Dragon Boat Festival Lantern Festival
Amidst the dazzling lanterns, Duanmu Huaixin's smile was so touching. The crowds of people were mingling around him, and the girls couldn't help but marvel at the scene of presenting the King of Lanterns. They looked at Wen Weili standing in the center with envy, wishing they were standing there, and that man was their sweetheart, presenting the King of Lanterns to them as if he were presenting his true heart.
Amid the clamor of the crowd, Wen Weili's heartbeat grew louder and louder. It felt as if her heart was about to burst out of her chest, leaving her with an indescribable feeling. She wondered, somewhat inappropriately, "Xinxin calls me Li'er. Is she afraid that people around us will recognize us?" It must be that way, otherwise, why would Xinxin suddenly change her tone?
While Wen Weili was daydreaming, Duanmu Huaixin smiled helplessly. He put the golden pear flower lantern into Wen Weili's hands, nodded apologetically to the people around who were making a fuss, took Wen Weili's hand, and walked towards a quieter place.
"Xinxin..." Wen Weili seemed to come to her senses after leaving the noisy crowd. She was very embarrassed. "Was I distracted just now? You suddenly called me Li... Li'er. Were you trying to cover up?"
Wen Weili looked calm and forced herself to find a topic, but she didn't know that her face, hidden under the gauze hat, was already flushed.
"...Yes, Sister Wen. If I had called you Sister Wen in public just now, you would have been recognized too easily." Duanmu Huaixin laughed heartily. He didn't think there was anything shameful about Wen Weili's silence. Instead, he thought that Sister Wen was thinking about why he called her that and that was why she didn't respond.
When they were young, Duanmu Huaixin and Wen Weili walked through the streets and alleys of the imperial city in search of delicious food. Therefore, many people know that there is an invincible general, Prince Huai, and his sister Wen who like to play among civilians. Duanmu Huaixin recently took back the military power. Once his identity is exposed, those hyenas who are chasing fame and fortune will come close to him, and there will be no peace tonight.
What's more, when Duanmu Huaixin was grabbing the ball with the dragon dance performance, everyone was afraid that the ghost-faced man was here to cause trouble, and they glared at him. Only Wen Weili met his eyes. There was surprise and joy in Wen Weili's eyes, and there was a light that made him speechless.
That unfamiliar feeling lingered in Duanmu Huaixin's heart. So, under the gaze of the crowd, he was no longer the Prince Huai, nor was she the caring Sister Wen. He was just an ordinary man giving a gift to a beautiful girl at the Dragon Boat Festival. At that moment, as if touched by something, he called out the word "Li'er."
Ever since his mother asked Duanmu Huaixin, who was still a little boy, to recognize Wen Weili as his sister, Duanmu Huaixin always called Wen Weili "Sister Wen" with full trust.
However, tonight, perhaps because the lanterns were too bright or because he was too excited, Duanmu Huaixin called out "Li'er" in such a "treasonous" way for the first time. He was confused by the unfamiliar emotion in his heart, and was both nervous and uneasy.
But as Wen Weili remained stunned, Duanmu Huaixin's excitement gradually subsided. He thought, perhaps he shouldn't call her Sister Wen so casually. This was just an accident, a little joke because he didn't want others to recognize them. But for some reason, he felt a little sour and uncomfortable.
Sister Wen was worthy of being Sister Wen. She immediately understood his intention to cover up for them, which made Duanmu Huaixin happy again. He felt that although he and Sister Wen had no blood relationship, Sister Wen was so in tune with him that they must be the best "sister and brother".
Just after walking out of the crowd, Wen Weili and Duanmu Huaixin each had their own concerns, and the two did not notice for a while that they were walking towards a more secluded and deserted place.
Fortunately, Wen Weili held a golden lantern, its candlelight barely illuminating the path beneath their feet. Stars shone in the sky, and the moonlight shone down on the two of them. For a moment, even though the two of them didn't speak, the atmosphere wasn't awkward at all. Instead, Duanmu Huaixin enjoyed it immensely. He felt that no matter how long the road was, he was willing to keep walking with Sister Wen.
Wen Weili's mind was in a tangle of emotions, a mess of emotions piling up in her heart. A flash of inspiration was fleeting, and she wanted to grab it, but she didn't know what she wanted. After hesitating for a long time, she finally interrupted Duanmu Huaixin's enjoyment and said, "Xinxin, it's getting late, let's go back."
"...Okay." Even though he was reluctant, Duanmu Huaixin still responded. They turned and walked in the direction of Prince Huai, gradually entering the bustling place of the mortal world. There were people talking all around, and children ran past them with lanterns in their hands, cheering. The path where the stars and the moon were entwined just now seemed like a dream and could no longer be found.
"Xinxin," Wen Weili thought of something and took out a piece of colorful silk thread from her purse, "Come, tie the colorful string. I wish you a bright future."
Duanmu Huaixin obediently stretched out his right hand, blinked, and smiled, "I miss it so much. When I wasn't in the Imperial City a few years ago, I missed Sister Wen's colored rope so much."
"The border is bitterly cold, and we've never celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival. At most, we've shared a few rice dumplings shipped from the imperial city. There aren't the many flavors you make, nor are there mugwort and colored ropes, nor are there grand lantern festivals like this one."
