too sweet .

THE SECRET GARDEN (1993)

Her smile, though she seemed undeniably as sweet as honey, made his blood boil. Something was alluring about her: the smooth jawline ending with a defined yet equally gentle chin, the soft transition of her lipstick to her cupid's bow to fair skin, and brown doe eyes beneath the elegant curve of her brow. Anakin pinched his brows, creasing the surrounding skin as he glanced at the plush velvet seats. She seemed too good to be true, and he felt that this 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 look she wore so well could just be an easy way to use him like a bow over a violin's strings―he hated how much brown eyes could bring him to his 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔. He fell prey to it once. He would rather die than watch history repeat.

As he muttered expletives beneath his breath and pushed his cloak aside to sit down, he wondered how much she knew. If she was so insistent to waste his time, he questioned if she actually had any intel at all. She could just as easily set him on a wild goose chase just to mess with him, and it only made his mood sour further. Feeling the attention of those nearby on them, Anakin turned his head towards the spectators. “Leave us, or I'll paint the walls with your incompetence.” He didn't even wait to ensure that they followed orders, yet as he turned his head back towards Xue Li, he listened to the fading footsteps, the hurried shuffles as their company scattered. “Imbeciles,” he muttered beneath his breath.

xue li was not here to make friends or appease anyone. but you get more bees with honey than vinegar and she did love to play games of cat and mouse. even with the rigid posture and way annoyance is apparent in lines on his face, xue li doesn't miss the way eyes looked over her. though to spare her life, she does not dare to bring it up or push him on that matter of physical attractiveness. xue li knows how beautiful she is, how doe - eyed she can be perceived. but she was a wolf wearing sheep's skin and based on intel, darth vader would know not to trust such a pretty, demure façade.

when he finally moved to sit down a hum of glee is vibrated at the back of throat, xue li's eyes sparkling with amusement. fingers gather the dice and place them in her intricately designed shaker cup, sitting it aside as she shifted in her spot. bejeweled hand flicks long, dark strands of hair off shoulders as she got more comfortable. his tone didn't make her flinch but she could feel the air around them stiffen, biting back a laugh as the other patrons scurried and scuttled to leave as fast as they possibly could. doe eyes settle back to his countenance, head canting as she nodded in agreement. " sub par intelligence or perhaps they just value their pathetic lives. which ever makes you feel better, sir vader. "

An invitation sent over a holo, laden with obscure with infuriating riddles, none of which were clear & completely ambiguous, and open to interpretation, only made his blood simmer beneath his skin. 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑴𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑶𝑹 did not have the luxury of time; the chances that he would find his son alive decreased every passing hour. What was clear, however, was the address that was blatantly spelled out for him―to which he rolled his eyes.

A precinct characterized by low lights, velvet, and sheer drapes shrouding booths, the bass accompanied by the melody of a wind instrument in an unhurried cadence, as if the euphony itself was dragging its heels. As he descended the stairs, he didn't pay much mind to the gawks of civilians. Lord 𝑽𝑨𝑫𝑬𝑹'𝑺 presence commanded attention without a request, more so an order. It was unlike him to be at such a venue. His fingers flexed, clawing at thin air with the Force, drawing a bouncer close to him, suspending the other high above the ground to ensure his golden eyes would be met. “I'm looking for 𝐗𝐔𝐄 𝐋𝐈, @stargone. Where is she?” As soon as he was pointed in her direction, his gaze followed the shaky pointed finger, dropping the other onto the floor as if they were nothing but discarded waste. Not even the loud strike to the ground created by the body with a beating pulse drew his attention away from his target.

He saw her turn her attention towards him, and what he perceived was a smile on her face only pissed him off further.

zhu xue li could perhaps have spoken in less riddles, been slightly more detailed within the holo sent to lord vader. but it would be so uncharacteristic of her if she had. after all, things like this were games --- means of entertainment in this stale hole of a goddamn planet she can't seem to escape from. and she was running out of people down in the underbelly of the hustle and bustle of coruscant. the fish were all fried, she was looking for something juicer. and well, that information just so happened to fall right into her lap. as it were to be destined if xue li did believe in such silly things, destinies meant hope and that was something she could never afford.

the air of the club changed almost instantaneously upon his entrance. she felt it before she saw and heard him. not even the smooth jazz filling the background was loud enough to smother that deep voice that rolled over her like satin. but even satin could strangle you if wound too tight. the way her name fell off lips is what has her own curving into a small, demure smile as gaze traveled over to where body lands with a thud against the floor. doe eyes are locked on his as hand lifted, wiggling fingers in a wave that could only be described as tantalizing.

