Ming Yao · Conversa

In Suzhou City during February, the wind carried a chill from the unthawed spring, yet it already exuded the gentle moisture unique to the water towns. A long queue had formed outside Mingyue Tower. The freshly uncovered mint pine cakes sent up thick plumes of white steam, their cool and sweet aroma winding along the cobblestone path. The cries of street vendors intertwined with the occasional sound of sculling oars from the canal, creating a noisy and vibrant atmosphere. Ming Yao stood at the very front of the shop, rubbing his knuckles which had been reddened by the wind, his mist-blue eyes staring intently at the steamer. Today, he wore a sharp set of green martial attire, his sleeves tightly bound with leather bracers, and his saber "Xiaoman" hung at his left waist. His height made him stand out in the crowd, and his light flaxen short hair was blown into a fuzzy mess by the wind. While waiting, he reached in to touch the inside of his robe. Tucked against his chest were several pine nut candies wrapped in glutinous rice paper, which he had run across three streets to buy early this morning. In a hidden layer further down lay a small red-thread pouch. Feeling the slight protrusion through the fabric with his fingertips, Ming Yao pursed his lips, his mouth curling upward uncontrollably to reveal a hint of sharp canine teeth. "Yo, Eleven." A lazy tone drifted from behind, interrupting his poorly hidden smile. Ming Yao turned toward the source of the voice. Bai Qiandu was leaning against a stone lion at the corner of the street, dressed in black with dark hair, arms crossed, a blade of grass plucked from somewhere dangling from his mouth, looking at him with a half-smile. "Instead of being on standby at Guixu Valley early in the morning, you're queuing at Mingyue Tower for half an hour?" "Boss!" Ming Yao instinctively straightened his back, his voice bright, before immediately lowering it like a guilty thief and glancing around. "I'm on patrol! The east side of the city is crowded and full of suspicious characters, so I'm making a few extra rounds to check things out. It's called nipping trouble in the bud!" Bai Qiandu raised an eyebrow, spat out the grass, and drawled, "Oh—patrol. And you're patrolling those fresh mint pine cakes right into your own pocket?" His gaze swept down, landing precisely on Ming Yao's hand guarding his chest. "And what kind of candy is in that pocket? I remember you used to only like meat. Since when did you switch to these sickly sweet things?" Heat surged up Ming Yao's neck, his ear tips turning a visible shade of bright red. He hurriedly dropped his hand and stammered in defense, "My tastes changed! Besides, I bought too many cakes to eat by myself, so I was going to take them back to the Bureau to share with everyone..." "Sure, share with everyone." Bai Qiandu stepped forward and patted his shoulder with a mischievous grin. "But I suspect this 'everyone' of yours is actually just one person. So, where are you planning to stage an 'accidental' encounter after you finish buying those cakes?" Ming Yao was about to jump up and argue when the shop assistant handed over two wrapped packages of mint pine cakes. He shut his mouth, took the hot oil-paper bundles with both hands, and cradled them in his arms, using his own body heat to shield them from the early spring wind. Just as Bai Qiandu was about to speak again, his gaze drifted past Ming Yao's shoulder to the end of the street. He then gave a knowing smile and gave Ming Yao a casual shove on the back. "Alright, I won't delay your patrol. Your 'everyone' is here. Go deliver the cakes. Don't say your big brother didn't warn you—wipe the sweat off your palms so you don't crush the packaging." Before his voice had even faded, Bai Qiandu's figure flashed as he nimbly leapt onto a nearby rooftop and vanished into the corner of the alley. Ming Yao stood frozen, not yet processing the meaning of those words, but as he turned his head, his vision locked. At the end of the cobblestone path, Ming Zinian was walking toward him. The surrounding noise of vendors and the sound of boiling water faded away in an instant. Ming Yao's chest heaved faster, his heartbeat thumping against his eardrums. He stood helplessly in front of the shop, clutching the hot package of mint pine cakes. A moment ago, he was thinking about how to stage an encounter, but now that it was actually happening, his legs felt as if they had taken root. He cast a quick glance down at his outfit to make sure his collar was straight, then reached up to messily smooth down his wind-blown hair. As the distance closed, the blush completely scorched his ears. Ming Yao took a deep breath, forcefully wiped the sweat from his palms onto his clothes, and strode forward with his long legs. "What a coincidence!" He beamed, revealing a bright, cloudless smile, though his usually clear voice was now softened. "I just happened to be passing by on patrol, so... I bought some mint pine cakes on the way." He held out the oil-paper package he had been protecting in his arms, the scent of mint diffusing between them. Ming Yao's eyes didn't stray for a second from the person in front of him, his knuckles protruding from the force of his grip on the paper, his eyes hiding a sense of caution and anticipation that even he hadn't noticed. "Mingyue Tower has a buy-one-get-one-free deal today. I can't finish them all by myself, so would you... help me out with some?"