The sun rise and Ai goes again to the harbor. Walking among the people. to the harbor hearing mournings and families letting on large lotuses childhood toys, jewelry, medals, titles of honors, papers written by the dead.on the other side of the city seeing families overseeing their children that stack rocks and leave a small opening between them, trying to pass the rock from the narrow gap, and the winner taking a sculpture of a snake as a reward.
She continues to the gallery, and to the second floor finding it filled with statues and crowds of people admiring them, in the dozens of voices both static and jubilant. her ears suddenly catch the sweet sound of the erthu.She walk besides a statue ,a woman statue painted in red, holding close to her belly a dried black fruit, she continues and sees Cong on a platform almost at the height of the head of the crowd.She goes closer hearing cong changing notes in an instant and creating harmonic and empowering music and walking on the stage with the crowd having their commitment to her.
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She continues to play faster until the end where she violently stops with one high note, and makes a deep bow and the crowd cheer. she looks around her and sees Ai, she makes a sign for her to come and the crowd makes a gap for her to pass. As she go closer she sees a child placing his hands and legs at the edge of the platform, Cong look for a second as the child lose his balance and lean back, she stays still and most people stare, the child almost hits the ground but Ai rushes and catches it in her hug. The child look at her with his eyes shining and his small palms opening and closing as she tries to catch Ai. from the crowd a young woman breathing heavy, her black hair at the height of her shoulders humping the view of the people behind her with her red dress sparkling, and extends her arms towards her child. Ai lets it from her hold and the child goes to his mother with small steps as her breath comes to normal. Looking at Ai with gratitude and leaving quickly.
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Cong pats Ais shoulder and gives her hand, and she grabs it and climb the platform, she look at the crowd and wave, Cong place her erthu om her wide shoulders and as she plays a slow and calm song she says "cheer for the woman who rush for the child's safety"
The crowd cheer as Cong plays her Violin, looking with a faint smile at Ai. Soon the crowd leaves and Cong says to Ai "do you want to go for a walk?"
"Don't you have work here?"
"Indeed I have but at the same time I can leave if I like to, think of it as I'm the head of the gallery"
Cong place her erthu on a case "should we go to the plaza?"
"Of course wherever you feel like"
They walk at the plaza with many coloured benches with food from small fishes coocked to metal surface infront of people to long ones with one eye and a small hole below it, from small round and blue fruits getting cut or pushed to give their juice to yellow ones with long yellow hairs around them.
Ai and Cong continue to walk and some bow at Ai and many come close at Cong, giving her fruits and vegetables and smiling and talking to her "you have become famous. How do you feel?"
"I cannot say I feel any strong emotion, besides im a mere entertainer, I may have their flowers, but you have their bow, their symbol of respect, and it's something of greater value"
Ai takes a deep breath "But you give them something beautiful, I give death, even if its to protect my people"
Cong answers immediately "It's true, most of the soldiers are harbingers of death, but some can inspire bravery and sacrifice through their actions. They show their love for the people they want to protect. And many are remembered for their hardshpis, maybe as individuals or as a whole for their sacrifice"
Ai sigh again and They continue at the plaza, hearing from the corner of a store with three tables outside and two red discolored pylons at the entrance of the store and two middle-aged women singing along with two middle aged men playing erhu. The women's asynchronous voices makes Cong expression a bit more enraged and the random notes of the men enhance it to the point of irritation, showing it more than the people who sit at the restaurant. ai look at Cong, looking exasperated at the singer and the musicians, she open her mouth and Cong says swiftly "they want attention so desperately, sometimes I believe people like them should never touch any kind of art. Rotting it with their minds" Ais spine shiver, she look at Cong but sigh and takes her away from the song.
She notice at a small restaurant at the corner of the street at their left, looking at the red and purple poppies on thin and long glass vases surrounding it except from the entrance.
Cong walks past her and Ai asks "where are you going?"
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"You looked at the restaurant with interest so I believed you wanted to go inside" Ai let out a small laugh with her chest pounding happily and follow her.
They sit down and an old man comes. Moving his arms up and down as he talks "hello young ladies. Would you like for me to tell you the menu?"
Cong look at Ai waiting and she answeres "what kind of soups do you have?"
The man raise his left eyebrow "soups in this weather?alright lady it may have some strong wings but you will die in this heat afterwards"
Ai smirk gently and the man pats Congs shoulder "lady, won't you prefer some steak instead of listening to her ordering you soup?" Ai look irritated at the man, showing it with her voice "i will just order whatever she gets"
The man let a laugh "alright don't take it personal im just doing a small joke"
"Oh im really sorry then, I didn't understood it"
The twist his wrist downward and laughs louder "its alright"
He starts listing the soups on the menu and Ai says "I will order a tomato soup with fish"
The old man nods his head and turn his gaze at Cong "and what about you?"
"I will order the same"
the old man nods his head and says
"Alright, it will be at your table in ten minutes" and swiftly goes inside
Ai and Cong continue to chat and in ten minutes the man comes outside with the bowls. Cong eats first and the man asks "do you like it?"
Cong says "it tastes good"
the man smile like a child and gaze at Ai, smelling the aroma of tomato, fish and the strong fresh spices, she takes a slip and from her eyes two tears drop, the man look suprised while Cong look intrigued, she let the spoon and clean her eyes, whispering ethereally "thank you" The man let a smirk. Patting her on the shoulder and continueing inside.
Cong lean her head closer to Ai "did the soup remind you something of your past?"
Ai let another tear and clean it, saying gravely "yes, it's the same as the ones my mother used to make" Cong tilt her head a bit to the right "I don't want to be discreet, But would you like to share your past with me?"
