Chapter 21

Weekend has arrived at the blink of an eye. In those days Xiao Bai was looking for chances to talk with teacher Xin however odd enough, he would always disappear after classes.

Xiao Bao could only wait for another chance tomorrow, as for Ruo Lan and Ming Xue, everything seems to be working out pretty well to the point that the four of them are like having their own circle of friends.

But there is actually a big possibility that it would turn into give sooner or later since guan dingwu has been hanging out with them quite often, as for their agreement Xiao Bai still haven't decided.

And now Xiao Bai is getting ready for their trip to the market. Although it was generally a market there are lots of places to check out in that part of the academy.

Like the garden maze for example, it was a very wide garden with a very talk bushes. And that's where they plan to visit after roaming around to buy anything that caught their attention.

Xiao Bai didn't want to attract much attention so he could fully enjoy the day so he only wore a light blue robe and tied his hair into a ponytail. Ming Xue with his trademark color wore a black robe, he also brought his sword in case of emergency.

Xiao Bai also wanted to own a sword back then when he was training but his uncle said that sword aren't just weapons or tools but your confidant, choosing swords takes time and shouldn't be rushed, so he gave up on the idea for now.

After they're done, they let uncle Nan drop them to the city center, their rendezvous.

Arriving at the pavilion they saw a lot of people walking around, they looked around and saw Dingwu waving at them beside him has Ruo Lan and XuWei who was waiting for them.

The two bid their farewell to uncle Nan and went to join the others, "Xiao Bai you're here." XuWei said. Apparently, XuWei started to call him Xiao Bai all of a sudden which he don't mind as well.

Xiao Bai, "Yes. Did you all wait long?"

XuWei, "Not really. You arrived on time its just that we went earlier, don't worry its just about 5 minutes."

Ruo Lan, "Then where shall we all go first?"

Dingwu, "We should go find a place to eat first. Its almost lunch time anyway."

Ming Xue, "Then let's go."

Everyone agreed and walk towards their destination. Along the road they saw a lot of familiar faces and many merchant carts that come and go.

It was a very lively place, especially since its weekend.

Their are also many restaurants to choose from, in the end they settled at a Liang's Restaurant. The restaurant was currently one of the most famous place to eat.

It was not all baseless though, immediately as you step inside the interior design is do relaxing and welcoming. It was not like those ones with a lot of vibrant red curtains or something, this one has a bamboo themed, there are also various bamboo fans hanged in the wall with multiple design painted on them like calligraphy, or geography, or flowers and many other.

Since dingwu already came to this place before he was in charge of ordering their food, in the end he ordered the most expensive and tastiest in the menu.

While waiting for the orders to arrive Xiao Bai planned to go to the first floor and but a fan.

"where are you going?" XuWei asked when he saw Xiao Bai standing up and ready to leave.

Xiao Bai, "I'm going to look for bamboo fans."

XuWei, "let me go with you." And he also stood up and walked side by side with Xiao Bai.

In the first floor there were bamboo with that varies in sizes. Xiao Bai look through them one by one, fascinated at the designs and quality.

Xiao Bai turned towards XuWei and asked him for his opinion, "What should I choose?"

XuWei rubbed his chin like he was on a deep thought then searched for a fan. After rummaging for a minute he stopped and picked a very exquisite one. He handed it to Xiao Bai to let him check.

"This is quite a good choice." Xiao Bai said while appreciating the painting on the fan.

It depicts a mountain, a sea of chrysanthemums below it and snow falling all around. Xiao Bai suddenly remembered the time when he first arrived in this place, it was also on a mountain covered with snow.

It was very cold but also majestic.

He turned the fan around and there was a poem written on it.

"Fresh frost on the tiles gathered softly in the night

Banana stalks break, lotus withers

The chrysanthemum alone endures the cold

With the brightness of morning it blooms in gold"[1]

"Its a good poem." XuWei peeped at it and commented.

"Yeah, it is." Xiao Bai smiled and paid for the fan but XuWei stopped him saying that it was his treat today.

Xiao Bai tried to insist again but XuWei already went to the clerk and pain so he could only sign in defeat.

XuWei enthusiatically pulled him again to the second floor, saying that the food is waiting as an excuse. But the true reason for why he was very eager to pull Xiao Bai to less people was because of the crowd.

