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It's been two months since he disembarked the Xianzhou Luofu.
Who is he, you may ask? The mysterious traveler she happened to stumble upon on one fine day whilst on her patrols. A foreigner, eccentric to say the least. Ask anyone on the Xianzhou at the time about "the man carrying a gigantic casket" and it'll surely ring a bell.
However, to Sushang, he was no mere merchant. She found herself intrigued by him from the very first time they met. One day with him turned into two, then turned into three before it became a whole week and counting.
He was interesting. A man from a faraway land. You couldn't pin down his origins by his clothing nor his accent. Even uses a local name. Claims to be a merchant but is rarely seen in action in the marketplace. Not to mention the enormous coffin and dainty sword he carries around.
And of course, Sushang did try to pry some things out of him, but none of his answers were noteworthy.
"Where are you from?", she asked. To which he replied, "You wouldn't know even if I told you."
"What's in that coffin?", she also asked. To which he then replied, "Just something someone told me to bring here."
Obviously trying to talk his secrets out of him wasn't very useful. However, that didn't stop her from bothering him on the daily. They would still meet up to talk over some tea. Every day after Sushang's shift she would go to the same teahouse, where he would be seated at the same table. She would tell him stories about her day and he would listen.
To her surprise, he never got tired of it. Oftentimes her stories were repetitive, and she'd start talking nonsense as they wait for the piping hot tea to cool down. And yet all he ever did was smile.
Other times she would visit his little inn and fiddle with his belongings. Being trained with a sword since she was young, that particular trinket of his had always caught her eye. It was long and slender, just as the wielder himself. It felt odd in her hands compared to the heavy one she always uses.
"Where did you get this sword?", she asked him that day, eyes fixated on the teal hues that lined its slim white body, twirling it around as she mimicked a thrust.
"From my hometown", he replied. Which wasn't really the answer she was hoping for but she took it anyway.
Sure, he didn't reveal much about himself but the way he answered her wasn't reluctant. He was merely keeping his cards close to his chest on his own accord, not out of spite towards her. She hoped so, at least.
She didn't know much about him, but honestly that made him even more attractive.
Sushang had grew fond of him within no time. Rushing to his inn after a day's patrol to help him with dinner had become her routine. Also admiring his pretty features whenever he's concentrating on his work. Poking his cheeks to get his attention.
She was always eager to tease him, twirling his hair between her fingers and watching as a small smile crept up on his lips. But on the days he chose to return the favour, her confidence would melt into a puddle.
Oh, how she missed him.
Yes, she could continue to tell stories about her day to her other friends. Yes, she could crash someone else's house to have dinner.
But no, she doesn't want to. Because no one else is him.
"Will you be back?", she asked on the day she sent him off, tugging on his sleeve before he boarded his starskiff.
He flashed her a sincere grin, his gloved fingers tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I will, I promise. Just wait for me."
And that was exactly what she did. Wait. Still waiting relentlessly for two months.
Ever since that day she had been patrolling the marketplace. "You know where to find me", he said before he left. He needn't say any more. So she arranged to switch shifts with whoever was assigned to their little grove of memories on that day, for every day onwards. And while her eyes were keenly on the search for any threats, she also kept an eye out for the tall blond man she had long yearned for.
Summer turned to fall, and golden leaves began to scatter the marketplace. The lovely shade of amber reminded her so much of his long hair, which he had promised to let her braid one day.
Who knew when that one day would come.
Why was she even doing this? Why was she waiting for him tirelessly, when she wasn't even sure he would even come back? Why did she trust his words so much?
In reality, she knew why. She would just never admit it herself.
Until a familiar figure walked the streets.
Was she hallucinating? Is that really him?
Not that she gave much time for contemplation before running into his arms.
Thankfully, the man was not too taken aback — because the man was indeed him — and returned her embrace, his slender arms enveloping her petite body perfectly.
"Luocha", she mumbled as she buried her face in his chest, relishing that sweet scent of lilac on his person that she had long been deprived of.
"Someone's excited to see me", he crooned. Forcing a pink hue to form on her face.
She pulled away from his embrace and shook her head. "N-no... I-"
A sweet smile graced his lips, which he then brought to the back of her hand as his gloved one raised it. "Did I keep you waiting too long?"
She huffs and looks down, a deep blush covering her face. "Yes", she muttered.
He can't help but sigh in amusement. His slender fingers tilt her chin up, her hazel eyes meeting his green ones. "I'm sorry. I hope you won't push me away. You're just the person I wanted to see."
She scoffs and crosses her arms. She tried to act aloof but she knew the blush on her face was betraying her. The impact this man had on her was crazy.
"You'll have to make me stay, then."
He grins, catching a loose leaf in his fingers and plopping it behind her ear. "Didn't we have a promise?"
An exasperated sigh leaves her lips. He knew she could never deny him, and it was annoying how he exploited that to make her fold every time.
"...Tea?", she asks.
He smirks. "You bet."