My Husband's Lover (7)

When I woke up, we were in a carriage. Inside were me, Liqin, and another man. He seemed to be one of Guowei's guards.

"Why are we here? Are we being transported to another prison?"

Liqin shook his head and answered, "They caught the real thief."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I tried to wake you up. But you said 5 more minutes every time."

That was a shame. It was a person chance to burn Dingxiang with my creative words. I was really talented in cursing people. Annoying female characters trained me.

I looked out and saw how beautiful the place was. Since I came here, it was the first time I saw the sky without the limits of any cells or walls.

"Liqin, have you been here?"

"Yes," he said. "I pass by this place when I go to your household and when I return to mine."

"I didn't mean just passing by. I meant doing things here aside from business matters. Like eating foods, watching street performances, just having fun."

"I am afraid I have not done those things."

"Then let's do them."

I dragged Liqin out of the carriage. The man tried to chase after us but with so many people, he lost sight of us. We stopped in front of an inn to catch our breath.

I grinned at him and he grinned back. We went to different stalls and thanks to Liqin's badge I ate a lot. Finally, I could eat something other than tofu.

"When are you going to tell Guowei?" I asked after taking a bite from the sugarcoated haws.

"About what?"

"About your identity."

"As much as I want to, I cannot do that now. I lost my pendant thanks to someone who tried to drown me," he joked.

"Wow. You've learned to speak in the language of sarcasm. You've changed. Congratulations."

"I have always been this way. I was just quiet for a while. It is you who changed." He pointed at my sugarcoated haws. "You like tofu, but you bought haws."

"I like tofu? No, no. Tofu and I don't work out."

"You say that but tofu is the only food that you ever ordered when we were younger. Even now, you ordered the servants to serve tofu in every meal."

"You must have hated me so much. Your tongue must have been tired of the taste of tofu."

"It is quite the opposite. I like tofu as well."

"Good for you."

We watched several performances. There were many talented people in the world. But the performers in the streets whom we saw were different. Talented people often wanted to be the best in their fields, thus, turning passion into a competition. But those people did their art with love. Some people were really good while others were just average. But it was not a sin to be average. After all, passion was not graded.

We came across a performer who had no audience. He was old and blind. But he beat his drums with great zeal. The clouds soon took over the heavens and there was a downpour. Liqin was about to go look for a shade but I stopped him.

"We are supposed to find shelter. Look at all the people running," he said.

"Just because others are doing it doesn't mean we have to. Look at the old man. He's still here."

"Then what are we supposed to do here? Stand and get wet?"

"Have fun."

"How can we possibly have fun here?"

"Happiness isn't always found in grand things. Happiness can also be found in the simple things, in the things people avoid, in the things people hate. Happiness is not static. You can turn the saddest moment into the happiest time of your life with people you love."

"Do you love me?" he asked while looking at me in the eye.

I was quite confused as to what to answer. But surely, friends loved each other.

"Yes, I love you."

He smiled and we started dancing like idiots. It did not matter if people mocked us. We were happy and no words could stop that feeling. And I was too immersed at Liqin. He was laughing. Not chuckling but laughing. It was a big, big laugh.