Summary: Qi Shiyi asks for help from Xie Bi’an with learning how to open up and make a calligraphy piece for someone she loves. Little does she know where this venture will take her.
Cast: “Bluebell Blue”/“Symphony of Ink” Qi Shiyi, “Blushing Scholars” Wu Chang, “Curator” Pet, “Lavender Jadeite” Tang Si
“Ink serves as a medium for all things, to bring to life everything that lies within the mind and soul of its wielder…”
The soft tone of the scholar carries from behind through the mellow breeze, a gentle swish of robes as he walks by. Pausing, he takes a seat across from his pupil of a few years. Her brows are furrowed in concentration, an inked calligraphy brush gripped tightly in hand.
“Your tension will disrupt the natural flow of both energy and inspiration. Take a deep breath, Miss Shiyi. Remember what I have told you before.”
The young lady sighs through pursed lips, bowing her head for a moment and quietly reciting a previous lesson, “A brush or pen is an extension of my body, and the ink flows through it like the blood in my veins. To illustrate words or images is to lay bare my heart unto the scrolls, and must be executed with open intent and genuine passion…”
“That is correct.” He tilts his head, eyes focused on her expression. “So tell me, Miss Shiyi, why is it that your heart is afraid of opening up?”
The way her head snapped to attention spoke volumes, a faint tint to her cheeks that could easily match the budding peach blossoms scattered in the grass around them. Curator hopped onto the bench beside her with a loud meow, almost as if echoing Xie Bi’an in the callout. Her mentor was able to read through the energy of others like words on a page, and such happening to her caught her by surprise. Her response was hesitant, perhaps guarded, “I… do not wish to lose it, Mister Xie…”
“Whatever do you mean?”
Her lips again drew taught into a thin line, placing down the brush and shaking her head. “I do not wish to lay my heart upon a page, if it means I am to lose it upon giving that piece to another. I do not want the pen to be the weapon that pierces me if they disappear along with the ink, crumble like discarded papers, or be swept away by winds of the inevitable.”
The scholar’s gaze softened upon hearing this response, for she sounded like a younger version of himself. Xie Bi’an nodded his head in understanding yet kept firm in his tone whilst giving advice.
“That is the nature of both art and love, Miss Shiyi. Both are gained and lost to time. Both are of smiling, colorful expanses and tearful, monochrome portraits. We are moved by art and writing because the human heart was made to resonate with those of others. Our souls are not destined to be solitary nor unfeeling, and thus we strive to bring into the world the means in which we can reunite.”
Curator jumped onto the table from the bench, making his way over to the scholar and headbutting his open palm. Gentle scritches were given to the cat, and a bittersweet smile drew itself upon his lips at the spoken words. Qi Shiyi could have sworn tears surfaced at the edges of his lashes as he continued.
“Besides… it is best not to run or hide from emotion. It is wiser to endure the pain of baring your soul, rather than lose the feelings within your heart altogether.”
Qi Shiyi almost felt a tremor deep within upon hearing the change in tone, the serious conviction he carried sharply contrasting with the gentle demeanor and voice in which it was expressed. She did not know much about her mentor’s personal life, for it was not her place. However, something told her that he had a deep sense of care when it came to these matters, and thus she would take his words to heart.
“I understand…” She pauses in thought, eyes grazing over the table at numerous pens, brushes, colored inks, and other calligraphy accompaniments that Xie Bi’an kept in an old tea chest. “Would you be willing to help me with this, Mister Xie? I wish to make a piece for someone special to me, to build a proper home for us and repay her every kindness. Yet, I am unsure how to start…”
“Of course, Miss Shiyi… but for now, it is best to call it a day. Get some rest, and later we can begin this journey into opening your heart to her.”
A gentle clang of chiming bells seemed to jolt Qi Shiyi from her slumber, abruptly sitting up as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the room. It was strange, for the ringing was coming from indoors, yet the only bells in the home were outside. She squinted at the clock across the room, the moonlight helping her to see the time. It was the middle of the night, and yet the quiet shuffling of footsteps was heard passing by her room and down the corridor.
There should not be anyone up at this hour… Could it be an intruder?
