A/N: Welcome back! I recommend that you read Wujiu's Chapter 1 before this, as the stories jump back and forth between perspectives. As I mentioned, Bi'an and Wujiu's chapters mirror each other, even though most have differing anecdotes, so reading them side by side will give you the perfect back and forth.

Most of my current chapters have already been posted to AO3, but I will be posting them here as well, so the first few updates to the chapters will be relatively quick! (I'm actually in the midst of working on Chapter 5 for both.)


The day I met you, I would say, was remarkable in its own way. I had no hint of your existence until approximately eleven years after my birth, in the middle of a warm spring morning. Among the budding of blossoms that remained fragrant in the air, you suddenly appeared in my life.

I must say, though, that it was no gentle breeze that brought you to me. Quite the opposite, actually. I had been on a walk through the village, adorned in my day's best, as I had just been out with my father to see him off on his way to the city. In my grip was a white parasol dotted with red blooms, quite large in comparison to the child who held it, but as Mother told me to take caution and keep from burning beneath the sun's rays, I carried it over my shoulder as a well-behaved child would.

I planned to make my way home hastily, as she awaited my return so that I might help in running errands about the village. This was a frequent task she and I kept ourselves busy with while Father was away. Unlike some members of the aristocracy, who focused solely on their studies or their contributions to the government, the Xie nobility viewed themselves for generations additionally as providers for the betterment of the village, and for us, that meant doing what we could in Father's absence.

You appeared in front of me when I was least expecting it, almost comparable to a strike of lightning. I had been minding my own one moment, and in the next, a boy, who also seemed to also be part of the gentry, was dragged into the dirt with a loud clap. It came so suddenly that I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Say that again?" Your voice snapped out at him. For someone who just dropped an entire child to the ground, I was not expecting such a quiet albeit blunt voice; however, underlying the softness was evident malice. "I do not think I heard that correctly. Say it again."

"My father will hear about this!" he replied, squealing like a wild boar as he stumbled to his feet, wiping his bloody nose. "You will be punished for this, you … you—!"

"Tell. I dare you. If you do, I will break every bone in your body."

"You need to learn some respect! Leave Xiong Yun be!" Another boy, scraped up from scrambling out of the bushes, glared you down, a mixture of hatred and fear on his face. Even then, that did not make you falter.

"No, I think you both need to learn respect. I would be glad to teach you." Suddenly, I felt my arm become lighter as you grabbed hold of my parasol and unfastened the peg to fold it down. The gasp that came from the boy near the bushes punctured the air as you turned the closed parasol on him like a warrior wielding a blade. He immediately scampered over to 'Xiong Yun' in retreat and hid behind his larger frame.

"You are out of your mind for grabbing that! Xie Hong Ran will kill you, you know! He will show no kindness upon you or your kin for being so rough-handed with his son!"

"Let him." As you stood beside me, tightening your grip on the parasol's handle, the sunlight poured down over your silver stream of hair. How it caught the golds of your eyes to make them burn with determination as they turned on me at the mention of my father's name …

The boys must have thought you were some sort of demon, sent from hell to punish them for their wicked ways. I thought you were absolutely radiant.

"Your luck will run out one day," you continued, pointing the parasol at the both of them. "But today is not that day. Leave my sight before I change my mind."

As they both turned and ran down the footpath, not even then did you stop looking at me. I never knew why you were fixated on me so intently, but during the time we stood in silence, I waited for you to speak first. "You are going to tell on me to your father, Xie Hong Ran, yes?"

I had to admit that your presence was initially intimidating. In fact, the way your sharp eyes never lingered, the growl lying beneath the surface of your voice, and the cold precision of your stance led me to believe I would be the next one lying on their back in the dirt. But I wanted to give you a chance. I knew I could not judge you for something I was initially no part of.

"You did not hurt me." And that was the truth; it was not my story to tell. "That would not be honest of me, especially when you could not be present to explain what happened."

"Hmm. You are strange. Far stranger even than those two."

"I am a little strange, I think. Many people in our village say the same. But even if I am, I believe you deserve my honesty. I additionally promise that Father will not kill you. He is no brute and has never harmed a soul." As I finished my statement, I watched in silence as you stood as still as stone, listening to every word. With an unexpected delicacy, your dusty hands carefully pulled the parasol back open, struggling to put the peg back in place but ultimately succeeding before you rested it upon my shoulder and carefully guided my hand back in place upon its handle.

"That is a relief to know." With a soft huff of breath, you kept your grip upon my hand, as if doing so might be the last gesture you ever made. "Forgive me for, ah … taking your parasol … Xie—?"

I quickly gave it a look over, and thankfully, not a single tear of damage rested upon its surface. "No need. I already forgive you." I could feel the smile pulling at the corners of my mouth and my eyes crinkling in unison. That in itself was rather out of place for what had happened just moments before, but I could not keep myself from doing so. Out of politeness, I gave a quick bow of my head and drew my other hand up to grip the parasol handle as though it had never left my hands. "I am Xie Bi'an. May I ask your name?"

You appeared as though you had never seen someone bow before, wide-eyed and shocked. However, it did not take long for you to reciprocate the gesture, bowing a little more noticeable than was necessary. "Bi'an … I will not forget your kindness. Fan Wujiu."

"Ah! Wujiu! I hope that you will be kind to me! Would it be strange to ask you to meet me here again tomorrow? I have errands to tend to with my mother, and I think I would enjoy speaking to you again!"

While you did not make any further reply before I took my leave, a part of me hoped you would be back to greet me the following day.