up a bit since he was taller than me by a foot, "Which one do you suggest?"

"Anyone is good enough as long as you like it," Xi Ken answered back, looking ahead towards the main street.

And I suddenly remembered that we had somewhere to go, and the day was falling into night. I took too long to chose, so I simply shoved the black ornament towards the owner, "I want this one."

The owner was somewhat stunned to see me chose the expensive one, but smiling, he handed it back to me, demanding an astonishing value of 2000 chunks.

I gaped, eyes widening and the charms almost slipping out of my palm. "2-2000?" I stuttered, "isn't that too much?"

I remembered that 100 grains equaled 1 chunk in my calculation, but a 2000 chunk?! What the-

"I told you it is a bit expensive young master, you can return it if you want to."

How generous, "Then here take it," I placed the charm back.

The owner did not mind, he took out my previous selection and handed it over, but...

Of course there was a but... because the revered ink master hadn't had a say in this yet.

I watched as his pale hand stopped the owner from handing his good over to me, "We will buy that other charm, thank you."

The owner shrugged, handing the black charm over, the material now almost blinding me with mockery. And I watched as the price was exchanged, this time it was in the form of small silver bars.

Yes, silver.

I felt my eyes twitch.

"Don't frown, turn your face this side," Xi Ken ordered, tilting my head to the side with his knuckles, combing his fingers through my hair, as he brushed back a few wayward strands and clipped them with the charm, as the long chains fell gracefully down my hair, dangling over my neck, making me feel fresh somehow.

"Hm, feels beautiful," Xi Ken voiced his opinion, carding his fingers through my hair and the chains, getting the feel of them.

I blushed, when I felt his fingers scratch my scalp and the tip of my ears, the warmth making me red. "T-Thank you Xi Zuen, but the cost is too much."

"I know," he chuckled, "we shall leave now," he told me and also gave a slight head nod to the stall owner, whom I noticed was left wide eyed as he switched his gaze between me and Xi Ken.

I coughed, waving at him, as he waved back still in shock. His face paling as he muttered, "X-Xi? He c-called him... X-Xi Z-Zuen?"

I was confused, but then Xi Ken, was already two paces ahead, so I quickly followed behind, wondering why these people were always left shocked at the end. I was really becoming curious about Xi Ken now.

What was his identity even... because I knew for one thing that he seemed rich.