5 The Gift

"M-Marriage!" Wen Tu stuttered in shock. 'Ah! Is Wifey already proposing to me?' She knew her cooking was good, but she didn't think it was good enough for someone to ask for hand in marriage right on the spot.

Though Wen Tu was slightly bitter that she wasn't the one to pop the question first, she wasn't complaining as it felt nice to be one the receiving end of the issue.

"Um," Wen Tu fidgeted a bit in her seat as her face turned a darker crimson color. "If it's with the right person, then I have no complaints about marriage."

"Oh? And who would be considered the right person?" Ren Dong's smirk grew as she watched the white-haired youth struggle to hide her embarrassment.

"W-well, I don't know yet, but perhaps with time, after I get to know them, then depending on our relationship, I would consider them the one," each word sending her face another shade darker. At this rate, she might pass out from embarrassment alone. "Ah, why do you ask?"

"Eh, well, there's been some rumors going around. One's about you and me," Ren Don casually answered as she continued eating her food.

"Oh," if Wen Tu's rabbit ears were visible, they would've drooped down in a depression. "I'm sorry my presence has caused you trouble."

"Nonsense," realizing Wen Tu's sadness, she shook her head at the silly rabbit. Reaching across the table, she took hold of Wen Tu's smaller one. "I'm very content about meeting you," and gave Wen Tu a warm smile.

"Really?" Wen Tu sniffed.

"Really," Ren Dong affirmed. "Oh, there's one more thing as well."

'What is it?"

"The lantern festival is tonight, do you want to go with me?"

---

"Ahh! She asked me out on a date!" Wen Tu gushed to her little brother. "I can't believe it! Our first week together, and we are already going out on a date!"

"Uh, huh," A-Kuai drawled as lounged on a chaise reading his novels. "So, what do you plan on doing while at the festival?"

"Well, I was going to ask her to marry me," Wen Tu bluntly stated.

"What!" A-Kuai jumped up in surprise. "So soon?"

"Yep!" Wen Tu chirped. "I came to this village for the intent of marrying her after all. I don't see why I shouldn't ask her while we are out on our date?"

"How long have you known Miss Ren Dong?"

"Uh, let me count," Wen Tu pondered as she did some mental calculations. "Uh, two weeks! One week as a bunny and another as a human man, why?"

"You've only known Miss Ren Dong for two weeks, and now you're going to propose to her!" A-Kuai exclaimed. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Initially, he okay with his sister marrying a mortal woman if it made her happy, but he hadn't expected her to plan on proposing so soon! "Even if we've been living with her, we've only been with her for a week at most! We barely know her!"

"Hah! How could you be so base? You knew this was my original intention, and now you are planning on backing out already?" Wen Tu argued. "Plus, I know plenty about her, hmph!"

"Oh?" A-Kuai narrowed his eyes at his sister. "What's her favorite color?"

"White."

"How old is she?"

"Seventeen."

"What's her favorite dish?"

"Carrots."

"Those are all facts about yourself," A-Kuai pointed out.

"W-well," Wen Tu defended. "Anything that I like, Wifey likes too!"

"Hah," A-Kuai sighed as he shook his head at his crazy sister. "I feel bad for Miss Ren Dong. To think her suitor knows nothing about her besides her name and profession."

"Hey!"

"Don't deny it," A-Kuai shot back sharply. "I don't see why Miss Ren Dong would want to marry someone who barely knows her and vice versa. And let's not forget your primitive and chaotic nature, who would want to marry someone they have to raise? Not to mention how quickly the relationship is going. At this rate, this 'romance' might crash and burn!"

Wen Tu didn't say anything in her defense against her brother's sharp attacks. "Sniff."

"Ah, no," realizing he has gone too far, A-Kuai quickly attempted to console his sister. "Please don't cry, Big Sis," and wrapped his arms around his sister's waist.

"I-I just want to repay her," Wen Tu sobbed, hugging her brother back. "F-for helping me when I needed it."

"But, Big Sis, all I'm saying is, is there any more feelings you have for her other than gratitude?"

Wen Tu calmed down from her small fit into small sniffles. "I-I don't know."

"Then, my advice is to wait for longer than two weeks. Familiarize yourself with Miss Ren Dong. Get to know her. Fall in love with her," A-Kuai said softly as not further to upset his sister. "All good things come to those who wait."

"Geez, A-Kuai," Wen Tu sniffed as he wiped her teary eyes. "Since when you become so smart? Not to mention a love expert."

