Chapter 1
Jinhua opened his eyes and released a slow sigh. Three days. Three entire days of cultivation. At least now he could feel the bottleneck loosening.
He lowered his gaze to his small hands and clenched them into fists. Spiritual energy flowed beneath his skin, smooth, steady and strong, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
“Just a little more.” His golden eyes narrowed. “Then I’ll break through.”
The constant sniffling nearby entered his ears again. Jinhua’s smile immediately vanished. He turned his head. On the bed, Meiyin was lying face-first into a pillow… Again.
She had spent the better part of three days either crying, worrying, sighing, or staring at nothing. It was becoming unbearable.
Jinhua rolled his eyes and stood. Dusting off his robes, he walked toward the bed with slow, regal steps. Even at his size, he somehow managed to look arrogant.
He stopped beside her pillow and folded his arms. “How long are you going to be like this?”
Meiyin didn’t answer.
Jinhua frowned. “No one died.”
At those words, Meiyin finally turned her head. Her eyes were swollen, red and pitiful. The sight made something uncomfortable twist inside his chest.
Pouting, she glared at him. “What right do you have to speak?”
Jinhua blinked.
Meiyin sat up slightly. “You don’t know them like I do.” Her voice cracked. “They’re like family to me.”
The words came out softer and sadder. “And I haven’t seen them in days.”
She hugged her pillow. “Who knows if Yueling is even alive.”
The tent became quiet.
Jinhua looked at her for a moment then inclined his head slightly. An acknowledgement, a rare one. The concern wasn’t unreasonable. After all, even he had felt the violent spiritual fluctuations that day.
Still… Watching her mope around endlessly was becoming difficult. A small smile appeared on his face. “How about this?”
Meiyin looked up.
Jinhua clasped his hands behind his back. “Let’s go down the mountain for something to eat.”
Her eyes brightened slightly then he continued. “And afterward, I’ll take you shopping.”
The transformation was immediate. Meiyin shot upright on the bed. “What?” Her swollen eyes widened. “Really?”
Jinhua immediately regretted speaking. The excitement in her voice was blinding.
She scrambled closer. “You’re asking me out on a date?”
The fae froze then his ears turned pink, immediately and visibly. “Nonsense!”
He spun around so quickly that his sleeves flared behind him. “A date?” His voice rose. “Don’t flatter yourself!”
Meiyin’s grin widened.
Jinhua marched toward the tent entrance. His ears somehow becoming even redder. “I simply refuse to spend another day listening to you cry.”
“Mm.” Meiyin nodded dramatically. “A date.”
“It is not a date!”
She laughed. “A romantic outing.”
“It is not romantic!”
“A courtship ritual.”
Jinhua nearly stumbled, his entire face flushed. He pointed at her without turning around. “You have five minutes to get ready.” His voice sounded dangerously embarrassed. “Or I’m changing my mind.”
Meiyin’s smile grew even wider. The little fae stormed toward the exit. Just before leaving, she heard him mutter, “Shameless woman.”
The tent flap closed behind him, and silence returned.
For a moment, Meiyin remained sitting on the bed. Hands folded neatly in her lap. The smile slowly softened. Her thoughts drifted back to Suiren, to Yueling, to the group. The worry was still there, but not as heavy as before.
She remembered Suiren’s expression three days ago. The determination in his eyes. His refusal to leave Yueling’s side.
A small sigh escaped her. “He’s right.” Her fingers smoothed over her robes. “His Highness would’ve said something by now if Yueling wasn’t okay.”
The thought settled her heart slightly, not completely, but enough. Enough to stand, enough to move forward.
Meiyin nodded to herself as though making a decision then she climbed off the bed and walked toward her clothing chest. “If this is a date...” she murmured thoughtfully, “...then I should wear something pretty.”
Outside the tent, Jinhua nearly tripped over a rock.
♡ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ♡
Meiyin stepped out of the tent with a skip in her step.
The mountain breeze caught her sleeves immediately, making the pink and purple fabrics flutter around her. Three days of worrying had finally eased from her shoulders and for the first time in a while, she looked like herself again.
The moment she spotted Jinhua waiting outside, her smile widened. She twirled once, then twice. Her skirts flared beautifully around her.
Stopping in front of him, she bent slightly and asked brightly, “How do I look?”
Jinhua looked up. For a moment he said nothing. The sunlight caught in her hair. The ribbons woven into it danced with the wind. She looked… His ears twitched then his expression immediately turned critical. “Pink doesn’t suit you.”
Meiyin’s smile vanished.
Jinhua pointed at her robes. “Nor does that purple that you insist on wearing.” His chin lifted proudly. “From now on, only yellows and greens.” He nodded to himself. “Perfect colours for an elven bride.”
Behind them, Qingzhao suddenly choked on his alcohol. “Cough—!” He bent over wheezing. “Cough!”
Meiyin slowly crouched down until she was eye level with the tiny fae. “I’ve been wearing pink, purple, and blue all my life.” Her smile looked dangerous. “What makes you think you can suddenly change what I wear?”
Jinhua folded his arms over his chest, without the slightest hesitation he replied, “Your brothers already left you in my care.”
Meiyin blinked.
Jinhua nodded once. “That’s basically giving you away to me.”
Qingzhao nearly spat out his drink. “Absolutely not.” He pointed at the tiny fae. “Don’t involve us in your conversations.” Then he looked at Meiyin. “Meiyin-ah.” His expression became sincere. “You look beautiful just the way you are.”
