'Shut up,' Ma Chao could hardly contain his anger anymore as he trembled slightly with rage. Jiang Wei's calmness just seemed to infuriate Ma Chao even more. Without thinking or considering the consequences of his actions, Ma Chao grabbed Jiang Wei by the shoulders and slammed him roughly against the wall. Jiang Wei gave a low whine before he sneered at Ma Chao. 'Tell me clearly what is going on between you and Zhao Yun,' Ma Chao enunciated every word slowly and clearly as his eyes bore holes right into Jiang Wei's head.
Jiang Wei blinked several times before throwing his head behind and laughed. God, is this person crazy? Ma Chao wondered as he stared incredulously at Jiang Wei. 'What do you think?' Jiang Wei taunted. 'Zhao Yun's lips sure are so soft and tasty.' Jiang Wei made a show of licking his lips as if still tasting Zhao Yun. Ma Chao's hold over Jiang Wei tightened until his knuckles turned white. 'Do you want to die badly?' Ma Chao growled menacingly. Jiang Wei stared back as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.
'But I am sure you already knew how delectable Zhao Yun tasted, seeing that you guys already kissed,' Jiang Wei said softly, his eyes twinkling. Ma Chao couldn't help giving a loud gasp as his hands slackened and Jiang Wei fell down to the floor with a thump. The piles of neatly arrange scrolls cushioned Jiang Wei's fall as they scattered all over the floor. 'Ouch, couldn't you be gentler?' Jiang Wei complained as he rubbed his head. 'H-how di you-?' Ma Chao mumbled, his face as white as sheet. 'Dear Tiger General, may I know why are you so concerned over our relationship?' Jiang Wei asked politely as he laid his palm delicately to his chest. That seemed to jerk Ma Chao out of his stupor as he glared back defiantly at Jiang Wei. 'He's going to marry my sister soon. Of course, I had the right to be concern about him.'
'Really? Is that all?' Jiang Wei suddenly cut in, his gaze sharp and discerning. 'What do you mean?' Ma Chao faltered for a moment. 'Or is it because you had feelings for Zhao Yun yourself?' Jiang Wei continued. Ma Chao's heart skipped a beat when he heard that, no doubt his expression gave him away because Jiang Wei clapped his hands and laughed mischievously. 'Had I struck a nerve, General?' Jiang Wei sneered.
Ma Chao quickly regained his composure and retorted angrily. 'No you are deeply mistaken, I-' Ma Chao tried to argue back fiercely but Jiang Wei didn't give him a chance. 'You what? Are you going to tell me that you didn't enjoy the kiss with Zhao Yun? Or you didn't always try to sneak a peek at Zhao Yun to see how was doing?' Jiang Wei shot back. 'You just don't dare to admit that you had feelings for Zhao Yun because you are worried about how others would perceived you!' Ma Chao was totally caught off guard by Jiang Wei's words. Was what Jiang Wei said true? Wait. More importantly, how did Jiang Wei knew all these things? Ma Chao was staring doubtfully at Jiang Wei when the doors suddenly opened. Both of them were too engrossed in their conversations that they didn't hear the continuous knocking.
An elaborately decorated jeweled fan was the first thing in sight before Zhuge Liang breezed into the room, his feet seemed as if they didn't touch the ground. Both Ma Chao and Jiang Wei quickly bowed down to Zhuge Liang who merely waved his fan to ask them to rise. Jiang Wei immediately hurried forward as he showed Zhuge Liang his seat but Zhuge Liang remained standing as he swept his eyes across the room. When Zhuge Liang's eyes landed on the hole in the table and the scattered scrolls, his eyebrows rose up in surprise. Ma Chao could feel himself withered under Zhuge Liang's all-knowing look.
Jiang Wei bowed down as he tried to show Zhuge Liang his seat once more but Zhuge Liang merely ignored him. Both teacher and student had a good relationship so it was quite a surprise to see Zhuge Liang ignoring Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei flushed as he straightened himself, he turned his attention to the painting on the wall. 'Please continue your conversation just now, do not stop on my account,' Zhuge Liang clasped his hands as he looked expectantly at the both of them. 'I am most curious to know what had been my disciple up to.' Zhuge Liang shot a stare at Jiang Wei whose face fell. 'Erm… we were just…' Ma Chao cleared his throat as he tried to think of a reasonable excuse. 'We were just talking, sir,' Jiang Wei interrupted abruptly, his eyes trained on Zhuge Liang's fan. 'Or is that forbidden now?' Jiang Wei's tone was one of challenging.
Zhuge Liang looked thoughtfully at Jiang Wei before giving a sigh. 'Can you please leave the both of us alone, Ma Chao?' Zhuge Liang asked in his deep baritone voice, his eyes pierced right into Ma Chao's heart. Chills assaulted Ma Chao as he stared back uncertainly. 'O-of course,' Ma Chao replied hastily and slowly backtracked towards the door. 'I will be taking my leave then.' Ma Chao said to no one in particular. Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei seemed to be having a silent conversation as the both of them simply stared at one another. But one standing nearby could feel the sparks emitting between them. Ma Chao released his breath as soon as he was out of the room. It was refreshing to feel the summer winds tickling against his face as he breathed in the sweet floral scent the wind brought alone.
Tension was increasing in the room, there was definitely something funny and strange about those two but Ma Chao didn't have the interest to find out. All he could think of now was Zhao Yun's tear stained face. Ma Chao paused beside a column and punched his fist softly there. 'You just don't want to admit you had feelings for Zhao Yun!' Jiang Wei's words kept on reverberating in his mind. Ma Chao's heart squeezed painfully, cutting all his breath from outside. Was it the truth? Did he have feelings for Zhao Yun all along? Ma Chao gave a sigh as he continued his way. Ma Chao knew that Zhao Yun was someone special to him, someone very important and someone he could always depend on whether it was at the battlefield or at the palace. Unknowingly, when Ma Chao raised his head, he was standing in front of Zhao Yun's room. All the lights in the room was extinguished, Ma Chao pressed his ear against the wooden door. It was completely quiet.
Ma Chao raised his head impulsively to knock the door, just when his fist was inches from the door, his courage faltered. Something inside him was stopping him to do it. What was he going to say to Zhao Yun anyway at this state? On the other hand, Ma Chao badly wanted to know how Zhao Yun's condition was. It was an intense inner battle inside Ma Chao as he weighed his options.
Finally Ma Chao sucked in a deep breath and he withdrew his hand. Maybe he should let Zhao Yun calmed down first before talking to him. That asides, he should also think about his own thoughts and feelings for Zhao Yun. Ma Chao blew out his breath noisily and turned away from the room that hold so many drama. Just then a swish of brown hair caught Ma Chao's eyes. 'ZiLong?' Ma Chao muttered absent mindedly. Ma Chao could see a lonely figure at a distance turning a corner. Ma Chao hesitated for awhile before he ran after the figure into the darkness.
To be continue…
Gosh, could be it Zhao Yun? And if the two of them meet in the dark, what could possibly happen? Please stay tune to find out next week. Please leave a review/comment after reading the story, it would cheer up me a lot. Thank you for reading.