By the time Ren Wei left the base and came out, it was already the time of sun setting.
Like nothing happened, Ren Wei calmly walked on the street.
He stopped by a roadside tea stall for some tea.
And to avoid attracting attention, he took off his round bamboo hat. And also to make no one remember or recognize his face, he changed his face into that of an ordinary man.
Sitting by the stall bench, he offered a simple tea. Then, he waited for it.
As he looked out at the street and the surrounding things, he saw some things. Like, as the sun went down, people put on lanterns in front of their houses and other parts of the street.
Surprised and curious, he asked to the owner of the stall who was brewing the tea. "Sir, may I ask why is there lanterns all around. Is today some kind of holiday or something like that?"
Hearing his question, the owner of the stall, who was an somewhat near old age, looked up and stopped his brewing and answered. "Young man, you must be from outside the capital right?"
"Yes." Ren Wei answered politely.
"Umm. I can tell that. And for those lanterns, it's because today is the festival for the youngs. A couple festival. Where young people meets and couple spend some time together." The owner explained.
"Ohh... like valentine's day." Ren Wei murmured upon hearing the explanation.
So, in short, it was day of couple festival like valentine's day back at earth.
'So, there is something like that too here. Well, it was to be expected.' He thought to himself as he turned away from the owner.
And the owner also went back to his brewing.
As Ren Wei sat there, waiting for his tea to finish brewing, his eyes wandered around looking for anything that catches his thought.
As he kept looking around, the sun fully sat and his tea was also done.
Sipping his cup of tea, he continued drowning himself in the beauty of the night.
Time passed and he was already at the tea stall for about an hour already. And as the sun fully sat, people started appearing in the street more and more. Majority of the, being young people. Some in groups, some alone, and lastly in pair.
Along with that, night stalls also set up more and more. Filled with beautiful toys attracted to the young people.
As Ren Wei looked at them, he suddenly felt a little bit emotional. Not because he was old or anything. Just he suddenly remembered something from his past life.
Looking at the sweet young couples, going from here and there holding eachother's hand. Ren Wei suddenly remembered his first love.
Ming Li, meaning bright and beautiful. Like the name, she was a beautiful girl.
Ren Wei had a crush on her for seven years straight, from the start of middle school to the end of high school. Even after the end of the high school and rhey parted ways, Ren Wei still remembered her.
Thinking of the time when he was madly in love with her, Ren Wei smiled to himself. But that was just all he could do. Other than looking at her from a distance, there wasn't much he could do.
With both beauty and brain, she was the top of the class. Both from teacher's and peers' perspectives.
For countless time, Ren Wei thought of asking her out but as he started talking to her, he just stopped mid way and could bring himself to do that.
As he sat there thinking about it, something suddenly hit his mind. He suddenly widened his eyes and said out loud. "Ohh... that was it!?"
He suddenly came to a realization. One time, he was messaging back and forth with her. He mustered the courage but he stopped himself midway.
The texts:
Ren Wei: Hey, what you been doing today?
She: Nothing much, I played basketball for a while.
Ren Wei: Then, you tired?
She: You can say that. But I can still chat with you.
Ren Wei: I have a question. You mind answering that?
She: What is it?
Ren Wei: It will some time to think for that answer.
She: Okey, what is it? Just ask it away.
At that time, Ren Wei typed: I just want to know it you want to go out with me?
But as he lost his courage the last minute, he cleared it. And instead sent her.
Ren Wei: Never mind it, you must be tired from playing basketball. Rest for tonight, I will ask it tomorrow.
She: No I'm not tired yet. Just ask me.
Ren Wei: Just rest for tonight. Good night.
She: .....
She: Okey, good night.
Then, the conversation ended.
The next day, when she passed by him, she smiled and said. "I am still waiting for your question."
Still smiling, she turned and left.
But Ren Wei didn't ask her.
For a week, when she saw him, she would asked about the question. "Hey, when are you going to ask that question?"
As time went on, she stopped asking. She even stopped talking to him, completely.
At that time, as Ren Wei was surrounded by doubts and darks, he never saw the clear meaning of it.
Now, sitting by the bench, he mocked himself for being to stupid. 'How could you not see that she was clearly into you too.'
He felt a bit regret thinking of those chances he wasted.
Sigh....
'Should have known.' Ren Wei shook his head, smiling.
But what can he do now. He was already dead back to his earth and now he was already in another world.
Ren Wei took the last sip of his tea and left the tea stall after paying his bill.
Before he left, he didn't forget to put on his bamboo hat.
As he walked, many couples passed by him. But Ren Wei stopped paying attention to them.
Walking further away from the busy street, nearing his manor, he thought. 'Maybe this is what they say about feeling nostalgic before committing a something.'
Putting away those distracting thought, he went towards his manor.
-----
Standing before his manor door, Ren Wei stopped. Because he sensed someone inside his manor. More specifically, at the yard.
It was someone he knew, Qin Moyan.
He calmly pushed opened the door and entered.
When he saw the yard, Moyan was also standing there.
When he saw him coming in, he looked over greeted. "Hello Sir Wei."
Ren Wei closed the door and approached him. He stood a dew distance away from Moyan and greeted back. "Hello."
"I don't know why Your Majesty decided to come to my place today. Is there anything special." Ren Wei asked calmly smiling.
Hearing that, Qin Moyan laughed and responded. "Haha. Sir Wei does have a sharp."
"I am here because something big happened. Today, a thief sneaked into the base of Royal Mirror Hall."
"So, you are suspecting me?" Ren Wei's voice suddenly turned cold. Not only that, his eyes and even the temperature suddenly drop.
Even Qin Moyan who was at the Divine Domain Realm felt a chill when felt the pressure emanating from Ren Wei.
At first, he came wirh the intention of accusing him. But after feeling the sense of danger, he swallowed back that thought.
To ease the tension, Qin Moyan smiled and said, "Haha, Sir Wei jests. I am actually here to ask for your assistance in catching the thief."
"Ohh. Your Majesty should have started with it. I thought Your Majesty was doubting me." Ren Wei swiftly changed his expression from cold to that of someone who suddenly came to a realization.
Smiling, he assured. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will definitely give my best support."
Inwardly, Qin Moyan felt his anger rising. But on the surface, he listened to it like nothing was wrong.
After hearing Ren Wei's word, he laughed lightly and left after telling him to rest for the night.
When he came outside, Qin Moyan's face changed. His calm and collected face turned into that of one filled with anger.
'How dare he talked to me like that. I am the king.' After fuming in anger for a while, Qin Moyan eventually calmed down. It was true that he was the king.
Smiling sinister, 'Fine, let's see. I will remember this one.' Then, confusion came to his mind. How did he felt that kind of threat Ren Wei. It could have made sense if it was just a tiny sense of danger. But feeling his whole body threatened that he even felt chill. It was exaggerating.
Even now, he only felt that kind of threat from his eldest grandfather, Qin Yenlong. Shaking his head, he left the area.
Inside, at the yard, Ren Wei smiled to himself when he sensed Qin Moyan leaving.
'Now, let's see how would you react.'
The reason why he acted like that was simple. It was only to test the water and also to test Qin Moyan's reaction.
So far, it was within his expectations.
'Now, I only need to wait for it.' Thinking of the reward that will grant him Qin, Ren Wei entered his bedroom.