Chapter Text
The air in the Lady’s castle was always tense but today it was not normal. Like a rubber band stretched to maximum capacity, just moments before it snapped.
Ling Jiushi almost died last night. He doesn’t know whether he was lucky or not. And now Ruan Nanzhu is always tailing after him. He doesn’t mind it, he actually liked being in his company but… he is clearly worried and Jiushi has the need to cheer him up. But he doesn’t know how.
They both were currently in silence after a conversation about the strange paintings so Jiushi broke the silence with a frequently asked but still genuine question. “Zhu Meng?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you have any hobbies?”
Zhu Meng looked at him as if it was the first time someone asked him this question. Perhaps he didn’t expect this, but it was probably a good diversion from having him worried about me.
“Why do you ask?”
“Just… - just because friends know each others hobbies and interests. You know mine and I want to know yours.”
He became silent for a while and then replied, “I’m not sure… but if I have to have one, it might be dancing.”
I stopped in my tracks and turned my head to face him with a, “What?”
“Dancing, Lingling. The form of art where people move -”
“Yes, I know what dancing is. It’s just that you don’t seem the type to dance”, I explained.
His eyes seemed to light up with a mischievous glint and I wondered what is he up to now, then he said, “Well, it has been quite a while… - Lingling!”
“Yeah?”
“Would you like to dance with me?”, he said with slight bow and his left hand extended towards me. But I, for all my life is worth, do not have a single rhythmically movable muscle in my body. And when he told this to Zhu Meng, the other’s eyes seemed to dull and he uttered a single, “Oh?”, and promptly ended the conversation.
Jiushi felt his friend’s spirit go down and quickly added, “But if you really want to… I can try.”
“Oh, why thank you, Lingling”, he said cheerfully while Jiushi took his hand. He took Jiushi by the waist and pulled them both closer together. Jiushi anticipated this but he was still flustered by the movement. His unoccupied arm fell naturally on Nanzhu’s shoulders and then Nanzhu tilted his towards Jiushi’s ear and whispered, “Relax, there is no need to be so tense”, and these words worked like magic and Jiushi’s body immediately eased up against Nanzhu’s. “It might take some time but just try to feel where I’m leading you and mirror my movements. If I move forward, you move back and vice versa.”
“So… what about my footwork?” Jiushi asked.
“Mirror my own, it’s really nothing complex though it might take sometime getting used to”, he said.
Ling Jiushi thought it would be some sophisticated classical western dance like the waltz and thought to himself, ‘How could anyone like that kind of dances.’ But to his surprise Ruan Nanzhu lightly guided him through whatever dance they were doing. It was half freestyle and half cliche style. There was a lot of closeness but enough space to move. A lot touching but not enough to cause discomfort.
To his astonishment he realized that he is in perfect sync with Nanzhu. It came to him as if it was second nature. He knows what the other would do next even if he never danced in his life. It was like they were doing this all their lives.
They twirled and lead each other across the hallway and towards the balcony. It was still bright outside and the light caught Ruan Nanzhu’s eyes and Jiushi thought it would take a whole lifetime to unearth the depth in irises which are constantly fixed on him.
The ever lasting smell of rain on earth is present in the air as the ends of Nanzhu’s black coat swished from side to side. It was quite freeing to watch him glow in the sunlight that highlights the curves and contours of his body. Light shadows defining his beautifully perfect face as he moves to an inaudible rhythm.
His unrehearsed movements precise and yet without any intent to showoff, easy for Jiushi to follow. At this state Jiushi doesn’t know what to make of the figure in front of him. Nanzhu looks nothing like the cold, mysterious person everyone thinks he is. This side of Nanzhu seems soft and caring - like the one Jiushi is used to when its only the two of them together. His footsteps making delicate noises that only he could hear on the hard floor. The others breath on his skin when they come together after parting. The smell of his light perfume alluring. And Jiushi thought, not for the first time, ‘He is perfect’, as the whole world seemed to disappear out of sight, until it was only the two of them.
They didn’t stop even after reaching the staircase but instead took turns in circling each other as they descended downstairs. When arriving the foot of the staircase Ruan Nanzhu, to his surprise, dipped Ling Jiushi and oh… Jiushi felt his breath being stolen by the person in front of him. Their faces bare inches apart, their bodies pressed together and their breaths mixed.
They didn’t know how much time has passed, perhaps a few hours or a mere few seconds, but time seems to drag as they stared at each other, noted down every single detail from the lone strand of hair on his forehead to the only perfect imperfection, that is the two teardrop moles he has below his right eye that is a stark contrast against his pale skin. And Jiushi’s heart skipped a beat. Wouldn’t it be nice to stay in his warm arms forever. His dark gaze lit up a fire in Jiushi’s heart that he desperately tries to control.
An applause, not so far away, shook them from their comfortable bubble and they both pried apart from each other, acting as if nothing had happened. Turns out they have attracted quite an audience. Tan Zaozao’s face was full of joy as she continued clapping and wiping off imaginary tears.
From far away on top of a balcony, The Lady in the Rain silently smiled to herself as she saw such a beautiful display, so full of love and compassion. She looked away as her heart burned from unwanted memories that their performance stirred up. But it gave her hope that true love still exists.