Huan Zhu Ge Ge

(Love vs. Friendship)

By: Princess Pearl

(Fang Ci)

"Lady first!"

"King first!"

"Well I won’t tell if you don’t tell."

"So am I."

"Then there’s no way you know where I live."

"Fine! You don’t know where I live neither!"

A few raindrop, drop on Xiao Yan Zi’s face. She touches her soft face and look up at the sky. Her big beautiful eyes widen then blinking because the rain drops onto her eyes. Her face start to get wet, she use her sleeve to wipe off her wet face which make all her make up got wipe off too. But to her gorgeous face she still looks as beautiful as ever. Now she’s full wet, she look around looking for her snake. She saw it lying next to the tree wiggles weakly, blood still flow out and mixed with the rain.

She run to it and pick it up, using her sleeve to cover it from the rain. Even though her face wet but she can still feel her hot tears dropping down. Then she looks up at Huang Shan who got a maid holding the umbrella for him. He standing, crossing his arm and smiling. Xiao Yan Zi hate him so much. How come he so heartless?

Holding the snake in her arm and crying. She looking at the snake feeling like she’s gonna lost it soon. Huang Shan start to feel sorry for her. The smile on his face had fade. He feel like he’s no other than a bad guy only bully women. He raises his hand up and holds the umbrella walking toward Xiao Yan Zi who’s still crying.

Xiao Yan Zi thought the rain had stop, she look up and saw Huang Shan. Anger rise up, she push Huang Shan away. Haung Shan fall onto the ground, the umbrella fell of his hand. His cloth all wet and muddy, the servants and maids was shock. No one had ever dared to do that. They ran to him and try to pick him up. He looks worse than Xiao Yan Zi. She only wet but he is full of mud. He pushes them away, get up by himself. Feeling so embarrassing in front of them. Xiao Yan Zi didn’t know that she in big trouble, she keep laughing at him.

Huang Shan looks at her angrily. He just wants to call the guards to cut off her head. But thinking of the competition, he have to win, he can’t let her die now. Many servant and maid is the witness to this competition. If he kill her, they will think he can’t do anything without his own smartness and strength but use his king power.

"Ok! Enough of laughing! The game is starting tomorrow! Meet me here tomorrow!" Huang Shan said

"Yes Mrs. King!" Ziao Yan Zi said and laughing, even though she is laughing but inside she is really hurt, she doesn’t want to loose her snake.

Xiao Yan Zi run as fast as she can to her house. She slams the door and rush to Xiao Jain who is sitting with the group drinking tea and chatting. She breathes heavily because she just runs. Yong Qi who was shock and worry to see his beloved all wet and tired. He run to her and holding her arm, he notices that she’s crying.

"What’s wrong Xiao Yan Zi? Are you ok?" He asks hold her hand tight

"Please save my snake!" pleading, "It hurt badly!"

Xiao Jain take a look at it, he shake his head and said, "Ooh, it not so good…

"No! You have to save it! Yong Qi can you save it?" turn to Yong Qi, who’ve been looking at her and feel painfully inside his heart, he’s hate to watch her crying.

"Xiao Yan Zi! Calm down!" Xiao Jain said, "I’m not finish! I can save it. Don’t worry!"

"You… you can?" smiling, take out a sign of relief

"Of course!"

Then he brings the snake to his room and cures it. Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi went out side to the garden. He looks at her deeply. Feeling proud to have her love, she have such a good heart, the best thing he like about her is she not knowing anything, which make she’s so pure and innocent. She’s not so clever, always trusting people.

Comparing to Mei Ling, she and her is completely different. Mei Ling is wild, brave, smart, clever, always think before do anything, strong, know material art, can protect herself, nobody can bully her. Xiao Yan Zi is gentle, innocent, pure, shy, weak, not knowing material art (only know how to use the whip), can’t protect herself.

