Chapter no.42 A Tender Love

[ POV Change ]

The afternoon sun beat down on the grand, architecture of the royal school in the Chen Dynasty's city of Fuzhou.

The buildings were made of ornate red and gold-painted wooden beams, with curved roofs adorned with intricate tilework. The walls were adorned with delicate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, symbols of imperial power and prosperity.

As the bell signaling the end of classes rang through the halls, a group of young girls could be heard giggling and chatting excitedly as they made their way toward the cafeteria. "Did you hear about the new student? He's supposed to be incredibly handsome!" said one of the girls, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"I heard he has the most beautiful brown hair," another girl chimed in. "I can't wait to see him for myself!"

As they entered the cafeteria, their eyes immediately scanned the room for the new student. And there he was, Zhongli, sitting at a table with a group of other boys. His hair was indeed a rich, dark brown, and it fell in soft waves around his face. His features were sharp and well-defined, with a strong jawline and piercing eyes.

The girls couldn't help but stare, their hearts fluttering with excitement at the sight of him. "He's even more handsome than I imagined," one of them whispered to her friends, her eyes wide with awe.

The cafeteria itself was grand and opulent, with high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings and chandeliers casting a warm glow over the room. The tables were made of dark, polished wood and were set with fine china and silverware. The aroma of delicious food wafted through the air, adding to the overall sense of luxury and opulence.

As the girls sat down at their table to eat, they couldn't help but steal glances at Zhongli, their hearts filled with longing and admiration.

...

Zhongli sat at a table, surrounded by books and scrolls. He had been raised in the Immortal Demon Sect, where everything was focused on training and fighting. The knowledge contained within these books was foreign to him and he struggled to understand it.

He let out a deep sigh as he looked at the books in front of him, feeling a sense of frustration and inadequacy. He had always excelled in the fighting arts, but the academic knowledge required in this new society was proving to be a challenge. He couldn't help but think that perhaps he should just travel the world, but the danger of getting into trouble with a sect was still there. He didn't want to risk being hunted down for leaving.

He picked up a book on history, but the words blurred together on the page, making no sense to him. He couldn't help but think that this was a waste of time, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was not meant for this life, that he was meant for something more.

Zhongli's thoughts started to wander as he stared at the pages in front of him. He thought about his past and how he had always been told that the Immortal Demon Sect was the only way of life. He had never questioned it before but now, in this new environment, he started to wonder if there was more out there. He wondered if he should just leave and start anew maybe his low cultivation rank would remain undetectable.

Zhongli was deep in thought, lost in the pages of a book when he heard a sudden commotion. He looked up to see a curly-haired woman, Jasmine, running towards him at full speed. Without warning, she used his table as a jumping pad, leaping over it and landing gracefully on the floor.

"Sorry!" she exclaimed, looking back at Zhongli with a sheepish grin. "It is urgent, trash god. I'll repay you later!"

Zhongli was left confused as he watched Jasmine sprint off toward the cafeteria lady. He looked down at the books he had saved, still clutched in his hands. He tried to put them back on the table, but before he could, Jasmine slammed a tray of fried wings in front of him.

"Here, have some wings," she said, still out of breath from her sprint. "It's the least I can do for jumping over your table like that."

Zhongli stared at the tray of wings, still trying to process what had just happened.

" Hey, Trash God."

" Stop calling me that," Zhongli answered but Jasmine just ignored him and asked with sparkles in her eyes.

" Hey, is the world going to end ?"

" What ?"

" You know tonight is going to be the turn of the millennium, all the planets are going to align and destroy this world !" Jasmine exclaimed while holding up her chicken.

Zhongli just looked at Jasmine like she was an idiot.

" No! I don't want to die, I haven't even found love yet."

Jasmine sat across from Zhongli, a chicken leg in her hand. She looked at him with fierce determination in her eyes, and without warning, she bit off a large piece of the chicken leg with a dramatic flourish. She chewed and swallowed the meat, never breaking eye contact with Zhongli.

"Tonight's the end of the world," she said, her voice low and serious. She leaned forward and grabbed the collar of Zhongli's shirt, pulling him closer to her. "Let's be together then."