There was no hesitation as she got up from the bed, slipping on house shoes and grabbing her mechanical flute. As quietly as possible, she opened the door as soon as the footsteps were far enough away. It was time to investigate. Xie Bi’an was generous enough to let pupils stay in his home and library whilst on their journeys over the years… At this time she was the only one, so it would be dishonorable to not defend his kindness in turn if necessary.
She kept close to the walls and followed the trailing sound of footsteps, gentle creaking of older floorboards helping to guide her without drawing too near. Soon enough, she caught the shadowy silhouette of a tall figure turning the corner, heading through the study and down another hallway. Qi Shiyi picked up the pace and followed, eyes darting around cautiously as she found herself in an unfamiliar part of the library.
The corridor carried a different sense of energy compared to the rest of the library, almost as if something far more ancient or unknown flowed through the foundation. It was a narrow hallway, the walls lined with numerous scrolls. The writings and illustrations seemed to almost move and sway in the low luminescence, beckoning her to continue following this pursuit. The figure picked up the pace, and thus she began to do so as well.
Yet by the time she reached the end of the hall, there would only be the echo of bells once more. The figure seemingly disappeared, and Qi Shiyi found herself before the largest scroll in the room. The illustration was almost lifelike, depicting a large monochromatic bamboo forest in the silvery moonlight. She stood firm, guarded and puzzled as to where the person she was following went.
Perhaps… Is this all a figment of my imagination?
Qi Shiyi shook her head, sighing to herself. Should she hear the shadowy steps once more tomorrow night, she would investigate the matter. Yet for now, she needed to head back to her room. Mister Xie wanted her to be up early for the start of his lesson, requesting that she meet him under the peach blossom trees at sunrise.
“The blooming peach blossoms are truly a sight to behold…” There is a serenity in the atmosphere as Xie Bi’an nodded his head in greeting, gesturing for his student to sit across from him under the tree. A tea set is laid out, a fresh pot made as it is delicately poured into two cups for the mentor and apprentice.
Qi Shiyi bowed in turn and made her way over. All was illuminated in the golden hue of the rising sun, adding a soothing tone to the gentle nature of springtime. “Good morning, Mister Xie…” a stifled yawn followed her words due to the lack of sleep from the night before, her mind still half focused on wondering just who or what was lurking through the library, leading her down that mysterious hallway. She graciously took a cup of tea, bowing her head in thanks and adding a touch of light brown sugar. A quiet sip, the sweetened notes of vanilla, lemongrass, and aniseed providing a tranquil lightness and warmth to ease her nerves.
The scholar took a moment to study his pupil's expression, his tone maintaining its softspoken demeanor with an added hint of concern, “You seem rather tired, Miss Shiyi. Did you not sleep well?”
She shook her head, taking another long sip of tea as she thought about how to explain the events of last night, “I… was awoken in the middle of the night, although now I question whether or not what I experienced was even real…”
“If you feel comfortable, would you like to talk about it? I promise not to pass unnecessary judgement, as I simply wish to aid you if I am able.”
Xie Bi'an could probably see the way hesitance and guarded disposition danced together behind her eyes, his student setting down the teacup and staring at it before she began to recall what happened.
“Well… It started with the echo of bells from inside the premises, which alerted me as your chimes were outside. I got up, taking my flute, and tried to follow the footsteps that walked past my room. I saw a tall shadow, and chased them into a part of the library I had never seen before... Then they disappeared. I was in a room with many scrolls, but I quickly went back to bed so as to not miss today's lesson…”
Qi Shiyi was only able to look up at her mentor after she finished describing the encounter. She could see that his brows were furrowed in thought, one hand ghosting over the handle of the umbrella beside him. The silence was looming, like the tension of invisible clouds holding back from breaking into rainfall. Without a word, he placed his tea chest on the table, opening it to reveal a secret compartment of pressed, dried flowers and hand dyed ribbons. He handed her a blank scroll and calligraphy tools, gesturing at his own set to follow the lesson both visually and hands on. Rather than speaking directly in response to her recollection, Xie Bi’an proceeded to tell a story that could potentially serve as an explanation.