Xiao Yan Zi is better than Mei Ling on education like doing poem, singing, and dancing… Mei Ling is better than Xiao Yan Zi in living (which is more useful) like how to live independence, how to fight against something/someone, never let anyone despise her…

About beauty, Mei Ling’s beauty is more mature, when people look at her she look powerful, and elegant (with her princess cloth). Xiao Yan Zi’s beauty is sweetness, gentle and friendly.

When Yong Qi is with Mei Ling, they sometime have some arguing, he don’t have to watch over her all the time. When he’s with Xiao Yan Zi, they don’t have any arguing but he have to worry about her all the time.

"I love you" Yong Qi said, Xiao Yan Zi shyly look away, she’s feel very happy whenever he said that.

"Will you go to the palace with me?" he asks

"W… what? What are you talking about?" confuse

"I want you to stay in the palace with me. So we can always be together. And you can always be with me and Zewei, Qing’er, Erkang, and Xiao Jain. I don’t want you to stay here all alone."

"But, but I… I don’t know. I don’t want to leave this place. I love this place. Can’t…can’t you stay here with me?"

"Why don’t you want to go?" wrap his arm around her

"I… I’ve been stay here for a long time. I don’t’ know what it’s like out side! I’m scare!"

"Don’t worry! I’ll protect you!"

"I don’t know."

"You don’t trust me?"

"No, it’s not that. Look, I know nothing out there. I don’t know anything. Going to the market place is the first time I went out side of the forest. And it’s the only place I ever see beside this forest. I don’t want to go outside."

"Didn’t you say that you like to go outside?" kiss her

"Yes, I did. But I only want to go outside for fun, not living out there. Anyway, Xiao Jain said that it’s really dangerous, it not safety like in here."

"Xiao Yan Zi, what me mean is the outside, the marketplace, the city, the town. We are talking about the palace."

Huang Shan outside is heading toward them, he draw the curtain and was shock. He saw his favorite son hugging and kissing the lady that just had a fight with him. His face shows his anger, boiling with anger. Everyone saw it too, they once again shaking and trembling.

"Stop!" He order

This time Yong Qi and Xiao Yan Zi heard him and look at his direction. Huang Shan walks out slowly, looking at them sharply. Yong Qi hurry kneels down, Xiao Yan Zi confuse, looking at Yong Qi then Huang Shan.

"Yong Qi. Don’t tell me this girl is the girl that make you fall for her hopelessly." Look at Xiao Yan Zi

"Yes, Huang Ah Ma." Xiao yan Zi was shock by those three words

"Yong Qi, go somewhere else, I want to have a word with her." Yong Qi leaves, feeling worry

"You… you’re the king?" she said

"What’s else? You in big trouble now."

"I don’t care. Anyway, this is the new rule."

"Sure, what is it?"

"You can’t threaten me. Which mean you have to compete as a commoner person. No king in this competition." Put her arm on the back and holding it, "You can’t use your king power, you have to do everything on your own. And remember, no threaten."

"Deal. You’re a smart one."

"You can’t let anyone know about this competition."

"Why?"

"Because if they know, they won’t let me win, my brother said that everyone have to loose for you, nobody dare to win."

"Ok. By the way, you can’t be with my son."

"Why?" feeling hurt inside

"Because he can’t like any rude girl you."

"Well then I don’t think china should have an unreasonable king like you." stubborn

"You! I can just cut your head off."

"Then you’ll be a loser all your life, you’re threaten me now, you know?"

"I threaten you what?"

"You trying to separate us. You can’t do that."

"You know what? Every father can stop his son from loving someone, not only the king."

Xiao Yan Zi has nothing to say, but she trusts Yong Qi won’t abandon her. She knows how much he loves her.

"Well, you can’t stop us."

"Oh yeah, watch."

