"What are you thinking about? It's Jincha's turn next, it's our turn!"
"Ah good!"
……no!
It is rare to be able to dance in front of Lu Fusu. This is the first time. Even if it is just one of the palace concubines who are accompanying him in the background, he must not be careless.
His Highness Fusu...
I'm here.
Although I couldn't dance in front, I still came here.
Your Highness Fusu, you may have forgotten me...
Shui Xinyuan took a step and came to the bright stage from the corner of the hall where the light could not reach.
Become one of those red-clad maikos.
He is also the most plainly dressed among them.
Among the twenty people in line, the only one she looked at was Lu Fusu.
Lu Fusu faced the rows of palace servants and continued to drink with the same indifferent expression.
The music starts.
Jincha in front started to lead the dance.
In line with her movements, the palace servants behind her also slowly swung their sleeves.
Hope you'll notice.
For you, I have long been determined to become the best dancer in the entire Yuan Kingdom.
Even though I can't stand in front and dance, I'm still here...
To the melodious music, the palace servants danced magnificently. Among twenty people, Shui Xinyuan's dancing posture was not out of shape.
As soon as the song ended, the dignitaries present applauded gently, and Jincha bowed gracefully in response.
Lu Fusu didn't know when he had put down his wine glass and stared straight at it.
His eyes met those of Shui Xinyuan who had just finished dancing and was facing forward.
"..."
Another piece of music then started playing, and the next court lady came on the stage, and then started dancing again, with Shui Xinyuan also dancing in harmony naturally.
Your Highness Fusu!
He did look at me! Although it was only for a moment, our eyes met.
Shui Xinyuan resisted the urge to rush forward and finished the dance. There was still a little time before the next appearance, so the court ladies retreated to the corner of the hall again.
As Shui Xinyuan left the stage, he secretly looked at Lu Fusu. Lu Fusu looked at Shui Xinyuan, nodded slightly, stood up from his seat, said something to the attendants beside him, and walked out of the corridor directly.
……ah!
"Qing...Qing'er."
"how?"
"Well, I'll go out for a while..."
"Get out? What are you doing out?"
"Ah, I'm just going to the corridor. I'm so nervous and feel so hot."
"There's really nothing I can do about you... Next is the sideshow, won't you watch it?"
"I'll be back soon..."
Shui Xinyuan slipped out quietly from the back door. The palace girls applauded the wonderful acrobatics, and no one noticed Shui Xinyuan's departure.
It was still bright outside, there was no one around, and the noise of the crowd sounded so far away through the wall.
Shui Xinyuan quietly ran toward the door Lu Fusu had just exited. Maybe he was just around the corner in this corridor...
"!"
"ah!"
When turning the corner, Shui Xinyuan bumped into someone. He raised his head and was about to apologize, but held his breath.
"..."
"Shui Xinyuan..."
...Arms taller than that night.
A slightly deeper voice than that night.
Despite this, there is still no mistaking that he was the one that night...
"Your Highness Fusu..."
"As expected... it's Miss Shui."
"it's me……"
Lu Fusu's expression slowly changed from surprise to smile.
The same smile as the boy who gave Shui Xinyuan the plum branch on that moonlit night three years ago.
…""
"Long time no see, Miss Shui."
"Yes……"
...He still remembers, even my name.
When they met again, they originally had a lot to say, but now they couldn't say a word. Shui Xinyuan just looked up at Lu Fusu.
"It's been three years."
"Yes……"
"how is your day?"
"Ah, very good."
"That's it!"
Lu Fusu showed that steady smile again, as if the melancholy look just now was a lie, Shui Xinyuan also breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
Hearing cheers again, Lu Fusu and Shui Xinyuan stared at each other for a long time.
The noise in the hall next door sounded far away, but the distance between the two was so close that they could touch each other as long as they stretched out their hands.
In the past three years, Shui Xinyuan's yearning for Lu Fusu has quietly accumulated in her heart... She is also very concerned about that feeling.
If she didn't realize her feelings, she could just chat with Lu Fusu and reminisce about the past.
"..."
Shui Xinyuan was the first to lower his head.
I sincerely want to meet.
She was also very happy to see each other again, but for some reason, her chest felt as painful as that night three years ago.
"Fortunately, I attended the banquet today."
Hearing Lu Fusu's soliloquy, Shui Xinyuan raised his head.
"I've never liked banquets... I didn't expect to see Miss Shui today."
"..."
"Will you play next?"
"Ah... there are three more shows... I'm just dancing behind..."
Lu Fusu nodded and smiled.
"In this case, as long as Miss Shui plays, I will show up at the banquet."
"You...do you want to see me dance?"
"From now on, all I see is Miss Water."
"Huh……"
Shui Xinyuan's cheeks, which were originally painted red, became even redder.
Lu Fusu laughed softly.
"I don't know how to dance, but even among so many people, you still attracted my attention... It seems that you have really put in a lot of effort!"
"..."
Shui Xinyuan almost shed tears and couldn't help covering them up with his sleeves.
He said he kept looking at me...
The three years of living in the palace suddenly turned into bright memories.
"I have to work hard too."
"What?"
Before he had time to ask what he meant, he heard louder applause and cheers. Shui Xinyuan was startled and turned his head. The acrobatic performance must have ended and it was time to start again.
"...Are you leaving?"
"Yes, it is."
"Then it's time for me to go back."
"..."
The joy of meeting again, the surprise that he found himself among the many dancers, and the absolutely unspeakable longing... Shui Xinyuan looked up at Lu Fusu again with all these emotions, and then lowered his head.
"I will continue to work hard."
After saying this, he turned around as if to shake off something...
"Water girl!"
The hand was caught.
Shui Xinyuan was startled and turned around. Lu Fusu, who was holding her, seemed stunned and immediately let go.
"..."
"Not sorry."
"No……"
"Tomorrow evening……"
"What?"
"If I remember correctly, it should be a full moon."
Shui Xinyuan's big eyes opened even wider and looked at Lu Fusu.
Lu Fusu stared at her with the same expression he had when he put plum branches on Shui Xinyuan last time.
full moon.
Tomorrow night is a full moon.
"Okay... see you there!"
Shui Xinyuan nodded heavily, took two steps back, turned the corner and ran away.
His Highness Fusu...
My heart was beating so fast that I almost couldn't help but scream.
At the critical moment, Shui Xinyuan walked through the door he just left through and hurried back to the hall.
"Ah, Shui Xinyuan! Where have you gone?"
"sorry……"
"Stop talking, come on, come on!"
At Qing'er's urging, Shui Xinyuan hurriedly joined the team on stage and became one of the twenty people. Following the next main dancer, he came to the center of the hall. Looking to the front, he saw Lu Fusu taking his seat again.
This time the two of them stared at each other with exact emotion.
...He's looking at me.
Under the protection of the warm gaze, the high mood turned into moderate tension.
The music started to play.
Among the many palace dancers doing the same movements as everyone else, Shui Xinyuan still danced for only one person.