“Many moons ago, I shared this home and library with the person most dear to me. We grew together under these very same peach blossom trees, and our bond carried on through the seasons. For much of that time, I could not bring myself to share my true feelings with him. My heart would tighten in fear, closing my throat, voice lost and shaking my soul into reservation. It was only through the art of calligraphy that I was able to let go, and confess to my Lìng yībàn… That spring was the most vivid to my senses in the colors of blooming affections. Yet as I have said before, love and art are things that will inevitably be lost to time… Life comes and goes, as that is the cycle for each and every being in this world.”
As he spoke, pressed jasmine flowers and peach blossoms were carefully adhered to the scroll in a beautiful pattern, selecting a gradient ribbon of blush pink and deep crimson. Qi Shiyi followed suit with her own selection of flora and placements. His words encouraged her to try and follow intuition in creating this, just as he followed his in that distant past. It was only after a pause that she glanced over, noticing the teardrops dotted along his parchment, slightly blurring the written names, “谢必安 和 范无咎” (Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu). Quietly, she tried to offer reassurance and demonstrate her true understanding of this lesson.
“But in the end, you did manage to share that love with him, right? I think… I understand why you have been urging me to do the same now. It is as you said; it is wiser to open up the feelings of my heart, enduring that pain, rather than lose them altogether.”
Although a bit shakier with the brush this time, the apprentice followed his lead in delicately painting a name onto her scroll, “唐肆” (Tang Si), then carefully displayed it for her mentor to grade. It was lovingly adorned in pressed lilacs and bluebells, the ribbon chosen for this a gradient of pale violet and a soft jade.
Xie Bi’an seemed to snap himself out of that vulnerable state, seeing her work and hearing her response to his tale. He was almost beaming with pride as a softened smile gave him a chance to dry his eyes, “That looks beautiful, Miss Shiyi… You have done very well. I am proud of you…”
She bowed her head with mumbled gratitude, feeling the gentle heat of rosy tint across her cheeks. However, it did not bother her this time, slowly learning to accept this sense of warmth. Together, they put away the tools and tea set, quietly winding down in a drawing conclusion to his teaching session. Yet before departing for the time being, Qi Shiyi felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“‘Ink as a miracle, hearts mellow and passion racing.’ I want you to remember this phrase, Miss Shiyi. When it is spoken again, you will know that your heart is ready to fully embrace that of your most beloved. And when that time comes… I will entrust this place to you.”
“What? What do you mean by that, Mister Xie?”
“Sooner or later, I wish to pass down this house and library to you. You are the longest staying and most experienced of all my pupils, you have mastered many of my teachings, and I know that you will take good care of all that is here. In a way, you have become like family to me. And in turn… This way, you will be able to have the home that you had sought.”
The young lady looked up at Xie Bi’an in genuine shock, taken aback by such a selfless display of kindness. It was only in this moment that she could see the greyness of exhaustion behind gentle eyes, and an odd scar where he said his voice was once closed off. Yet upon blinking, those things disappeared from view, now wondering if what she saw was merely an illusion driven by the tides of their emotions. Qi Shiyi was only able to nod to him and deeply bow, both in acceptance and fullhearted resolve to continue to make her mentor proud. The rest of the day would be spent continuing her work on that special scroll…
As night fell, the toll of bells echoed through the corridor once more. Qi Shiyi was sitting up in bed, opening her eyes from the evening meditation in preparation for this second encounter. As soon as she heard the creaking of floorboards and footsteps passing by, she silently slipped out of her room to continue last night’s pursuit. It was the same tall shadowy silhouette as the night before, only this time the apprentice was able to make note of crimson accents amongst the dark monochrome. They looked to be in the form of blossoms, yet the deep blood red hue added a sense of foreboding that she could not explain.
She kept up the pace just as before, but was once again led astray into the scroll laden corridor as the suspect vanished after entering the depths of the library. She decided to take a more reflective moment upon entering this hallway, actually taking the time to look at the individual scrolls as she made her way through. There were smaller scrolls adorned with various writings, mainly consisting of poems and love letters. They were both joyous and melancholic, full of love and sorrow, each emotion clearly weighing on the hearts of their unknown writers.
