Chapter One Hundred And Twenty Nine - Perhaps Jin Li is just an ass

While one sister wooed one man, the other sister attempted to soothe the other.  Maimai was meant to be sharing tea with Leon after dragging him to a small tea shop in new Julip town, but all she received was a listless companion, who stirred his beverage until it became cold and looked out of the window in melancholy.  She sighed and tried once more to cheer him up.

"I hear the desserts here are quite something," Maimai mentioned.  "Are you sure you don't want anything?  It is my treat!"

Leon shook his head, not even looking her way nor pausing as he stirred the tea. 

Thus Maimai tried an alternative approach.  "Forgive me if I am wrong, but that Jin Li, you like him don't you?"  Startled, Leon finally gave her his attention, dropping the spoon into the cup, his face turning pale before his cheeks heated.  Maimai couldn't help but be delighted by his reaction, but buried this side of her nature well.  This was not about her entertainment, this was about her best friend's feelings!

Honestly, she had first taken advantage of the opportunity to get close to him to enjoy this rare feast, but had grown to like her senior.  He was kind and helpful, did not treat her as a pretty vase that needed protecting nor would try gain favour by doing her work for her.  Did not treat her as a Sect Leader's noble daughter either.  Obviously she knew that was because he was not interested in her as a love interest and he seemed oblivious to her status, but this was completely fine with her.  Now, she just wished to help him as he had helped her.

"I-is I-it that ob-b-bvious?" Leon whispered.  He hadn't wanted to admit it at first, worried he would be treated different, as had happened in his past life.  However, seeing as Bowyer and Pike had not spoken ill of homosexuality, he took the risk that Maimai would not as well.

She gently patted his hand.  "Not to everyone," she reassured him.  "Let's just say that I have an eye for these things.  His personality aside, no one would fault you for your taste."

Leon half-smiled for her sentence that held both compliment and insult.  He could not deny that Jin Li was a difficult character, his light was almost always shrouded by his shadow, yet from his shadow beamed his most brilliant light.  His tongue was as sharp as the blade of his sword and seldom sheathed, but his arsenal of weapons had protected him on more than one occasion.  "B-b-by the t-time I realised I w-was tr-trapped in the q-quagmire," Leon mused, quietly, "it w-was already f-f-far t-to late."

"So relax and slowly sink to your death," Maimai sighed, using his analogy, "or struggle and die faster?  No hope of him rescuing you?"

Leon shook his head and smiled wryly.  "I always f-f-fall f-for those I sh-shouldn't," he mused, lifting his teacup to his lips before realising that it was completely without warmth.  He placed the cup down again and watched as Maimai called for a server with ease to replace the teapot with a freshly brewed one.  She also ordered a few desserts thinking it was time to indulge.

"I personally don't think all hope is lost," Maimai told him after the server went away. 

"J-Jin Li is h-handsome," Leon replied, shaking his head, "even if h-he c-c-can b-be cruel.  I've s-seen g-g-girls look at h-him.  I w-w-would b-be a f-fool if I thought I c-could c-c-compete."

"What's there to compete for?" Maimai said, incredulously.  "A man might kiss a pretty girl he does not truly like for many reasons, but a man does not kiss another man that he has no interest in!"

"K-k-kiss!" Leon's face became aflame as he realised that there had been a witness to what had occurred within the small hut yesterday.  His lips tingled and his mouth felt hot with just the memory of Jin Li's invasive touch.  The man had stolen his first and second kisses, and yet had proceeded to devour his mouth as if unsatisfied by that!  Was it any wonder those words had then slipped from his lips in hope?  He began to shake his head furiously, more to dislodge the memory than to deny Maimai's words.

"I saw," Maimai admitted and had the decency to blush.  It had been quite a heated thing to witness!  "I also heard what he said to you afterwards."

"Then y-you kn-kn-know that he h-h-has n-no f-f-feelings f-for m-me," Leon stuttered heavily to expel the ache these words caused him. 

Tea and several delicious desserts were placed before them and Maimai selected the shiny and golden water chestnut cake to place before him as well as poured him tea.  "I think that Jin Li is not able to understand what is in his heart," she replied as she picked up a delicate example of Osmanthus Jelly to taste for herself.  "And neither do I think he can express this with words."  The two sat quietly for a moment as they tasted the sweet treats upon their tongues, before the girl added with a wicked twinkle in her eye; "Or maybe I am completely wrong and he's just an ass."

Leon laughed openly, Maimai achieving her objective for that day.