“What did you say?”

Mengyao noticed the look of disbelief on Longwei’s face. Mengyao had to think of a memory of theirs that only he would know. He looked up to Longwei and smiled softly.

“When we were little, we climbed a tall tree and when I slipped, you dove after and held me so that you took most of the branches that hit you. The doctor said you’d be fine and that left you with a scar that looked like a tree branch,” Mengyao said.

“How long have you been with Madame Tung-Mei? And why didn’t you tell us that you were with her? Matter o’ fact, why didn’t she tell us she had you?” Longwei asked, swallowing the food in his mouth before loading his bowl with more food.

“It’s a bit of a long story,” Mengyao said, chuckling.

“We got time! I wanna hear it!” Longwei commented. “We haven’t seen each other in over twenty years!”

Mengyao nodded as he began to tell Longwei how he came to work for Madame Tung-Mei and how she even found him. He noticed Longwei’s brows furrowed when he explained that he had to become a servant in order to stay out of sight and mind, in case whoever killed his family would attack the Yi family.

Mengyao assured Longwei that it was okay. He did mention how he got special treatment over the other servants, which made him feel a bit bad. 

He even explained how he came to grow fond of two maids who worked in the Yi residence and saw them as daughters.

Mengyao had to divert his eyes away from Longwei as the man looked to hang on his every word. Longwei sighed.

“So that’s why Madame Tung-Mei hid you. I should have known. I knew you looked familiar when I first saw you but…” Longwei said but Mengyao shook his head.

“It’s no matter. What matters now is that someone kidnapped me and wants to give me to a High Priest of some sort.”

“A High Priest? A High Priest of what?”

“I don’t know,” Mengyao said, “The only clue I gained from Luli was that my family was related to a prophecy of some sort. I don’t know what that means though. And considering these men kidnapped me, I don’t think it was merely her speculation.”

Mengyao pondered as Longwei looked at him. Mengyao gave a small smirk. “What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll disappear into thin air if you stop looking at me?”

“Maybe,” Longwei teased, giving a smirk of his own.

They fell silent for a moment before Longwei stood up from the table. “Come, i’ll show you to a guest room. You don’t have to worry about those men findin’ you. Barely anyone knows where my Residence is so you’re safe here. And I think it’d do you some good to take a nap ‘cause there ain’t no way you aren’t exhausted.”

Mengyao thought about it before nodding. “I am a bit tired. I’ve been up all night,” he said as he stood as well.

Mengyao followed Longwei to the guest room he’d be sleeping in. When they got there, he looked inside before chuckling. “You Duans surely love your dragons.”

“Well, Dragons represent Strength! Besides, wouldn’t you want a strong dragon to protect you?” Longwei asked, folding his arms.

Mengyao rolled his eyes before entering his room. “I think I could protect myself,” he said. He noticed some sleeping robes on the bed before he turned to Longwei.

“Well, when I can, I'll let Madame Tung-Mei know you’re safe. Sleep well, A-Yao,” Longwei said as he closed the door behind him.

Mengyao gave a smile as he changed into the new robes. He felt like he was going down memory lane as he smelled the sandalwood and cinnamon on the robes he wore. 

Mengyao always remembered the smell of cinnamon and sandalwood coming off the robes of the Duan family.

Mengyao tucked himself into bed and pondered a bit: Who is the High Priest those men were talking about? And what was he a High Priest of?

Mengyao shook his head as he closed his eyes. He’d worry about it later.