There were also illustrations of numerous beautiful landscapes, almost as if this old corridor encompassed its own living world within the arts showcased. Everything was painted in gradient, the colorful pieces at the beginning of the hall descending into grayscale by the end. Once again, she stood before the monochrome bamboo forest, the foliage within almost swaying as if it had its own breeze.
That was when there was a sudden mew at her feet, the pupil looking down to see Curator brushing up against her ankles. He looked up at her with a slow blink, then suddenly trotted forward towards the scroll. There was a ripple effect as the cat placed his paw against the parchment; then to the shock of Qi Shiyi, Curator walked through the scroll and vanished, another ripple of ink in the cat’s wake.
There was no time to really think about any logical aspect of this feat, for curiosity of the soul burned brighter than the looming shadows of doubt or fear. Taking a deep breath, Qi Shiyi mustered up her nerve, shielded her eyes, and followed Curator through the illustrative work herself. She was going to get to the bottom of this, and find the truth behind the figure lurking within the parchment.
Upon uncovering her eyes again, the calligraphy student found herself standing in the middle of a bamboo forest, hearing the wind and feeling its gentle chill. Qi Shiyi took a minute to check her surroundings, tentatively reaching out towards one of the culms of bamboo. The texture felt real, solid and tangible… yet the visual nature of this place had a distinct overlay of monochromatic dissonance.
Glancing at her mechanical flute, it had now become a large calligraphy brush, a gentle glow of a turquoise jade where she held it standing out amongst the grayscale around her. That was when Qi Shiyi noticed that her entire outfit had also changed, donning robes that looked as if she herself was a gently ink brushed canvas, accessories accented in that same blue-green jade. The crisp meow of Curator swiftly brought her attention back to the task at hand, watching the cat run off along a winding path. It seemed as if the old companion knew how to track down the mysterious force that led her here, so she quickly took off to follow.
It would not be long until this chase brought her to an open area of the forest, the full moon illuminating everything. A clear river ran and showed her reflection, the leaves of tall bamboo culms swaying in the breeze. Mountains in the distance, although hazier in view, stood tall enough to almost reach the distant clouds above.
“With a stroke, splendor unfurls—a universe within the ink…”
A deep, mellow voice from behind caused Qi Shiyi to whip around, holding the calligraphy brush at the ready just as she would her regular mechanical flute. This caused the man before her to tilt his head, an almost mischievous smile brimming at his lips. He stood in dark, monochromatic flowing robes and scholar’s hat, accented in deep red of blossoms, and the darkened green of a tie around the waist with a crimson satchel. His eyes matched the blossoms adorning his figure in their bloody hue, and he lifted in one hand a deep green bell. A gentle ringing filled the air, letting the student know that he was the subject of her chase.
However, what perturbed her the most was the umbrella in his other hand, its faded tan canopy adorned with branches and light pink flowers. Even the red tie of fate with a green jade bead was the same as that of her mentor. “Who are you, and what have you done with Mister Xie?” Qi Shiyi’s voice did not waver, eyes narrow as she poised herself in case she needed to strike.
That question only got a raised brow from the monochrome scholar, who looked almost offended at the mere notion of him hurting Xie Bi’an. “I assure you, I have done nothing that aligns with your presumptions. I am simply here to help you on your journey, just as my Lìng yībàn expressed during the day…” A subtle shift in expression and tone, some of the tricksteresque mannerisms subsided as he took a step forward. Curator went forward to greet the gentleman, who knelt down and petted his head in turn. Upon standing back up, the bell returned to his waist, hand over heart as he bowed his head in proper greeting, “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Fan Wujiu, and you must be the student who is seeking guidance through the walls built around her heart.”
The calligraphy student held firm for a moment, only lowering her brush when she recalled that name being the one written alongside her mentor’s on his scroll before. She slowly stood at attention, bowing her head in respect as she realized the connotations of the term of endearment towards each other. “My apologies, Mister Fan. My name is Qi Shiyi…” There was a pause, a small pivot as she looked over towards the distant moonlit mountaintops, tonality quieted to a somber admission.
“It is true… I am a calligraphy apprentice of Mister Xie, and I had asked his help regarding creating a piece for someone dear to me. I am hesitant, for I have already lost many who held a place in my heart. I have no remaining family nor home, and it is she who opened her arms during that time of need… Yet, who is to say that I will not lose her as well?”