***

"Xiao Yan Zi, what did Haung Ah Ma want to talk to you?" Yong Qi ask

"Oh, nothing. No big deal." She said sadly

"There’s something right?" hug her

"I said nothing!" She rest her head on Yong Qi

"Com on. Tell me. What’s wrong? Did he like you?" hold her tighter

"He don’t want us to be together." Crying

"What? Xiao Yan Zi, don’t cry. Why? Why he don’t want us to be together?"

"Can we not talking about this?"

"No. We have to. This is our future. Don’t worry. I’ll try to talk to him."

"He don’t like me! And I hate him too!"

"Shhh! Don’t say that! Huang Ah Ma can hear you. You shouldn’t make him to be mad of you." whisper

"Huang Ah Ma, Huang Ah Ma. In your mind only have your Huang Ah Ma! You never put me in your mind!"

"Why you said that! I love you! I love you more than anything!"

"No you’re not! You only feel pity for me!" crying

"I love you not because I pity for you. Now don’t talk nonsense. I know you’re hurt I’m hurt too. I always want to be with you. I don’t care if what he thinks, I’ll always be with you. Ok?" Yong Qi lower his voice, talk tenderly to her.

"Yong Qi, I’m scare. I don’t have any trust on me. How come a perfect guy like you love me. I have nothing to love. I feel very weak. I feel I’m useless. I’m still afraid if once you meet an interesting girl then you’ll…" She want to say more but Yong Qi use his finger and place it on her soft lips.

"Guess like that problem hasn’t solved to you yet. The problem is you always look down on you. You’re better than any girl. You’re gentle, sweet, intelligent and…and attractive. Not many girl have all of those thing like you."

"But those can’t do anything!"

"But it can make me love you! Xiao Yan Zi, listen. I love you. And I’ll never ever change my heart."

"You can’t control it Yong Qi. You can’t control your heart. Just like you try not to love me, but it still didn’t work. And someday you met a girl then you’ll like her. I’m no longer in your heart!"

"Gosh Xiao Yan Zi! It not like when I met someone then I’ll start to love them! You’re disregarding me!" Then he walks away, feeling painfully.

Xiao Yan Zi can’t do anything else but sit there and crying.

************

Day 1

Xiao Yan Zi get up from her bed, she stand up and gets change. She still thinks about the fight last night. Tears start to roll down from her face again. She hasn’t sleep all night, she’s been crying. Her eyes all swollen and red, her head is aching and her heart is aching too. She opens the door weakly as she barely walks. She raises her hand up to wipe tears but she didn’t realize that there is a wire hangs across the door. It was too small and it hand near to the bottom.

She takes a step, and her right leg hook on the wire. So quick that she can’t react and fall on to the floor. She try to stand up, touching her painful hand, it has a little graze, a little bit of bleeding. She hangs on the door heavily; use all her strength to get up, her face makes a painful expression. Then she look down at her foot, she saw a wire wrap around her feet as she fall.

She unwrap it and pick it up, feeling confuse. How come there’re so many unlucky stuff happen to her? First her snake injured then she has that fight with the king then which hurt her most is having a fight with Yong Qi and now this? She throws the wire away, get the thought out of her head and head to the dining room to have breakfast.

She walks slowly and gracefully toward the door. She saw Huang Shan, she roll her eyes up and then look at him angrily.

"Good morning! Have a good morning? Have a good falling?" Huang Shan said laughing

"You? It… it was you?"

"Yup. I guess I’m winning so far."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Oh don’t tell me you’re totally forgot about the competition."

"Oh!" She remembers, give him a sharp glance then walk away

"Morning Yong Qi!" Ziwei

The moment Xiao Yan Zi heard the Yong Qi her heart beat faster. She turn to his direction, he was walking in. Their eyes met, Yong Qi notice her swollen eyes, his heart hurt painfully. He’s not angry at her but he feel sad for her. He just wishes to get this over real fast.

They sit around the table, Xiao Yan Zi sit between Yong Qi and Huang Shan.

"Huang Ah Ma, do you feel comfortable with this place? Do you need anything else?" Ziwei ask

"Yes Huang Shan. Did you have a good night sleep?" Qing’er add

"Oh yes. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine."

