Ballad of the Desert

Chapter 31: Deployment

The moment we step into Yi Ping Ju I see Jiu Ye. He's wearing a blue robe and is as pure as the first snow on a mountain top. He's listening to Tian Cao talk and smiling warmly, though it hides a faint melancholy. The moment he sees me, his eyes flash pain, and my footsteps stop of its own accord. I can't move forward, I can't move back. I turn to look at Huo Qu Bing with a worried expression, and even though he's not looking peachy, he turns to smile warmly at me "If you don't want to eat, we can go home."

His warm smile sweeps away all my lingering shadows and clears my heart. I can't keeping using avoidance. I can't keep running away every time I see Jiu Ye, that is not fair to Qu Bing. I smile at Qu Bing "I want to eat" and his grip on my hand tightens once and his eyes light up.

Tian Cao stood up and bowed to Huo Qu Bing while Jiu Ye smiled and welcomed us to sit down with them. Tian Cao asked "Xiao Yu, what do you want to eat?" I laughed "Qu Bing said he was bringing me here to sample new dishes. What are they called?" and I turned to look at Qu Bing. He furrowed his brows "I forgot their names. No matter! Tell them to bring every one of their new dishes out."

I pouted "Do you think I'm a pig! How can I possibly eat all that?" Qu Bing make an exaggerated expression of shock "Seeing your eating "performance" lately, what else do you think I can think about you. Of course you can eat it all. How can you not?" I wrinkled my nose and huffed, turning my face away to ignore him.

I bump into Jiu Ye's dark eyes staring at me with hidden pain. I realize that my usual banter with Qu Bing shows him our intimacy and affection. Unconscious and effortless comfort such as this scene is like a sharp sword that can cut into the heart, and even a flash of this sword's brilliance is enough to hurt him.

A covered dish is brought out and the waiter explains the dish as made with donkey meat to represent the mythical dragon meat, and is a perfect Winter dish. He took off the cover and instead of smelling alluring, it immediately turns my stomach. I rush over to the window and heave. The waiter hurried to give me a handkerchief and some tea, while Huo Qu Bing rubbed my back and looked worried "Where do you feel ill?"

I sip some tea and it makes me feel better "I don't know, I just suddenly felt like retching." Jiu Ye sits to the side and has a look of hidden despair in his eyes. He tells the waiter "Take away all the heavy dishes and bring some fresh tea, adding some dried orange peel in it."

Huo Qu Bing helped me back to the table "Are you feeling better? Do you want to go back and see a doctor?" Jiu Ye stared at me and suddenly said "I'll listen to your heartbeat." I looked at Qu Bing who just smiled "I forgot there was a talented doctor sitting right here."

Jiu Ye put his fingers on my wrist, but his fingertip is colder than ice. He was trying hard to control it, but I can feel the tips of his fingers shaking. He takes a long time to listen to my heartbeat, leaving Huo Qu Bing anxious and asking worriedly "What is it?'

Jiu Yu withdrew his hand and with a smile, a very pained smile, said "Congratulations are in order to General Huo. You're going to be a father." Huo Qu Bing sat there stunned for moments, and then he grabbed Jiu Ye's arm and was in such joyful disbelief "What did you say?" Jiu Ye turned his head and looked out the window. His lips quivered and he was about to answer Huo Qu Bing but his voice was stuck in his throat and he couldn't get the words out.

Tian Cao pushed Huo Qu Bing away and coldly said "Jiu Ye said General Huo, you are about to become a father." And then he turned and softly said to Jiu Ye "Jiu Ye, let's go home." Jiu Ye was still looking out the window and he lightly nodded his head. Normally he's so gracious and polite with proper etiquette, but today he's so shaken that he doesn't even say farewell or look back before leaving.

Huo Qu Bing just smiles at me with a dumb look of happiness and I also just sit there in a daze. Everything was so sudden, and even though I knew it was bound to happen....in another place, at another time, I would have been so ecstatic that I would be speechless. But today.....I touch my wrist and it still feels cold there. Huo Qu Bing suddenly picked me up and strode to the door. I let out an "ah" and then ask "What are you doing?"