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—FLASHBACK—

"No, stay away! Stay away from Gege!"

A small girl, not even older than 7 years old, screamed as she stood in front of her unconscious twin brother, who laid on the ground behind her with scratches and mud covering his face and some parts of his body.

Snarling in front of them were a pack of hungry stray dogs. All lusting after the single Baozi in her brother's hands.

"Get away from us! This is our food, not yours!" The girl added but even though she stood strong, she cannot hide her fear for long as the dogs began to advance before they lunged at them.

—FLASHBACK—

"No!" Wei WuHui cried out, immediately shooting out of her bed as she panted heavily. Sweats dripping on her face as her heart beats rapidly against her chest.

Wei WuHui put a hand on her forehead, brows furrowing. "Damn it...not again." She cussed underneath her breath.

After a few minutes of letting herself calm down, Wei WuHui get out of her bed tiredly and noticing that it was still nighttime. Frowning in annoyance, the female grabbed her beloved instrument and sneaked out of her room's window silently.

'Cloud Recesses is always so quiet...nothing like Lotus Pier' Wei WuHui thought as she quietly heads to the one place where her mind can be at peace, avoiding the patrolling Lan members at the same time. 'Maybe that's why I feel more free in here than back home'

Wei WuHui stopped when she heard a soft melody in front of her as her silvery-grey eyes stared, awestruck at the beautiful figure under the Magnolia tree with the fluttering petals showering around him.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

'Like an immortal with eternal beauty' Wei WuHui felt herself warming up as she continued to watch the figure plays the peaceful, yet emotional song with their Xiao flute.

The female slowly took quiet steps toward the figure as she began to hear the song about to finish and by the time she was close enough, the playing came to an end. Up close, she noticed the mysterious person's appearance much more clearer as they began to turn their face toward her direction.

Long, luscious dark hair like the night sky

Pale porcelain skin

Glowing, white robes that flutter in the breeze

Light brown eyes with a hint of gold that...looks...familiar...huh?

"Y-You?!" Wei WuHui suddenly let out, exposing herself to the person as the latter stiffened out of fright and snapped toward her. Their eyes also widened in surprise.

"T-The maiden..." Lan XiChen muttered as he stared at the female standing across from them with disbelief on her face as she shakily pointed at him.

"Y-You creep, are you stalking me now? Why are you here?" Wei WuHui confronted as she glared angrily at the male.

Lan XiChen spluttered over her choice of word toward him as he sheepishly saluted to her. "Gū-Niang, y-you must be mistaken. I'm not stalking you. I-I couldn't sleep so I felt like wandering, even though I'm not allowed to, 'till I arrive here. I didn't think about anything when I got here." He explained.

Wei WuHui squinted her eyes at him. Not completely trusting him and his explanation.

"Gū-Niang, if you don't mind me asking, why did you called me a creep? I don't think I did anything to make you feel uncomfortable." Lan XiChen asked politely.

Wei WuHui huffed, crossing her arms. "You mean you don't remember where you put your hand when you caught me on the first night?" She questioned.

Lan XiChen blinked owlishly before furrowing his brows in concentration as he tried to recall what had happened on that night.

—FLASHBACK—

"Y-You're a maiden?" Lan XiChen spoke after catching the girl in his arms, laying his eyes on her grey eyes, almost shading to silver, as he felt himself being drawn.

It was his first time being so close to the opposite sex. Although yes, his sister would often give him hugs or hold his arm, as well as Nie MingJue's cousin, Nie MingJian who would visit Cloud Recesses for his sister. But he have never interact with other maidens.

Suddenly, he was taken out of his thoughts when the maiden in his arms let out a high-pitched squeal and began struggling to get away.

"W-Wait! You're going to fall!" Lan XiChen yelped as he tried to steady the girl in his arms and himself.

Due to the brash and sudden movements, Lan XiChen didn't process where he readjusted his hand as he felt a soft, squishy texture.

Next thing he knew, he felt a hard slap on his cheek.

—FLASHBACK—

Lan XiChen's face immediately reddened when everything finally processed in his head.

"I-I'm deeply sorry, Gū-Niang. I did not mean to touch you inappropriately. Please forgive me." Lan XiChen saluted with apologetic expression.

Wei WuHui slightly jumped from the sudden apology as she stared at the male, checking for any insincerity which she can't, before letting out a sigh as she looked aside with a small red tint on her cheeks. "F-Fine, you're forgiven. Just stop bowing."

The young master lifted his head, catching the redness on the female's face as his heart skipped a beat. 'S-She is really beautiful' Clearing his throat, he straightened up while ignoring his thoughts as Lan XiChen gives a polite smile. "May I ask for your name, Gū-Niang?"

Wei WuHui turned back to the young master before remembering her manners as she respectfully saluted. "Wei Yang, courtesy name Wei WuHui."

Lan XiChen's eyes widened in realisation. 'Wei...Wei...I remembered. Meimei swore a sisterhood with Nie MingJian and a Wei WuHui. Don't tell me this is Wei WuHui'

"Well? I've told you my name, why don't you tell me yours?" Wei WuHui asked, raising a brow at the sudden silent male.

Shaking his head, Lan XiChen quickly saluted. "I'm Lan Huan, courtesy name Lan XiChen."

This time though, it was Wei WuHui's turn to froze in realisation as her eyes widened. 'Lan XiChen...a Lan...don't tell me...' she then saw the white forehead that have a significant design that differ from the other disciples from the Main Lan Family then his facial features which...resembles...Lan WangJi's.

Snapping around and crouching down as she grabbed her head. 'H-He's...THE FREAKING SON OF THE SECT LEADER'S AND NEXT HEIR TO THE SECT! I JUST SLAPPED THE FIRST JADE OF GUSU!'

Smiling at the girl, who was having an internal turmoil, Lan XiChen glanced up at the night sky. "Perhaps you should return to your sleeping quarter. It is getting a bit late now." He suggested, snapping the girl out as she looked back at him.

Wei WuHui felt flustered when she remembered that Lan XiChen was still here and immediately stood up as she cleared her throat, trying to cover up her embarrassment. "Y-Yes, you're right. I...should be getting back." She trailed off awkwardly.

Giving each other's one final glance, Wei WuHui timidly saluted to Lan XiChen, with the male doing the same to the latter before Wei WuHui hurriedly speed-walked back to her room.

Lan XiChen stared after the maiden with a gentle look on his face before glancing back to the glowing moon above.

— Xiao: Chinese vertical end-blown flute
— 姑娘 gū-niang: young lady

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(Please correct my translation if I'm wrong and the GIFs and pictures used in this chapter does not belong to me, but their rightful owners)