Zhongli sat across from Jasmine, trying to find the right words to respond to her dramatic declaration. He was still trying to process her sudden behavior change, and he wasn't sure what to say. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, Jasmine stood up from the table.

"I will be waiting for you on the emperor's peak," she shouted as she turned and ran out of the cafeteria, leaving Zhongli sitting there, open-mouthed and confused.

He sat there for a moment, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He had no idea where the emperor's peak was or what Jasmine meant by it, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this was important.

...

The peak of Lingshan mountain was bathed in darkness as the thunderstorm raged on. Jasmine sat alone, her curly hair plastered to her face by the rain. She had a melancholic look in her eyes as she thought about the end of the world. She never thought that she would die alone, with anyone by her side.

Suddenly, a giant bolt of lightning crashed down, illuminating the darkness. Jasmine closed her eyes, bracing for the impact. But instead of feeling the searing pain of electricity, she heard a voice call out to her. She opened her eyes and saw Zhongli standing there, a giant barrier of energy protecting them from the storm.

Tears began to stream down Jasmine's face as she hugged Zhongli tightly. He hugged her back, and she felt a sense of warmth and safety that she had never felt before.

" It's alright, Jasmine. You're safe."

Zhongli tried to comfort Jasmine who had been so close to death.

Slowly as the rain began to dissipate, leaving behind a beautiful night sky. The stars twinkled brightly, and the moons shone down on them.

"I didn't expect to spend my last days with someone like you," Zhongli said, looking down at Jasmine with a smile.

Jasmine couldn't help but smile back. "You're lucky you get to spend the last day with someone as beautiful as me," she said, playfully pinching his nose.

The meteors streaked across the sky, leaving trails of bright light behind them. The sky was alight with colors of red, green, yellow, and blue. The meteor shower was an awe-inspiring sight and it took their breath away. The meteors seemed to be dancing in the sky, leaving behind a trail of light that was mesmerizing. The ambiance was dark, and the sky was overcast, but the meteor shower made it all worth it. The meteor shower was the perfect contrast to the darkness of the sky, creating a sense of wonder and awe in the hearts of Jasmine and Zhongli. They stood there, hand in hand, watching the celestial display with a sense of wonder, feeling grateful to have each other by their side during this final moment.

As the meteor shower came to an end, Jasmine checked the time on her watch. She let out a cry of happiness as she realized that the world hadn't ended yet. She laughed and danced in the rain, feeling alive and free.

Suddenly, Jasmine's feet slipped out from under her and she fell to the ground. Zhongli burst out laughing, and Jasmine couldn't help but join in. They lay there, laughing and joking.

For Zhongli, this was the first time in his life that he felt truly alive.

.....

Zhongli stood in the kitchen, his heart beating rapidly as he prepared for the evening ahead. He had planned this dinner for weeks, carefully selecting the perfect menu and even purchasing a new apron to wear for the occasion. He had one goal in mind: to ask Jasmine to become his girl.

As he diced vegetables on the cutting board, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He had never been the best cook, and he hoped that Jasmine would appreciate his efforts. He ignored the mess he was making and reached for the flour, but as he pulled the bag out of the cupboard, it broke open and spilled flour all over him.

Zhongli sighed and tried to reach out for a towel but accidentally slipped on the floor.

Zhongli let out a sigh and looked up to see Jasmine standing in the doorway, a look of amusement on her face. He couldn't help but laugh at himself.

Jasmine walked over and crouched down beside him. She reached out and gently rubbed her finger over his cheek, then tasted the flour on her finger. "You need to add more sugar," she said with a smile.

Zhongli felt his heart race as she leaned closer to him. He could feel her breath on his face, and he knew that this was it. He had to tell her how he felt.

"Jasmine," he began, his voice trembling. "I know I may not be the best cook, and I know I'm not perfect. But I want to be the one you turn to, the one you come home to. I want to be the one who makes you laugh and who holds you when you cry. I want to be the one who makes you happy. Will you be someone that I can give my heart to?"

" You don't know how long I have been waiting for you to say that."

Jasmine's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Zhongli. She leaned in closer and pressed her lips to his, and the two shared a tender kiss.