#lin ming

“Bold and powerful, heroic and honorable-looking, his features honest, almost two meters tall, extremely tall. His appearance seemed extremely masculine.” - Chapter 697

oh damn i literally did not see this but okay, here goes

lin ming: cong you bing! she loves the fried dough, okay. and for something fried it’s actually not heavy at all but is very filling. source: i make it at home and it’s great, the green onion is flavorful and fresh ‘cause it doesn’t take long to cook. (you actually make a rectangle with the dough and spread the onion and pepper over it and then roll it so when you tear it open, there will be layers.)

xiao xingchen: liang cai which is like..... cold veggies and shredded tofu (which is a noodle like type of tofu) in a marinade! it’s very simple to make and you can even add things like bitter melon. mostly, though, it’s cucumber and bell pepper and carrot and onion. you make the marinade/dressing with light soy sauce and black vinegar (which is super good btw) and sesame oil, served cold.

song lan: you men sun aka braised bamboo shoots. it’s always cooked uh.... hong shao? aka a particular braising style of cooking that makes the food a reddish brown color. it’s actually really easy and you can do it with almost anything! all you really need is both light and dark soy and shaoxing wine. anyway, you can make braised bamboo shoots with winter bamboo and it’s a traditional dish that doesn’t call for anything spicier than some ginger which is perfect for song lan. (also this is longer because i’m really passionate about hong shao! anyone can do it and it’s so satisfying to see that nice reddish color. try it with almost any veggie or chicken thighs.)

day 11: layers

rating: general word count: 409 note: i couldn’t get that scene from shrek out of my mind. you know. with the onions.

The woman was tense, like a rabbit that caught sight of a hawk circling and was ready to run, and he thought she would have run if she wasn’t so sick. Xiao Xingchen could feel it in the air between them, could feel it under his hand when she nodded. It made him sad; there was something deeply painful in the way she was so cautious around him, a suspicion that left a sour taste in his mouth - so alien to him who trusted easily.

But Xiao Xingchen was a lonely man and he was thankful for the company.

                                                  *************

As her sickness left her, so did some the tension she held in her body, no longer stiffening when he touched her and it made Xiao Xingchen smile. She would flit about him, reaching out to touch him when needed then backing away, but never too far. It reminded him of the way butterflies danced around the first flowers, hungry but as if they thought the blooms might be a trap. He wondered how long he would have to hold still before she finally trusted him.

Luckily, Xiao Xingchen was a patient man and he was willing to wait.

                                                 *************

The silence that had always hung around the woman was now broken by the soft chime of the bell as she moved, each step close enough he could feel her brush against him. Each time she reached out to him easier, holding on longer and Xiao Xingchen returned that in kind. When she pressed her name into his skin, it felt like a gift and he cupped it carefully in his hands and spoke it softly, hoping she knew that whatever she gave him would be safe.

Because Xiao Xingchen was a gentle man and that could be his gift to her.

                                                *************

Tension and fear were no longer the first things he felt when he touched her. Now she trembled with hope, leaned into it, and touched him with rough fingers that were only now learning gentleness despite being built for it. There was still sadness and pain, wrapped around her, but like a seed Xiao Xingchen knew she would grow if someone would give her that chance. She touched his hair and let him hold her and he decided that it would be him to pull her into the light.

@justastoryteller asked: 2. this was a mistake

Song Lan is not a clumsy man; his calligraphy is neat and precise, his sword work graceful, steps light. His fingers have carefully pieced together old, damaged books and yet he can’t seem to shape them in the right way to mimic the curve of Lin Ming’s fingers.

“This was a mistake,” he says, with a sigh, dropping his hands into his lap, frustration pulling his eyebrows together, “I can’t get it right and you’re being so patient.” 

Across from him, Lin Ming sits, a smile on her face and eyes full of affection. No one has ever gone through the trouble to learn the language she uses to speak to the world, instead making her bend to their way, but Song Lan is different, always seeking to know her in every way.

No, you’re doing good, she signs, mouthing the words slowly, watching the understanding replace the frustration on Song Lan’s face. 

His smile is still tentative and she reaches out, covering his hand with hers, fingers running along his as she carefully moves them to the correct shape, lingering for longer than needed. It makes it hard for him to focus, cheeks flushed slightly. 

“Is that better?” he asks as she sits back and he tries to hide his disappointment  that their hands are no longer touching.