Every Lifetime I Fall {COMPLETED but undergoing revisions}

Chapter 117: Fifth Life - Blessings of Qi Xi II

Back at the little hut he calls home, he lets go of me and I immediately separate myself from him.

"I'm not in the mood for tea anymore. How about some wine?" He turns around and asks.

"Wine?"

"Let's have some wine with dinner tonight. You and me. We'll watch the stars as we eat."

"Ha. I--"

"Wait for me. I'll bring everything out." He rushes inside the kitchen leaving me outside in the courtyard.

His demeanor is completely different. He seems almost warm and easy going. Like Lu Kai.

But he's not.

He's telling me to wait for him, but...

I should just go.

Well, even if I run away now, he can definitely catch up and torture me with threats of eating me whole or something.

I sit down on the wooden chair, resting my hands on the long wooden table. The darkening sky is slowly populated with hundreds of stars.

Yang Zi Huo sets down the plates of plain dishes. Stir fried greens, boiled chicken, steamed rice and a smooth white jar filled with wine.

He pours me a cup, handing it to me. I take it from him and inhale the scent. Smells familiar. Much like the wine Wu Jing let me tasted back at Bleak Night. Sweet bitterness like Luo Na Li's wine.

Yang Zi Huo pours himself a cup. With a coy expression he says, "Are you trying to figure out who made the wine?"

"It's... tasty. That's all I'm thinking."

"I made it."

Shocked to hear that, I raise my eyebrows at him.

"You did?"

"I've memorized the taste long ago. It wasn't hard to replicate. After all, I was able to learn from the original brewer herself."

"I see."

"Would you like me to teach you?"

"No, that's fine. Brewing tea is enough for me."

"Perhaps, you should teach me how to make your snow tea then."

I shift in my chair, not wanting to respond.

"Although since I'm made of fire, I can't conjure ice as easily as you," he says.

"But you're as cold as ice."

"I warm up around you."

What is he talking about?

"Eat up. Your food will get cold." He places a piece of chicken leg onto my bowl of rice.

He's so courteous as a host, I'm getting mad at myself for enjoying his meals.

As the night goes on, I realize the jar of wine is already empty. Another one and then another one. Yang Zi Huo is not drunk at all, but devoted the entire evening to stare at my face.

After taking a sip of wine, I mumble out loud, "Ahh, this night is lovely."

I'm staring up at the moon. Embracing it is an enclave of shining stars.

Looking over my shoulders at Yang Zi Huo, I say, "However... the company is less than desirable."

"Yuxing, can I tell you a story?" He rests his head on his hand.

"What story?"

"A story about a boy."

I hiccup, letting out an unappealing sound. "Fine, say it."