When he saw it his heart sank a little. He knew she was pretty but he didn't think Rui Fei would have an interest in her.
He could feel the hostility lingering in the air but never did he think it had something to do with him. Without thinking much his hand shifted a little to the right and when he found Ji Yao's hand the backs of their hands brushed against each other startling Rui Fei.
Before the hand could slip away, Ji Yao firmly held Rui Fei's hand in comfort. He found the experience quite delightful and hoped they could do it more often. After a good minute or so of holding hands he finally let go but before he separated them Rui Fei gently squeezed his hand locking Ji Yao's hand in place.
"Ahem...Just for a lit-little while longer," he said in a low husky voice without turning his head to look at Ji Yao.
With his eyes still closed, Ji Yao smiled and let him hold his hand as long as he wanted. A floating candle gently floated towards them providing a special kind of flickering light that despite being daytime it was still pretty.
As Rui Fei was watching it, Xiaoyu suddenly appeared and held the floating candle in her hand with a radiant smile. She then slowly swam over to Ji Yao and said, "Yao-ge, isn't it pretty? Doesn't it remind you of the lanterns we make every year for the lantern festival? Can we make one together again this year?"
Ji Yao who had been closing his suddenly opened them and looked at her. For the past two years they had done it together with Ji Wen and the entire crew but why did it sound weird when she said it. Before she even came into the picture the entire crew celebrated the lantern festival together so why did it sound so strange out of her mouth?
"Mn," replied Ji Yao when all of sudden the hand that was holding his disappeared. Ji Yao didn't even have time to ask what happened because Rui Fei was gone. He didn't even bother putting on his clothes or shoes.
Perplexed, Ji Yao looked at the two siblings who seemed not to have noticed anything. He wanted to ask them what set Rui Fei off this time but judging from their attitudes they hadn't been paying attention. Well, it appeared so but these two were playing dumb which was an excellent choice. Like Rui Fei said to them before, "Stay out of grown folk's business."
While Ji Yao was wondering why Rui Fei had just up and left, the culprit was walking outside with a grim expression. Why?
Well, because he had found out his love rival had two years ahead of him. He was so blinded by jealousy that he overlooked all his victories. In more or less than a month he had cuddled Ji Yao a couple of times, held hands with him and even bit him but all he could see was Xiaoyu making lanterns with Ji Yao.
Rui Fei was so absent-minded with his expression changing faster than a chameleon changing colours. He didn't notice that the once empty pavilion had a few maids brought in to serve the guests who had taken over. The maidservants had been so depressed about working for tyrannical vile pirates but who would have thought they would witness this saucy scene.
If pirates were this handsome and seductive then they would love to serve them even in bed. The maidservants giggled with some bashful ones covering their faces with their sleeves. A few dropped what they were holding leering at him. He was like a male stripper minus the dancing.
Two hours later Rui Fei was calm enough to face Ji Yao no longer blinded by his jealousy. He went on the prowl hunting him down but when he found him all that prior confidence went to shit. That's because Ji Yao was yet again chatting with Xiaoyu.
This time the focus of their conversation was the hickey on Ji Yao's neck. Earlier on, Xiaoyu hadn't noticed it because she was on the other side of Ji Yao that didn't have a hickey while they were in the hot spring. She only noticed after and that did not look like a mosquito bite.
Xiaoyu was clenching her fist trying to act casual asking for the person who did that to Ji Yao. As to when she finds that person it's safe to say that person won't live another day. It had to be one of these giggling maidservants, right?
She repeated the question but Ji Yao ignored her and carried on studying the necklace trying to figure out which one was the keystone as the entire thing was docile. It was then Rui Fei walked in and asked, "Am I disturbing something?"
Xiaoyu wanted to say yes but Ji Yao responded first saying, "A dog did it."
Xiaoyu, "Huh?"
Ji Yao raised his head and locked gazes with Rui Fei while clarifying his statement. "You asked me who did it and I am telling you a dog did it. Ask Fei-er, he was there," with a smirk on his lips like he was having a lot of fun with this. He planned on keeping this up for the rest of the week.
Xiaoyu turned to face Rui Fei with a questioning look like she was expecting an answer from him. "Yes,... ahem... it was a dog that did it," replied Rui Fei nervously rubbing the back of his neck averting his gaze.
She couldn't believe it. It had to be one of these maidservants who did this. How can a dog show up out of thin air and take a nibble only to vanish the next day? Where was this so-called dog now? "It's fine if you don't want to tell me but don't lie to me," she said before storming off a little annoyed. Let's just say she will be taking out all that anger on those girls with so much rouge powder on their faces.
Rui Fei walked over in slow strides with his eyes locked on Ji Yao. He wasn't really sure what to say. Earlier on he had just up and left because he couldn't stand hearing the lantern conversation between those two. Now he wasn't certain whether Ji Yao was upset with him or not. But before he could say something, Ji Yao spoke first, "I heard you performed a strip show for the entire pavilion."
Rui Fei, "....."
Ji Yao had his head lowered with his gaze focused on the necklace like the words he had spoken hadn't come from his mouth at all. There was one word that could better describe his feelings which is annoyed.
He was annoyed at the thought that Rui Fei was parading around shirtless. Who in their right mind would do that? It's common etiquette to put a freaking shirt on!!