Xiaoming's hand came in contact with the referees as Minister Zheng and other guests applauded, and his final opponent was helped away with a groan. His hard-earned victory gave him great pride and satisfaction, but still, he hoped to see Yuli again, if only to catch up like they used to.

But it was clear that Minister Zheng had other plans. A maid was summoned to draw a bath and provide clean clothes, and he obliged simply because the exertion of his fights had left him sweaty and sore all over. Then, he joined the government official's family for dinner, looking as clean and respectable as any nobleman, which drew surprised stares from all present.

"Young man, are you really the same person?" Minister Zheng remarked over his silver chopsticks. "I took you for a ruffian from the way you fought today."

"I am a man of versatility," Xiaoming replied, noticing that one of Minister Zheng's wives was trying hard not to look at him. "I have been schooled in both martial arts and matters of refinement."

"Is that so?" Minister Zheng beckoned a servant over and whispered in their ear before waving them away. "You should feel right at home then. We're something of a military family ourselves. My oldest son is an officer in the palace, and I can introduce you to him if you like. I think you'll be a fine addition to the Imperial Guard."

Xiaoming bowed his head as he'd heard one was supposed to do when among the upper class. "My greatest thanks for the offer, but I am content with my current standing. My true interest lies in this woman you said would be promised to the winner."

Minister Zheng's smile faltered. "Be careful with your desires. I have seen many a fellow waste their talent on fleeting pleasures, and I would like you to be an exception."

Xiaoming clenched his teeth as he glanced between Minister Zheng's two wives and realized the hypocrisy. He wanted very much to give the man a piece of his mind but knew that his mission was far from over and he needed to play his role for a while yet.

"That is where you are mistaken," he rebutted, his stomach grumbling as servants entered to begin setting aromatic dishes on the table. "My interest is more than just a passing fancy. I fully intend to court and buy her out if circumstances fall in my favor."

"So, you are a man of commitment." Minister Zheng dug into his rice, signaling to Xiaoming and the rest of the family that they could do the same. "I admire that, but I must warn you that many others are competing for the honor. The appointment I've arranged may be your sole chance to make an impression, and knowing such women, I can attest their loyalty lies only in a fellow's wallet."

"Then I shall make my time with her unforgettable," Xiaoming said in a stir of emotion, for he refused to believe that Yuli could be so fickle. "She will choose no man but me."

Minister Zheng rolled his eyes, which came as no surprise to Xiaoming, since the government official knew nothing about his long history with Yuli. "You will regret such naivety one day, but I suppose it can't be helped. Young people learn only through pain."

Xiaoming saw no point in arguing further and potentially blowing his cover, so he resigned himself to savoring the fine fare available and becoming a passive listener to the conversations between Minister Zheng's family and the servants.

Afterwards, one of said servants approached him with a more compelling offer, that he simply could not pass up as he was escorted to the bathroom to prepare for his trip to the red-light district.

******

With the arrival of evening, came the vivid glow of streetlights and the chatter of restless men as the other ladies gathered downstairs to welcome clients with practiced cheer. Yuli would normally be among them, but tonight was different. The penny-pinching madam of the brothel had received a most generous donation from Minister Zheng, and this was apparently enough for her to be granted freedom from entertaining other men for the rest of the night.

It was also a privilege that came to very few, and Yuli knew her fellow courtesans would be displeased if she let this time go to waste. So, she put effort into making sure the chamber was free from dust, then placed a stick of incense by the window, hoping it would be enough to purify the air if her client decided to get amorous and the results of their escapade lingered until morning.

After studying her reflection in the bronze mirror, Yuli waited by the door and hoped her client would find her charming enough. The logical thing was to assume that Xiaoming would be the one visiting tonight, but one could never be certain in this profession. Unexpected men had shown up in the past, and in those events, a lady simply had to think fast and adapt as best as she could.

The hushed voice of one of the maidservants sounded from beyond the door, and Yuli pressed her ear against the wood to get a better listen.

"Just this way, sir. I believe she's in that room..."

