A/N: As always, I recommend that you read Wujiu's second chapter before this, as the stories jump back and forth between perspectives. Reading them side by side will give you the perfect back and forth.

So far, this is my favorite chapter. I know there will be others I absolutely love, but for now … this one is very sweet. I hope you enjoy it!


Looking back on it now, my thirteenth year was one of the busiest in my lifetime.

It was an awakening for us both in our efforts to continue reveling in the innocence that used to be. Although I was certain you, of all, would have understood the sentiment of "struggling with impending adulthood," I knew these arrangements would be a notable change for all we had grown familiar with. With the addition of tutoring on my schedule (my father believed it would benefit me in my efforts to become a scholar), it became increasingly difficult to enjoy my boyish desires of companionship. The responsibilities that came with extensive studying became increasingly demanding, which left little space for daily outings or time away from home.

It seemed that reaching adolescence did not prove to be the highlight of my life, for it came with a never-ending stream of anxieties that mercilessly consumed me. Concerns in regard to our camaraderie swam through my mind. I never wanted to abandon you, being that we had grown close to one another during the prior two years.

However, to my surprise and great relief, you managed on your own when it was impossible for us to meet. You found a reprieve in hand-to-hand combat—one step closer to your dream!—and continued helping your father with his now booming business. Otherwise, you would be found at our home, quietly seated on the floor in the study or helping my mother around the house while I dedicated myself to learning from my instructor.

Speaking of my parents, you left quite the impression on them, especially my mother. In your absence, she would speak highly of you, no matter the subject. "That boy who comes to visit you, Bi'an … he is so very quiet and watches you work so diligently! I worry that we do not entertain him well enough, but he does not seem to complain." … "Your friend, Fan's son—he is a good boy, is he not? I can tell. He is hardworking, that one. He makes deliveries all around the village and helps his father." … "Did you know that Fan is planning on taking another bride? I met her on my walk about the village. She seems very nice and will be a good new mother for your friend. The boy needs a mother in his life." … "Keep that boy close. You may never find another who is that loyal, Bi'an. He takes time out of his day to come visit and offer a helping hand around the house. He is a good boy, and I firmly believe that."

And I believed it, too. You were good. You remain good in my eyes. Were you a lost soul at times? Yes. Were you so emotionally guarded that it was a challenge for you to express all but anger? Certainly. Did you still possess pure intentions, even with those challenges? Absolutely.

But I am glad to know that I was not the only one who saw it. My mother was a far better judge of character than I, and her words solidified my own opinions of you. Even now, I laugh at the thought of what you would say about this. You would most definitely brush me off and vehemently deny it to be true. However, I have several anecdotes I could use to gather proof of this fact. As of now, one particular instance stands out to me.

It was mid-summer, close to my day of birth as I approached my fourteenth year. The blooms had all fallen months before, leaving lush green to line the paths that carried our footprints. On this particular day, that is where we found ourselves, hand in hand as we traipsed along the earth, paving our way through the knee-high grass and warm dirt.

"Where are we going, A-Jiu?" The question was asked between bouts of soft laughter as we bounded along, all while I did my best to balance the bundle tied to my back.

"You will see! Just keep moving! Watch your step!" You tugged me on without a hassle, your firm grip keeping a tight hold as I was all but dragged ahead. The faster we moved, the louder the rustling of weeds became, abrasive against the ever-growing heat of the summer sun.

"It should be riiight … here!" As we stepped into an open clearing, I discovered that you had brought us to the riverbank. The cool water looked refreshing then, shimmering with the sun's glow as it gently flowed along at a lazy pace. The sweet aroma of summer blooms wafted in the air, and the twittering of birds amidst the treetops filled the space with an ethereal serenity. I knew that across the wide stream lie the route to town, where I knew my father would be conducting his business, but from our spot, we were wrapped tightly within a moment of reverie.

Releasing my hand, you took a few slow steps forward to the water's edge and looked around, almost as though you were assessing the space. When you approved, you knelt down, kicked off your shoes, and slipped your legs into the crystal blue. "This is my most favorite spot. Come sit!"

I took a seat next to you and pulled off my slippers. "Why is it your favorite? Is it because of the view?"

"Eh. Probably." With a small shrug, you began shuffling out of your shirt, unhooking buttons and tugging open each latch with impatience. "But mostly because this is the best place to swim."

I look back on this now with a hidden fondness that exists solely in the past. I wonder if you still remember, too, or if you have tucked it away in the depths of your mind. I would never blame you, if that was the case. In fact, this recollection brings my own residual melancholy to light. However, in the realm of treasured memories, what I cannot forget is your golden-eyed glow, punctuated with a mischievous grin as you tossed your shirt carelessly to the ground and shoved off into the awaiting water.

It was the first time I felt a flutter in the confines of my chest.

Yes, it was then that I began to realize that what we shared might be more than a simple friendship. Surely, there were telltale signs before the matter, but when it sank in, that revelation poured into my mind like the cool, cool waters that were before us. It was such a strange phenomenon to me, as the possibility of courting another boy was not something that ever occurred to me as possible, especially with all the talk of seeking out a wife and passing on a namesake that was expected of someone from a family of high status. I had already told my father of my disinterest, which came with no punishment, thankfully; yet the tradition still rested on my shoulders as a future endeavor to face. Would it be shameful if I changed my mind by taking such an unconventional approach?