Meiyin immediately raised her chin proudly. “Hmph.” She looked down at Jinhua. “You hear that?”
Jinhua slowly turned his head, his golden eyes locked onto Qingzhao. The air suddenly trembled.
Qingzhao’s smile disappeared. “Oh no.”
A burst of harmless spiritual energy exploded from Jinhua. Qingzhao was launched backwards. “Aah!” He tumbled across the ground before crashing into a pile of supplies.
Jinhua pointed furiously. “Eyes off my woman!”
Silence.
Then Qingzhao slowly lifted himself from the pile. “DON’T INVOLVE ME!”
Meiyin’s face immediately turned red. Her gaze dropped to the tiny fae standing beside her. For some reason hearing him say it aloud felt different.
Before he could react, she scooped him up.
“Eh?” Jinhua froze, then Meiyin casually shoved him into her chest. The world instantly became dark and soft. “MEIYIN!”
She patted him through the fabric. “There, there.”
“No ‘there, there’!”
“No need to get upset.”
“I AM NOT UPSET!”
“He was only joking.”
Jinhua struggled furiously. Only his arms managed to escape. They stuck out of her robes helplessly while the rest of him remained trapped. His face was burning. His ears were burning. His dignity was burning.
Qingzhao stared, cup in hand, expression blank then he slowly pointed. “Don’t involve me.”
Jinhua looked at Qingzhao then at Meiyin then at Qingzhao again. He didn’t know which one deserved punishment more.
His brother-in-law or his shameless wife. After a long internal battle, he lifted his chin and announced proudly, “What I say goes.”
Meiyin ignored him completely and started walking down the mountain path. “Mm.”
She hummed happily. “As long as I look beautiful.”
Jinhua bounced slightly with every step she took. His face remained buried in softness. He had never suffered such humiliation in his life.
Still, his expression softened slightly. Looking up toward her face, he said, “Not just good.”
Meiyin glanced down.
Jinhua crossed his arms, his voice became quieter and certain. “You’ll look beautiful.”
For once, Meiyin didn’t tease him. A smile slowly spread across her face. She continued walking down the mountain while humming happily.
Inside her robes, Jinhua immediately realised his mistake. Because the smile that appeared on her face meant she was going to remember those words forever.
When they finally reached the bottom of the mountain near the marketplace, Jinhua’s world was spinning.
The entire journey had been a nightmare, every skip, every bounce, every cheerful leap. His soul felt as though it had been shaken loose from his body. “Stop!” he suddenly yelled.
Meiyin immediately stopped walking.
Jinhua climbed out from the folds of her clothing looking thoroughly offended. He sat down on her shoulder and held his forehead.
The ground was still moving.
Meiyin tilted her head. “You look unwell.”
Jinhua glared at her. “You were skipping.”
“You make it sound criminal.”
“It should be.”
Meiyin giggled then she leaned her head slightly toward him and sniffed.
Jinhua immediately froze.
She sniffed again. “You smell nice.”
Jinhua blinked, then looked down at himself. Curious, he lifted a sleeve and smelled it. A faint scent lingered there, warm, sweet and familiar.
His ears immediately turned pink. After a moment he muttered, “Yeah.” He looked away. “I smell like you.”
Meiyin’s grin widened, dangerously. “Yes.” She nodded. “You smell like my booby sweat.”
Jinhua nearly fell off her shoulder. “MEIYIN!”
She laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
Jinhua’s face burned, without another word he raised a hand. Spiritual energy flowed from his fingertips. An intricate formation appeared briefly beneath his feet before vanishing.
The surrounding people continued walking normally. None of them glanced his way.
Jinhua crossed his arms. “I’m invisible now.” He grabbed a lock of her hair. “Only you can see me.”
Meiyin frowned, she glanced at him, then at the bustling crowd, then back at him. “Hm.”
Without warning she walked up to a passing man. The man looked startled by her sudden approach. “Excuse me.”
“Y-yes?”
Meiyin pointed at her shoulder. “Can you see the insect sitting here?”
The man stared, then looked at her shoulder, then stared some more. After a moment he shook his head. “No miss, there’s nothing there.”
Meiyin nodded. “I see. Thank you.”
The confused man hurried away.
Jinhua stared at her. “You didn’t need to do that.”
Meiyin smiled innocently. “I wanted to make sure.”
Jinhua rolled his eyes. The two continued walking into the marketplace.
After a while Meiyin asked, “Where to, husband?”
The word husband sounded entirely too natural coming from her.
Jinhua pretended not to notice, he looked around, food stalls, and cloth merchants. Spirit beast traders and medicine shops. The entire street was alive with activity.
After a moment he shrugged. “Pick a place.”
“Anywhere?”
“Anywhere.” He looked up at her. “You made yourself sick by crying.” His voice softened slightly. “We need to fill you up.”
Meiyin’s smile immediately returned. She nodded enthusiastically. “Then let’s find buns and vegetables.”
Jinhua approved. A sensible choice, then Meiyin started skipping again.
Jinhua’s eyes widened. “No.” Bounce. “No!” Bounce. “MEIYIN!” The world tilted. The market spun. The sky and ground exchanged places three times.
Jinhua grabbed onto her hair for dear life. Meanwhile Meiyin happily skipped through the crowd without the slightest concern.
A passing woman smiled at the sight. “What a happy young lady.”
Jinhua wanted to explain that he was fighting for his life. Unfortunately nobody could see him. So all he could do was endure as his wife cheerfully bounced her way toward breakfast.
