Chapter Text
Wei Ying stared at a distance as he drank wine sitting outside of his newly bought house. After telling Lan Zhan he'll divorce him, he didn't think twice and left that place. What's worse is that Lan Zhan didn't even stop him from leaving. There he realized that his husband no longer had the love and affection he had for him before. Lan Zhan, whom he thought would never change suddenly, CHANGED .
He had wanted to meet that person who brainwashed Lan Zhan and punch him until he couldn't stand up. But will something change if he does that? No. Nothing will happen. Because Lan Zhan already chose. Sadly, it was not him.
…
"Jie-jie!"
" Chi-jie!"
"Jie-jie is here!!"
Shouts the children as they saw a young maiden wearing a red ribbon on her half bun navy blue hair. They welcomed her with a hug that made the maiden smile a tad but it was gone in a blink of an eye.
"Did you bring some cookies Chi-jie?" Says a child with excitement.
"Yeah, did you bring us some cookies Chi-jie?"
"What story are we gonna read today?"
"I'm soooooo exciteeeeddd!!"
"You're so loud!"
"I'm not!"
Wei Ying happened to stroll a little bit far from them and heard the commotion. He can't help but look at them. There he saw a bunch of kids surrounding a maiden who had an impression so familiar, his heart hurt at the sight.
An expressionless face.
"Excessive noise is forbidden."
Even the words she utter painfully reminds him of his husband. Correction: EX-husband.
"Sorry Jie!"
"Sorry Jie!"
"You are forgiven. Take a seat."
Wei Wuxian decided to continue his stroll with fast paced steps. He didn't know what will happen to him if he stays here a little bit longer.
…..
Chikane went downstairs after she heard her mom call her. She saw her cooking dinner at the kitchen.
"Mom, you called."
"Oh, right. My dear Chika, please do me a favor by inviting our dear new neighbor for tomorrow's dinner, will you? He has been here for weeks and yet we didn't even give him a warm welcome! We didn't want him thinking he has snob neighbors, don't we?"
Hearing that, Chikane's mom is unaware of her daughter's predicament as she continues to speak.
(0-0) Invite that person? Why does it have to be me?!
"Now, go along daughter!" Her mom says and even gives her a little push from behind.
Hesitantly, Chikane walked with heavy steps going to the direction where their new neighbor is currently residing. In truth, she was not a sociable person. That's why she finds it hard to do what her mom asked her to do. But she can’t defy her mom’s wishes as well so she just has to do as she says.
The house of the said neighbor is just in front of theirs so it wasn't long before she arrived at the said house. When she got there, she started to raise her fist and was going to knock when the door suddenly opened. There, she saw her neighbor holding a bottle of wine with a glass on it.
Her neighbor looked surprised to see her but maybe that was just her imagination.
"Oh, hello there! May I help you with something?"
"Mom invites you to come to dinner tomorrow." Chikane said without so much as feelings and went on her way.
The man on the other hand was left wondering in his mind. "Oh wow, do I even have the right to say no?"
…..
The next evening, Wei Ying found himself standing at the front door of his neighbor's place with a box of cake in his hands. He actually didn't want to come but he thought he didn't want to be rude to his neighbor most especially when he was personally invited by the daughter of the house. The daughter who turned out to be the one he saw yesterday when he was out for a stroll.
Wei Ying didn't know why he suddenly felt a little nervous so he decided to take a deep breath before knocking on the door.
The door opened and it revealed the daughter who came to his house yesterday.
"Hi! I brought a cake. I hope you like it." He said and then gave the box to the young maiden.
The maiden accepted it and thanked him before he was let into the house. When he did, he was welcomed by the Father and Mother of the house which is Mr. and Mrs. Himemiya. He also learned that their daughter's name was Chikane.
"Thank you so much for coming, Wei Ying. And forgive us for not inviting you sooner. It's just that we have become really busy the past weeks because we're chasing a deadline at work so we only have the time to invite you today." Says Mrs. Himemiya as they eat.
