Chapter 25: Fireworks

With Xiaogua to keep her company, Xiu'er made sure they didn't go to the rendezvous inn until well after dinner. When the city had already turned off their lights, that was when she would allow Xiaogua and her to return. He piggybacked her half asleep mumbling self all the way to the front of the inn Kun Shang pointed to earlier today. A'Li clung himself to her back.

Her brother, who had waited impatiently at the entrance, got up when they approached the entrance. He came at her with a million questions as soon as they approached.

What happened? Where did she go? Why did she run away? What was she thinking? Does she know what time it is?

Xiu'er didn't answer him, only gave him the tired eye. He realized she must be exhausted and paused his mouth halfway.

Xiaogua let her off his back gently, allowing Silang to lead his sister to her new room.

Xiu'er was situated in a room of her own, something she hadn't had in a while. Silang sat across the table from her with an exposed napkin of cakes and cookies he saved from dinner. Almost immediately, the room smelled sweet and nice.

"Little Sis, even if you starve yourself you must realize that A'Li still needs to eat too." The monkey nodded his head, but his owner didn't seem to see him and was sulking, staring into space with her chin in her hand. "What if he becomes so hungry, he dries up like a prune?"

"Shut up, Brother. Don't take the credit for A'Li. I bet you were at a brothel all day."

"By the way," her brother changed the topic before he get scolded by her, "Kun Shang told me everything that happened between you two. Don't feel too bad about what he said. I'm just glad you have Xiaogua to keep you company. Xiaogua seems to be a good person, even though he looks a little dumb sometimes. Anyways, I did what you wanted me to. I told Kun Shang that our Uncle Shu might be the same Physician Shu who sent that errand boy to buy medicine today." Silang reached for a cookie but A'Li swapped his hands.

"What? Why would you say that?" She turned to squint at him.

"But... didn't you want--"

Kun Shang knocked on the door before entering her room, alarming their attention. He signaled his eyes at Silang, who was still thinking he had to return the leftover money from today, but Kun Shang tipped his chin towards the door. When Silang left, he took his seat and folded his hands together on the table.

"Where did you go earlier?" He asked in a soft voice. She looked down at her hands on her lap, fiddling with them without a response. "Still mad, huh? Come outside, I have something to show you." He tipped his head towards the door again. She turned her body away from him, her arms crossed, letting him know that she was still upset. There was a moment of silence.

He asked her again but she remained quiet. Finally, he took action into his own hands. He grabbed her hand from her lap and dragged her out of the room, making sure not to hurt her in the process. Once they were outside, he scooped her off her feet into his strong arms. She gasped in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. With a kick of his foot, they flew onto the roof ever so easily.

On the roof above her room, he set her down gently on the shingles. He sat down first on her right side and patted for her to take a seat. She inhaled before abiding but still in silence. She was not going to let him off this easily.

"Your brother explained everything to me, but I want to hear the truth from you to fully understand the situation." He looked at her. His feet flat on the roof, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands were clamped together. "Sher Tu was my family's errand boy. He was here on a note from Physician Shu to buy medicine for my father. I'm sorry if I overacted. I should've known you wouldn't steal from the sick, no matter how mischievous and ill-behave you are. I should've known that you can be understanding as well."

"Should've said that from the beginning," she muttered under her breath.

"Did you say something?" He asked. She rolled her eyes. "Come on, tell me. I promise I'll listen to everything you say."

She glared at him, then rolled her eyes again. Swallowing her pride, she told him that she believed his father did not suffer from arthritis, but a failed kidney. She deduced that since Yanwei Kingdom was on lockdown, supply of medicine would become scarce and price would increase for all recipients who relied on the transports from Yanwei. The true herb to treat a failed kidney was needed in large quantities. After examining that Sher Tu didn't bring enough money to buy the overpriced medicine, she took him to perform a street circus to earn more, and was originally going to return the money back to Sher Tu but didn't get to it before Kun Shang showed up.

After hearing this, he felt extremely relieved that he was wrong about her. Of course she would feel it immoral to steal from the sick. She had matured in her own way and even had some medical knowledge.

"By the way, thanks for the money. It was enough to buy the medicine and transport it back to Yu Chi Village. Sher Tu couldn't have carried it all back by himself."

"Did he leave yet?"

"No. He gave the address to the pharmacy to send the medicine right away because it might take a few days. He'll be leaving tomorrow on foot."

Kun Shang looked at her once more and saw that she was still sulking so he went on with his plan.

"You know, when people stargaze they mostly look out for shooting stars. It's said they can make wishes come true. Of course there won't be any shooting stars tonight, so there won't be any wishes granted. But did you know, if there is anything that could come close to a shooting star, it too, can make wishes come true?"

He smiled and extended his left fist towards her.

"What do you mean?" She looked down at his hand.

He instructed her to whisper her most desired wish inside his hand. She was skeptical of his childish idea and refused. He allowed himself to go first, his lips moving quietly against his hand and when he was done, the inside of his hand started to glow amazingly. She couldn't see it really well but the light peered through the cracks of his fingers and it was incredible, almost as if a bright light was about to explode from there.

"Whisper your wish and you'll see," he said again, more convincing this time. His eyes were so gentle and sweet, she sucked in a breath.

She wrapped her skinny fingers around his masculine hand and bent her head down. He could feel the warmth of her breathe gently against his fingers. When she finished telling her wish, she lifted her lashes and they locked eyes for a brief moment.

He retrieved his hand back and opened it. His palm that was bright white changed in different fiery colors of red, orange and yellow. It was a world of glowing colors, the color of sunset streaks and leaves in the autumn. Xiu'er didn't realize she was smiling as her eyes scanned over his palm.

It was beautiful. The colors swirled around each other as if they were alive, but not fully blending.

"That's not the best part yet," he smiled.

She looked up at him with more anticipation in her eyes, asking for more. He put his right hand over his glowing left palm and slid it towards the sky. A shooting star with a tail shot out of his palm and exploded into the night like fireworks, painting the sky with vibrant lights.

Xiu'er gasped. She was startled by the small popping noise but most importantly the colors. It was beyond what she had imagined. This was the best apology anyone had given her.

He continued to slide his hand over his palm, filling the sky with explosions of colors and sparks. Each shooting star was followed by a white tail and ended in fireworks. Finally, he offered her to give it a try. Her eyes grew large with a vivid smile and she gladly complied. She slid her palm over his. It felt very warm, the colors on his hand as it touched hers. And she aimed it into the sky.

Likewise, a small spark flew from his hand followed by a long white tail and an explosion of fireworks crackled, lights scattered the sky in front of them.

Before she knew it, she had already forgiven him.

"What did you wish for?" Kun Shang asked her in a warm voice after they had settled.

"If I tell you then it won't come true." She smirked at him.

He didn't feel the need to pursue what her wish was and enjoyed the clear sky above them. He was just glad she was back to her normal self. Most moments they spent together on this journey, their conversation usually ended up in an argument or disagreement. He wanted to improve their relationship so they could turn into people who trust each other.

What was her wish, you might ask. You might also be curious about what a secretive girl like Xiu'er could possibly wish for.

Her most desired wish was to see the man she once loved.