They keep eyeing Xiao Bai as if eyeing their prey which makes his blood boil in anger and contempt.

"Xiao Bai, seriously though, are you a flower? why do you always attract bees and butteflies wherever you go?" XuWei murmured under his breathe.

"You said something?" Xiao Bai asked while still following him upstairs.

"Guys, you're here just in time." Guan Dingwu said as soon as he spotted. However he was left in confusion seeing XuWei in a bad mood when clearly he left a while ago in full spirits.

We waited till XuWei sat beside him and asked, "Did something happened?"

"No." XuWei eyed him and returned to eating his food. Although he said no Dingwu knew that what he really meant was, "Don't ask anymore."

Dingwu'a mood instantly deflated but once he tasted the dishes he was back in full energy.

After the heartful lunch they randomly went to different shops and stalls to see if they could find something they want to buy. But it turns out that they didn't really bought any things but more like many snacks.

Especially Ruo Lan and Dingwu who was like children who eats sweets here and there. They would also force Ming xue to eat with them from tine to time which leads to Ming xue being more unapproachable because of endless nagging from the two.

Xiao Bai suddenly felt the urge to facepalm and think that he was accompanying a group of brats in the mall.

"They seem to be enjoying a lot." XuWei stared at them running all around.

Xiao Bai suddenly thought that he and XuWei was like the mom and dad treating their children into the mall.

Xiao bai's face turned red in an instant, even his ears turned pink.

"Are you alright?" XuWei held his shoulders to support him incase he fall. Which is not a good idea, since Xiao Bai froze all over.

"I'm fine, it's just a little hot." He opened his newly bought fan and gave himself some air, hiding his face in the process.

"It is indeed a little hot." XuWei fished out a towel in his robe and subconsciously wiped Xiao bai's face. Xiao Bai looked at him with wide eyes and he even forgot to breath.

XuWei also stopped his actions and coughed awkwardly, then handed the towel to Xiao Bai. It's a good thing that the three are busy so they didn't saw anything.

"Well let's catch up to them." XuWei changed the topic to lighten the atmosphere. Xiao Bai nodded and they walked towards where the three is.

"Should we head to the garden maze now?" Dingwu said while looking at Ruo Lan. They seem like they were suddenly a very close bestfriends.

"I agree! What do you say Ming Xue?" Ruo Lan turned to Ming xue and asked.

"It depends on young master." Ming xue plainly said.

"....." Ruo Lan looked behind but the two young masters are gone, "where are they anyway?"

Dingwu also took a look and saw them approaching, "There they are."

"Xiao Bai, how come you just came?" Dingwu asked as soon as the two caught up with them?

"Ah nothing big. What are you all discussing just now?" Xiao Bai immediately changed the topic.

"We're going to ask the two of you if should go to the garden maze now." Ruo Lan said.

"Oh. Then let's go." Xiao Bai agreed then walked in the front this time, joining the fun with Ruo Lan and Dingwu. Ming xue and Xuwei was the ones left at the back.

"Are you going to tell him?" Ming Xue inquired.

"Yes. Later when we enter the maze you go with Ruo Lan and dingwu, I'll go with Xiao Bai." Ming xue nodded in agreement.

When they arrive at the entrance of the maze, they were greeted by the ckerk.

"Oh the four of you want to try the garden maze?" Zhou Zhineng greeted them.

"President Zhou, what are you doing here?" Xiao Bai asked in surprise.

"I help out in here once in a while. You know? I really like flowers and this is the best place to work in." Zhou Zhineng explained.

"Wow, president Zhou is like a working student." Xiao Bai exclaimed, he suddenlt remembered his past life, he also experienced being a working student but he never got to work the thing he loves.

What is it that he even likes to do anyway? He, himself didn't know.

"Of course. I am only a commoner so I have to earn my allowance." Zhineng isn't ashamed of this. He knew his worth, and discrimination is also prohibited in the city.

But he knew that there are still some who discrimates because of status however he knew that Xiao Bai and his friends are not this kind of people so he was at ease.

"President is so cool!" Dingwu praised with starry eyes.

"Not really. So do you all want to come inside or not."

"Ahh we will." Ruo Lan answered and paid for the entrance which is of course was not his money but Xuwei's allowance.

"Good luck guys!" Zhineng wished them luck and let them enter the maze.

