Winwin did indeed feel guilty for his actions, which is why he decided to head straight towards the one place Lihua had gone to every time she was upset.
Winwin had found her there one night when he went there to train on his own, a frequent occurrence for the young boy.
They were about seven at the time, and Lihua had been scolded by her father for skipping her medical training.
Winwin had sat beside her the entire night as she cried, and eventually Lihua had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
Winwin was barely strong enough to piggy back the girl, but thankfully, he bumped into a palace servant who helped him bring Lihua to her room.
The girl had continued going to the terrace every time she was upset, but the reason why soon changed.
Winwin didn't know why they fought so much. They were such close friends as children, but as they got older, they grew more and more distant, fighting more often than not.
Winwin had become the reason why Lihua went to the terrace, the male following her but not being able to bring himself out of the shadows, simply watching as she cried herself to sleep before carrying her back to her room.
Winwin guessed it was because Lihua's father began teaching him how to fight instead of her. He had also became a warrior first, and then a commander. And it probably didn't help that he was her commander as well.
Well there's nothing I can do about it now, Winwin thought as he arrived at the terrace, surprised to see Jaehyun there sitting with Lihua on the stone bench.
Why is Jaehyun there?
They were talking about something Winwin couldn't hear. But he saw them smiling and laughing, a rare sight for the girl.
Then all of a sudden, the happiness stopped and Winwin watched as Jaehyun leaned in, giving Lihua a kiss.
Winwin couldn't believe his eyes as he felt his stomach drop.
Winwin recalled his earlier conversation with Jaehyun as he walked away from the terrace, hands balled in fists.
...
"Do you like her?" Jaehyun asked as the two males sat together on the field, taking a break from their training.
Jaehyun had just told him about the date he went on with yet another consort, another airhead that he wasn't fond of one bit.
"Like who?" Winwin asked, using his hand to block out the sun.
"Lihua." Jaehyun clarified.
Winwin began coughing, choking on his own saliva. Jaehyun chuckled, passing him a bottle of water.
"Why would you think that?" Winwin asked, giving Jaehyun a look.
"Just making sure." Jaehyun said, with a small smile on his face, lying back down in the grass as Winwin cleared his throat so he can breathe again.
...
I don't like her, Winwin thought as he entered his room, right beside Lihua's. The girl had yet to return, probably still with Jaehyun.
Then why do I feel like this?
Winwin shook the thought away, getting ready for bed.
Sleep, sleep is what I need to get my head straight again.
But as he closed his eyes that night, the image of Lihua and Jaehyun's kiss was engraved into his mind.
...
Unlike Lihua, it was clear that Jaehyun had kissed many times before, most of them consorts. She knew he was a flirty male, one that all the consorts swooned for. She felt foolish, letting the prince take her first kiss but then again, it was Jaehyun.
But then Lihua remembered that it wasn't actually her first kiss, her first kiss being taken from Winwin when they were sixteen and both embarrassed by the fact that neither of them had their first kiss yet, but Jaehyun had experienced many.
Lihua was disgusted by the thought and it must have showed as Jaehyun began rubbing his neck.
"Was the kiss that bad?" Jaehyun asked her. "Why are you giving me that look?"
"No, not at all." Lihua quickly replied. "It was quite the opposite."
"That's good to know." Jaehyun said, smiling as he stood up, offering his hand. Lihua took it, standing beside him.
Lihua let out a small shriek as Jaehyun pulled her close, his arm around her waist as he cupped her face in her hands, leaning forward to whisper in her ears.
"Because it won't be the last." Jaehyun whispered before kissing her once again.
...
"You seem out of it." Yuta pointed out as Winwin dragged his body through training, feeling like mush.
"I barely slept last night." Winwin told him. "Too many thoughts on my mind."
Winwin had almost fallen asleep when his night shift warriors gave their report to the squadron that morning. If it weren't for Renjun poking him every five seconds and Lihua shooting him glares, he definitely would have passed out.
"Well at least you won't have to deal with Lihua." Yuta pointed out. "Doesn't she have her post today."
Winwin nodded. "Yes she does."
Lihua's post was at the innermost part of the palace, just outside the front doors. With the training facilities and medical centres outside the palace area, that meant that Winwin wouldn't be seeing Lihua today.
But the thought of Lihua being near the palace all day bothered him, especially since he hadn't seen Jaehyun around either.
...
"What are you doing here?" Lihua asked, narrowing her eyes at the prince who had a grin on his face.
"I come bearing gifts." Jaehyun said, passing her the small container that held a steamed bun. "Fresh from the kitchen."
"I'm on duty, Jaehyun." Lihua told him but Jaehyun shrugged.
"Well if anyone catches you, I'll tell them it was an order." Jaehyun said, shaking it. "Come on Lihua, you haven't eaten since breakfast, which was before the sun was even up."
"That's because my shift ends in two hours." Lihua said, taking the bun from the box. "But I guess if the prince insists, I'll eat it."
Jaehyun had a satisfied look as she ate the bun. "Good, because you need the energy."
"Energy? Why?" Lihua asked as she tore a piece of bun off, placing it in her mouth.
"Because I'm training with you afterwards." Jaehyun told her. "I'll teach you everything I know."
Lihua shook her head though. "I'm don't need to train in fighting, I'm good for that. I promised Taeil that I'll be helping at the medical building all afternoon."
"Oh." Jaehyun said, sounding disappointed.
Lihua instantly felt bad so she smiled. "Maybe after dinner?"
Jaehyun nodded his head, a smile growing on his face. "Sounds good."
Jaehyun was about to walk away when Lihua grabbed his arm. "Wait."
"Yeah?" Jaehyun said stopping to tuen towards ber.
"Do you like me?" Lihua said, asking the burning question in her mind.
Jaehyun was taken aback, not expecting that to be the question leaving her mouth.
Like always, Jaehyun played it cool, taking a deep breath as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Maybe I do." Jaehyun said before adding, "anyways, I should probably get to my father before he gets mad. I'll see you later."
Lihua watched as the prince left the palace, leaving her alone at her post once again.
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I bet u winwin's face is all of you rn hehe
Anyways
WINWIN COOKS EGGS WITH CHOPSTICKS.
WHY.