"I wonder why is it names 'Misty Rock Village'?"
Shui Xian stared dumbly as he answered, "I don't know."
"You don't know?" asked Raelle.
"I really don't," he said. "Maybe they liked the name?"
"Oh..."
Shui Xian noticed her poker face and looked right into her eyes clearly. "Baby, why do I think you're looking at me with scornful eyes?"
"Am I?"
Shui Xian nodded his head certainly, "You really are." He moved closer to her to ask, "My lack of knowledge is so scornful? But you already knew that I am not as knowledgeable as you even before we married. Now, you're stuck with a husband who is dumb. Deal with it."
"I didn't say you're dumb," stated Raelle. "I just asked you because you brought me specifically here. I thought you'd know more about this place."
"I brought you here because of the gifts you bought here," answered Shui Xian. "I did want to show you a village but also, I wanted to show you those small trinkets that are quite unique to this place. Those jade pixiu figures can be found anywhere. But it's not easy to find such delicate craftsmanship. The people of this village are really good at carving. They inherited the talent from their ancestors which brings another meaning to this place."
"Didn't you tell me there is nothing special about this place?"
"Well, there really isn't. Only the people are special but people are special everywhere."
"You know how to talk."
"Thanks for the compliment!"
In the end, what Raelle bought for Hyson were glass marbles. Yes, those glass marbles that children play with. That's what caught her attention and that's exactly what she wanted to offer her best friend. Well, they looked unique, colorful, pretty. She didn't think anything was wrong with this gift.
And the way she carefully picked out each piece really made Shui Xian raise his brows at her.
"Are you sure that's what you want to give him?"
"I'm sure," answered Raelle. "He'll like it. Trust me."
Shui Xian couldn't say anything when she put it like that and nodded his head, "Okay, then."
Raelle spent an hour sitting under a tree just watching the farmers working in the fields. She even got to see a live vegetable market. Everything here was so normal and yet it was new to her. Even if she read about the lives of farmers, it was different from watching it with her own eyes.
She watched how a middle-aged man was trying to catch his rooster who made him run all over the field. It was quite a funny scene actually.
"They live such a simple life," she said to Shui Xian.
Shui Xian laid down on the grass and put his head on her thigh as he hummed in reply. "I believe simple is peaceful. At least, they don't have as many worries as us. And their lives aren't that complicated either."
"You like it here?" she asked him.
Shui Xian closed his eyes as he answered, "I like peaceful places. How can I not like it here? Maybe one day, when I retire, I'll buy a house in such a calming place. I'll raise chickens and ducks. I'll also plant vegetables in my yard to get fresh ingredients."
"You have a detailed plan, eh?"
"Well, there is no harm in thinking about it. One should always have a plan," said Shui Xian. He opened his eyes and geld her gaze saying, "Baby, we will go fishing together. Spend our days leisurely."
"Oh, I'm also a part of this detailed plan?"
"What else?" he suddenly turned serious. "You're a part of my life. Obviously, all my plans have to involve you. What's the fun of living in such a peaceful place all alone?"
"You know I have never done future planning," stated Raelle. "But hearing you put it like that, I don't think I mind such a future."
Shui Xian's lips curled wide when he heard her say that and he happily laughed, "As long as you agree."
"Let's go back now," suggested Raelle.
"Wait for a minute," said Shui Xian. "Let me take a nap here. It's really comfortable."
Raelle couldn't move him so she let him be. Seeing how he really planned to take a nap, she didn't disturb him either. She leaned her back against the tree trunk and continued to observe the people around her.
Raelle had nothing on her mind except for the fact that she was really becoming used to Shui Xian's presence now. No, it'd be right to say that he had already become a part of her life. A part that she couldn't ignore and neither did she want to ignore.
It's strange but she actually agreed with whatever he wanted so easily these days. It didn't matter whether it was something she liked or not, she actually agreed for his sake. Just because whenever he heard her yes, his eyes would sparkle like the night sky. And his lips would make a beautiful arc. As she had thought before, he was the most handsome whenever he smiled.
And recently she learned that this special smile was actually just for her. He'd not show this smile to anyone else. It was reserved for whenever she was around. She didn't know why was that but she liked the idea of it.
Raelle continued to look at his sleeping face. Even though she always woke up before him in the morning, it was still not her habit to look at his sleeping face carefully. Now, that she did, he looked... handsome. Well, he was always handsome but right now, one could find peacefulness around him. His expressions were relaxed and he seemed content.
She lifted her finger and traced his eyebrows. Then she tapped his nose lightly. She did once, she did twice and she actually ended up doing it thrice as well! There was no meaning to it, she just did it because she felt like doing it. After that, her finger lingered on the edge of his lips.
Suddenly, her finger was enveloped by a wet and warm sensation as Shui Xian had wrapped his lips around her naughty finger.
"I thought you're sleeping?"
Shui Xian lightly nibbled on her finger before letting her go and said, "I was sleeping until you started acting sneaky."
"I don't have to act sneaky," she defended herself. She poked his cheek saying, "You're my husband, I can legally touch you wherever I want, whenever I want!"