Chapter Text
Dan Heng was reading in the parlor when Stelle returned. She was always coming and going, and lately that was especially true. Ever since they stopped at the Luofu she had been heading out. It admittedly piqued his curiosity since he couldn’t recall her ever visiting Jarilo-VI with this much frequency.
She approached the small table next to where he was sitting and set down a long, silver box with gold trimming. The motion finally made him glance up. He noted the box was quite expensive looking. It looked like it should be in the hands of a rich merchant or noble.
It didn’t look like something any of them should’ve been able to afford.
“What is that?” he asked carefully. If she somehow stumbled across this in a trash can, he was going to be very concerned.
Stelle beamed. “It was being sold at one of the Luofu shops. Isn’t it pretty?”
She dragged it across the table towards herself and lifted the top open. Then she turned it around so it was facing him and slid it closer for his inspection. Dan Heng’s eyes widened slightly. Resting on the plush white cushions within was a single hairpin. It was made of brilliant gold which had been expertly crafted into three lotus flowers at the top. Long braided strands of gold hung from each flower that were woven together with green gems he couldn’t identify.
He stared at it, dumbfounded. It was unmistakable, but surely she had no idea what it meant.
Noting his expression, Stelle glanced at him in confusion. “Is something wrong?”
Dan Heng blinked quickly. He averted his gaze to the floor. “You bought that?”
“Well… no, I couldn’t afford it, but I said I wanted to. So, the General bought it instead and gave it to me.”
A strange feeling swept over him, and a tightness gripped his chest so harshly he suddenly found it difficult to breathe. His eyes narrowed.
The General gave it to her?
Well, that made more sense.
Jealousy, ugly and sneering, wrapped itself around his heart. He silenced it angrily. He didn’t have the right to feel that way. It wasn’t any of his business. Stelle could accept gifts from anyone she wanted, and court whoever interested her.
He looked back up and glared at the item on display as if it was the most offensive thing he’d ever seen. Right, but… “Do you… know what it means to receive this?”
Stelle canted her head, but before she could reply, he continued briskly, “You gift elaborate hairpins like this to tell someone you’re romantically interested in them. You can tell it is for this purpose because they are always crafted with flowers like this. It’s an old Xianzhou tradition. I don’t believe it’s as common anymore, but some of the much older populace still practice it.”
Given his age, Jing Yuan might be such a person. Like he’d noted, it made sense. Even if the thought gnawed at him so violently he had to resist the urge to get up and leave. He wanted nothing more than to physically distance himself from this entire situation, as if that would somehow make it less annoying.
Dan Heng’s eyes slid back to his book, but he couldn’t focus on the words anymore. He was probably scowling despite his best efforts. Did the General even bother to tell her his intentions? He could feel her eyes on him, and he felt shame for his abruptly stormy attitude. He was acting stupid. It still wasn’t any of his business. He shouldn’t feel this way. He couldn’t dwell on it.
Stelle chuckled softly. She picked up the hairpin carefully and stepped closer to him. “I know,” she said quietly.
She reached up and tucked it behind his ear. The cold metal sliding against his skin startled him, and he froze. He felt the sharp end of it push into the short stands of his hair and the golden threads hanging from the flowers brushed against the side of his face as it slipped past. Once the weight was settled on his ear, she lowered her hand.
Then she turned on her heel and continued on her way. The clicking of her boots faded quickly.
Dan Heng lifted his head slowly and stared blankly into the empty parlor car. He felt heat sear his face and ears.
Oh.