Two days. Xuelang stayed with Lianhua for two days. And according to him he was making up for lost time.

The moment she had kissed him on the night he found her he had swiftly taken her into his arms and carried her into the house. Where, he had ensued to make scorching, hot, sweet love to her body.

He wasn’t able to keep his hands off her and every time his lips touched her skin she just melted in his arms. When they were both fully sated and she had regained the ability to speak properly she was able to ask him if he was going to return.

For a moment he had looked hurt. He had misunderstood her words thinking she wanted him to leave when in fact it was the opposite. She had just wanted to know if the people he came with wouldn’t worry about him going missing for a couple days. He was the most important man in the country afterall.

When he finally grasped what meant she had watched a slow seductive smile crawl up his lips, it had sent shivers down her spine and desire coursing through her belly. Without answering her question he made love to her again and it was the next morning before they were able to speak again.

She had woken up to find him gone and a panic had started to set in. She had stumbled to put on her clothes all the while reaching for the door. Frantic eyes had searched the yard for any sign of his presence but she found none. Tears were just about to trip over her eyelids when she felt strong muscular arms engulf her from behind.

“Hey, what are you doing outside in such little clothing?” he had tugged the front of her thin robe. With tears still brimming in her eyes she turned around and threw her arms around his neck. “Hey, why are you crying?”

“I thought you left me.” She sniffled. As if sensing that the thought of him leaving was really tearing at her heart he kissed her exposed shoulder and ran a hand through her long white hair.

“I wouldn’t dare.” His voice caressed her skin. “I’ve missed five years out of your life there’s no was I’ll be leaving you anytime soon. You’re going to be so tired to see my face in your life from now on Lianhua.” He smiled down at her.

“I doubt that.” She said as she wiped the tears from her eyes smiling.

He had taken her back inside the house and made love to her again. It was after that he told her he had left to tell his companions to return to the palace without him because he was planning on staying with her a lot longer. She had grinned in happiness at that.

When night fell they went to the river and had taken a bath together, well, she had tried to take a bath but his roaming hands had proved to be quite a nuisance since she couldn’t stop him from touching her. Plus, it wasn’t like she had wanted him to stop.

Now, on their third day with each other Lianhua couldn’t stop smiling. The emptiness she had felt inside on the day she had ran way was now being gradually filled by Xuelang’s presence and there was no need to fear him anymore.

For the entire morning they had been laying in with no desire to break apart from each other. That was however, until a low grumble reverberated throughout the room. The sound had come from Lianhua’s stomach.

She had set off in a fit of giggles and Xuelang laughed at the sound her belly made. Running a hand up her thigh he nestled his palm against the curve of her rump and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“It seems that it’s now time to feed my woman.” Lianhua blushed at the mention of being his woman, she liked hearing it.

With her face still heating he kissed her temple, rose from the bed and drew on his pants, not bothering to put on a shirt and went outside. For a moment she didn’t move waiting to see if he would return, but he didn’t. At the sound of pots and pans clanking together she quickly got up to see what he was doing.

When she opened the front door she looked to her left and saw him kneading flour on the table. He was making noodles.

“Do you want some help?” his hands worked deftly as he sliced the dough into thin strips as if he had done this a million times before.

“Not really.” He said without looking at her. She pouted at him then slapped his arm.

“I’m just trying to help.” A short laugh bubbled form his chest at the sight of her pouted face.

“Okay, okay, you can cut the vegetables over there.” She smiled in satisfaction. If there was one thing she had realized with herself on her rite of passage it was that she hated people doing her favors. It always left a sense of obligation in her; the need to repay a debt and she didn’t like that feeling.

They worked quietly and in sync. He was finished with the noodles and she was almost done with the vegetables when she heard him speak.

“Are you expecting company?” he asked.

“No, why do you ask?” she turned away from chopping the onions to look at him, her eyes red and watering.

Seeing her predicament her walked forward, pushed her out of the way and proceeded to finish chopping the rest of the vegetables.

“Hey, I wasn’t done yet.” She protested but he ignored her.

“I can hear footsteps coming up the pathway that’s why I asked if you were expecting company.” Her brows furrowed in confusion.

“Footsteps?” as if one cue her heightened hearing picked up on the pitter patter of feet coming their way. She turned towards the direction in which the sound was coming from then realization finally dawned on her, Quan was arriving today.

In a flurry of short arms and limbs she watched as her son broke the tree line screaming.

“Mama!” came the little boy’s voice.

“Quan!” she ran out to meet her son. He launched himself at her chest and she gladly accepted his embrace by wrapping her arms tightly around him. “I missed you so much. Did you miss me?”

“Mhmhm, a whole lot.” He said as he began to place small kisses all over her face. Lianhua laughed at his playfulness.

“Did you enjoy your trip?” she asked him as she kissed his cheeks in return.

“Of course he enjoyed the trip.” Came another voice. Lianhua shifted her gaze to see Zhong coming towards her. “He was spending it with me after all.” There was a vain smile on his face.

