Later that night while Susu was heading back to her tent after the night meal with Commander Zhu and his grandson, she was suddenly called out by the older boy.

"Is there something Zhu-gongzi needs?"

                Susu could see the question floating about Zhu Cang's head and wondered why he was hesitating. It had confused her to see the normally confident boy nervous.

"Zhu-gongzi?"

"There is a night festival in town... do you want to go play?"

                Susu looked at Zhu Cang with surprise. Born and raised within the Lei Head Clan family, Susu rarely have the chance to go to outside of the Hidden Valley. When she does leave the Valley, she's always surrounded by protectors or her parents. Because of her status, her interaction with children were limited. While it was normal for small children to play, Susu had to learn how to be strong. She didn't understand the norm for children, so Zhu Cang's suggestion made her feel bewildered.

                For Zhu Cang, his suggestion had been revelation on his part as well. Like Susu, Zhu Cang had grew up differently than other children. The word "play" shouldn't even be in his vocabulary. As soon as he could walk, Zhu Cang was in the Zhu's training field - surrounded by soldiers and generals. He had never cared to spend time with children his age. Instead, he rather spend his time training to be stronger. His goal was to win in a spar match with that shameless old man - his grandfather.

"Do you not want to go?" Zhu Cang said softly while his eyes look away from Susu.

"Susu wants to go"

                Susu's sudden smile relieved Zhu Cang. Seeing her light amber eyes looking at him with clarity, Zhu Cang couldn't help but smile back. For the first time, the stoic boy's expression soften toward anyone.

"Let's go"

                Before Susu could ask if anyone else would go with him, the boy had already took hold of her hand and leaded the way out the training camp.

In town located north of the training camp...

                A twelve year-old boy and an eight year-old girl walked hand-in-hand down the festive main street. Because the two children were simply dressed - the boy in white and blue and the girl in light purple - no one suspected their significant backgrounds.

                Throughout the festival, the boy and girl wandered stalls to stalls looking at the trinkets being sold. Despite Zhu Cang's best effort, Susu didn't seem interested in any of the ornaments or charms that normal young maiden would like. He didn't know that the little girl had grew up seeing extravagance of all types, so things like luxury are dull to her.

"Ah, how lovely"

                It wasn't until they reached a mask stand that Susu's eyes widened with interest. Zhu Cang had been amused when he saw Susu excitedly went through the selection of hand carved wooden masks. The thing about the mask was that they held faces of ugly monsters.

"Do you like it?"

                Zhu Cang saw Susu smiling as she held onto a dark purple mask. When her bright eyes look up at him, he saw how her hands held onto the mask with desire. Without another thought, Zhu Cang paid the seller handsomely for the ugly mask.

"Susu thanks Zhu-gongzi"

                Feeling embarrassed to have someone she barely knows pay for her, Susu looked down at the mask. It wasn't until Zhu Cang took the mask from her hand that she look back up. Before she realized it, the taller boy had put the mask on her.

"Funny" Zhu Cang could barely suppress the smile on his face as he covered his lips with a fist.

                The mask was a bit bigger than Susu's lovely small face. If not for the strings tied securely behind her head, it would have slipped off. Seeing that the boy was laughing at her again, Susu pouted.

"Look! The fireworks show is starting"

                Hearing the loud drum beatings, Susu looked up into the dark night sky when fireworks begin to shoot above the festival grounds.

"Let's go Susu"

                The crowd was rushing to the lake to get a better view of the firework show. Not wanting to lose the little girl in the large crowd, Zhu Cang held onto her hand tight while he guided her through the throng of people. Soon enough, Zhu Cang was able to get them to the front edge of the lake with the direct view of the firework show in the wooden deck floating in the center of the lake. No one noticed the little girl with the dark purple mask or saw the smile behind it. No one noticed the tall boy beside the girl, holding her hand. When they turned to look at each other eyes, no one noticed their smiles.