The Fragrance of Forgiveness in the Morning Light
The soft, ethereal glow of dawn had barely begun to touch the horizon when Ming woke, breaking his usual royal slumber. There was no trace of exhaustion on his face; instead, he was fueled by a singular, restless urge to please his beloved Shaoji.
The kitchen soon came alive with the rhythmic crackle of the stove and the heady aroma of spices. Ming was at the helm, meticulously preparing a feast of Shaoji and Grandma Zhi Chao's favorite dishes. He handled every ingredient with a tender reverence, knowing all too well that the surest way to thaw the ice around Shaoji's heart was through her favorite flavors.
A short while later, Shaoji drifted into the kitchen, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She froze at the sight of him. Her brow furrowed instinctively, but as the savory scent of the food enveloped her, the cold wall of resentment she had built began to crumble, just a little.
"What are you doing up so early cooking all this?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral, though her curiosity piqued.
"Grandma mentioned yesterday how much you love these dishes," Ming replied softly, not looking up from the pan. "I thought I'd make them myself today. I was hoping... it might make you a little less angry with me."
Shaoji hesitated, averting her gaze to hide a softening expression. "Fine, fine! You don't need to bribe me with food. But," she added, trying to regain her footing, "if you behave yourself and stop being a nuisance, I might consider giving our relationship another chance."
A Sweet Disaster
As the cooking progressed, Shaoji felt a pang of guilt watching him toil alone. "Do you need a hand with anything?"
Ming shook his head quickly. "No, no, you just relax. I've got this."
But Shaoji was stubborn. Insisting on being useful, she grabbed a bowl of water and poured it into the curry with a flourish. In an instant, the rich, thick gravy turned into a watery mess. Her eyes widened in horror. She looked up at Ming with a face full of guilt—looking for all the world like a wide-eyed, innocent child who had just broken a favorite toy.
Ming's initial flash of annoyance vanished the moment he saw her "cute" face. He fought back a smile. "Well, you've certainly helped enough! Now, go sit down like a good girl, and let me fix the rest."
Grandma's Knowing Smile
When Grandma Zhi Chao sat down at the breakfast table, she couldn't hide her astonishment.
"My goodness, Shaoji! Did you pull off a miracle today? All your favorites are on the table!"
Shaoji stole a quick glance at Ming. "Actually, Grandma, Ming cooked everything today. Taste it—he's surprisingly good at this."
Grandma's eyebrows shot up. "What's this? Has the sun risen in the west? You're actually complimenting Ming!"
Shaoji cleared her throat, regaining her composure. "Well, he apologized. And since he made all my favorite things, I decided to be the bigger person and show him some mercy. But don't get used to it! If he wants full forgiveness, he has to keep being on his best behavior. No breaking my things, and absolutely no being mean to me."
Grandma chuckled softly. "Of course, of course. Whatever Her Majesty commands."
The Shadow on the Path: Ming the Protector
Later that morning, Shaoji set off for the shop ahead of Ming. As she walked down a secluded path, a group of local thugs suddenly blocked her way. Their faces were twisted into sneers, their words dripping with malice.
"Going somewhere all alone, beautiful?" one of them hissed, stepping into her personal space.
"Move out of my way!" Shaoji snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
When one of them reached out and grabbed her arm, Shaoji's instincts took over. She swung her hand and delivered a stinging slap across the leader's face. The air turned cold. Enraged, the thug raised his hand to strike her back. But before he could land a blow, Ming appeared like a bolt of lightning.
"Let go of her. Now." Ming's voice was unnervingly calm, carrying the weight of a deadly command.
The thugs shifted their focus to him, emboldened by their numbers. "Who do you think you are, some kind of hero? Let's teach this guy a lesson!"
What happened in the next few seconds was a blur. As the first man lunged, Ming moved with a fluid, terrifying grace, slamming him into the dirt before the others could even blink. The sheer intensity in his eyes and the precision of his movements sent a wave of terror through the group. Realizing they were outmatched, they scrambled to their feet and fled into the distance.
Shaoji stood there, her heart racing—not from fear, but from the sight of this side of Ming she had never seen. She wouldn't let him know she was impressed, though. She shouted after the fleeing men, "Yeah, you better run, you cowards!"
Turning to Ming, she fanned herself, pretending to be unfazed. "I could have handled them myself, you know. Anyway, let's go. We're late."
An Uncomfortable Encounter
At the flower shop, a regular customer walked in and caught Ming and Shaoji working side-by-side, arranging a bouquet. She beamed at them.
"Oh, Shaoji! Is this handsome young man your boyfriend? You two look like a prince and princess straight out of a fairy tale!"
Shaoji's face burned a deep crimson. "No, no! He's... he's no one special. He's just helping out around the shop."
The light in Ming's eyes flickered and died. A sharp, stinging pain flared in his chest at her words. The customer laughed, oblivious. "Don't be shy! I'm just teasing. But truly, you would make the most beautiful couple."
After she left, a heavy silence settled over the shop. Ming worked in quiet dejection, his usual spark gone.
Suddenly, a small child burst into the store. He ran straight to Shaoji and whispered something urgently into her ear.
Shaoji's eyes lit up with a brilliant, sudden joy. "Really? Are you sure?" she cried out, her voice filled with excitement.
Ming watched her, bewildered. He wondered to himself, What could have changed her mood so completely? What news did this child bring that turned her stormy sky into such a radiant sun?