TIMO - Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Shi Nan used the word “save” to describe the small accident that occurred during the Flower Throwing Ceremony.
No matter how you looked at it, this sounded a bit inappropriate.
The word “save” in particular was hardly accurate when applied to Nanke Island’s time-honored blessing ceremony, even if a small accident had occurred.
Fu Zhao had reason to suspect Shi Nan was alluding to something, but given their current relationship, she couldn’t just lay everything out in the open. After much thought, she could only bury her suspicions deep in her heart.
The spray of water from afar quickly receded, leaving only a thin layer of mist in the air. It added a dewy, radiant filter to everything and everyone in Fu Zhao’s vision.
Especially Shi Nan, whose skin was so translucent it was as if she had a built-in filter.
Fu Zhao sighed softly, pulled down the jacket shielding her, and looked over the now soaking-wet Shi Nan. Then, she draped her own not-so-dry jacket over the other woman.
She stared at Shi Nan’s clothes, which were clinging to her skin from the water, her lips gradually pressing into a thin line. “Thank you for your help, Miss Shi. We must have accidentally stood too close to the fountain. Should we go back and change now?”
“If Miss Shi catches a cold, I’ll definitely be to blame.”
Shi Nan felt the much drier jacket against her back, and the fresh scent of tea from it enveloped her. Fu Zhao was a Beta, so the verdant fragrance she smelled could only have come from laundry detergent or perfume…
Not a Pheromone. It was completely non-aggressive, just gently surrounding her.
Her clothes were obviously wet, clinging stickily to her body, which wasn’t very comfortable.
Her hair was wet, and she felt uncomfortable all over.
But just as Fu Zhao was about to lead her away from the crowd, Shi Nan met Fu Zhao’s brilliant amber eyes, watched the strands of her hair sway, and subconsciously grabbed Fu Zhao’s wrist. A cool, soft, and light touch washed over her, and she could even feel the steady beat of a pulse from the fingertips and palm against her skin.
She felt it with immense reality: this was a living, breathing Fu Zhao.
“There’s no need.”
Shi Nan held Fu Zhao’s wrist firmly and pulled her back into the crowd. They walked slowly under the sun, following the people holding flowers. She met Fu Zhao’s gaze directly and lifted the corners of her mouth. “Our clothes will dry in the sun. The Flower Throwing Ceremony only happens once a year; we shouldn’t miss it.”
“The weather is so nice, and it’s so lively. I don’t want to go back.”
Before Fu Zhao could react, she was dazedly pulled along by Shi Nan, continuing to follow the crowd. The noise around them seemed to return, the clamor of the people flooding her ears.
She came back to her senses and stared blankly at the hand covering her wrist. The fingers were fair and slender, the nails neatly trimmed. Faint blue veins showed through skin so pale it was almost transparent.
The hand was wet, dampening her wrist.
She should have pulled that hand away.
Fu Zhao stared in a daze for a moment, walked with the crowd for a while longer, and finally, as the people cheered and threw their flowers, she pulled her hand free. Then, without a change in expression, she took the white peony she had pinned to her collar and threw it forcefully into the air.
“The Flower Throwing Ceremony has started.”
She said this softly. All around her, people were throwing flowers, their faces filled with excitement, joy, and exhilaration. Some were even hugging those next to them, cheering and dancing wildly in their delight.
Countless flowers thrown into the air were scattered by large fans suspended in the sky. The petals were blown apart, fluttering and dancing in the air—a vibrant, colorful, and varied spectacle.
They danced gracefully, caught by the surrounding wind, swirling in circles and flowing outward in all directions.
Shi Nan stood amidst the swaying, drifting petals. She looked up and threw the peony she was clutching into the air as well. After watching it for a moment, she fixed her gaze on Fu Zhao.
“The Flower Throwing Ceremony is only once a year… Fu Zhao, what did you wish for?”
She remembered the last time they attended the Flower Throwing Ceremony, Fu Zhao had told her with sparkling eyes—I hope that my classmate, Shi Nan, can succeed in everything, achieve the goals she wants, and obtain the freedom she desires.
In the once-a-year blessing ceremony, Fu Zhao had given her the most beautiful wish.
She wondered what would be different this time.
“Me?”
Fu Zhao paused, looking at the petals dancing all around. She smiled, her eyes gentle.
“I hope that everyone on Nanke Island can succeed in everything and accomplish what they set out to do.”
She was an outsider. Since she was taking part in Nanke Island’s annual blessing ceremony, she naturally couldn’t be so selfish as to only think of herself.
She had to be clear about such things.
“What about Miss Shi?” Fu Zhao asked in return, as was natural.
“Me?” Shi Nan blinked, her lashes trembling as she looked down. A white petal fell onto her eyelashes, her face, her shoulder, but she didn’t move, just stood there quietly. After a moment, she lifted her eyes, a smile like a spring breeze gracing her face.
“I’m a rather selfish person, so my wish is more personal. Not as noble as the Little Island Master’s.”
“I only hope…”
Shi Nan looked over, her gaze locking with Fu Zhao’s. “…that the people around me can all live well.”
“Mm, that’s very normal.” Fu Zhao smiled and turned her head away, no longer looking at Shi Nan. Even in profile, the smile in her eyes was visible. “That’s the simplest wish everyone has. It’s not selfish.”
Shi Nan looked at Fu Zhao in silence for a moment, then glanced at the crowds of people still hugging each other tightly. Her eyelashes fluttered. “Of course. Especially you, Fu Zhao.”
She said this.
Unfortunately, she didn’t dare say it out loud, so Fu Zhao, naturally, didn’t hear what she said.
So, when she met Fu Zhao’s questioning gaze, Shi Nan smiled, her eyes curving, and waved her hand with feigned innocence. “I was saying…”
“So many people are hugging… Is that because hugging is also part of the Flower Throwing Ceremony?”
“Should we hug, then?”
As she spoke, Shi Nan even spread her arms magnanimously, feigning a move to lean in for a hug.
Fu Zhao’s eyes widened. She reacted by putting as much distance as possible between herself and Shi Nan, her face flushing hot with embarrassment.
“It’s not.”
After a long moment, she managed to choke out that one word before quickly striding away, never once looking back at Shi Nan.
It wasn’t that she was shy; it was just that Shi Nan’s tone and expression were full of mischievous humor.
Shi Nan watched Fu Zhao’s back disappear into the crowd. She slowly lowered her arms and glanced again at the petals filling the sky. She spotted a white peony petal—perhaps the one Fu Zhao had just thrown—drifting lazily down before slowly landing on the ground.
She walked over, picked up the petal, and clutched it in her palm.
The flower that had swirled in the sunlight now held a trace of warmth in her hand. It was something to be kept, something to be tucked away in her heart.
As she stood up, she looked toward the sky with a hopeful expression. The direct sunlight was a bit dazzling. She lowered her gaze and spoke softly.
“Since you were able to let me start over, did you hear me?”
“I hope that this time… Fu Zhao will be all right.”
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