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it took time to plan and so many rescheduling of her meetings but ningguang finally, finally had a day off to herself that she reserved just to spend with shenhe.
on a special and rare occasion, ningguang prepares a meal herself. meals. she knows shenhe can't stomach eating restaurant-made food, even from the finest of gourmet chefs. so, ningguang is trying to help ease shenhe into it by making her a home-cooked meal. ningguang knows she could've just requested one from her personal chef but she wants to make it with her own two hands for shenhe.
the day comes and they sit opposite each other in the jade chamber, the delicious and freshly prepared meals ningguang made lay on the table in front of them. one of the dishes being a steaming hot bowl of dragon beard noodles, in front shenhe. shenhe looks up from the food and meets ningguang's gaze.
"you didn't have to prepare all this yourself, ningguang," shenhe says, ever the stoic-faced but ningguang could see the barest hints of delight in her eyes. even in the short time they're together, ningguang has learned some and is still learning how to read shenhe's subdued emotions.
ningguang smiles as she pours both of them tea, "nonsense, i wanted to do this for you."
"o-oh…" shenhe lets out, still not used to the affection she receives. "thank you," shenhe says with the tiniest curl of her lips.
ningguang smiles again as she reaches up and places a hand over shenhe's on top of the table. shenhe feels the hand on hers and sees that ningguang isn't wearing her nail guards and gloves.
to ningguang's delight, shenhe turns her hand up and takes ningguang's in hers. ningguang gently squeezes shenhe's hand.
shenhe squeezes back in response, it always intrigues her how ningguang's hands could feel delicate yet strong and not fragile at all.
just like the woman in front of her.
"shall we dig in?" ningguang asks and shenhe nods. both of them pick up their chopsticks but ningguang's attention is on shenhe, rather than the food.
ningguang watches shenhe pick up the noodles with her chopsticks and taste it. as a moment passes and ningguang anticipates shenhe's reaction to her cooking, the sight before is something she isn't quite expecting and ningguang puts down her chopsticks to sit beside shenhe as fast as she can.
"shenhe," ningguang could barely hide the tremble of worry in her voice when she says shenhe's name. ningguang watches tears flow down shenhe's cheeks who is just looking at the bowl of noodles, chewing her food and not noticing that ningguang is now sitting beside her.
"tiánxīn," ningguang says softly, gently placing a hand on shenhe's forearm. this finally causes shenhe to look up and turn her attention to ningguang. there's a slight confusion in shenhe's teary eyes. ningguang trails her hand up to shenhe's shoulder and asks again, "what's wrong?"
shenhe tilts her head at the question, "why do you ask?"
the question and the genuinity of confusion on shenhe's eyes takes ningguang aback. she doesn't hide her shock and worry as ningguang replies, "you're… crying."
"i… am?" shenhe blinks, causing more tears to fall. ningguang takes the opportunity to pry the chopsticks out of shenhe's left hand, putting it on the table and replaces it with her own left hand in shenhe's.
ningguang wraps her right arm around shenhe's waist, looking at shenhe silently. shenhe didn't speak, neither them did as shenhe's tears kept streaming down her face. there isn't a hint of emotion on the exorcist's face nor a sound from her while she weeps.
ningguang wants to ask. she didn't know what exactly what to do and didn't like that feeling. she wants to know what made shenhe react like this but she knows better than to pry.
ningguang doesn't ask anything else, which shenhe is internally grateful for. even she wouldn't know why she's crying. shenhe just… is.
ningguang’s eyebrows furrow in worry. she intertwines their fingers together and her other hand moves to rub circles on shenhe's back, a soothing motion to shenhe.
shenhe lets out a shaky sigh. ningguang, then, gently cradles shenhe's head, making shenhe lean on ningguang's shoulder to which the exorcist didn't protest.
ningguang leans down and places a soft kiss on the crown of shenhe's head, burying her face in shenhe's soft hair.
the two of them didn't know how long they stayed like that, just holding onto each other. until, the silence is broken by shenhe. she sniffs after a moment and straightens up, pulling away from ningguang's embrace.
"ah," shenhe wipes her own tears away with her free hand. "the food went cold."
ningguang smiles a bit at that but there's still concern lingering in her.
"it's alright," ningguang says softly, tucking shenhe's hair behind her ear and kisses shenhe's temple. "we'll just heat it up."
they start to eat in silence, sitting across on the table once again. it isn't an uncomfortable one, but it isn't exactly an easy silence either. thankfully as time passes by, it does become one.
ningguang watches in amusement as shenhe starts to eagerly wolf down every meal ningguang has prepared.
"is it good?" ningguang asks after shenhe has finished two dishes and is currently eating a third ons, a teasing tone in ningguang's voice.
the question makes shenhe look up with a mouthful of mora meat. "yesh," shenhe tries to answer.
ningguang laughs softly, the sound making shenhe's chest warm. even warmer than when she swallowed the hot meal.
ningguang leans forward and wipes a crumb of meat from under shenhe's lips with her thumb. shenhe feels her face get warm at the action.
"i'm glad," ningguang chuckles as she retracts her hand and leans back on her seat.
but ningguang takes notice that shenhe saved the noodles for last, unlike before.
ningguang puts down her chopsticks as she carefully observes shenhe.
shenhe pauses before taking her time to savor the bowl of noodles ningguang has cooked for her.
ningguang leans on the table, placing her chin on her hand. she slowly reaches for shenhe's hand again as shenhe eats.
shenhe doesn't say anything and just continues but she intertwines her fingers with ningguang.
ningguang smiles a little, content with watching shenhe.
after shenhe has placed down her chopsticks and finished her noodles, ningguang squeezes shenhe's hand.
"how was it?" ningguang asks softly, her thumb smoothing over shenhe's hand.
shenhe looks down at the bowl as if thinking what to reply. ningguang waits for her, quite content with the moment.
"...it reminded me of… home," shenhe replies quietly.
ningguang's eyes soften, "was it a good memory?"
shenhe looks up at ningguang's eyes. she looks down again.
"i… i don't know," shenhe answers honestly.
shenhe pauses again and ningguang continues to rub shenhe's hand.
after a while, shenhe speaks again.
"but it did… it did stir emotions in me. emotions i don't… quite understand right now," shenhe sighs. "i'm sorry," she quietly adds.
ningguang tugs on shenhe's hand, making shenhe meet ningguang's eyes that looks into hers lovingly.
"there's no need to be sorry," ningguang smiles reassuringly. "just know that i'm here to listen, always. is that clear?"
shenhe smiles in a way she only does around ningguang at that. she nods and they fall in a comfortable silence, just holding each other's hand.
"tiánxīn…?" shenhe lets out after a moment.
ningguang looks up, "yes?"
"can you…" shenhe looks at her empty bowl. then, she turns to meet ningguang's eyes, "...can cook it again for me, sometime?"
ningguang's lips curve into a soft smile, one that always makes shenhe's chest feel warm inside.
"i would love to."