"What do you want to say?" Wen Weili didn't even raise her head, and carefully tied the end of the colored thread tightly, while keeping it loose so as not to tighten Duanmu Huaixin's wrist.
"I want to say... peaceful days are really great, that's why I am willing to be stationed at the border. Even if I will be suspected and attacked by that old guy, I will not regret it." Duanmu Huaixin's eyes were sparkling. He stared at Wen Weili tying the colorful rope, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
Wen Weili patted Duanmu Huaixin's shoulder and said, "You are a good boy. I will always support you."
After all, it was a busy street, so Duanmu Huaixin and Wen Weili didn't want to talk too much about their identities. They walked side by side in front of each stall, buying whatever they liked. Duanmu Huaixin always rushed to pay, "I'm treating you tonight...buy whatever you want."
Wen Weili couldn't help laughing. "You talk as if I have no money. You know, your shop is still in my hands. Without my approval, where would you get the private money?"
Duanmu Huaixin rubbed his head awkwardly, thinking Wen Weili was really asking where his private money came from, so he answered very frankly: "When I was at the border, I had some..."
Wen Weili quickly covered Duanmu Huaixin's mouth, which was about to reveal his past secrets, and said, "Shh, I'm not really checking your money. No matter how much you have, don't tell me."
"Oh." Duanmu Huaixin seemed to have suffered a blow and was a little dejected.
He turned around and saw the words "snow globe" written on the food stall. Suddenly, an idea came to him and he perked up again. He also remembered to whisper in Wen Weili's ear, "Sister Wen, although it's bitterly cold at the border, it's really beautiful when it snows there. If you have nothing to do at the end of the year, why don't you come with me to the border for a trip?"
"Okay," Wen Weili also glanced at the sign on the stall and said with a smile, "Just don't treat me with 'snow globes' when the time comes."
This 'snowball' wasn't a snowball. Duanmu Huaixin was teased by Wen Weili, but he didn't get annoyed. He just smiled and said softly, "Who knows? If Sister Wen breaks her promise, I'll tie her up and take her to the border. I'll treat you to a 'snowball' while I eat mutton hotpot right in front of you, making you drool."
"You're up to no good again," Wen Weili sneered, "Just wait and see. I'll snatch your pot from you and make you cry in the snow."
"Come on, I'm not afraid."
Wen Weili pretended to hit Duanmu Huaixin, but Duanmu Huaixin certainly would not take the beating. He dodged forward, and Wen Weili's weak attack fell into vain.
"Well, you still dare to hide." Wen Weili just wanted to touch Duanmu Huaixin and be done with it, but Duanmu Huaixin's dodging made her want to hit him even more. "Don't run, watch me beat you up."
"Come and chase me." Duanmu Huaixin raised his eyebrows complacently. He deliberately ran a bit and then stopped, keeping a distance from Wen Weili that seemed like he could hit him, but in fact he could dodge him with a slight move away.
The two of them chased and played in the street like children. Duanmu Huaixin ran while making sure to clear the way ahead so as not to bump into others, while Wen Weili chased while not forgetting to protect the golden lamp in her hand. As the two of them ran and chased each other, everyone who passed by smiled knowingly.
"What a loving young couple."
"Exactly. Look at how good their relationship is."
"Oh my, look at that lantern, isn't it the King of Lanterns? I saw it with my own eyes..."
"Really? They are so happy."
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More and more people noticed the pursuit between Wen Weili and Duanmu Huaixin, and there was no lack of envy and blessings in their words. Wen Weili suddenly noticed people's discussion and felt embarrassed. She clarified: "No, he and I are not husband and wife. No, we are husband and wife. No, no, we are not husband and wife. Uh..."
Duanmu Huaixin also heard people's discussion and immediately emphasized, "They are husband and wife!"
It's you, you're obviously a fake couple! Wen Weili glared at Duanmu Huaixin and quickly dragged him away, "Go home, go home."
"Oh." Duanmu Huaixin followed Wen Weili's lead and walked, looking at the crowd obediently and innocently, "We're going home." He also emphasized, "We are husband and wife."
"You..." Wen Weili had nothing to say. She let go of Duanmu Huaixin's collar and walked away.
Duanmu Huaixin quickly caught up, "Wait for me."
The people around looked at the young lady kindly as she hurried away, probably out of shyness, while the young husband followed her aggrievedly, not knowing why his wife was angry. With such a stupid husband, the young lady had a hard time dealing with him.
It was not until she returned to the back door of Prince Huai's Mansion that Wen Weili, breathing rapidly, slowly walked into the palace.
"Sister Wen, I'm sorry, but we are husband and wife." Duanmu Huaixin apologized to the angry Wen Weili, but his clear eyes were full of confusion.
The nameless anger in Wen Weili's heart suddenly subsided. She touched Duanmu Huaixin's hair helplessly and said, "It's okay, it's not your fault. I was thinking too much at the time and said the wrong thing."
"It's not Sister Wen's fault," Duanmu Huaixin looked at Wen Weili seriously, "Whatever Sister Wen does is right."
"You..." Wen Weili smiled and tapped Duanmu Huaixin's forehead, and the anxiety in her heart gradually dissipated.
The atmosphere between the two of them returned to normal, but only they themselves knew that something seemed to have changed.
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