"Xiao Jain, do we have any activity today?"

"Um, we’re going to have a picnic."

"Great! I love picnic!"

Erkang, Xiao Jain, Qing’er, Ziwei and Huang Shan chatting happily except for Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi. They were quiet all the time. Xiao Yan Zi keep look down to her bowl, she can’t bare to see his cold face. And Yong Qi keep look at Xiao Yan Zi, he just want to said to her that he sorry. Eve though it wasn’t his fault, he know it’s not her fault too. She’s too weak, she’s love him too much, she afraid him to leave her. He have to understand her, he shouldn’t walk away like that that would never solve the problem.

After breakfast they walk to the lake to have picnic. Yong Qi still don’t have any chance to talk to her alone. She’s been crying while they were at the house till now. She walks close to Qing’er who she feels close to. Xiao Yan Zi really admires Qing’er; she always looks up on her. Qing’er usually talk to her about how life in the palace, and how lonely she was until she met Xiao Jain. Who bring her to many happiness, no matter how sad she was, just if she saw him, she always greet him with a smile. Qing’er was like a sister to Xiao Yan Zi, Xiao Yan Zi can talk anything to her. Qing’er is patient girl, she always calm and think before she wants to do anything.

Qing’er notice something wrong with Xiao Yan Zi and Yong Qi. They’ve bee quiet all day, she look at Xiao Yan Zi and saw her wipe her tears.

"You ok?" she whisper to Xiao Yan Zi, she only nod slightly

"This sure is a beautiful place!" Huang Shan said while they reach the lake

"This is not the only one. There are many other place, which is more beautiful than this one." Ziwei said

"Oh really? I gotta see those too!"

While they set up the food, Huang Shan stands behind the tree and look out the lake, enjoying the scene. Xiao Yan Zi saw that and thinks it time to revenge. She tips toe to him, standing quietly behind him. Raise her hands up and use all her strength to push hi down onto the lake. Huang Shan fall on to the lake and make a plash. Everyone heard that and ran over him. Erkang, Xiao Jian and Yong Qi jump down to the lake and save him. When they all get up to the shore, Yong Qi look angrily at Xiao Yan Zi, who was smiling put her hands on her hip. She notice his look, the smile fade, she began to start to cry again. He walk toward her, he stop in front of her.

"What’re you think you doing?" Talk quietly at her

"I… I… I hate him." Said softly

"You… you hate him? You hate him so you push him? You could get kill for that!"

"He’s not allowed to kill me. Or… or he’ll loose."

"What are you talking about?" confuse

"I mean… He can’t kill just for that." Remember that she not suppose to tell

"Yes he can. Maybe you don’t know but he can."

"Then he’s no other than a murder." Said angrily

"Don’t you dare say that. You’re needed to respect him."

"I won’t."

"Don’t be stubborn."

"I hate him. He’s trying to separate us."

"Oh so because he trying to separate us then you push him. How come you’re so petty?" Xiao Yan Zi was hurt by that word

"Great, now I’m petty? You don’t love me any more? Fine! I knew this day would come." Crying

"You’re being unreasonable."

"Now you found my bad side, you don’t have to love me any more. I don’t need you to love me! I don’t need you to be with me. Don’t’ ever think I need you. That’s what I am. I’m petty and unreasonable. I’m not gentle and sweet like you think. I’m just faking it. So what." lie

"Why you always say that? I think I’m the one who should be afraid. I think you’re trying to get rid of me. Now you’re not a lonely girl anymore. Not an innocent, or pure girl anymore. You don’t need me now uh? Don’t think you’re attractive and beautiful that what make me love you. I only love you by your innocent and your good heart. But now you’re like this, then I think I just love a wrong person." He was so angry and hurt…

************

Sorry for the late update, I need to ask you guys a question: Is it Ziwei or Zewei? Which one spell right? I keep confusing on those two.