Summer Festival Closing

Qing who was still standing froze in the same place. Her mind was racing. 'What just happened?' she thought. 'She couldn't believe that this was the person she had met for the past few days by accident. She even had a bad attitude towards him. From the start she was suspicious of his appearance. And it was true that Grandma said he was not an ordinary person. Oh, what have I done? I've been being rude to him this whole time. Why does he have to be an Emperor?' Never even a speck of dust crossed her mind that the Mister who had been bothering her all this time was an Emperor.

'Oh no… no… I even conveyed the feeling of injustice in this country's rules regarding girls not being allowed to attend scholarship in the palace' her face looked frantic, her brows knitted together, her hands cupped her cheeks. Her eyes rolling to the left and to the right. Then her hand moved towards her mouth which was now tightly covered by her fingers. Her body was shaking, her knees were losing strength, if only she had been in her Xiao Hai's bedroom, she might have dropped herself on the floor, folded her legs close to her inner upper thighs then folded her arms over her knees and buried her face in them. But she was now in the crowd at the closing ceremony of the summer festival. It was impossible for her to do that. If she had the ability to disappear, she would like to disappear from everyone's sight.

Unbeknownst to her, everyone had started to leave the field. Leaving her standing alone in the middle of the field. With a blank stare.

The dragon team leader thought that Qing Yang had left the field with him to join the other dragon teams. He glanced over his left shoulder, but didn't see her. He turned around and saw that she was still standing in the same place as before with a blank stare. His face wrinkled 'Seems like I'm not the only one who doesn't know that the person who helps out in the boat race is an emperor. But as yesterday event, they approached him, and who offered themselves even the emperor himself. It was obvious that they had known each other for a long time. But how could she not know at all. It was undeniable that judging from the appearance of the Emperor yesterday, anyone would not expect that he was an emperor who came out of the palace trying to blend in with his people. Even after the emperor spoke earlier on the stage. She can't even recognize him immediately'.

The dragon team leader shook his head, his lips curled into a small smile of disbelief. His eyes were still staring intently at the figure of Qing Yang in the middle of the field. Stepping his feet towards her. Until he is standing in front of her, his eyes narrowed, she was in a world of her own thought. She didn't even notice that someone was standing in front of her.

He sighed inhaling and exhaling so violently that it made a sound but still he didn't get her attention, his shoulders slumped, giving up. He raised his hand. Put his hand on her shoulder with a little pressure. Maybe this way can make her wake from her daze.

Qing Yang was startled, her chest pulled up as she took a short breath in surprise. And finally, she conscious from her daze. Her eyes looked at the figure in front of her, who turned out to be the dragon team leader. feeling awkward and uncomfortable, she gave a small smile on her lips.

"What are you thinking?" asked the dragon team leader even though he could guess what she was thinking.

"N-nothing" was the short answer she trying to find the right words to say but ended up with 1 word 'nothing'

The dragon team leader smiled again, this time he closed his eyes briefly. Opened his eyes again and still stared at her.

"Ever since the emperor stepped away from this place. You've been standing still. Look around you, no one is standing here anymore," he added.

Qing Yang glanced around, she just realized that there was no one in this field. Feel embarrassed. Her body turned to face the dragon team leader bowed her head and didn't know what to do.

"Come, this place will soon be filled with other people for the closing ceremony of the summer festival. You certainly don't want to be a hindrance to them, interrupt the show and become a source of ridicule from the audience, do you?" invite the dragon team leader while asking her.

The dragon team leader's hand that was on Qing Yang's shoulder dropped down and grab her wrist. pulled her off the field.

Hearing the dragon team leader's words, Qing Yang looked around once again at the audiences he imagined what would have happened if the dragon team leader didn't come over and wake erm from her daze. Of course, the audience will scream, the roar of the audience's ridicule will fill the venue. She reluctantly stepped away follow the footsteps of the dragon team leader, which led her to where the dragon team group was.

