CHAPTER 6: OLD TALE: MAGNOLIA

Zedong was confuse and nervous, Yu Yan spent the first night of Mid-autumn Festival on their poor hut what's more is that he stayed until noon on the place, refusing to go back on his own room. Zedong and the Madam tried to wake him up and convincing him to go back but the man was stubborn as steel, he refused and still slept.

"The autumn air is the one to blame for. If it isn't for that, I'm sure he won't stay and be stubborn." Gu Yun mumbled bitterly. He and Zedong didn't had a wink of sleep since last night because someone took their nice bed.

The autumn air was cool and refreshing, damping on their cold skin as they sat outside their hut to guard the sleeping ice prince inside. Their hut was made of hay and wood so the current air flow easily affect the temperature inside, if it's summer, the hut felt like it's blazing on fire but now that winter is near, it's as cool like a melting glacier.

But Gu Yun wasn't pleased. It's his favorite season to sleep after all!

After a few work of separating wheat wrappers, Gu Yun stood and stomped away.

Zedong lifted his head, "Hey where are you going?"

"Gonna get some lunch." he answered with a hint of sulk.

Zedong then noticed that the sun is almost at the highest peak, he wiped his hand on his sleeve and stood. The Madam instructed them to wake Yu Yan themselves if he won't wake himself up before the start hour of afternoon.

Zedong knocked on the door gently, calling the man inside but realizing that he won't get a response if he just knock and call there, he entered.

"Um, hello?" he called, head peeking on the door.

He then saw Yu Yan's figure sleeping by the bed, his back facing the door.

As they thought, he really had a good sleep caused by the fresh autumn air filling the room. Zedong was also quite pleased since their hut was cleaned before the start of the Festival and enable the esteemed musician to take good sleep on their humble home.

But he immediately snapped when he heard a small groan coming from the man on the bed, small movements coming from him.

He panicked whether he'll back off or take the chance to call and wake him up. But the opportunity soon vanished when Yu Yan slept dead again on the bed, unmoving.

'A sleepyhead?!' He thought.

Zedong exhaled, finally took all courage he had and stepped forward, determined to wake the man up. He stopped at the side of the bed and was about to reach his hand when his eyes landed on Yu Yan's beautiful face.

Even though side view, his feature was highly shown. His nose were beautifully curved, his closed eyes were sharp just like of a phoenix and lips red, properly proportioned. It was all natural without make ups.

Zedong was in a daze and involuntarily gulped, how could a man look like this??

He withdrew his hand and finally decided not to wake him anymore. He turned back to walk away when he heard a rustle behind him.

He turned back just to see Yu Yan rubbing his eyes.

"Uh...." he started nervous what to say first.

Yu Yan sat up and strangely ignored his presence on the place.

When Zedong thought that he had enough sleep and is ready to transfer back on his room, Yu Yan didn't moved an inch from the bed.

"Uh..." Zedong was stiffly standing by the side, fingers playing because he's afraid to get scolded by just a woken person.

He had experienced much on Xun Xi and it's not a good experience at all.

He waited for a while thinking that he is still recovering his energ but Yu Yan broke the silence and spoke first, "This...." he paused and took hold of a wide robe under him.

Seeing this, Zedong widened his eyes.

Nervously, he cried, "T-That's..." that's my robe!

He usually cover the bed with his clothes for better sleeping and he forgot to take them off last night!

But Yu Yan didn't made any reaction or statement refuting him, he just took hold of the robe which has been lying under him the whole night.

He slowly took it closer to sniff.

"This...this smells like Magnolia." he said

Zedong froze on his position when he saw Yu Yan sniffed his unwashed robe and didn't heard what Yu Yan said, "T-The madam is worried for you health, s-she told us to send you back on your room after you wake up, immediately." he said staggering, completely nervous.

He isn't used in handling the beauties needs and demands except for Xun Xi who only knew how to order him in doing outdoor and indoor chores.

Seeing that his statement was ignored, Yu Yan's face flushed red but Zedong didn't saw it. He threw his hold on the robe and sat at the edge of the bed, he started fixing his hair and robes silently.

"U-Uh, do you need help?" Zedong offered

Yu Yan stared at him with his icy look, "Can you even help?" he asked back

Zedong sealed his mouth shut because he's right, he didn't knew how to assist people on their get-up so he just stood there, waiting for him to finish.

After a short while, they heard loud footsteps coming towards the door and before Zedong could even reach to open it, Xun Xi entered with his clay mask on his face, hair that usually hangs down beautifully were tied up in a high messy bun.

Seeing Zedong immediately, Xun Xi cried, "Zedong! I've been searching for you in the house! Where's my tea! I was waiting for hours! And I told you to replace my candle into a more scented one! How about my massage! It's almost afternoon!" he continuously complained without pause.

"And also you are in charge for my bath today! I-----" Xun Xi stopped and turned by the side.

His expression turned ugly when he saw the man he's irritated to see sitting at the edge of the bed, eyes cold as he stare at him.

His usual carefree behavior disappeared. "Is it Yu Yan?" he raised a brow

"What a coincidence to see you here. I even heard that you disappeared after your 'good' performance but it's strange seeing you here, don't tell me you slept here?" he lightly laughed on his last sentence but the people on the room didn't laughed.

He stopped smiling and turned to Zedong, "He...?" he pointed at Yu Yan while asking Zedong his unfinished question.

Zedong could only nod.

His face twitched, even though he and the two servants were friends, Xun Xi wouldn't dare to sleep in their place!

"You..."

"Are you done?" Yu Yan's cold voice interrupted him, his hair and robes were finely fixed giving back his noble aura.

He stepped forward, not too far from them and said, "It is only my recommendation but the new dynasty is almost at rise, the golden age will come and logically speaking, this will brought the complete termination of the red district and brothels which was giving a bad reputation to the industry."

He continued, eyes proud and aloof, "So I recommend you to adapt a flexible lifestyle wherein, you learn how to do things your own, to work on your own and be in places where you can survive because who knows, you may end up in a mud corner someday." his tone sharp, no pauses but his flow of speech was excellent.

He said those words and left, not giving Xun Xi a chance to refute.

It was a short moment that Xun Xi finally snapped.

"Is he angry?" he turned to Zedong, confused of what was he talking about.

His eyes widened upon realizing something, "HE...! DID HE JUST LECTURED ME!?"