"Okay, it is nice to make myself float above the water," he murmured, his breath visible in the cool night air. Slowly, he took off the ornate robe, its gold embroidery catching the moonlight. He glanced at the nearby tree, now adorned with his discarded garment. "Besides, I can't sleep. Tomorrow, I have class, but the night feels too peaceful to ignore."
Standing half-clad, the moonlight bathed his lean figure as he made his way to the lake’s edge, his bare feet sinking into the cold mud.
The water lapped at his ankles, sending a shiver up his spine, but he continued. The lake—Xi Hu—was a silent mirror, reflecting the brilliance of the night sky, the stars twinkling like distant memories.
"Perhaps I should have brought a blanket," Xu mused to himself, but he pressed on, wading deeper until the water reached his chest. The cold enveloped him, and he closed his eyes, allowing the lake to support his weight as he floated aimlessly. He had always been drawn to the serenity of the water, the way it quieted his restless thoughts.
But tonight, the silence felt different—heavier. The weight of his family’s expectations gnawed at him. Being the eldest son of the Liang family came with responsibilities he never asked for.
To those who envied his position, he appeared fortunate—a scholar from a prestigious lineage, poised to elevate his family’s status at court. But beneath that polished exterior, he kept a secret that tore at him daily.
"If only they knew," he thought bitterly, his eyes tracing the stars above. "What would they say? Would they shun me? Would they abandon me?" He sighed, the sound lost to the rippling water.
His fair skin, admired by many, was more than just a physical trait. It hinted at something deeper, something that separated him from the rigid expectations placed upon men of his status.
He longed for freedom—not just from his obligations, but from the chains of tradition that prevented him from openly expressing his true self. He yearned to love as he wished, to embrace his desires without fear of retribution.
"Why is it so wrong to be different?" he whispered to the night, as if expecting an answer from the quiet heavens.
In the distance, the faint sound of a bamboo flute drifted through the air, its melancholy tune echoing through the stillness.
The player of the flute—Lin Hua—stood at the shore, his silhouette framed by the moonlight. Lin Hua stopped playing and let the flute rest at his side. With a soft rustle, he bent down and picked up the longpao Xu had left hanging on the branch.
"It is quite late, Master Xu," Lin Hua’s voice carried over the water, soft but steady. "Rest assured, I am here to ensure your safety."
Xu opened his eyes, squinting at the figure standing at the edge of the lake. "Did Lady Mei instruct you to always follow me?" he asked. He waded closer to the shore.
Lin Hua shook his head, smiling faintly. "I came of my own accord."
Xu chuckled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He waded further into the lake, the water rising to his navel. There was a sudden awareness of his vulnerability—his unclothed form, the proximity of Lin Hua, and the secrets he carried like a weight on his chest.
"You know," Lin Hua mused as he looked out over the water, "Xi Hu is known for its legends. They say the lake was once home to a goddess of the lotus who defied the celestial edicts for love. She fell for a water deity and, against all laws of the heavens, she followed him into the heart of the lake. They say love drove her to break the rules. Curious, isn't it? How even the gods can rebel for love."
Xu stilled, his gaze locking onto Lin Hua’s thoughtful expression. "Do you believe in such stories?" Xu asked, his voice soft, vulnerable.
Lin Hua met his eyes. "I believe that love makes people do extraordinary things."
Xu laughed bitterly, turning away. "Love? What does a nobleman like me know of love? My future is already planned. I will be married to someone chosen for me, a woman whose name I barely know. Love, as you describe it, is a luxury for commoners. It’s not something an heir like me can afford."
Lin Hua stepped closer, his bare feet sinking into the cool mud. "Perhaps," he said gently, "but even a nobleman has a heart. Maybe, one day, you’ll find someone who makes you defy expectations. Who knows? Love can surprise us all."
Xu turned, his eyes narrowing. *"And you, Lin Hua? Do you believe in love for yourself?"
For a moment, Lin Hua was silent, his eyes reflecting the moonlight. Then he spoke, his voice low. "I believe... that love finds those who seek it, regardless of their station."
A quiet tension hung between them, the night air thick with unsaid words. Xu broke the silence with a soft command. "Hang my longpao on the táo shù." He turned back toward the lake, swimming further into the depths, as if trying to escape the conversation that had become far too intimate for his liking.