Sheng Li lifted his head after some time from Ying Lili's shoulder. "Lili, where were you all these years?" Sheng Li asked.
"In Juyan," replied Ying Lili. "You never searched for me," Ying Lili stated with a tiny smile on her lips.
Sheng Li smiled back and placed his palm over Ying Lili's eyes. "What are you doing?" Ying Lili asked as she rested her hand on Sheng Li's hand, who kissed her lips. Leaning back, he said, "Stay like this. Do not open your eyes."
"Why?"
"Wildcat, do you want me to tie your eyes?" Sheng Li questioned.
Immediately, Ying Lili refused.
"Then, stay like this. I am coming in five minutes," Sheng Li asserted. Ying Lili nodded as Sheng Li pulled away from his hand gradually from her eyes. Waving his hand, he made sure she was not looking. He stood up from the swing and walked away.
Five minutes passed quickly, but Sheng Li did not come there. "Sheng Li, I am opening my eyes. You promised that you would be here in five minutes," Ying Lili loudly said. "Sheng Li, Sheng Li," she shouted again.
Sheng Li reached there with a bamboo-circular basket in his hand. "Forgive me," he was panting. He got on his knees and said, "Now, you can open your eyes."
Ying Lili opened her eyes and saw Sheng Li was sitting in front of her on his knees. She saw the bamboo basket in his hands and asked him when Sheng Li opened the bamboo lid. Ying Lili's eyes widened upon seeing the fireflies. Because of them, the peony petals which were lying at the base of the basket illuminating it, giving a splendid view.
Ying Lili's eyes sparkled seeing that. A broad smile appeared on her lips. "It's magnificent," she said. She extended her hand out, and some of the flies moved around her fingers. She slightly moved her finger with a little fear.
"They don't bite," Sheng Li replied. He was mesmerized to see the beauty in front of him. Ying Lili caught one firefly in between her palms and then gradually opened her hands. She giggled while Sheng Li found immense pleasure in seeing her happy.
"Where did you find them?" Ying Lili asked curiously.
"In the forest. It's a little far from here," Sheng Li replied.
"I liked it," Ying Lili said and stood up. Sheng Li also stood up and saw Ying Lili raising the basket in the air. The fireflies flew in the air. Their lights had intensified. Once they were gone, Ying Lili looked at Sheng Li.
"Are you feeling well?" Ying Lili queried him.
"Yes."
"It's a special place which calms you down. Even I feel good here," Ying Lili stated and extended her hands out. She spun at her place and told Sheng Li to do the same.
"No," he simply refused.
Ying Lili caught both of his hands and moved in a circle with him. "Lili, we are not kids. Let's stop," Sheng Li said, as they two were moving.
"You are not an old man, either. Even old people enjoy doing this. Don't complain and keep moving like this. Then we will dance," Ying Lili proclaimed.
"Again dance?!" Sheng Li, with a bewildered expression, asked.
She stopped and so did Sheng Li. "You did not do it perfectly last time. Moreover, if you dance, then you will feel happy. People dance for that reason only. It gives you happiness even in troubled times," Ying Lili asserted. She put her hands down and put them behind her back.
"Watch me," Ying Lili said as she took a few steps back. She moved her feet left first and then right. Bringing her hands at the front, she moved first near her left face and then near her right face. She then brought her hands near her belly and rolled them one above the other.
Sheng Li chuckled seeing her, and the smile kept widening on his lips. Ying Lili looked like an adorable young girl. He could not help but feel attracted to her. His feet moved as he approached her. Ying Lili, who was moving her hands and feet, doing a simple dance to cheer up the mood of Sheng Li suddenly stopped as she found him near her.
She was looking at him amusingly. "You need to–" Ying Lili stopped speaking as her lips were pressed against the forefinger of Sheng Li.
"You don't know how pretty you are looking." Ying Lili gulped upon hearing his words. She felt Sheng Li's hand on her waist as she was pulled up closer to him. Sheng Li's forefinger grazed Ying Lili's cheek and then held her chin.
"It's hard to resist when my Wildcat seduces me by doing such a dance," Sheng Li affirmed.
"I did not seduce you. I thought to cheer your mood up," Ying Lili stated.
"You don't have any idea that you were seducing your man," Sheng Li proclaimed and captured her lips. Out of nowhere, the fireflies came there, illuminating their surroundings.
Ying Lili rested her hands on Sheng Li's forearm while responding to his kisses equally. His thumb was stroking her cheek, and then tilted her head. The two kissed for a long time. Departing their lips from each other, they gasped for air. Ying Lili rested her forehead on Sheng Li's chest, who wrapped his arm around her, resting his chin above her head.
"Thank you for today. You are a fearless woman whom I admire the most. Your love for me makes me stronger and gives me security. Words become less to describe my love for you," Sheng Li asserted.
Ying Lili was happy that Sheng Li found their love as a strength rather than a weakness. The promise she made to herself was fulfilled. Now, the only thing was to punish the wrong, especially the Empress, who was still plotting. She remembered Xue Yu-Yan's words that Weng Wei was plotting to harm Sheng Li and her. 'I will not let anything happen to us, nor will I let anything happen to the Emperor,' she pledged.