She smile bright, cleaning her red cheeks "Maybe another time"
She takes the spoon and starts eating again, enjoying
Every moment of it and Cong look at the people passing by, mostly families with five or six children.
She look back at Ai staring her and eating her soup "have you ever thought of your life without your people?"
Ai shallows the food and look curiously "my people?"
Cong turn her eyes on the food, pushing a small part of fish around the bowl "family, or at least the people you can call family"
Ai smile pensively, and cong sigh massively, whispering "It was a foolish question. Let's talk about something else like books"
Ai and cong exchange opinions on books with Ai's eyes shining.
They continue for a bit more with five plates on the table, four at Ais's side. Cong raise her hand and the man comes "what do we owe?"
"Nothing"
Ai raise her voice "we cannot leave without paying you" The man smirk, slowly raising his palm in front of Ai "you have already paid me with this permanent memory, and it is worth much more than some coins that will leave my pocket" Ai lower her head for a moment before she and Cong get up, the man walk back to the kitchen, shouting "come back anytime, I will be glad to make you any dish of your choice" the women wave back and blend with the crowd.
In the end of the road, Ai sees Klaeben staring at a flower shop, she walks closer and Cong follows her.
Ai goes closer and extends her hands. Klaeben turn at her pushing her and felling the her light weight in his arms for a moment before he sees clearly and lets her lean on his body and embrace her, saying softly "I didn't understand you at first"
Ai smirk and just lay her head in Klaeben for some seconds hearing his heartbeat. She pull herself and Cong goes forward and extend her hand. Ai says "Klaeben this is Cong, she is working at the gallery we went the previous week"
Klaeben grabs her hand "hi, im Klaeben"
"Cong, nice to meet you"
Klaeben smile and turn his head again at the flower shop, Ai whispers as she makes turns around him "where were you the past week?"
"Practicing a bit more my preaka abilities"
"Will you show them to me tomorrow?"
Klaeben hits her gently with his finger on her forehead "if we have time"
Ai hits him back a bit stronger and he stare at him with a disappointed look "have you come to irritate me?"
Ai laugh loud before lowering her voice. Saying after a short silence "you have to stop going there"
Cong turns her head, for a moment seeing Klaeben holding white thin chrysanthemum, a small pot with trees carved on it and a basket with the smell of fish
She looks forward and says "you seem really close friends"
Ai's voice brightens even more than before at the restaurant "He is someone I feel comfortable sharing everything"
"People need to find someone they can find the courage to express themselves openly, you are lucky to have found one"
"Don't you have anyone?"
Cong stays with the same unemotional face "I had one, but his time is over"
"I'm sorry to hear that"
"do not be sorry, I have accepted it long before he died" Ai stay silent looking at her "how did you accept it so easily?"
"Believe me it was not, we were both inspiring each other, but because I knew he didn't have enough time I had plently of mine to come to terms with his death" Cong takes a small breath, her voice breaking
"but even in his supposed death he remained a man that inspire me, this was not his end, because he left his mark on the world" Klaeben and Ai say nothing.
Cong clears her throat, saying apathetic like "I'm sorry, I got carried away"
"No it was just. Your voice"
"Yes i lament occasionally, and im sorry for that"
Klaeben says, moving forward. Extending halfaay his amrs, almost like wanting to touch Cong "do not be. Its fine expressing your feelings"
Cong look with agreement amd Ai smile at both, but mostly at Klaeben, feeling her heart elating and elegantly twist her head at Klaebens ear. placing her arm around his shoulder and letting it rest "soldiers are watching you. You have to be more careful going there"
"It's almost impossible to not be seen Ai"
She sigh holding her smile "then I don't know, maybe you should stop going for a some time, before the emperor has any reason to take your rank or worse kill you"
Klaeben stares at her silent for many breaths,
Her heart skips a beat "Ai I will not stop going to my home"
He takes a deep breath with his chest coming out and placing his head closer to her ear "You know i stil want to stop this, I want to raise on the ranks and help my people as much as I can to achieve their freedom. However that doesn't mean i would fear them and stop visiting my home" Ai's eyes show her sadness and look around at the people passing beside them before gazing back at Klaeben "we will talk at night about this"
He sigh and after a heartbeat he says with his voice cracking "Besides I have some things to leave"
Ai let a smirk and place her head on Klaebens shoudler for a moment. Looking at her as he squeeze his forehead, and Ai saying "the way you said it sounded like Fenhua"
Klaeben close his eyes and rub aggressively his head "please don't say that"
Ai smile and hugs him, saying "fine. See you at night, just be careful"
He whispers "i will" and wave at them for a minute as he leave.
They walk back at the gallery and Cong gave her hand "good night"
Ai grab her hand and suddenly push cong closer and hugs her, Cong stay frozen for a second before she shake her back and steps back "sorry, it came to me so abruptly"
"do not apologize"
Cong turn and says "hope to see you soon" Ai says nothing and turn around.
She walk towards the house and opens the door, hearing the slow screeching of a chair in the kitchen, she goes to the kitchen. Lixin leaning back on the chair and reading some papers in his hands and much more stacked on the table, he slowly turn his red, half close eyes staring at Ai for a second before he turn back "tomorrow morning we will go to the palace, inform the others except Klaeben"
"why not Klaeben?"
Lixin press his fingers on his eyes "just do what I say"
Ai sigh and goes to the stairs, changing clothes and taking a bowl, and cleaning them and then denouncing Lixins words at Fenhua which he tries to talk with Ai understanding nothing and letting him sleep.
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