Read The Moon's Falling Scales :: Chapter 8

Mengyao cried loudly as he stood there. He held onto Longwei's sleeve and refused to let go. When he was told that Longwei was leaving, he refused to believe it until the boy told him himself.

"I don't want Wei-ge to go!" He cried.

"I don't wanna go either but Baba says i have to," Longwei said, sadly. "But i got this for you! I promise I'll try and visit!"

Mengyao sniffled as he wiped his eyes to see a black tassel hanging in front of him. It was clasped together with a small gold link and hanging from the link was a small golden dragon.

Mengyao continued to sniffle as he took the tassel.

"You'll visit?"

"Yep! I promise!"

Mengyao smiled, the cute dimples in his cheeks showing. He held onto the tassel like his life depended on it.

“Wei-er. Time to go.”

Longwei frowned before looking back. “A-Yao, I’ll come and visit! I promise! My birthday’s coming up! I want you to be there!”

Mengyao nodded as he held onto the tassel.

The older boy then gave a bow before running off to his father’s carriage. After a few moments, the carriage rode off. Mengyao watched it as it disappeared into the forest.

He looked at the tassel and smiled.

“Wei-ge…”

Mengyao opened his eyes and noticed Longwei wasn’t in the cot beside him. He sat up and sighed. He looked around and noticed Longwei was nowhere in the cottage-tent. He got up and stretched. Did Longwei leave him behind?

He thought about the dream he had. He remembered that day. When his mother told him that Longwei was moving to a new residence, he didn’t believe it. He refused!

It wasn’t until Longwei himself said it. Mengyao was losing his best friend so of course he cried! But he promised he’d visit.

So much misfortune happened after Longwei moved. Not too long after, Mengyao fell ill and couldn’t go to Longwei’s tenth birthday celebration. He remembered pouting and throwing temper tantrums that entire week, even when he was feeling better.

But who'd thought that less than three years later, the entire Su family home would almost burn down? And that he'd never see his childhood friend again?

And now meeting his friend again, he seemed like a different person. And it seemed that he didn't give too much thought about their past. Maybe it was better this way.

After getting dressed, Mengyao walked out of the tent cottage and shielded his eyes from the blinding sunlight.

"Look who's awake! You're even more pretty in the sunlight."

Mengyao gave a strained smile as she saw Longwei, still in just his pants and his boots on. Longwei began stretching and even flexing a bit. Mengyao shook his head.

"Longwei, maybe it'd be better if you didn't stand half naked in front of someone. It's inappropriate."

"Why? Afraid you'll like what you see? I like what i see."

Mengyao made a face as he looked at Longwei. With a few steps, he took Longwei's robes and threw it at him. "Please get dressed, Young Master Longwei!"

"Aww. You called me Young Master again. Tsk tsk, after all we've been through. That hurts my feelings."

"Please get dressed so we can find my horse and I can get back to the Yi estate," Mengyao scolded. "You are...!"

"Handsome? Muscular? Strong? Sexy?"

"I...you...!" Mengyao stammered out as he pointed a finger at Longwei, who began laughing as he dressed. What did Mengyao do to deserve this torment?!

"i'm sorry! I'm sorry! Alright, we'll go find your horse."

"Tao! Tao!"

"Really? Tao?"

"Don't judge me," Mengyao said as they rode through the forest looking for Mengyao's horse.

Longwei insisted on Mengyao riding the same horse he did and in front of him. Mengyao tried to object but Longwei grabbed him by his wrist and forced him to sit almost in his lap. It was too close but knew it was only temporary.

Something else Mengyao took notice of was the light blue tassel that hung off Longwei's belt. He saw it last night but wasn't sure how to ask about it.

"Somethin' on your mind? Me by any chance?"

Mengyao shook his head. "I was wondering about your tassel. It's vastly different than the black and gold you're wearing."

"Well, it was an old friend's. He gave it to me when we were small children and I never let it go," Longwei answered.

That plucked a string in Mengyao's heart. So after all these years, Longwei kept the tassel he'd given him. That brought a small smile to his face.

"Don't you have one? A tassel or pendant from an old friend?"

"I do. But I--Tao!" Mengyao shouted before stopping Longwei's horse and jumping down. He ran over to Tao, who was grazing on grass nearby.

He went to her and hugged her the best he could. "Tao, you scared me. i thought you'd gotten hurt or something..."

Mengyao patted her side before mounting onto her. Longwei gave a small smile.

"Ever had a horse race before?"

"No?"

"Well, here's your first!"

With a small kick, Longwei began darting down the road. Mengyao kicked Tao to make her try and catch up.