Guayin looked at the darkening sky, a frown on her face.
"He's late"
She flopped on the bench and watched the sky , if it gets cold , she's going to bed without him , he might probably be in one of his mistresses place , enjoying the lust of flesh.
She lowered her head and started to pick at her robe.
She heard news that her step sister Dalia lao have reincarnated again, this time she's the daughter of a president, she's headed for good things in life , just like always. She wondered how Fuxin will take the news , he loves Dalia lao , he likes everyone not her.
Her dao trembled and she frowned as she infused cool air into her body.
She was never a first choice.
Dalia lao have always been the apple of her father's eyes and in extension, everyone's eyes.
Beautiful with hair so black they rivaled the night sky , eyes so pretty like the flames of a Phoenix, steps so light they rivaled a dancer , gentle and kind, paitent and loving.
Guayin was the opposite, She wasn't pretty, gentle and kind, she was temperamental, rebellious and sharp mouthed , she caused chaos wherever she was.
Guayin had been working on the Field when she met Fuxin for the first time, he was on a white horse , his robes white and pristine, his hair put in a simple bun , bravery on his face, a simple valiant young man.
She had seen through his facade at once.
That was no pristine young man , that's an hedonist !
Sure enough, he stopped in front of her and winked at her.
"Young lady , can you direct me to the most beautiful lady in the whole village? I will reward you handsomely!"
Guayin covered in the sweat and labor of working the rice paddy fields grabbed a ball of mud and threw it in his face.
"Go die!"
Like she will allow this motherfucker to ruin her younger sister life!
Fuxin gasped as he rubbed the mud of his face " You're bad tempered!"
Guayin grabbed another ball of mud " Get out of this place!"
"Rouge!" he shouted as he galloped away
"I said fuck off!"
When she had gotten home, she met the white horse tied to the post close to the house.
Anger rushed into her head and she stalked into the house, her feet stamping the ground.
"That hedonist is still here?! I thought I —"
Fuxin was sitting on the ground, his black eyes focused on her sister Dalia lao dancing.
He didn't look rougish , egoist, or full of bad intentions, his eyes looked bright , almost mesmerized, his hands clenched to his side , his red lips parted.
Guayin paused , she stared at him before turning to leave.
Fuxin came to visit everyday. He brought things for Dalia lao , from flowers , to poems , to books , his facade seems to drop around her sister , his eyes soft with affection.
He was different towards her though, everytime he saw her , he would give her a glare and she would give him a corresponding menacing glare.
"Rouge !"
"Motherfucker!"
Then Fuxin suddenly stopped coming.
The bothersome person who couldn't leave her sister for a second was no where to be found, he left his horse though.
Dalia lao sat on the bench of the paddy rice field , sighing as she watched Guayin till the soil.
"He was always so attentive, do you think he have found another woman?"
Guayin slapped the horse buttock ,Dalia lao swore the horse glared at her sister before dragging the plow . Guayin thought for a second before shrugging her shoulder.
"I think he's a bastard but I also think he's someone who is loyal to whom he likes. Maybe something bad happened to him who knows "
Dalia lao placed her chin on her hand "You hate him the most yet here you're defending him"
Guayin rolled her eyes " I am not defending him" she grabbed her hoe and started to turn the soil.
It was three months later when Fuxin finally came back. His eyes were sucken and red , his lips were pale , he wasn't wearing a white robe anymore, instead he wore peasant clothes.
He was sitting in front of the house, looking at his fingernails.
When Guayin stood in front of him , he raised his eyes briefly and lowered it back.
Guayin stared at him before grabbing another robe from her basket and putting it over his body.
"Come inside" she whispered before entering inside
Fuxin tightened the robe around his body before entering inside.
She quickly tidied up the guest room and arranged the beddings before moving aside.
"Change your clothes" She instructed before leaving the room. By the time she came back with his dinner, he was already lying on the bed , the robe still tight on him.
She dropped the food down in front of him and tapped the wooden floor.
He sat up slowly.
"Hold the spoon" seeing he didn't move, anger rushed into Guayin head "Are you deaf?!"
Fuxin shook his head , his voice was hoarse "I …I can't "
Guayin grabbed his arm , he winced when she pulled his sleeve up.
His arms was streaked with injuries both deep and superficial, some were red and throbbing, other were green , probably infected.
The bastard was probably in severe pain.
Her voice softened despite her intentions "What happened?"
"War " Fuxin mumbled before lowering his head again.
She grabbed the chopsticks and started to place the food into his mouth. He chewed slowly, often making sure to chew 10 times before swallowing.
Guayin was never the one for patience, she nagged him throughout his meal.
"You chew like you have a toothache"
"Can't you just swallow at once?"
"I have things to do , not watch you eat like a princess!"
Fuxin glared at her.
As soon as he was done , she grabbed the dishes and went out of the room. She came back in thirty minutes carrying hot water and a clean white cloth.
Her hands were not gentle , after all she have never been a nurse, a person adept in patience. Fuxin whined like the baby he was , and she snapped at him frequently.
Soon his wounds were clean and she placed a blanket padded with hay over him.
She sat beside him "Are you taking opium?"
Fuxin raised his head slowly, his voice soft " I take it when I can't sleep. I haven't taken it in a while though"
She pressed on his back, it was strong, a little painful but for some reason, Fuxin found himself relaxing.
Her voice was soft " Both of our mothers died from an opium overdose so Dalia lao hates the smell. If you want to continue to be her lover , you will have to get rid of it"
Fuxin couldn't help but smile "Will you massage my back every time I can't sleep then?"
Guayin rolled her eyes "It's like I'm getting too familiar with you " She pinched his back making him wince "Go to sleep!"