“Oh really? If Quan tells me he didn’t enjoy himself, even just for the tiniest bit, or you placed him in some kid of danger I’m going to smack that smile right off your face.” As if on cue his smile vanished. “Hmhm, that’s what I thought.”

“Aww, come on Lianhua, don’t be like that.” He stepped closer and enveloped her in a hug, squishing Quan between them.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She feigned ignorance all the while trying to stop herself from smiling, his expression was priceless.

Before Zhong could say anything though they were interrupted by the sound of someone coughing. Lianhua’s eyes widened, she had been so caught up with the return of her son and Zhong that she had completely forgotten about Xuelang.

“Xuelang.” She stepped away from Zhong’s embrace towards him, a broad smile on her face. “I’d like you to meet someone.” She turned her gaze from him to look at Quan who upon seeing an unfamiliar face began to hide his face in her neck.

+++++

Xuelang stared at Lianhua, his expression hard. When she had ran from his side everything inside of him screamed to tug her back, but he didn’t.

When he had seen the little boy she held in her arms fly out of the woods he had been a little surprised but the boy had screamed the words mama at his woman and that was when he had been astounded.

For a moment he had been stupefied, wondering if he had heard right. But when he saw the way she held the boy close in her arms and began kissing his face he had come to his conclusion.

Lianhua had a child. A child that was not – could not – be his own. He barely even saw the face of the man that wrapped his arms around her as his mind tried to process the gathered information.

“Xuelang.” He heard her call his name. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

She stepped towards him, the boy held tightly in her arms. He was hiding his face in Lianhua’s neck and his small hands gripped her robes tightly.

“Oh don’t be shy now, you and I both know you’re not that kind of boy.” She was rubbing the boy’s back lovingly.

At the sight his limbs, at last, regained mobility and he moved from around the table towards her with long purposeful strides. His dazed mind had cleared somewhat but it was now being clouded by something else, anger. How could she do this? He thought to himself.

She had reprimanded him so much about him keeping secrets when she was the one who was hiding the fact that she had a son – a son!

He stood in front of her and looked at her with scathing eyes. He watched as her beautiful smile faded.

“Xuelang, what’s wrong?” she looked concerned, her hand reaching up to touch his face. Harshly he slapped her hand away.

“You have the audacity to task me what’s wrong when you’re holding another man’s child in your arms?” he spat.

“Another man’s child?” her brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me Linhua or I swear to the heavens and back I’ll wring your pretty little neck.” She took a wary step back. Seeing fear flash across her eyes he walked away from her. “I’m leaving.”

“Xuelang you don’t understand,” she ran after him, “he is your son.” He stopped walking and turned back to her, eyes blazing with anger.

“How is he my child?” he grated out. “I told you the other night that I was incapable of having children so why are you lying to me?” the tension in the air was palpable. As if sensing that something was really wrong Quan started to cry.

“But it’s the truth.” She said as she cradled the boy in her arms. “Look at him Xuelang, he’s the spitting image of you.” He gave his back to her.

“I said look at him!” she shouted as she pulled his shoulder roughly, spinning him around to face her. “Look at him and tell me his is not your son.” She challenged him.

Grudgingly he looked at the boy in his lover’s arms, teary sea green eyes met his angry ones. The sight of the color that was so similar to his own took him aback. The long white hair that flowed in waves from the boy’s head framed a face that looked so much like his own when he was younger that it was like his younger self had been reincarnated into this little boy.

His body went limp and he fell to his knees, shocked out of his mind. It really was his son.

“How is this possible?” he knew Lianhua knew about what the witch had done to him for he had told her the entire story.

“This is fate. The witch might have taken your ability to have children Xuelang but there are two things she couldn’ts change.” She knelt down mefore him, Quan still in her arms as she laid a hand on his cheek. “Fate and love Xuelang, she cannot mess with fate and love.”

“Love?” he said warily. His head was reeling.

“Yes Xuelang, my love for you and your love for me.” She said to clarify. His eyes widened.

“You love me?” he whispered to her.

“With every fiber of my being.” She said. Tears prickled at the back of Xuelang’s eyes. After his mother had died he thought he would never find a woman who would be able to love him for real.

Zhong, who had remained quiet the entire time, seeing that the conversation had finally taken a turn for the better and no harm was going to Lianhua and Quan he left the two lovers alone.

Head still whirling Xuelang pulled Lianhua into his arms, tears falling down his cheeks. He then turned to the boy in her arms.

“I have a son.” He said incredulously. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Lianhua nodding her head. He pressed his lips onto Quan’s forehead. “I have a son.” He mumbled. Excitement coursing through his veins he lifted both of them up and began twirling them around. “I have a son!”

He was laughing now and Lianhua and his son were laughing with him. Suddenly he stopped spinning and looked Lianhua deep into her silvery eyes.

“I love you Lianhua.” He kissed her. “With every fiber of my being.”