In the Stars

A particular figure stood in front of the bright moon that hid behind a row of houses. In the background, there was the sound of a dog's barking in accompaniment with the songs of the crickets and cicadas.

In front of the large opened windows of a certain residence was a man oblivious to the scene outside. Rather, he leaned back in a relaxed manner slowly sipping the cup of tea in his hands in the midst of the room engulfed in darkness. The scent of magnolia brought a pleasant tinge to the nose. Not overbearing, but sweet and soothing.

The small figure that was just running across houses disappeared for a second before popping in front of the man, dangling upside down with a grin on her face. If it were any other person, this scene would've been a bit freaky. The smile that was meant to be nice opened a bit too wide and instead, came off more like the scary smile of a ghost.

"Ou—" Shen Mohua could barely utter a sound before the cold metal of a dagger grazed her neck, just a slight push away from a deep pierce.

"Speak or die."

"I-it's me, Shen Mohua," she responded as fast as lightning. From her perspective, his cold eyes held a hint of fierceness she had never seen before. A look that wouldn't hesitate to dig the dagger into her flesh. Tomorrow was their wedding, how could a tragedy take place before the big day...

The dagger was hurriedly taken away and placed onto the table. Ou Junsan's eyebrows scrunched up, "And what is the bride doing here, sneaking around at night in the groom's residence?"

"If you don't mind, may I come down first? It's a bit tiring to hang here..." Her feet hooked on the eaves of the roof were steady, but her tone was pleading and her words created a smooth lie without a pause.

Ou Junsan sat back down, very calmly at that. "Do as you wish."

Shen Mohua swung herself into the room, her feet landing just in front of the chair across from him. A sheepish grin bloomed on her bubbly face. As she prepared to speak, footsteps came down the corridor. The excitement in her eyes were replaced with fear. If outsiders found out about how she broke the rules, she'd be done for.

When the footsteps outside stood in front of the door, a finger pressed against his lips and soft breathing trickled down his neck. In this unexpected situation, he'd actually forgotten to tell her men and women should keep distance.

"Shhh," she whispered.

"Ou Junsan, what a cruel brother you are! How can you sleep already?" Kong Yunru cried out with a voice full of grievances. "How can you leave a single brother to drink alone?"

Inside the room, Ou Junsan replied, "We just drank, what else do brothers still need to do before a wedding? Go to bed, silly cloud."

Kong Yunru pressed against the door, refusing to leave. "Junsan. Ou Junsan, don't be so heartless. Open the door, let's at least talk."

Ou Junsan sighed and stood up. That man wouldn't leave, he knew it well. As soon as Kong Yunru became drunk, his stubbornness multiplied ten fold. The crybaby was sad he'd be a single dog after tomorrow.

He nudged Shen Mohua towards the bed by the wall. "Hide under the blanket."

With the moonlight coming through, Shen Mohua could see the hint of red curtains on the bed. Her cheeks suddenly became redder than the bedding. She tried moving her feet forward, but couldn't move at all.

"I-I'll wait for you up there." Her little figure dashed out the window and vanished as fast as she came.

Ou Junsan only nodded to himself alone. Right, that was very usual. Very normal.

"Ou Junsan, what were you doing in here huh? You actually took so long to open," Kong Yunru commented immediately once he walked inside.

"Why are you looking for me at this time anyway? This is why I told you to sleep at your house," Ou Junsan directly ignored his question.

"Aiyo, why are you so cold? You're kicking me out already." Kong Yunru lit the candles then sauntered around the room. He stood on tip toes and bent down, his eyes scanning every inch. "Earlier it sounded like you were talking to someone. Where did you hide them?"

Ou Junsan sighed once again. Why did the situation seemed as if he was hiding a mistress...? "You're drunk, you were hallucinating."

"Nah uh, you're lying." Kong Yunru grinned. "Tell me, was it sister-in-law? Are you sneaking a little sweet date? Or another little beauty? Are you already placing a green hat over sister-in-law's head? How dare you? Ou Junsan, even as brothers, I won't let you!"

"Shut it or you won't be able to talk tomorrow." Ou Junsan coldly pulled the drunk man out the door. 

"Nooo, don't say that. You're so scary."

"Come along this way."

"Alright, but no punishment okay...?"

————

Up on the roof, Shen Mohua laid leisurely with hands behind her head. She almost couldn't hold in her laughter, waiting barely until the two figures went away before roaring out. Kong Yunru, that friend, was indeed entertaining.

"So funny?"

Her laughter stopped abruptly. Not far away, a figure in black robes strode over. With the large moon behind him, he was covered in shadows, yet looked like a hero out on a secret mission.

Ou Junsan came to a stop at an appropriate distance. "You should go back soon, don't stay out too late."

Shen Mohua pat the space next to her. "Since we're up here, why don't we watch the stars?"

"Sorry, I can't see." He turned around.

"C-can't you stay...?" There was a swoosh and before he knew it, a pair of soft hands grasped tightly onto his own.

Ou Junsan's face hardened and wordlessly sat down. This time, he didn't forget to remind her, "Remember to keep distance."

"Yes, will do," she happily obliged.

Two figures settled on the rooftop, one rigidly sat up while the other laid down casually. The night wasn't too hot or cold and the occasional breeze swept by refreshingly.