"Cant I play a joke with you anymor—-ah ah ah Guayin be gentle!"
Dalia lao came to visit Fuxin the next morning. As usual, the hedonistic brat eyes brightened and he smiled as she whispered asking him about where he went to.
Guayin glared at Fuxin " Dalia lao go outside, I want to treat his wounds"
Fuxin frowned , his voice grumpy " She doesn't need to go out , you could just do it for me as she's here"
"You won't concentrate!"
Dalia lao looked at guayin, her eyes were confused "Guayin…"
Something needled her heart , it was bitter, a little suffocating, a little uncomfortable. She had no idea what it is , but she can't deal with it.
She slammed the basin on the floor and threw the white cloth at her sister , then she stomped out of the room.
She had tilled the rice paddy fields till her back ached, till her waist cried out in pain but she didn't stop , because that uncomfortable feeling never left.
It was only when the horse groaned in dissatisfaction she finally stopped. She stood up and started to drag the horse back. Standing at the edge of the rice paddy field was fuxin , the coarse robe she gave him tied to his body , a slight frown on his face.
She had no idea how long he had been standing there , her tired bones rattled as she moved towards him , only then did she notice his legs were trembling, his face was flushed red and his eyes lowered.
She frowned and placed a hand on his forehead , it was hot , almost burning.
She glared at him " You stayed here till you are burning up?!"
Fuxin frowned and slapped her hand from his head " I was just worried about Chi chi !"
"It's a horse it have fur!"
"I was scared you will work him to death!"
She grabbed his wrist and grabbed the rein of the horse, she pulled the both of them home, her voice nagging.
"Both horse and man is stupid!"
"Ill but still running around!"
"I don't have the patience to be trying to break fevers!"
Despite Guayin intentions, Fuxin fever worsened during the night, he mumbled words, sometimes tears spilled out of his eyes as she repeatedly wiped down his body.
Guayin stared at Fuxin helplessly. She have done everything, it was already past midnight, she can't go to call the village healer.
Fuxin groaned , tears spilling down endlessly.
She tried to stand up but Fuxin held on to her , in his delirious state , there was panic in his eyes.
"Guayin , don't leave me!"
On a normal day, she would have slapped his hand away but he looked genuinely scared. She had to rub his arm to soothe him.
"I will be back soon"
"Can't you stay?" He whispered and placed her hand against his cheek " Stay with me"
"Dont be a baby , It won't take 10 minutes I promise "
At last Fuxin tearfully released his hand on her wrist and closed his eyes.
Guayin stood up and ran out of the room. She grabbed her Cloak and a small dagger, then she ran towards the old healer place.
Many times she have told herself she won't go out in the night, men were cruel often with ill intentions but at this rate , that big baby will die.
She knocked heavily on the door, fortunately the old healer was awake working on some medicine.
She literally dragged the man back to their home; when she opened the door to the room , Dalia Lao was sitting by the bedside, her face flushed, her fingers trembling as she pressed a hand to her lips.
Fuxin was leaning toward her, his fevered breath heavy, his body burning up, but his hands were clutched around Dalia Lao's sleeves like she was something he had been afraid to lose.
Guayin mind went blank.
The old healer covered his mouth " ohh!"
Dalia lao flushed and pushed Fuxin from her.
Right before she left, she looked at her sister , she opened her mouth as if wanting to say something but when guayin stared at her , she stiffened and ran out of the room.
Fuxin still looked derilous, his eyes were unfocused and he breathed heavily, his chest moving fast.
Then a sob broke out of his throat " Don't leave me…"
Guayin clenched her fists, her voice was hoarse for some reason " Please check him out , I need to go and do something"
The old healer nod his head.
Guayin went to the kitchen, grabbed all the anchoives and chilies and started to clean them. Her eyes burned, her heart hurts but she kept doing them , kept peeling.
At last, a sob clawed it's way out of her throat and she curled her knees to her chest.
She hate that hedonistic brat so much, she had ran all around trying to help him but he had been in that room doing intimate things with her younger sister; she should have left him to die.
No, you won't let him die.
She rolled her eyes, her voice was filled with anger " I would let him , shut up !"
Her mind quieted.
When it was dawn , she went out to see the old doctor.
The old doctor voice was soft "He wasn't ill, he's just passing through his tribulations"
Guayin raised a brow " Tribulation?"
"That young man is a demi god"
Guayin have heard stories about mortals with the amplitude to become gods, demigods reincarnating and nuwa herself creating other gods. She didn't expect that Fuxin was a demigod, that was one step to immortality.
"Is he a born demi god?"
The old man shook his head " I don't know "
Guayin nod her head slowly. Since it turns out the guy was strong, he doesn't need her help again, he should go die for all she cares.
"Please young child, who is Guayin?"
Guayin raise a brow " it's me"
"Oh …." The old healer stared at her , his eyes a little odd "He kept calling for you throughout the night "
Guayin scoffed. That hedonistic brat will call for anyone to warm his bed. He was probably whining about she interrupting his precious kiss with Dalia lao.
"Hmm " She took a few coins from her purse and handed it to the healer ; she went to kitchen and took some rice with anchoives "I am sorry it's little , it's all I have"
"It's more than enough dear" he took the rice and waved goodbye at her .
Later in the afternoon, Guayin peeped through the door.
He was still sleeping, hair stuck to his forehead and his red lips parted. He no longer mumbled words.
Guayin went to grab cool water and clean clothes.
She's still angry but he should be comfortable, sticky clothes can make people sick.
Once she was done , she looked at the darkening sky.
All these resentment in her heart have no where to go , all these anger in her heart can only bubble forth without knowing where to toss it.
She can only hope to be glad to see another day.