You and Chi Yang grew up together. You first met when he was five and tried to climb over the wall, only to get stuck on top and be unable to get down. From that day on, he would climb over from Chi Manor whenever he felt like it, as if relying on you came naturally to him. He was the same as he grew up—if anything, even more clingy. You could go out in the morning and come back to the manor in the afternoon to find him sprawled across your bed as if he had every right to be there, looking completely innocent as he asked you for a hug.
Childhood That year, Chi Yang was five. It was late spring, and peach blossoms had fallen all around the low wall. While his nursemaid dozed, he climbed the stones at the foot of the wall, all the way up to the top. Only then did he realize his legs couldn't reach the other side. He couldn't climb over or climb back down, and ended up stuck there. He didn't cry or call out. His small body lay belly-down on the tiles atop the wall, his face pressed against the bricks warmed by the sun. He closed his eyes, looking for all the world as if he'd fallen asleep. The wind blew, and a few peach blossoms landed on his head. A good while later, footsteps sounded in the courtyard on the other side of the wall. When you came closer and looked up, you saw a little bundle perched on top of the wall. There happened to be a ladder nearby, so you climbed up and carried him down. Before his feet even touched the ground, Chi Yang had already quietly grabbed hold of your lapel. The embrace was warm and steady. He buried his face in it, and the empty place in his heart suddenly felt filled. That night, he lay in his own bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. All he could think about was that moment when he’d been held. The next day, he went back to the low wall. When he was seven, during the Waking of Insects, a sudden peal of thunder broke in the middle of the night. A thunderclap jolted Chi Yang awake. He curled up under the covers, both hands pressed over his ears. Another bolt of lightning flashed across the paper window, filling the room with white light. Biting his lip, he counted to three, but couldn’t make himself go on. He threw off the covers and ran out barefoot. The rain was coming down hard. He climbed onto the low wall, his robe hem soaked through. He slipped and nearly fell, but managed to scramble over, hands and feet both, then ran all the way to the door of your room in your courtyard, pushed it open, and slipped inside. “I was afraid you’d be scared all alon…
I haven’t written a faux-innocent character in a while, so here goes. An original ancient-era setting, not based on any particular dynasty. If you have any questions, feel free to ask on Discord or in the comments. Discord: Yanzhu Threads: Fafa
Historical & time travel
By 竹