"It is alright, Mrs. Hime. I understand that deadlines can be quite hard on us sometimes."
"Right? And do call me, Auntie. Don't be so formal, will you?"
"Then I will, Auntie."
The elder woman smiled at that.
"So Wei Ying, what do you do?" Asks Mr. Himemiya.
"I'm a novel writer, Mr. Hime."
"Oh, really? Then you must have already sold lots of books if I may ask?"
"Mm, not much but yeah. Some are best selling books."
"Really? If that's the case then maybe Chikane here has a book of yours! You see, this daughter of mine loves books so much. She hardly goes out of the house if she's not in school!"
Wei Ying looked at Chikane who was very silent and eating very slowly and formally. He can't help but remember a certain someone again. He decided to look away from her before he gets really emotional.
"Really? Then maybe we can talk about books sometimes."
"You should! I'm sure she'll love that-"
Mrs. Himemiya got interrupted when she heard the sound of a moving chair. Turns out it was Chikane suddenly standing.
"I'm full. Please excuse me." She says and went away from the table.
"Oh so soon?"
Wei Ying can only look at her as she strode away.
"She'll go to the library for sure. You can catch up with her after dinner Wei Ying."
"Oh no. It's alright, Auntie. I don't wanna be a bother." Says Wei Ying but in truth, the reason why he did not want to come to her is because he's afraid he's going to melt down and cry. And he's sure he's going to because Chikane seems like a splitting image of his ex-husband, albeit in a woman form. Even her actions are the same as Lan Zhan's.
"Oh you're not, Wei Ying. I'm sure of it."
"Ah, I really don't want to be a bother-"
"Wei Ying, you see, Chikane doesn't have friends. She has tried to make friends before but was taken advantage of and was hurt. After that, she lost trust in people and no longer tried to make friends with anyone. I hope you can take time to make friends with my daughter. Of course it doesn't have to be everyday. Just when you have the time."
Wei Ying felt for Chikane. He felt for her the same as how he felt for Lan Zhan. And suddenly, he wanted to forget his own hurt and be there for someone.
"I.. I'll do what I can, Auntie."
Mrs. Himemiya smiled again. "Thanks a lot, Wei Ying! That means so much to us."
After eating dinner, Wei Ying went to the library and saw Chikane reading a book. He can't help but remember the first time he saw Lan Zhan. He was also reading a book as well, looking like a prince. It was as though he came out straight from a fairytale book.
"So, I heard you like books! What book are you reading?" He suddenly asked but did not receive an answer.
Huh, not talking as well like him huh? Oh well, I guess this is all I'm worth. Looking out for someone like Lan Zhan and those that are like him.
"Is that an erotic novel?"
"Ridiculous!" Chikane states looking outrageous.
Fu**, they even use the same expression.. I'm done for. I have to get out of here. Wei Ying suddenly turned and was going to go when he suddenly remembered what he was here for. But how can he do that if he's been reminded of Lan Zhan everytime this person moves or talks?!
"Promiscuity is forbidden. Nothing good can come out of reading an erotic book." Chikane states which made Wei Ying turn towards her.
"Haha really? Why do you say that? It's pleasurable to read!"
"It only leads to promiscuity."
"But it can also help you perform, you know, having sex with your partner later."
"Frivolous!" Chikane says suddenly standing up and running away.
"Hey, Chikane!" Shouts Wei Ying but the maiden didn’t listen to him.
Oh well …
Chikane runs until she reaches her room. She immediately closed the door and leaned on it as she held her heart that is beating so fast. She tried to erase what Wei Ying said earlier but it kept coming to her head.
"But it can also help you perform, you know, having sex with your partner later."
"But it can also help you perform, you know, having sex with your partner later."
"But it can also help you perform, you know, having sex with your partner later."
Ridiculous! There was no erotic books when Adam and Eve was made and yet they were able to learn how to reproduce. What a lie from the evil one.
"Ridiculous.."