"Eh, since forever," A-Kuai shrugged and gave his Big Sis another tight hug. "Cheer up; you have a date later, remember?"

"Haha, yeah," Wen Tu laughed, and as the remains of her sadness melted away, forgotten. "I might be able to help you with that."

"Of course," A-Kuai calmly smiled.

For the next few hours, Wen Tu underwent an even more rigorous transformation as A-Kuai redoubled his efforts. After putting on the hellish chest binder, he seemingly pulled out another outfit for her to wear.

Dressed in a simple bamboo green robes, and long white-hair neatly pinned back, she looked more handsome than usual.

"As usual, you don't disappoint A-Kuai," Wen Tu complimented as he checked herself out in a copper handheld mirror. "But won't Wifey feel sad that I have some new clothes to wear on our date?"

"I"m already on it," A-Kuai casually replied as he pulled out another package. Unwrapping it, it was a matching bamboo dress for Ren Dong.

Lightly stroking the silk garments, Wen Tu smiled as she imaged Ren Dong wearing it. 'It would bring out her feminine side,' she thought as continued to admire the dress.

"Say, how did you manage to acquire all of this stuff?" Looking at the material, she could tell that both their garments were expensive.

"Eh, I dug up some spiritual herbs and auctioned them off. It brought in quite a profit," A-Kuai shrugged. To him, those roots didn't matter. They were just food in his eyes.

"Hmm," Wen Tu pursed her lips. "Be careful; you never know when you are going to get attacked in the wood.

"I know, I know."

Soon enough, Ren Dong returned early to get a head start into joining the festival. The two of them would need to walk at least a few miles to get to the biggest city in the province, and she wanted to get there before dark.

"Welcome back," Wen Tu greeted as she met Ren Dong at the door.

"Wow," Ren Dong smiled as she took in Wen Tu's appearance. "You look great."

"Thank you, you have one too," Wen Tu smiled and brought her inside to show her the dress A-Kuai had prepared.

"Oh, you didn't need too," Ren Dong said as she looked back and forth between Wen Tu and the green dress. "This must of been expensive."

"Please," Wen Tu helplessly smiled. "Take it. Consider it my thanks for housing my brother and me for the time being."

"Well," Ren Dong sighed. "Thank you for the gesture," and smiled at Wen Tu.

Wen Tu blushed at her, smiled, and fidgeted with her hands. "W-well, I'll leave you to get dressed. Tell me when you are ready, " and quickly dashed out of the room.

'Hmm, what a funny bunny,' Ren Dong smiled as she watched Wen Tu runaway.

Waiting for Ren Dong, Wen Tu thought of a plan to do while out on their date. Though she didn't know what one does on a date, thankfully, A-Kuai had filled her in on some details on the event.

First, she must hold hands with her wifey to build intimacy and to prevent them from getting separated.

Second, try to act casual and ask about her preferences and hobbies. That way, wifey knows that she cares about her interests and who she is as a person.

Third, have a lantern. It was an essential part of the festival, after all. According to locals, the brightest lanterns were symbolic of good luck and hope. Also, A-Kuai told her that there would be matchmakers trying to matchmake people as they passed by.

Perhaps, the two of them could check to see if they were a compatible match. Wen Tu sure hoped they were.

The squeak of the door snapped Wen Tu out of her trance as she looked over at the emerging figure. Watching out, Ren Dong looked like a fairy as she stepped outside in the bamboo green dress. Tonight she had applied some makeup and done up her hair in a fancier style, accentuating her more feminine features.

"What do you think?" Ren Dong smiled as she brushed back some fallen strands of hair.

Wen Tu still gaped at her in shock, "You look beautiful," she said in a daze. Was this her Wifey from before? Yes, she was as beautiful as before, but this time she had a different kind of beauty going on.

"Hmm? Really?" Ren Dong hummed. "I'd figure I'm too old to be dressing up like this," she said as she looked at silken fabric.

"What are you saying? You look great!"

"Thank you," and a light pink cloud drifted into Ren Dong's face.

'Did Wifey just blush!' Wen Tu gasped. "Here, I have another gift for you," pulling out a rabbit-shaped she handed to Ren Dong.

Taking the small lantern from Wen Tu's hand, she couldn't help but smile at the little white rabbit. No one has ever treated her like this before; it felt pleasant for someone to spoil her.

"You do you like?" Wen Tu nervously asked.

"Eh, I love it."