AN: I am so sorry for my absence. It’s been a lot going in my life recently. Had my birthday on the 5th and took extra time off but I am back. Love you all and happy reading.
The scent of warm rice and tender chicken filled the air, wrapping around Little Bai like a cosy blanket. He lifted his fork, his eyes wide with delight as he took the first bite. The flavours burst in his mouth, rich and savoury. It was a far cry from the reconstituted powder they served at the research centre, which had tasted like sawdust.
Little Bai’s face lit up, a radiant smile stretching across his cheeks. Han Zhan, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. Little Bai looked like a stray cat discovering a bowl of food for the first time-starved and blissfully happy.
With wild abandon, Little Bai shoved another bite into his mouth, his small hands moving quickly. Han Zhan’s amusement grew as he watched him eat, but then he noticed the change in Little Bai’s expression, the sudden panic that told him the boy was choking.
"Hey!" Han Zhan laughed and quickly leaned closer, ready to help. "Slow down! No one’s going to rob you."
Little Bai’s eyes watered as he swallowed hard, the food grudgingly going down. He nodded sheepishly, and this time, he took a smaller piece of chicken. Han Zhan smiled, relieved, and sat down next to him, elbows resting on the table.
As Little Bai chewed more slowly, savouring each bite, Han Zhan reached over to tussle his hair. It was messy and sticking out in all directions. Han Zhan felt happy but Little Bai’s body stiffened. This was the first time someone showed him such affection.
Inside the dimly lit tent, shadows danced on the walls as Xiang Yu held a flickering torch. The flames painted his face in sharp contrasts, creating an aura that sent chills down the spine.
"Once, in a dark forest," he began, his voice low and haunting, "there lived a fearsome monster..." His eyes glinted with mischief, drawing Lian and Mei into the world he wove.
The two girls sat on sleeping bag, their legs tucked beneath them, wide-eyed and entranced. They had seen way worse monsters growing up but they still enjoyed hearing such stories from their master.
Han Xin leaned against the tent’s side, a soft smile touching his lips. He found joy in their excitement, how Lian’s breath quickened and Mei clasped her hands together in anticipation.
"...and then," Xiang Yu continued, "a pair of icy claws reached out from the dark, grabbing her by the waist..." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "...into the abyss. She screamed, ’Aaaaaahhhhh!’ But her cries faded into silence."
Lian jumped slightly, her heart racing, but then she quickly frowned. "That’s not scary."
Mei, with a tilt of her head, asked innocently, "Did the monster and the beauty get together?"
Xiang Yu paused, his fierce demeanour turning to one of bewildered amusement. He blinked at them, caught off guard. Han Xin let out a chuckle, the sound soft and disarming.
Xiang Yu shook his head slowly, his brow furrowing in confusion. "This is a scary story, not a romance!"
He was about to reprimand them for disrespecting the storyteller when the tent flap flew open. Han Zhan stepped in, his brow furrowed with irritation. "Where do I put that kid?" he asked, glancing around the cozy tent. He suddenly felt unhappy that he wasn’t invited to the party.
Xiang Yu sighed. "He is your responsibility. Put him in your tent."
Han Zhan shot a look at Han Xin, who merely shrugged and gestured for him to follow Xiang Yu’s order. With a grumble, Han Zhan turned and strode back out into the night.
Xiang Yu turned to Lian and Mei, who were still nestled on the ground. "You two should go to bed too. Go and tell each other romance stories since my stories aren’t good enough," he said, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"No," Lian protested, flopping down dramatically on the sleeping bag. "We aren’t sleepy yet."
Mei chimed in, "Yeah, finish off the story and make it mushy!" She giggled, the sound bright against the canvas walls of the tent.
Xiang Yu looked at the two girls pretending to throw a fit. Their antics were exhausting. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling exasperated but also amused.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. He turned to Han Xin, who was still leaning against the side of the tent. "How about you tell us a story?"
Han Xin blinked, caught off guard. He had never told stories before. The idea of spinning a tale felt foreign to him, but he found himself adventurous tonight. "Alright," he said slowly, his voice steadying.
The girls perked up, eyes bright with curiosity. Lian propped herself up on her elbows, eager to hear what he would say. Mei mirrored her excitement, shifting in her seat.
With their full attention on him, Han Xin cleared his throat. "Once upon a time," he began, thinking carefully about the words, "in a village surrounded by tall mountains, there lived a girl who dreamed of freedom..."
Meanwhile, Han Zhan entered the tent with Little Bai right behind him. The young man had just brushed his teeth and washed his face, his cheeks still slightly damp. Han Zhan turned to him, his voice gentle. "You can change into those clothes and sleep. I will be right back."
With that, he stepped outside, leaving Little Bai to fumble with the bundle of clothing in his small hands.
After a few moments, Han Zhan returned, a second sleeping bag draped over his shoulder. He paused, looking at the space inside the tent. His brows knitted together when he saw the sleeping bag meant for Little Bai still untouched.
"Little Bai?" he called, looking around.
As he scanned the corners, his eyes landed on a small figure curled up in the furthest corner, hugging his knees. Little Bai was asleep, his face nestled against his legs, completely unaware of Han Zhan’s presence.
"What are you doing?" Han Zhan asked, his voice laced with confusion. Little Bai stirred, opening his eyes slowly.
He looked up at Han Zhan, his expression blank, as though he didn’t quite understand the question.
Han Zhan pointed to the sleeping bag on the ground. "You sleep in that."
Little Bai turned his gaze between Han Zhan and the sleeping bag, his brow furrowing in confusion. He for years he had slept . In the cell he would curl up in his own makeshift corner of comfort so he couldn’t understand what Han Zhan meant.
"It’s warm and nice," Han Zhan added, taking a step closer. "You’ll be comfier than sitting here."
Little Bai glanced at the sleeping bag for a moment, then back up at Han Zhan, still uncertain.