Yuli heard a second set of footsteps and straightened her back just as the door creaked open to reveal a sight she wasn't prepared for, after all. There stood Xiaoming beside the maid, and somehow, he looked even more striking than usual. She wasn't sure if it was the shine of his hair, the mischievous gleam in his eyes, or the way those red garments complemented his features so well, but his mere presence was enough to make her feel warm all over. She swallowed and strained her cheeks while forming a smile.

"Thank you, Meimei," she addressed the maidservant. "Please leave us be."

Meimei nodded and hurried away, giving them some privacy before Xiaoming shuffled into the room and shut the door gently behind him. Yuli stepped back on impulse, only to come back to her senses a moment later and remember that she was supposed to make his time worthwhile.

"What may I do for you?" she asked, keeping the tone of her voice smooth and pleasant. "I am accomplished not only on stage, but also in the bedchamber. We can-"

"Stop that," Xiaoming interrupted, crossing his arms. "This isn't who you are."

Yuli made eye contact, worried that she had ruined the night already. "What do you mean by that? This is my job."

Xiaoming sighed and lowered his arms. "You're not the person I knew back then. You used to be so passionate about alchemy and making new discoveries, but I don't know what to think of you now."

Yuli's heart sank, and she retreated to her bed while thinking of the circumstances that had led her to this point. "I'm sorry, Xiaoming. Not everyone is destined for brilliance, and a woman cannot afford to be picky with her prospects in this world. Besides, I am already doing better than most. Many can only dream of working in a nice place like this."

She heard Xiaoming shuffle closer and raised her head just as he sat down beside her. There were only a few inches between them now, and she wondered if he was aware of what it meant when a man and woman shared a bed.

"But we aren't like most," Xiaoming insisted. "We can and deserve to fly."

Yuli could only wrinkle her forehead at his idealism. "Have you forgotten what I am? Everyday becomes a blessed one when I remember how wretched I used to be."

Xiaoming regarded her with surprise, like he had only just realized a fundamental truth about who she was. The lump in his throat shifted. "I see, but I still believe one should keep dreaming. I can take you away from here, you know. I've just accepted a position as a martial arts tutor, and I think it'll pay pretty well."

The offer was tempting, but at the same time, Yuli feared that she would come crashing down if she flew too high. She reached for Xiaoming's arm, ready to do what so many of her sisters had already done. "I suppose that can wait. Let us just focus on this moment for now."

She stroked the smooth fabric of his sleeve, feeling the muscle beneath while his jaw tightened.

"What do you want from me?" he murmured, unable to take his eyes off her anymore.

"Nothing," Yuli declared, borrowing a response that she had overheard her colleague Jin'er use on a client a few nights back. "You need only be yourself and do what you feel is right."

Sure enough, Xiaoming began to relax, and she couldn't help but smile at her triumph. However, he then proceeded to reach for both of her hands. Warmth emanated from his palms and Yuli felt like she was being forced to hold a pair of hot stones.

"Then let me be frank this time," Xiaoming said confidently, oblivious to the effect his touch had on her. "I love you very much, and I have thought about you every day for the past hundred years."

Yuli raised her eyebrows, temporarily forgetting about the heat against her skin. "What? Even after everything I did?"

"Yes. I forgive you," he continued, stunning her with his ability to say exactly what she'd been hoping to hear. "Neither of us knew better. And the fault was on me too for assuming you would understand my gestures. I should have spoken to you plainly instead."

"I see." Yuli winced. "Could you let go of my hands now? It hurts."

"Oh." Xiaoming became sheepish and released his hold on her. "You're sensitive to heat, aren't you? I'll let myself cool down before we go further."

The two of them turned to face the wall while listening to the music and merriment unfolding downstairs. The night was still a little young, and it would be some time before other ladies also brought their clients up for some intimacy.

"So, why did you enter the competition?" Yuli asked when she grew bored of the silence. "Did your father put you up to it?"

"Yes. Minister Zheng was his most distinguished customer, and he wanted to know why that fellow had lost interest in his tavern."

"That's funny. Your father told me that too."