A tightened grip of the brush as Qi Shiyi’s voice shook with that last sentence. Tears pricked at her lashes, the student turning away from Fan Wujiu to shield herself from the notion of vulnerability. His reply, however, snapped her back from the drifting clouds of melancholy.
“Is she someone for whom you would give your life?”
“What…?”
“It is a simple, time honored question. Is this person someone for whom you would give your life?”
Qi Shiyi turned back around, only to feel the scholar’s gaze almost burn into her soul at the underlying conviction of those words. She lifted her chin up, meeting his stare and replying without hesitation, “Of course… I would do it in a heartbeat.”
There was a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes at her resolve, the umbrella spinning in his hand before he choked up on the grip, pointing it her way and once more dual wielding with the bell, “Then I wish for you to prove it to me in the form of a sparring match. Once you are ready, I challenge you to fight me as if you were defending her honor, her heart, her life. And in turn, I shall fight back as if I were protecting the person most dear to mine.”
Eyes wide at the unexpected call to action, Qi Shiyi took a step back to gather herself. Curator padded off to hop up onto a nearby boulder, the old cat making himself comfortable as if to watch as their audience member. She looked down at the calligraphy brush in hand, running her fingertips along the ornately embossed metal handle. The student pictured her special someone, Tang Si’s smile and laughter as a form of encouragement to keep fighting. Any fear was washed aside, cleansed and painted over in the vibrant energy of her determination. A deep breath as she placed a hand to her thudding heart, noticing a pinkish glow against the robes that was not present before his proposed challenge.
It was with this that Qi Shiyi nodded to Fan Wujiu in understanding, and thus came rushing forward to make the first move. Brush in hand like it was a fighting staff, she swung it around to attempt a strike, but he countered and blocked it with the umbrella. The two exchanged blow for blow, swift and exacting, yet the scholar did not even look remotely fazed by the advancements of the apprentice. He did not even seem to break a sweat, which only pushed Qi Shiyi to try harder.
Fan Wujiu interrupted this series of attacks with a sudden ring of his bell, the echoing tone shaking the student’s soul and halting her in her tracks. The momentary disorientation disrupted her rhythm, leaving Qi Shiyi's defenses open. The scholar surged forward from above, only to fake a strike and instead come from below to kick the apprentice’s legs out from under her. She fell to the ground, only just able to roll away from the incoming blow of the umbrella and scramble back onto her feet. He rang the bell again, the reverberation causing her to stumble back towards the edge of the riverbed.
“Your spirit still wavers with doubt! My bell will continue to echo your weakness until you prove yourself to push past it. Trust in your heart, and your mind and body will follow suit. Lay bare your passion, or your journey ends here!”
Qi Shiyi had little time to react to his words as the scholar lunged forward once more, weapons clashing. She was struggling to hold him back, becoming dangerously close to losing her footing and falling into the river. The look in Fan Wujiu’s eyes was fiery and headstrong, as if he was stubbornly urging her to push herself. She once again pictured Tang Si rooting for her, just as she always had when they traveled together and dared to dream…
Adrenaline kicked in, and the roots of her feelings brought forward a new sense of inner strength, “I will not let anyone keep me from her… My journey will not end until I have given my all!”
It was with that loud defiance that she shoved him back, every accompanying strike with more fortitude than before. The next time Fan Wujiu rang the bell, she remained unfazed, swinging the calligraphy brush to knock it out of his hand and send it flying into a nearby clump of grass. She yelled in pent up emotion, slamming the brush into his other arm to stop another counterattack with the umbrella. It was now the scholar who faltered, and Qi Shiyi brushed the ground with bamboo ink as he slipped and was knocked down with another strike. She stood over him with her weapon poised as if to make a finishing blow, Fan Wujiu looking up at her with narrowed eyes for a few tense moments.
It was then that he vanished in a blink only to reappear behind her, a gentle pat against her back with the palm of a hand. All tension dissipated as his quiet laughter filled the air, Qi Shiyi whipping around to see him standing more relaxed, the bell somehow back at his waist and umbrella casually over one shoulder. The pink glow beneath her sternum faded, and it seemed that the spar had concluded. His smile was wide, nodding in approval at her efforts.
