In the soft, light of dawn, Lian Yan stirred from her slumber, her eyelids fluttering open to greet the new day. She lay there for a moment, savoring the warmth of the bed beneath her, before slowly pushing herself up into a sitting position. With a gentle stretch of her arms, she arched her back, feeling the subtle crackle of her spine as it realigned. The room was bathed in a golden glow, the morning sun casting long, dancing shadows across the walls.
As she blinked away the last remnants of sleep, her gaze wandered lazily around the room, taking in the familiar sights that had become her sanctuary. It was then that she noticed it—a platter resting on the table, its contents meticulously arranged and tantalizingly inviting. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the unmistakable touch of Jian Wei in the presentation. The platter was a feast for the eyes, a symphony of colors and textures that promised a culinary delight.
Lian Yan swung her legs over the edge of the couch, her bare feet touching the cool, smooth floor. She stood up gracefully, her movements fluid and elegant, as she made her way towards the table. Each step was deliberate, her anticipation building with every inch closer to the spread before her. As she reached the table, she took a moment to admire the array of dishes. There was steamed rice, its grains glistening like tiny pearls, and succulent beef slices, marinated to perfection and cooked until tender. Accompanying them were an assortment of vegetables, their vibrant hues adding a splash of color to the ensemble.
It was a sight that was both familiar and foreign to her. In her father's house, meals were often sparse, her portions carefully measured to maintain her delicate figure. Her father had always been concerned about her appearance, fearing that any deviation from perfection would diminish her appeal to the crown prince. But here, in this room, with this platter before her, it was as if those concerns had been swept away, replaced by a sense of abundance and care.
She reached for the chopsticks, their smooth surface cool against her fingers. With a sense of reverence, she picked up a piece of beef, its aroma wafting up to her nostrils, rich and savory. She brought it to her lips, taking a small bite, and felt the flavors explode in her mouth. "It's delicious." She said to herself. The beef was tender, almost melting on her tongue, and the rice was perfectly cooked, its texture a delightful contrast to the meat. Her eyes lit up, a spark of joy igniting within her. It was as if she was experiencing food for the first time, each bite a revelation, a celebration of taste and texture.
As she continued to eat, she felt a sense of contentment wash over her, a warmth that spread from her chest to the tips of her fingers. It was a feeling she had not known in a long time, a sense of being cared for, of being seen. She soon tried to shake off the feeling of being cared for. It was only temporary until they can finish their deal. It was then back to finishing the meal. She was so engrossed in her meal that she did not hear the door to the room open, the soft creak of the hinges lost in the symphony of flavors that danced on her tongue.
It was only when she felt a presence in the room that she looked up, her eyes widening as she saw Jian Wei standing there. He was a vision of elegance, his robes flowing around him like a dark river, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her heart flutter. "I see that you spotted the food," he said, but soon enough his expression and self seem to brighten and lighten. "Are you enjoying it so far?" It seems like he did not hear her talk to herself.
Without waiting for an answer, he moved to sit across from her at the table, his movements being rather casual as he would be trying to pick up some sort of conversation with her.
Jian Wei's lips curled into a gentle smile, his eyes reflecting a warmth that seemed to elevate Lian Yan to the stature of nobility. "Are you upset about the location?" he asked, his voice a soft melody that hung in the air between them.
Lian Yan let out a sigh, a delicate sound that seemed to carry the weight of her thoughts. She took another bite of her food, the flavors dancing on her tongue, a momentary distraction from the whirlwind of her emotions. "I am not upset at all about the location," she began, her voice steady and calm. She paused, her chopsticks hovering over her plate as she gathered her thoughts. "Just... how do you know for sure that I am not going to get discovered?" Her eyes met his, a flicker of concern shining in their depths. "My father would probably try and flip the town upside down to find me."
Jian Wei chuckled softly, a sound that was both amusing and comforting. "Well, you are not wrong," he admitted, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "He is actually flipping the entire town upside down at the very moment. Not even a whole day has passed, and he is turning tables and tossing chairs with his men." His laughter was stifled, a low rumble that echoed in the room, filling the space with a sense of lightness.
Lian Yan, however, did not share in his amusement. She set her chopsticks down, her appetite suddenly forgotten. Her gaze was intense, her voice firm as she asked, "There are no people getting hurt for this, right?" It was as if she was ready to pull out of their arrangement, her concern for the well-being of others outweighing her own desires.
Jian Wei's expression softened, his eyes reflecting a sense of reassurance. "Don't worry," he said, his voice gentle yet firm. "There is no one getting harmed. Your father is mainly trying to have officers and guards go around the town to find you. He hasn't thought about looking at this place." He scoffed, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "I guess he figured that you would never be in here. Or assumed that you would not be here."
Lian Yan gently placed her chopsticks down on the table, the soft clink of bamboo against porcelain echoing in the quiet room. Her movements were deliberate, her eyes never leaving Jian Wei's as she spoke, her voice steady and calm. "You clearly did not come here just to have a simple talk," she began, her words hanging in the air between them. "Tell me, what are you planning or have planned? If he does end up looking here."
She shifted in her seat, bringing her elbow to rest on the table, her hand delicately placed under her chin. Her posture was one of contemplation, her gaze never wavering from his, as if she was trying to read the thoughts hidden behind his eyes.
Jian Wei looked at her, a hint of admiration in his gaze. "Smart," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "You are very smart." He paused, his eyes searching hers, as if weighing his words carefully before he spoke them. "I wanted to see if we may be able to change your looks," he finally mentioned, his voice low and measured.
Lian Yan's eyes widened slightly, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Change my looks?" she repeated, her voice tinged with a hint of skepticism. She leaned back slightly, her hand falling away from her chin as she considered his words. "You aren't trying to have a physician do a full face alteration, are you?" Her voice was firm, her gaze intense as she waited for his response. She shook her head, her hair swaying gently with the movement. "You are not allowed to hire some random person either to change my appearance," she continued, her voice leaving no room for argument. "I may look like a runaway and ungrateful daughter," she admitted, her voice softening slightly, a hint of vulnerability shining through. "But I still want to get married somewhere in the future."
Her words hung in the air, a declaration of her intentions, her desires, her dreams. She was serious about her future, about the life she wanted to build for herself. And she would not let anyone or any plan, not even Jian Wei, stand in the way of that.