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The Moon-Chasing Festival was, at last, finished after all the hard work and courage you had expended to ensure its success. The festive hustle and bustle could be seen and heard throughout the entire city, but up on this hill in Jinzhou, things were quieter. That night, you found yourself gazing quietly over the bustling city as you climbed the steps to the top of a hill where a wishing tree stood. Feeling grateful that everyone had enjoyed the festivities and found comfort, you decided to pay a final visit to the wishing tree and wish a brighter future for all.
But then, your heart beat faster as soon as you reached the top of the hill. There, a familiar figure was sitting on the ground, facing the city.
What was he doing alone, at this hour, at this place...?
"Xiangli Yao...?"
Xiangli Yao, deep in thought, was abruptly pulled back to reality when he heard a familiar voice. He looked up and saw you standing behind him. He appeared slightly startled.
"Oh..." he said quietly. He had a habit of staring blankly into space when he got lost in thought. He looked at you with a slightly puzzled look.
“I didn’t think I’d run into you here,” he said in a soft voice.
His blue eyes were as calm as usual. He gave you a gentle smile and patted the spot next to him, a silent invitation to go sit beside him.
Feeling somewhat nervous and curious about his presence there, you slowly went over and sat beside him.
The two of you sat in silence for a few moments as Xiangli Yao gazed at the starlit night sky, seemingly lost in thought. You stole a glance at him, wondering what he was thinking about.
The night was quiet with the exception of the chirping sounds of crickets. His gaze was fixed on the night sky. You noticed his slender fingers tapping on his prosthetic arm gently as though he were thinking hard about something.
After what seemed like an eternity, Xiangli Yao broke the tranquil silence. His voice was soft.
"The stars tonight are quite bright, aren’t they?"
The soft grass beneath the wishing tree felt cool and comfortable against your body. A moment of silence passed as you both gazed at the city.
"Yeah..." you quietly replied. "These stars looked brighter especially during the festival."
He nodded his head in agreement, but his expression appeared somewhat weary. He gazed into the distance, his eyes fixed on the cityscape.
"Indeed, the stars always seemed to sparkle a little more during the festival," he remarked, his voice quiet and contemplative. "It’s thanks to you that this year's Moon-Chasing Festival was able to take place at all. I’m grateful to you. You had put a lot of hard work into it."
In his usual stoic and reserved tone, Xiangli Yao stated a fact with a small, appreciative smile. He regarded you with a slight hint of warmth in those blue eyes, and there was something about his voice that made your heart beat faster.
"Well, come to think of it, I should be thanking you personally," he continued. You couldn’t help but feel that the silence of the night had only made this moment more intimate, as your gazes locked onto each other.
His eyes never left yours, and you felt your heart rate slightly increase. His tone of voice was... different from usual. The atmosphere really made your thoughts wander.
"Personally...?" your gaze locked with his. "How are you going to thank me then...?"
He turned his gaze upon you, his eyes locking with yours. You felt your heart racing faster as the silence of the night deepened the intimacy of the moment. You couldn’t help but notice how incredibly attractive he was.
As you looked at his lips, he responded to your question in a slightly softer tone, his voice caressing each word.
"How will I thank you? That's a good question..." he paused, his gaze still fixed on you as the corners of his lips slowly curled into a soft smile.
As your gaze remained locked with his, you couldn't help but feel your heart rate quicken. The silence of the night seemed to create a more intimate atmosphere between the two of you. His eyes fixated on yours, and you saw a flicker of something different in those icy blue irises.
His tone of voice seemed softer and more... vulnerable, maybe? He let out a low chuckle before replying, his lips curving into a small, subtle smile.
Feeling playful, you tried to lighten up the mood. "How does a kiss sound?" you boldly joked and asked him out of the blue.
Oh, boy.
Who would have thought.
Xiangli Yao’s eyes widened slightly, not expecting to hear such a direct question. He remained silent for a few moments, looking at you with a mixture of surprise and... something else. A hint of a blush could be seen on his pale cheeks now.
He tried to maintain his composure, but a hint of embarrassment and uncertainty could be heard in his voice.
"A... kiss?" he repeated, his expression growing more perplexed.
He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up again.
"Are you serious...?"
The moment you wanted to laugh off the joke, suddenly the air became charged with tension as you held his gaze. Realizing that he took it seriously, your heart raced as it seemed like only the two of you and the stars in the sky. You noticed something different in his icy blue eyes, a vulnerability in them that hadn’t been there before.
The intense gaze continued as the air felt electric, the only sounds being the soft rustle of the breeze and the pounding of your own heartbeat. Your heart was racing, feeling as if the entire world had faded away, leaving only the two of you and the night sky above.
You suddenly realized that your faces were incredibly close to each other. Close enough that you could feel his warm breath on your face. Xiangli Yao didn’t move back, his eyes fixated on you intensely.
Without you realizing, a wave of warmth suddenly washed over your lips.
Your eyes widened, realizing that it was a kiss. Xiangli Yao’s lips were soft and warm against yours, and the sensation sent a shock through your body. You were stunned, frozen in place from the unexpected surprise.
As the kiss lingered on, it felt as if time had suspended in this moment. Your tongue and lip locked passionately with his. The warmth and intensity made your head spin and your heart pound. Your tongue moved naturally to explore his further, deepening the kiss. You were starting to realize just how much you had grown to care for him. You had been so desperately craving for this moment, having spent so many days with him during the festival, diving into his past and helping him through his struggles—had all combined to bring this intimate connection. You felt your feelings for him becoming undeniable. His vulnerability and your shared moments had led you to truly begin falling in love with the reserved man in front of you.
You broke the kiss, your eyes meeting his. The vulnerability in Xiangli Yao's eyes was clear to see. You looked at him and said, "You're not wrong for craving human connection... You're a good person."
His usually composed expression wavered slightly as he gazed at you. With a hint of raw emotion, Xiangli Yao finally managed to speak up.
"Heh..." he chuckled. "And you're a sweet person. Just like what everyone says..." he replied quietly, his voice slightly shaky. “And bold.”
He teased, the subtle change in his tone giving away a hint of playfulness.
He smiled and moved a bit closer to you, his tone of voice taking on a hint of playfulness. With a soft whisper, he said, "A kiss is quite a big way to say thank you, aren’t you getting a little greedy?"
You chuckled in response. "Well, I did just save the nation by defeating the Thernodian so everyone could hold this festival peacefully," you mused. "Surely I deserve a little reward, don’t you think?"
The night was quiet, with the only sounds being the occasional rustle of the breeze and the soft chirping of crickets. You and Xiangli Yao were alone on the top of the hill, the only witnesses being the night sky adorned in stars.
You locked eyes with him, the silence between you filled with a sense of mutual understanding and the start of something new. Xiangli Yao let out a soft exhale, his gaze never leaving yours.