Annual market festival

The next day, Nian Zhen held a basket and was about to step out to go get some groceries when she met Wang Shu in the courtyard observing his staff, she walked up to him with a smile.

"I'm heading to the market to get some groceries, I'll be back soon."

He glanced her way but said nothing, she added. "Do you want to come along?, then you get to see how weishung really is."

She gazed at him expectantly but it died the minute he averted his eyes from her.

"Not interested."

"Why not?, it'll be fun."

"I have no interest in going anywhere with you as it is."

She clearly wasn't expecting such reply but she was used to it by now, what was she thinking?, asking him to go with her to the market? he's not your brother Nian Zhen, there's noway he could be her brother, she was wrong to think he'd be different from everyone else.

She masked up her sad expression with a smile. "Alright, I'll.... head out now."

She walked out, Wang Shu watch her leave and a sigh escaped his lips, this girl is so strange, how can she forget to carry a cloak, it's freezing outside.

Nian Zhen walked through the street of weishung, it was buzzling with people and they all seemed in a hurry, that's right, today was the annual market festival in weishung, how could she have forgotten?, it's a joyous day where everyone brings their loved ones to gift them present's, of course it'd be filled with people today.

Everyone offered gifts to their loved ones with a smile on their faces, Nian Zhen couldn't help but feel left out, if uncle Ahn was around, he'd buy her lots of gifts, the more she thought about it, the more gloomy she looked.

The people of weishung finally noticed her presence, Nian Zhen took a deep breath, she was actually prepared for this, she walked by, some sneered at her, others gawked and gave her the cold stare parting the way so she could walk freely.

Although most of the guys were ogling at her cause of her beauty, they didn't dare go near her.

The ladies whispered behind her. "Look, the cursed girl has shown up at the festival."

"Why is she here?"

"Let's hope she doesn't ruin the festival with her cursed life."

They chuckled, Nian Zhen was already used to the back biting, it didn't bother her as long as no one comes in her way, she walked up to a store.

"Hello, Qing Shan?"

A dark haired boy showed up with folded arms. "It's Qi Shan." he said.

Nian Zhen rolled her eyes at his words, Qi Shan is probably the only person who sells his groceries to her, no one ever agrees to sell their groceries to her saying she'd bring a curse to their stuffs, such stupid superstitions.

"Qing Shan, Qi Shan, what's the difference?"

She handed him her basket. "Here, fill it up."

Qi Shan took her basket and fills it up with foodstuffs.

"Why aren't you celebrating the annual market festival?" he asked.

She sat on a high stool looking solemn. "Uncle Ahn isn't in town."

"So, I heard you have a brother, why not celebrate with him?'

Nian Zhen gazed at him in surprise. "You know?"

"Everyone knows, it's been the talk of the Town."

Nian Zhen sighed, if only that was actually true.

Qi Shan moved closer. "Do you really have a distant brother?"

Nian Zhen gawked at him. "Urgh!, none of your business Qi Shan."

He shrugged and handed her the basket, she smiled at him and paid him some money. "Thank you, I'll take my leave now."

She stepped out of the store before Qi Shan asks her more questions.

She moved along the crowd, the white snow pelted her delicate face, she wrapped her arms around her body to shield her from the bitter weather.

How could she have forgotten to take her cloak.

She shivered and continued to move along the crowd, wanting to escape the bitter cold but it was never that easy, she could sense the cold stares sent her way, but ignored it, she moved ahead and someone out of nowhere bumped into her.

"Hey watch it!" he sneered, she bowed.

"S... sorry." she said apologetically and continued to walk ahead but didn't realize someone had set a leg for her, she tripped on it and gasped thinking she'd fall hard on her face, gosh it would be so embarrassing for her, she'd turn to the laughstock of everyone.

She was waiting to fall on the hard floor but realized she wasn't falling but was in the arms of someone instead, her eyes jolt open and she met Wang Shu's alluring gaze, her eyes widened in total surprise, it felt like her heart stopped for a sec and raced uncontrollably, was she dreaming?, master Wang Shu is here?!.

She hurriedly moved away from him but he held her in place and whispered in her ear.

"Play along, if you don't want to end in trouble." his warm breath caressed her earlobes, he turned her around so she'd face him.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She froze like a statue unable to give a reply, he tapped her shoulder bringing her out of her daze.

"Are you alright?" he asked again, she nodded slowly, he shook his head with a sigh, she watched him take off his cloak and placed it around her, she felt it's warmness immediately consuming her.

Everyone froze up at the sight of the beautiful Wang Shu, he was incredibly good looking, the ladies and the young girls seemed to loose their breaths just by gazing at him, why was he with the cursed girl?!

He said nothing further and held her hand in his, Nian Zhen gazed at their locked fingers as he took her out of the crowds, she could hear the whispers behind her.

"Oh my!, that must be her brother."

"Her brother?!, he looks out of the ordinary."

"She's so cunning, she kept such a handsome guy hidden all this years."

"At least he's not cursed like her, I'll make him mine!"

She really wasn't bothered about their words, what is Wang Shu doing here?, he clearly said he had no interest in coming with her so why was he here?

Once they stepped out of the market, he let go off her hand and turned to look at her, she lowered her gaze.

"Why did you leave without a cloak?" he asked, she forced a smile.

"Uhmm, it must have slipped my mind since I was in a hurry."

He noticed the dullness of her voice, her smile didn't match with her eyes at all.

"Is this what you go through?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"Back there, I heard and saw everything." he said leaving her baffled, the smile she's been trying to keep slowly faded from her lips, if he saw and heard it all, there's no use keeping it from him.

"It's crazy not being accepted by my people just cause they think I'm cursed but...."

She brushed off the sad feeling and smiled. "it's nothing I can't handle, I've gotten use to it so let's drop it."

She gazed at him curiously now. "What are you doing here?, you had no interest in coming here didn't you?"

He looked away. "I had something important to attend to."

"Are you lieing to me master Wang Shu?" she asked eyeing him suspiciously, he gazed at her, who is this girl?

"It's none of your business, let's go."

"Hold on." she said and gazed at the beautiful bracelet displayed at a shop.

"Since you're my brother, today is the annual market festival, a day where loved ones have to give gifts to the one they love."

He raised a brow. "So?"

"So.... I need you to get me that." she pointed at the bracelet.

"Why?"

"Cause you're my brother and brothers and sisters share a siblings love relationship." she said while toying with her pretty pink nails.

"First of all, you're not my sister, secondly I'm not buying that." he said but Nian Zhen's sudden wailing cut him off guard, wait, was she crying?

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I want the bracelet."

"I'm not...." her wailing got even louder he couldn't even finish his sentence, before she draws attention with her sudden wailing, he has to get her the bracelet.

"Fine fine, I'll get the bracelet." he walked off to go get it, Nian Zhen slowly opened her eyes and saw him purchasing the bracelet, a smile of mischief crossed her lips, works Everytime.