"Hey Qing Yang, unexpectedly you know the Emperor just like that" chirped one of the dragon team members as the two of them got to where they were standing waiting for them.

Qing Yang's face reddened at his chatter. Instinctively her head bowed in shame. See her reaction. The dragon team leader shook his head at the dragon team member who was chattering. Signalling for him not to continue what he will say next.

"Sorry" one word came out of the same chattering person earlier as he bowed his body 3 times apologizing towards Qing Yang.

Everyone stood facing the stage. An event organizer was already standing on the stage and spoke. "Thank you to the boat race participants and congratulations to the three teams who have won the prize for the race that was just handed over by the emperor itself. Thus ended this year's summer festival. Let's close the event with a fireworks party."

The cheers of the audience immediately filled the event venue, accompanied by the sound of footsteps pounding on the audience stage, enthusiastically, impatiently waiting for the fireworks party that would soon fill the sky, changing from red in the west to dark blue.

A moment later. A whooshing sound, shot from backstage into the air into the late afternoon sky.

'Tar…. Tar… Tar… ' fireworks scattering each other in the sky. Break and form various shapes. From small to large round. whizzing across the horizon, giving it a variety of colours, and lighting up the sky.

The audience cheered, jumped, clapped. Everyone's faces looked happy to see the beautiful fireworks that filled the sky. The sound of fireworks continuing to emerge from behind the stage. Some of the audience took to the field dancing happily, some while dancing, their heads looking up, not wanting to miss the happy moment of this once-a-year event.

And, as a closing for summer and will turn into autumn.

"Qing Yang" Shan Du called out, his voice faintly amidst the whirring sound of fireworks. His hand grabbed Qing Yang's sleeve and tugged at it. Hope she could look at him. Their eyes met. Behind Shan Du the other children stood and looked at her. "Let's go home" said Shan Du while pulling her sleeve.

Qing Yang nodded in understanding and spoke. "Wait I need inform to the dragon team leader" her hand pointed to the side she was standing, where the dragon team was standing. Shan Du nodded. Then she turned to face the dragon team, looking for the dragon team leader who was standing one meter from where she was standing. Only separate 3 people the dragon team members from where she was standing. She walks towards him. And stood in front of him.

The dragon team leader who was looking up at the fireworks, noticed that someone was standing in front of him. His face moved down to look at Qing Yang's then smiled and said, "What's is it?" he asked.

"I have to go home" Qing Yang informed.

"Why don't you wait a little longer? The fireworks will end soon" he asked trying to hold her a little longer.

"I have to go home." Qing Yang repeated her words again, but this time she turned her head to the side and pointed at the children and then turned at the dragon team leader again.

The dragon team leader looked where she was pointing and understood Qing Yang's intentions. he also gave permission for her to go home by nodding his head once. After that said "Tomorrow at noon we will meet at Shan Mei's restaurant to celebrate our victory, also to share the prizes we get, remember, you have to come. We have lose one member who received the prize distribution and we don't want to lose you again"

Qing Yang understood the meaning behind the dragon team leader's last sentence. but she did not want the prize from the race. Because she felt, she didn't deserve it. After all, if you look at during the race, she doesn't help much. Because she couldn't row fast enough. Remembering the Emperor's words 'There are already 11 people who can row fast, you just have to pretend to row'. On the other hand, she had also earned herself the prize from the emperor. Her eyes glanced at her right hand, which had been clutching the parchment ever since she had received it from the emperor. But she also didn't want to make the dragon team feel sad, so she nodded her head in agreement to the dragon team leader.

Receiving an answer from Qing Yang, the dragon team leader nodded his head slightly with a twinkle in his eye. Signalling for her to go home.

Qing Yang raised her hand and waved then turned around, walking towards the children who had also turned their bodies as soon as Qing Yang walked towards them. Together they went towards the gate and disappeared from the crowd of people.