But … to dream of letting go of those requirements—to dream of having a life partner as my closest friend who gave me endless days of companionship, who made me feel less alone and more brave—back then, I liked to believe in the possibility of that future, even for a moment.

"Are you coming in?"

"Oh! Yes! Let me put this down." Abruptly pulled from my fantasy, I removed the parcel off my back and lowered it onto the bank, taking caution in my efforts to pull cords and untuck fabric.

"You are taking an eternity, A-Bi'an."

"Sorry!"

"You wear all these complicated outfits now. That is your problem. I can help, if you need it!"

"N-no no! I have it! Mother would be furious if they were to get wet or crumpled!"

"Then hurry up, or we will be swimming in the dark!"

Once I slipped off my robes and folded them neatly next to your discarded shirt, I found myself encased inside the frigid waves of our final days of childhood, full of questions and doubts and thoughts that bubbled up to the surface. I had no idea where we were headed—no comprehension of our days apart nor our tragic future—but I knew I could always depend on your patience. You would always be there, waiting for me.

Always waiting.

"I came here back a few days ago," you began as you took my hands and drifted out, your bound hair skidding along the surface like a silver-scaled fish. "It was warm outside, and you were busy with your tutor, so I walked along the riverside and found this spot. Do you like it?"

"Of course I do!" With an initial shiver, I glanced around, taking in all the scenery for a second time from a new perspective. "It is breathtaking, A-Jiu. You can see the trees lining the river as they go all the way downstream. You can hear the nature all around us. We are away from the village enough that we can enjoy the privacy."

"Heh. I knew you would love it." When you turned and came to a stop, I could see your pride in that decision. "I thought it would be nice to have time alone, just the two of us again. It has been busy for us both."

Your enthusiasm in our "uninterrupted reunion" evoked a pang of guilt. It made the reality of my new obligations come to life, and I knew when we met eyes again, that guilt was evident. "I know, and I deeply apologize for not giving you more of my time. I have not been a very good friend, as of late, have I?"

"Apologize? Not a good friend? What are you talking about?" When you pressed a hand to my cheek, in all its warmth and tenderness, I flinched. "Did I … did I ever make you feel that way?"

"You? Never!"

"Then you should stop listening to whoever told you that. You should tell me who it was so I can tell them myself to leave you alone! Who was it? Was it—"

"There is no one! I told—" I paused mid-admission, digging two nails along my bottom lip after unintentionally stoking your temper. "It was me. I told myself that. You know that the tutor has been keeping me over longer and longer every day, and it is difficult to find myself without interruption." Oh, such dreadful fear tore at my composure, my head dropping down in shame as I covered my face. "I am worried, A-Jiu. I do not want you to feel lonely without me or that I … that I do not want you around."

"Wha—are you serious? Shh. Look at me. Do you hear yourself?" When I obeyed, your damp thumb smoothed beneath my eyes with unspoken gentleness, albeit doing little to wipe away the tears that started to fall. "I come to see you everyday, regardless if you are busy or not. If the tutoring made me upset, I would have told you. Does it upset me? No. I find ways to be productive, too. Do you upset me? That is a foolish assumption, and you are not a fool, A-Bi'an. You are the wisest person I have ever met. At least I hope you continue to be." Squinting sharply, the tip of your nose scrunched as you scowled. "I am upset that you think you are a bad friend. That is being foolish."

"Ngh … then forgive me for my foolishness."

"No. I will never, ever forgive you because there is nothing for you to be forgiven. Now come! No more sadness on our day together. I demand that you swim with me. Now!"

How was it that you became so capable of soothing my soul? You, this boy of wild abandon, taking hold of and talking sense into one once so calm and collected—me! The collective stressors of my life were their own monsters, living in the dark crevices of my mind, but to know I could rely on you to drag me from them and pull me into the sanctuary you provided was a relief unlike any other.

The day passed on with no further tears, my spirits lifting more and more as I watched you float along in the sparkling current or tramp about amidst the shallows all afternoon. Once the sun started to shift to the west, we pulled ourselves back onto the embankment, the river almost up to our knees while we soaked our feet and feasted on the mantou my mother packed.

"Do you think this is how it will be forever, A-Jiu?" The question of a child with no comprehension of fate and a porcelain heart.

"This?"

"This. The two of us, spending our days together, even when we become adults and have lives of our own."

"Oh. That is an easy question. Of course it will be." With a shrug, you took another bite of your bun. "When I become a general, I am taking you with me."

"You are?"

"Yes. And when that day comes, we are going to travel all across the land and find more special places just like this. You can write your poetry and read your stories, and I can fight for glory and help people in need. We will be honorable men and live in comfort for the rest of our lives that way!"

I could not help but feel that tightness in my chest again. I anticipated that future and thought that my newfound dream might be more possible than I imagined. It made me giddy as I nibbled my own mantou. "You promise?"

"I already plan to convince your parents to allow it. You will come with me, and we will see the world together."

"I believe I would enjoy that. More than anything."

"Then we must make sure it happens. We must follow our dreams together. We must never go on our own separate paths."

Ah … I grow fond remembering you with this sort of vitality and spirit; it was a much kinder time in our history together. If I could replace everything this very river took from you with a single memory, this is the one I would choose, and if I could protect you from all the pain that would consume you—just as you once did for me—only then would I be able to properly repay you for all the love you so willingly gave.