"Ou Junsan?" Shen Mohua quietly called out.

The pair of eyes that were shrouded in shadows looked up. Thousands of stars reflected in the eyes that were filled with darkness, shining even more beautifully than the ones in the sky. For a moment, she couldn't find her voice. How could such a stunning sight existed in his eyes...

"Hmm?"

"The stars tonight are more beautiful than any I've ever seen." The only reflection in her eyes was his silhouette. "If I could see these stars every night before sleeping, I think I'd be able to close my eyes happily before a new day comes."

How much more beautiful could the stars tonight be? Stars were stars, she could watch them any night she wanted. "After tomorrow, you can watch the stars from this house anytime you like."

A smile brighter than the moon bloomed on her face. "This bride thanks her generous groom."

Ou Junsan could hear the sheer joy in her voice, almost trembling from happiness. He couldn't quite understand how such a small thing could make her so happy. She'd be his wife, the hostess of his home, something trivial like this was a given.

After another moment of silence, her voice came in a soft whisper, "Ou Junsan, do you think the story of us is written in the stars?"

Written in the stars... Ou Junsan didn't believe in such things. "The decision one makes determines one's life, does it not?"

"But there are circumstances out of our control, aren't there? For example, if we weren't destined to meet, we may not have an encounter for the rest of our lives. Our fates must've intertwined to bring us together."

Once Shen Mohua opened her mouth, she couldn't seem to stop. She talked from the belief of stars being loved ones that had gone away to the belief of magic in the lands to eventually, a topic from earlier in the day. Ou Junsan quietly listened, even when her talk turned into ramblings that seemed a little out of place for a soon-to-be-bride.

"...In such a short time, that bastard Duan Tian threw away Shi Ning like a used rag. Each time I saw him holding his mistress in the daylight wandering the streets while his wife slaved away in the fields, my fist wanted to land a punch on his face. Let's see if his face is thicker than my punch."

Ou Junsan, "..."

Shen Mohua's face began to flush with anger as she recalled the memories. "Ten years, ten years became nothing in front of a new face! All men are bad, none must be trusted."

"..." Did she realized whom she was saying this to? Ou Junsan slowly turned to face her direction. "You came to that solution based on someone else's life story?"

"Of course, our lovely Shi Ning told me that herself," she claimed quite proudly, totally unaware that she was about to drop a rock on her own foot.

"Are you not about to marry me tomorrow? Is it not a marriage between a man and a woman?"

"..." Shen Mohua pressed her lips together. What he said seemed to make sense... she got carried away telling her frustrations with Duan tian and Shi Ning to the point that she ultimately also indirectly accused him too, to be a bastard.

Shen Mohua knew her wrongdoing. Her body curled into a small ball with guilt. "Please accept this bride's sincere apology..."

Ou Junsan's lips lifted in amusement. Even without seeing her, he felt as if he could almost see the sorry look on her face begging for forgiveness. "Forget it, this groom isn't so close minded. What you should listen to is not what others say, but what you see and determine yourself. We all have our own stories, what another woman goes through is different from you."

Shen Mohua subconsciously scooted closer while listening with all her might. Yes, she may not go through the betrayal and pain Shi Ning experienced. They were two individuals with separate lives and thoughts. Ou Junsan is his own person from Duan Tian. Ten years for Duan Tian was nothing in front of a new beauty, but perhaps a few months for Ou Junsan will be stronger than ten years.

"What I want you to remember is, you won't be abandoned." His voice softened and slowed, wanting every of his next words to imprint into her mind. "After our marriage, naturally the rest of my life is yours. Will not leave you, will not love another, and will stay by your side."

Unexpectedly, he was able to grasp her worries disguised within a storm of a thousand words. The sincerity and meaning of his words were soothing to her unsteady heart that was full of fears. Shen Mohua peered up at him. His face was hard to read as usual, yet his mouth was sweeter than honey. Who could've guess that this block of wood would be so romantic in his own way...

"Got it?" He asked after a long silence from her.

"Y-yes, yes. I won't forget."

Shen Mohua felt a blush creeping up her cheeks and turned away. The loud thumping of her heart stirred wildly when her eyes caught a streak of white across the sky.

"Ou Junsan, it's a shooting star! Hurry and make a wish," she quickly ushered, closing her own eyes. A string of words passed through her heart silently. Her gaze came up full of excitement. "Did you make a wish—"

A pair of phoenix eyes calmly blinked, looking directly in her direction. "What's there to wish for?"

Those eyes were enchanting, even bewitching and almost drew her in. Just a look from him made her froze and became speechless. "W-wish for t-things you want."

"My wedding is tomorrow, the person to spend the rest of my life with is here. What more can I ask for?" He replied simply, as if it was a fact known to everyone.

"I-I have to go." Shen Mohua could no longer calm down her heart that seemed to want to jump out any second now. She got on her feet and scurried down the rooftop. Before jumping off, she turned around to say something, then her small figure ran towards the moon.

Ou Junsan listened to the sound of her footsteps disappearing into the distance until only the songs of the night accompanied him. He laid on the rooftop longer than he thought, trying to decipher the so call night music she claimed in her ramblings. Her last words drifted into his mind freely, dancing around without an ounce of fear.

"I'll wear the wedding dress and... wait patiently for you to come."