Sightseeing is always in his wishlist every year. Never made it. The reason is simple: Lack of money and time.
Working in sales department means a lot of business trips. Tired body, exhausted mind and little salary. Barely enough to cover daily expenses.
Ling Wen breaths salty air. It has been ages since he could play in a beach like this. Soaking his bare feet in the sea water. Leaving footprints on the white sandy beach with his son.
It's silly. The waves would wash away their footprints. It still feels memorable.
Ling Wen is shocked when the general walks barefoot too next to them. Leaving footprints together.
Da Niu, Er Kang and San Lu are waiting not far from them.
Da Niu asks, "Do you feel like watching a family?"
"Too many dog food. I'm stuffed. Ugh!" complaints San Lu.
Er Kang comments, "Our general looks so happy. Hard to believe he is the tiger general."
"What tiger? In front of Wen, he is just a docile big orange cat," comments San Lu.
Da Niu and Er Kang retreat immediately.
San Lu is feeling goosebumps. He turns his head.
A hard slap to his shoulder. Yu Fei is glaring at him. San Lu gulps. He feels his lifespan will be a short one, thanks to his big mouth.
"You are too idle. Let's give you a lot of big assignments when we got back to the barrack."
San Lu is doomed. His pals are staring him as if looking at a dead man.
Ling Wen wants to visit marketplace so the others just tag along. He is busy buying spices unavailable in the capital city. Most of the spices here came from foreigner boats. They are in little amount. Just enough for the locals to use.
His eyes are too bright.
Yu Fei laments in his heart. The way Ling Wen stares the ingredients like long lost lover.
Getting jealous to spices are insane. He really wants to crush the baskets of spices now. Trampling them down like a spoiled brat. Too bad he is the infamous tiger general. Not a hooligan.
A soldier greets Yu Fei, "Good morning, Sir. General Zhao Yin wishes to meet you in Tranquility, a famous tea house in the edge of town."
Yu Fei glances at Ling Wen. The ger's face flushes a little. He has past connections with the handsome general Zhao Yun.
They definitely couldn't meet.
Yu Fei orders, "Da Niu and the others, take Wen and his son back to the Inn."
"Yes, general."
"Show me the way, " says Yu Fei to the soldier.
After Yu Fei leaves, the others are going back to the Inn.
Ling Wen still doesn't have enough time browsing so he would stretch his neck to left and right to nearby stalls. Looking for ingredients.
Da Niu laughs.
He teases, "Let Master take you out later. The night market is very impressive. That's what a waiter told me."
"Really? But... Master is a busy man... I shouldn't..."
San Lu rolls his eyes. This ger is too gentle and kind hearted. Unlike scheming gers he has met in his life.
He mocks, "Master would take down the moon if you asked it."
Ling Wen is someone from modern world. Of course he wouldn't believe Yu Fei could do such an act.
He accidentally bumps into a person.
Wen apologizes, "Sorry..."
The man suddenly grabs him and kidnapped him. Wen gasps when he is taken away. The guy carries him easily as if he's a sack of potatoes.
They leap to rooftop and dash away. Wen is afraid of falling so he doesn't dare to struggle.
After they landed on ground again, Wen struggles to break free from him.
Fortunately the kidnapper releases Wen easily.
"Ling Wen," calls the kidnapper.
Wen is too shocked to say anything.
Tears are falling down from his cheeks like rain.
General Zhao Yun wipes away his tears gently with a silk handkerchief.
He says softly, "It's really you. They told me you're dead."
"I, I, they wished I were dead."
Zhao Yun holds Wen's hand. They have been engaged since in the wombs. They have longed for this marriage. It isn't Wen's style to break the engagement without a good reason.
He orders, "Tell me what happened. The truth."
Wen pulls his hand away from his grasp. Zhao Yun releases him.
Wen wipes away his tears with his sleeve. His hand is still holding the handkerchief.
It's the residual memories from the original owner. Whenever I saw this guy, regret flowing out from within. Unable to stop crying like a baby. The real person must loved this man very much.
Wen inhales a deep breath and explains, "My memories were vague that day. Only remembered you left and I went inside the mansion. Someone must have knocked me out..."
"Wen? Someone hurt you?"
"When they discovered me, my clothes weren't proper. And I got pregnant..."
"You could have told me!"
Wen takes a step back. Zhao Yun looks fearsome like he is going to murder someone right now.
Zhao Yun covers his face with a hand.
He apologizes, "I'm sorry. Please continue..."
"They wanted to abort the baby. I said no. So they sent me away out of disgrace."
"Why you didn't..."
"A child is innocent. It's still mine. Beside abortion might killed me too..."
A ger has weaker body than a woman. Having abortion might resulted in infertility. Or frail body for a lifetime.
Zhao Yun laments, "You should have told me."
Wen forces a smile. He has no feeling for this man in front of him. They are total strangers in his eyes.
He says, "We aren't fated. Let's leave it that way. It's nice to meet you, brother in law."
After Wen's fake death, Zhao Yun married Wen's little sister due to family's coercion.
Zhao Yun yells, "I never wanted it! Only wanted to marry you!"
Wen smiles weakly.
He says, "Things have strayed away from our wishes. Goodbye, general."
Ling Wen is going to leave but Zhao Yun grabs his hand.
The general asks, "You know who did this?"
Wen shakes his hand.
He confesses, "My memories were blurred. Hardly remember anything."
"I will make the culprit pay. Wait for me."
Zhao Yun dashes away as if venting his frustration with running.
Wen rubs his bruised wrist.
Poor general. I'm not the one you loved. I'm sorry.
He is walking back, hoping to catch up with the others. Not knowing Thirteen is protecting him as usual.
Zhao Yun runs until he is out of breath. He punches a nearby wall to vent up.
He approached the ger because he wanted to him to serve Prince Shinkami. Yu Fei had to send the ger to the foreigner to smoothen out the deal.
Zhao Yun kept on punching until his fists are bleeding. He won't hand over Wen to another man. He swears he would protect him from harm. He failed to do it many years ago.
"Wen, I'm sorry..." whispers him.
Tears fall but he immediately wipes them away. A real man doesn't weep. He makes sure the enemy paid with blood.
The night market has everything from foreign places. Ling Wen found a cute rag doll. It's expensive. Yu Fei bought it for him when Wen couldn't look away from it.
"Master, I couldn't..."
"No. It's for you. I bought it, you keep it."
"Okay. Thank you."
Wen lets his son carries it.
The rag doll looks cute in white robe. Strangely it resembles Ling Wen a lot. Yu Fei secretly buys a smaller version. He hangs it on his belt.
It feels like he is carrying little Wen anywhere he goes. Inseparable.
Ling Wen steals a glance at Yu Fei. The general is scolding Er Kang for eating too much. The guy is already overweight.
Wen buys a small rag doll in red robe. To commemorate this trip. He didn't buy it because Yu Fei loves wearing outer red robe.
Definitely not.
All of them are having a lot of fun time in night market at the pier. Tomorrow they are going home. Back to Capital again.
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Little theaters :
Wen: Why Da Niu, Er Kang and San Lu are kneeling in the backyard?
Yu Fei : Punishment. For losing my treasure
Wen: You lost something, general? Has it been found?
Yu Fei: Yes. I would never lost him again
His eyes never strayed away from Wen's face. Unfortunately the ger is super dense.