What met their eyes was indeed very magical, like they were in a different world all of a sudden, and it was a world of flowers.

In front of them were tall bushes with ways that leads to who knows where and along the bushes, different colors of roses pops out.

"Let's form a group and see who wins." XuWei proposed a game and before they could group themselves Ming xue pulled ruo lan and dingwi to his side, "I'll group with them."

"Then I'll take Xiao Bai." XuWei also pulled Xiao bai to his sids and pulled him towards the left way. Xiao Bai couldn't protest anymore so he let XuWei drag him around.

After many turns Xiao Bai stopped that also caused XuWei to stop. "Do you know the way?"

"Yes. So just follow me, I wanna show you something." XuWei assured him and continued to walk. Xiao baiw as also left with no choice and followed along.

XuWei was quite confidenf in every turn he makes so he maybe did know the way.

After another 20 minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the center maze. Xiao Bai was literally in awe when he saw it. It was a very elegant pavilion with vines hanging around it giving more a picturesque effect.

XuWei directly went to the pavilion and invited Xiao Bai to come. Xiao Bai also excitedly went and sat. The feeling is very different, it was very relaxing and quite, everything seems to be inside a bottle. Sealed away from to world.

"Xiao Bai, I want to tell you something. Would you listen to me?" XuWei said. Xiao bai's heart pounded once again.

"What is it?" Xiao Bai took his fan and fanned his face (more like covering it).

"It's about me."

"What about you?" Xiao Bai nervously asked.

"I am Xin XuWei."

.................

"Fresh frost on the tiles gathered softly in the night

Banana stalks break, lotus withers

The chrysanthemum alone endures the cold

With the brightness of morning it blooms in gold"

-The chrysanthemum is famous as one of the "Four Gentlemen," or four varieties of plants that are honored in the Confucian tradition.

The chrysanthemum, representing steadfastness and longevity, is apt subject material for this poem.

Though left out of the translation here for reasons of euphony, in the third line Bai Juyi in fact writes "chrysanthemums of the eastern hedge," a reference to the work of another famous poet, Tao Yuanming (365–427). Tao lived in poverty but kept a joyful spirit.

As described in his poem "On Drinking, No. 5," he enjoyed picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge, gazing upon distant mountains. The flower complemented his carefree Taoist lifestyle, which stresses following the natural order of things.

Author has something to say: Sorry for the late update guys. I'm finishing my modules so I didn't have time to write.

So now I decided to have a fixed time for publishing. And it will be on Mondays and Thursdays, 10:00 pm.

☘Mini Theater☘

Xuwei's pov

"Xiao Bai, I want to tell you something."

Xiao Bai, "What is it?"

"It's about me."

Xiao Bai, "What about you?"

"I realized that I like you. I love you. Please accept my feelings and date me. "

That is what I want to say but I know it's too early for that. How I wished I could you this sweet words I was hiding for so long.

Those words suffocates me everyday, I felt frightened whenever I think that one day I might burst and tell you this things.

And end up getting rejected.

For now, being your friend is enough. But please don't let others look at you like hungry wolves, I might kill them on the spot.

Please remember, that I will always protect you even from the shadows, until you realize that I'm always here for you.

That I'm willing to be your shield, your weapon.

That I'm willing to exchange all my wealth for your happiness.

I'll give you my life if you'd let me.

I'll give you my everything even if I receive nothing.

Author: *Claps* Wonderful! Wonderful!

XuWei: What are you doing?

Author: Your monologue is very touching, can you see this tears in my eyes?

XuWei, "...."

Author: It's true. Well first things first. Why are you even having a sad monologue all of a sudden?

XuWei: To let you see how much of a wreck I am. Help me, okay?

Author: WOAH! Where's that someone who always demand me to do this and that? Why do you become so polite all of a sudden?

XuWei: Please *puppy eyes*

Author: *Tries to hold it in*

XuWei: Please~ *puppy eyes with cute voice*

Author: Ugh, fine! I don't intened to end this like a tragic love story anyway. Rest assured, you'll receive an HE (Happy Ending).

XuWei: Geez, I knew you can't resist me. Who in this world could resist my charms?

Author: Much prettily the dense little white whose not even aware of his feelings.

The dense little white, Xiao Bai, "....."