“‘Ink as a miracle, hearts mellow and passion racing.’ You have proven yourself, Miss Shiyi, as now your heart has attained the balance of mellow tranquility and burning passion. I commend the fortitude of your soul, and I am sure that he is just as proud of his pupil…”
A slow, steady applause was heard from afar, colorful scholar's robes standing out amongst the grey culms of bamboo. That was when Xie Bi'an showed himself, likely having been watching from beside Curator the entire time. He strided forward to stand beside the other, their attire and disposition contrasting much like that of yin and yang. Qi Shiyi also noticed that there was truly only one umbrella, which must have been shared between the two. She stood at attention and humbly bowed to the both of them, holding the calligraphy brush close to her chest.
“Mister Xie, Mister Fan, I cannot thank you both enough for all you have taught me. I am truly grateful, yet I am unsure what is supposed to happen now…”
Looking up, the calligraphy student once more saw that exhaustion hidden behind the smile of her mentor, a softened gaze that had been worn out over time. His other half was the opposite, full of renewed energy and compassion. It was then that it hit her, remembering when Xie Bi'an mentioned passing down the house and library… “Mister Xie… you are not coming back home, are you?”
Xie Bi'an remained quiet, for all of them already knew the answer. He stepped forward, delicately placed a hand on her head, and very gently ruffled her hair. It was then that Qi Shiyi could feel the tears roll down her cheeks, unable to contain them as she tightly clung to her mentor with stifled trembling. He was soft in his embrace, Fan Wujiu joining in as well, like parents who were hugging their child one more time before they moved away. It dawned on the apprentice that she truly saw her teacher as her found family, and by extension his other half as well.
“Fret not, Miss Shiyi… We will visit you every time the moon is bright, and stay over for company when the peach blossom trees come into bloom…”
Xie Bi'an was soft-spoken in his reassurance, and a gruff hum from Fan Wujiu was heard in support of this promise. His tone was much more assertive, but still held a newfound gentility when addressing her.
“Your love and fighting spirit have returned color to our lonely world, and in return we shall do our best to protect the happiness of yours. There is no more sorrow, only a future which is yours to create.”
Qi Shiyi dried her eyes and looked up at the both of them, then at their surroundings. What Fan Wujiu said was true; Expanding from the ink trail left behind by her calligraphy brush, delicate hues of nature were gradually washing over the monochrome like gentle lunar tides. Curator ran over and stood at her feet, and soon her teary vision became a faded blur of gentle iridescence.
There was a jolt as the apprentice regained consciousness, abruptly sitting up. She was back in her room and night clothes, rubbing her eyes to adjust against the flittering gold of daylight pouring in through the window. She was swift to get out of bed, dazed as to wondering if what transpired during the night was real, or if everything was simply a lucid dream. Qi Shiyi wandered to the closet, opening the sliding door to find that beside her usual blue and grey attire was the robes from the calligraphic place, still as pristine as an ink painted canvas. She was quick to look around the rest of her room; the large calligraphy brush stood beside her mechanical flute, and the turquoise jade accessories were in an ornate silver jewelry box that sat beside her regular wooden one.
Everything was real… Mister Xie and Mister Fan must have carried me home…
She bit back a well of emotion, realizing that she was now alone within the house and library. Qi Shiyi decided to don the new attire, carefully styling her hair and makeup into how she recalled it from that night. Once fully dressed, she made her way out of her room, intending to head straight for the library.
That is until there was a tentative ring of chimes outside, and a gentle knock at the front door. A soft, feminine voice called out, “Hello? Is anyone there?”
Qi Shiyi froze, turning around as that tone sounded all too familiar. Holding her nerve as to not have false hope, she slowly made her way over and opened the door. A beautiful woman stood before her in a silken purple qipao, her hair adorned in delicate lavender jadeite. Eyes wide in disbelief, she was only able to quietly ask, “Tang Si…? Is it really you?”
The gentlelady blinked a few times as if to focus her own sense of facial recognition, only to joyously leap up and wrap her arms around the other. “Qi Shiyi, I knew I would find you here! The letter was truthful after all.”
