Chapter Twenty Four.

Hong Yi wakes up and sees the dazzling sun rays penetrating into his room. He springs up from his bed, wears his outer robes and shoes,picks up his sword and leaves the room hurriedly. Normally he wakes up even before the sun rises. He finds Lei Qiang standing near the window looking outside calmly.

"My Lord forgive me for waking up late,"Hong Yi bows.

"Don't worry it's not your fault. Did you sleep well?"

"Um..."he stutters.

"Are you afraid I'll punish you if you say you slept well?"

"My Lord,what happened to me?"

"Nothing. Everyone oversleeps once in a while. By the way from today onwards Young Master Duan is always welcomed here and do not provoke him like you always do."

Hong Yi slaps himself to make sure he's not dreaming. Lei Qiang turns around to face him.

"My Lord,is it really you? You've changed."

"Of course it's me,"Lei Qiang smiles warmly.

"Go bring me my breakfast."

"Yes."

"And we'll be visiting Young Master Duan every once in a while and we might as well join his fun rides."

Xu Han has been visiting the temple in the afternoons for quite a while now. No one knows what he does there. As he leaves White Pavilion after visiting Lei Qiang he heads towards his carriage to go to the temple. Duan Xinyue happens to finish his lecture so he approaches him after seeing him.

"Young Master Xu I've never seen you for a while. Are you going to the Temple?"

"Yes."

"Can I tag along?"

"Yes. Actually I've been looking for someone to accompany me. I've asked Bro Lei but he refused."

"If you want I can accompany you whenever I'm free."

"I'm going too,"Lei Qiang says as he approaches them.

"Bro Lei I thought you said you're afraid of Temples."

"I've changed my mind."

"Then let's go together."

"Young Master Duan would you like to ride in the carriage with me?" Lei Qiang asks.

"Lei-xiong I haven't seen Young Master Xu for quite a while we have a few things to catch up with so it's convenient I ride the carriage with him."

"It's fine,"Lei Qiang replies disappointed because he expected Duan Xinyue to be overjoyed if he offered him a ride.

An hour later they reach Hope Temple. Unlike Redemption Temple where people go to repent sins, Hope Temple is where people go to pray for other things like love, marriage, business and maybe to give birth to children of their choice. When they reach the temple they don't get in instead Xu Han leads them to a pavilion next to the temple. They first peek inside before entering. The pavilion is full of girls seated in rows.

"Young Master Xu I've figured out why you needed company. You're the only man here."

The pavilion is called Love Pavilion where a middle aged beautiful woman teaches young ladies how to please their lovers or the guys they like. She teaches them how to craft beautiful items for the people they love. Xu Han is here for the craft designing lecture. Since they are here they all enter and settle down. The woman teaching them smiles at Lei Qiang and Duan Xinyue. She's honoured to have such beautiful men attend her lecture. Lei Qiang insists on sitting beside Duan Xinyue claiming he likes Duan Xinyue's new scent. Indeed Duan Xinyue has changed his perfume.

Those who know Duan Xinyue and Lei Qiang would expect Lei Qiang to be the one concentrating and not fooling around instead it's the exact opposite because Duan Xinyue is concentrating while Lei Qiang is fooling around. Duan Xinyue is concentrating and showing some interest so Xu Han won't feel alone or the odd one out.

By the end of the lecture,they are supposed to have successfully made a heart shaped silk pouch and you can choose to either give it out or keep it. After the lecture Miss Yun ,the teacher,reviews their work.

"Young Master Xu,you've improved from the last time you came here,"Miss Yun smiles her gaze still at the other two beautiful men.

Since Duan Xinyue and Lei Qiang are fast learners their silk pouches turn out well even though they have different designs. Lei Qiang gives his silk pouch to Duan Xinyue as a gift.

"Young Master Duan since I gave you mine, aren't you going to give me yours?" Lei Qiang asks smiling flirtatiously.

"I'm afraid mine is a little imperfect and it may not suit your taste."

"I don't care how it looks like as long as it's made by you. It's the thought that counts."

Duan Xinyue gives him the silk pouch.

"Duan-ge,do you think Miss Du will like my silk pouch?"

"Only if you improve a bit next time. When's your next lecture ?"

"Wednesday."

After the lecture,they enter the carriages and ride back with Lei Qiang arriving first. Duan Xinyue and Xu Han talk a bit about how Xu Han found about the Love Pavilion before Duan Xinyue alights from the carriage. Xu Han saw a lady advertising about it in Meanders City. Since his love story isn't likely to be about the Hero that Saved the Beauty he figured out other ways to please Du Bai Xin.

"Why don't you learn writing love letters or Poems instead of learning how to make silk pouches?" Duan Xinyue asks.

"She did teach us a few poems but mostly ladies are the ones who attend lectures. Besides poems are mostly men's speciality in expressing their love so Miss Yun didn't dwell much on it."

"So you thought silk pouches are the best love tokens? Why can't you buy ready made ones and give her?"

"Young Master Duan you're a matchmaker yet you don't know these things. Like Bro Lei said it's the thought that counts. When someone gives you something handmade it shows their effort and the receiver will cherish it more no matter how it looks like. Just like how you and Bro Lei exchanged yours. I thought you were going to give it to Miss Su"

"Miss Su? Su Jiali? Why would I give it to her?" Duan Xinyue exclaims loudly in shock.

"Don't you like her?"

"Young Master Xu you've become nosier than the last time we talked,"Duan says as he alights from the carriage.

"Hey Duan-ge you haven't answered my question yet!"

Duan Xinyue ignores him and walks in to Qingfeng Pavilion.