Sun Zhen Ni as Mu Xuan Ling

❝  it  is  a  restless  moment.  ❞

❝  sorry  to  interrupt  your  dinner.  ❞

❝  what  should  i  call  you?  ❞

❝  call  me  when  you  decide.  ❞

❝  those  books  aren't  mine.  ❞

❝  i'll  leave  you  in  peace.  ❞

❝  so  that's  why  she  looks  different.  ❞

❝  you're  too  polite.  ❞

❝  i'm  bothering  you  too  much.  ❞

❝  i  wanted  an  excuse  to  go  back.  ❞

❝  i  always  loved  those  serials, hated  to  miss  an  episode.  ❞

❝  i  couldn't  get  started, so  i  gave  up.  ❞

❝  i  wasn't  born to  write  martial  arts  stories!  ❞

❝  but  you  can  borrow from  my  collection  anytime.  ❞

❝  before  they'd  taken  out the  stitches…  i  bet  everything  i  had.  ❞

❝  i  thought  it  was  my  lucky  day.  ❞

❝  let  me  finish  writing  this  first.  ❞

❝  i  saw  your  wife in  the  street  yesterday…  ❞

❝  i'm  always  troubling  you, use  it  for  bus  fare.  ❞

❝  why  don't  you  dine  with  us  tonight?  ❞

❝  i've  already  planned to  see  a  film  tonight.  ❞

❝  i  came  back  to  rest. i 'm  not  feeling  well...  ❞

❝  then  we  shouldn't  meet  any  more.  ❞

❝  there's  a  typhoon, so  the  ship's  still  docked.  ❞

❝  she  says  she'll  dine  alone since  it's  your  birthday.  ❞

❝  you  notice  things if  you  pay  attention.  ❞

❝  i  was  going  to  look  for  you with  an  umbrella.  ❞

❝  it  must  seem  odd  to  ask  you  out, but  i  want  to  ask  something.  ❞

❝  her  birthday  is  some  days  away. i   don't  know  what  to  get  her.  ❞

❝  i  thought  i  was  the  only  one who  knew.  ❞

❝  someone  must  have  made the  first  move.  ❞

❝  it  doesn't  matter who  made  the  first  move.  ❞

❝  why  did  you  call  me at  the  office  today?  ❞

❝  i  had  nothing  to  do. i   wanted  to  hear  your  voice.  ❞

❝  it  took  all  day,  I'm  half  dead!  ❞

❝  actually, i've  been  to  see  a  picture.  ❞

❝  you  had  many  hobbies  before.  ❞

❝  on  your  own, you  are  free  to  do  lots  of  things.  ❞

❝  sometimes  wonder what  i'd  be  if  i  hadn't  married.  ❞

❝  i  didn't  know  married  life would  be  so  complicated!  ❞

❝  when  you're  single,  you  are  only  responsible to  yourself.  ❞

❝  i  can't  waste  time wondering  if  i  made  mistakes.   life's  too  short  for  that.  ❞

❝  something  must  change.  ❞

❝  you  like  them  too, so  why  not  help  me  write  it?  ❞

❝  since  you're  trapped  here, finish  the  noodles.  ❞

❝  you  get  some  rest, i 'll  wake  you  when  they  leave.  ❞

❝  the  drunken  master  just  showed  up.  ❞

❝  a  sick  man  shouldn't  eat all  that  sticky  rice.  ❞

❝  maybe  we're  being  too  cautious?  ❞

❝  well,  they  did  turn  up without  warning.  ❞

❝  one  can't  put  a  foot  wrong.  ❞

❝  since  you  won't  take your  share  of  the  writing  fee...  ❞

❝  there's  nothing  between  us, but  i  don't  want  gossip.  ❞

❝  you  don't  need  me, you  can  write  on  your  own.  ❞

❝  no  need  to  stay if  everything's  done.  ❞

❝  do  you  have  a  mistress?  ❞

❝  if  he  admits  it  outright, let  him  have  it!  ❞

❝  i  didn't  expect  it  to  hurt  so  much.  ❞

❝  it's  right  to  enjoy  yourself while  you're  young.  ❞

❝  a  couple  should  spend  time together.  ❞

❝  i  need  your  help, when  can  you  come?  ❞

❝  we  shouldn't  see  so  much of  each  other.  ❞

❝  we'd  better  not  be  seen  together.  ❞

❝  if  they  see  your  umbrella,  they'll  know  i  was  with  you.  ❞

❝  we  know  it's  not  true, so  why  worry?  ❞

❝  but  i  was  wrong.  you  won't  leave  your  husband.  ❞

❝  i  didn't  think you'd  fall  in  love  with  me.  ❞

❝  i  didn't  either.   i  was  only  curious to  know  how  it  started.  ❞

❝  feelings  can  creep  up just  like  that.  ❞

❝  i  thought  i  was  in  control.  ❞

❝  am  i  hopeless?  ❞

❝  don't  be  serious, it's  only  a  rehearsal.  ❞

❝  if  there's  an  extra  ticket… would  you  go  with  me?  ❞

❝  i'm  just  an  average  person, i   don't  have  secrets  like  you.  ❞

❝  it's  hopeless, i  can't  bear  to  throw  things  away!  ❞

❝  who  lives  next  door  now?  ❞