The calligrapher would tightly return the embrace, a deep breath in trying to keep the waves of burning emotion under control for the moment. There was a haze of confusion amongst the tender reunion, and curiosity led her to inquire further, “What letter? Did someone write for you to come here?”
There was a nod, Tang Si releasing her before procuring an envelope from a small bag. She handed it to Qi Shiyi, who read it. It was an invitation to come to the old library for ‘a calligraphy exhibition’, signed by none other than Xie Bi’an… All along, he knew who her special person was and brought her here.
His calligraphy student could not help but faintly smile at such a gesture, beckoning Tang Si to come inside, “Let me show you around… This place was left to my care by Mister Xie.”
There would be a tour of the home as the two caught up on the past few years, for that was how long ago Qi Shiyi left on the journey to take mentorship under Xie Bi’an. The final tour spot was the library, Tang Si sitting down at a study table as Qi Shiyi prepared a fresh pot of jasmine tea. They both enjoyed each other’s company and the comfort of a shared favorite drink, looking out towards the blooming peach blossom trees… That was when she mustered up the courage to pull out the scroll wrapped in delicate gradient ribbon, bowing her head as she quietly handed it over to her special person. Tang Si looked up from her teacup in surprise, carefully opening the scroll to reveal the pressed lilacs, bluebells, and caringly calligraphed poetry:
风吹竹墨浅卧，鹤影孤立云怀。
银月从山后微笑着，桃花盛开，拥抱着春天的温暖。
银色的月亮在山后微笑，盛开的桃花迎接春天的温暖。
致我的另一半，唐四。
有爱，齐世一
(Windswept bamboo ink lies shallow, while the crane's silhouette stands solitary amidst the cloud's embrace.
The silver moon smiles down from behind the mountains, and blossoming peach trees welcome the warmth of spring.
The crane awaits her company with the rising sun, and together they venture into the dawn of an iridescent future.
To my Lìng yībàn, Tang Si
With love, Qi Shiyi)
“Qi Shiyi…” Tang Si knew the vulnerability behind such a term of endearment, glancing over from the artwork to see that her companion refused to lift her head. Both of their faces matched the rose tinted hue of the peach blossoms outside. The only thing she could think to reciprocate the feelings in response was to stand up, leaning over across the table and placing a soft kiss to Qi Shiyi’s cheek.
This caused her eyes to widen, looking over at Tang Si in a mix of pure surprise and relief, making her way around the table to fully embrace the other. The warmth in her now open heart flowed through her entire body, shaking her to the depths of her soul, and now she knew that her special someone felt the same.
That was when a gentle meow interrupted the two, the ladies looking down to see Curator pawing at the hem of Qi Shiyi’s dress before trotting off, turning his head as if to beckon them to follow. Tang Si looked her way, and she nodded along, the two of them following the old cat through the depths of the library. As they walked along, Qi Shiyi recognized the pathway. The energy of the scrolls was much more gentle and flowing during the day, as if the life force behind them was at peace with the dawn of this new future. Any phantom traces of monochrome were gone, and she noticed that now all was fully in color throughout the corridor.
At the end of the room, the scroll of a large bamboo forest now had two figures standing within, hands held together under a singular shared umbrella. Tang Si tapped her on the shoulder, handing over a scroll that was delivered to them by Curator, who was purring as he curled up in a sunny spot below a nearby window. It was accompanied by two gifted talismans for them: one of crimson thread with blue-green jade, and one of pink thread with lavender jade. Qi Shiyi carefully unraveled the parchment, and a simple note welcomed both of them with a loving embrace:
致齐世一和唐思，
欢迎回家。
愿你守护的图书馆永远充满温暖。
祝您未来的旅途一切顺利，
谢必安、范无咎
(To Qi Shiyi and Tang Si,
Welcome home.
May the library you guard always be filled with warmth.
Wishing you well on your future journeys,
Xie Bi’an and Fan Wujiu)
Author’s Notes:
另一半 (Lìng yībàn): A gender neutral term of endearment, referring to someone as one’s “other half”.
The final scroll delivered to Qi Shiyi is the “Fatal Shadows of Ink” accessory.