Xiaoming exhaled. "I suppose he played us both. It seems like we still have much to learn."

"Or perhaps we were willfully ignorant, because we knew this would be a chance to meet again."

"I won't deny that." Xiaoming turned back to her. "But you have yet to tell me the truth. Do you love me too?"

His softening gaze and the closeness between them were enough to make Yuli blush. She hadn't paid them much attention before, but his lips were quite pretty. She felt tempted to lean forward and give them a taste, if only to satisfy her curiosity and not some long-repressed desire.

"I like you," she admitted. "You're a very handsome man."

"That is enough for me," Xiaoming said with a beguiling smile that would have felled a weaker woman. "Shall I?"

Yuli nodded despite not quite knowing what he meant. Her chest heaved in anticipation of his touch, and it came in the form of his graceful fingers lifting her chin ever so slightly, so that he could give her a brief yet tender kiss. Her heart raced, leaving her short of breath when he pulled away.

"Was that good for you?"

She did not answer, instead allowing herself to regain enough composure to repay his affection in kind. His eyes widened as she pressed her lips to his, then sure enough, he relented, reaching for her shoulders so that he could guide her towards him. The warmth of his chest and the thump of his heart were comforting beyond belief, so she wrapped her arms across his back, wanting nothing more than to feel his very being inside of her.

As if overwhelmed by her act of reciprocity, Xiaoming soon fell back against the bed, bringing her down with him. Their lips parted once more, and he stared up at her, chest rising and falling from the prolonged contact.

"You're incredible..."

His fingers traced from her neck to her scalp, where they removed her hairpin with one swift motion. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders and she hurriedly brushed it aside while he placed the hairpin upon the bedside stand.

"We can't have that thing stabbing you," Xiaoming remarked, helping himself into a seated position and prompting her to retreat from him. He untied his belt, then stripped off his robes with ease, having clearly grown accustomed to doing so on a whim. Yuli swallowed. His muscular body was a feast for the eyes, but at the same time, she felt a twinge of disappointment that he might have undressed for other women.

"You bare yourself often, don't you?"

"Yes. I believe that one must make full use of their assets, whether physical or intellectual, and I find that my audience grows considerably whenever I show off my body." He glanced at her while reclining on the bed. "But that isn't too different from what you do. Right?"

Yuli reflected on her past encounters and shook her head. "Most men are content with just conversation and a dance. This is my first time lying with someone."

"Oh." Xiaoming's face grew tense. "I thought they were claiming you left and right."

"Nothing of the sort has happened to me. I can assure you that tonight is special..." Yuli reached for the ribbons around her waist, then stopped. She wasn't sure if she could expose herself with the same confidence, especially when she had grown to consider her human form as something sacred, unfit to be seen outside the daily routine of bathing.

"Are you all right? You seem shy all of a sudden."

Yuli sucked in a breath. "You've never seen me naked. I'm scared of what you'll say."

To her surprise, Xiaoming sat back up and laid his hand on her shoulder. "You needn't worry. I've learnt to keep my expectations low. It would take something truly repulsive to make me leave here and never look back."

His words alleviated her worries, and she loosened her ribbons before taking off her overcoat to reveal her bare shoulders and the hint of cleavage above her camisole. Xiaoming withdrew his hand with an appreciative smile that plunged her into a state of relief.

"How could I ever find you lacking? You're perfect..."

"You really think so?"

"Of course." Xiaoming scooped his arm around her waist to draw her close. "Always."

He leaned in for another kiss, and Yuli closed her eyes while settling into him. She felt his hand shift from her waist down to her hips, grabbing at her skirt before slowly hitching it up. The silk began to bunch up around her lap, leaving her lower legs exposed, yet she could not bring herself to find this objectionable at all.

If anything, she was now ready to give herself to him entirely, and perhaps even experience the pleasure that until recently, had seemed to her like nothing but the stuff of legends.

And so, the night wore on, bringing with it new surprises and discoveries as the two of them came to know each other in a way that transcended friendship and ensured that nothing would be the same when the sun inevitably rose, casting a gentle light on their slumbering forms.

The End (?)