A Date with Yanmei

Extravagant. The only way that Xiao could describe the scrumptious assortment of food on the table before her. What's even more so, is that Yanmei had intended it to be a feast for two, making sure that there would be no interruption of any kind.

Xiao's gaze drifted from the repast to the woman who invited her, whose bearing appeared to be more lax than their previous meeting.

"Was buying out the whole restaurant necessary? We could have just eaten normally, you know."

"It is. It will be easier for us to open up to each other without prying ears." With chopsticks in hand, Yanmei grabbed a few strips of roasted duck onto her bowl. "What are you waiting for? Go ahead and eat."

Open up to each other!? It's the moment that Xiao had been waiting for! But first, Xiao carefully surveyed the table for which ones to eat first. Frankly, she wanted to try them all, but proper decorum is needed for a lady such as her. More importantly, she didn't want to appear as a Glutton in front of the woman she fancied.

For starters, Xiao's chopsticks selected a slice of seared tuna, glazed in soy sauce. She takes a bite. The fish's unique flavor paired with the richness of the soy sauce was truly delicious, to say the least.

Grabbing a small jar, Yanmei began pouring some wine onto her cup. Next, she offered some to her companion, "Would you like some wine?"

"What wine is it?"

"Ginger."

"Sure, I'll have some." Xiao gestured her cup closer. Her gaze then wandered onto the golden fried pork belly. Grabbing a cutlet with her chopsticks. The crispiness of the skin above was polar opposite to the tender meat below, combining for one solid meaty flavor. She then chased it down with sweet but tangy ginger wine.

A smile appeared on Xiao's lips. Great food, great wine, and a dashing companion. The night truly couldn't be any better.

"This isn't a bribe, mind you. Consider it as a genuine treat from me." Yanmei wanted to get that out of the way in order not to raise any suspicion that she had any ulterior motives. "Now then, would you mind telling me who you truly are, Xiao?"

"It's a long story. Are you sure you're up for it?"

Coquettishly staring as she sipped from her cup, Yanmei flashed her companion a smile, "Then it's a good thing that we have all night."

+++

The kind old couple that raised her as if she was their own daughter. Her uneventful childhood here at Guanjin. Her easy induction to the tranquil waterfall sect once they found out that she had a talent for cultivation. The reason she got kicked out of her sect. Almost dying at the hands of a demonic cultivator, and her faithful meeting with her master.

She had nothing to hide. No family to speak of. Hell, even she was left in the dark about her teacher's real motives. All that she knows is that Zhen had been nothing but helpful to her so far but if it ever came a time when her teacher would ask for her to risk it all. Xiao will not hesitate to pay her debt towards her teacher, that is her own life.

By the time Xiao had finished recanting her life story, it had already been an hour before midnight. She lamented how cruel time is, passing by quickly while you're trying to enjoy every moment.

After intently listening to Xiao pour her heart out, Yanmei had something to say, "I'll tell you one thing. You definitely should have broken that Liu girl's arm."

"Right!? And to think that I wanted to be friends with such a bitch!"

Both of them laughed at the thought of enacting violence to the haughty red-head. In truth, Xiao wanted to be more than just friends with Liu. But after what Liu did, the possibility of that happening was as likely as pigs sprouting wings and starting to fly.

Although Xiao was still livid at Liu due to the whole thing, it wasn't like she's planning to go out of her way to seek vengeance. It was indeed her right, but her vengeance right now is reserved for someone else. Maybe she would mess around with Liu after in the future, break her arm for real, but not until the demonic cultivator that tore her limbs had been buried six feet under.

Xiao's vengeful reminiscence was interrupted by Yanmei's next question.

"This Lin, things should be over between you, if I am correct. But do you still have feelings for her? You spoke very fondly of her, almost as if you would jump at the chance to get back together if given the opportunity."

A difficult question that needed a few seconds of deliberation for Xiao. She was torn. She could lie and say that isn't the case, after all, she and Lin may have made love to each other, but what they had didn't have any label. Why would they bother attaching one? They never thought their times together at the tranquil waterfall sect would never end. Thus, they never made anything official.

"Yes. Was it that obvious whenever I would talk about her?"

Xiao wryly smiled at the thought of butchering her chances with Yanmei. Being dishonest about the fact that she was still pining for the blue haired maiden just felt so…wrong. Especially when Xiao knows that Lin was not the kind of woman to be ashamed of what they once had.

"Your eyes were practically sparkling. But don't be too down about it, I actually appreciate your honesty. If you denied it, I would have called you out. It's been fun, but since it's almost midnight, I only have one last question for you. But before that, would you mind taking off your mask?"

After a moment's hesitation, Xiao was about to disagree until she heard a voice in her head.

<<Do it. I don't need to tell you this but she does not have an ounce of killing intent in her.>>

As soon as Xiao took off the mask, it collapsed in and of itself. Like disappearing into its own pocket dimension, always ready to pop back into reality at the behest of Xiao. Yet, what was the reason why Yanmei asked for its removal?

Was it so they could frivolously lock eyes at each other without any obstruction, smiling from ear to ear as they did now?

Xiao's heart danced in elation. She needed to break eye contact and drink some wine so she could calm herself.

Suddenly, the frivolous expression disappeared from Yanmei's face, replaced with what Xiao would define as profound seriousness.

Yanmei suddenly asked.

"Xiao, do you like me?"