FRIVOLOUS SNOW

03|Stolen Pear

Instead of secluding himself inside the room, nothing would change from the fact that Chu Lian should continue living with that Third brother Jie's identity, he decided to go out in a thin layer of inner robes. Chu Lian didn't wear Third brother Jie's usual dark blue robe under another royal blue robe thinking he would suffocate and sweat to his death since the sun was burning hot outside.

Chu Lian wished to go back to his world and just stay in his fully air-conditioned room.

He was aware of how messy his hair was wondering how did the people there groom their long hair beautifully. Did they hire some hairstylists? Chu Lian doesn't have the talent and he wasn't used from having such long hair that falls down to his waist. With all his power, he tied half of his hair in a messy bun and the lower half remained streaming down his back like a black waterfall.

Like any other palaces, Chu Lian got lost of the turns emerging in the same scenery but different areas of the palace like an endless maze. Chu Lian finally saw a living soul, a woman who was about to cross the quadrangle to the opposite side of the house.

"Ah! Miss! Miss!" He called catching the attention of the young miss which was dressed in the same robe as the one who went to fetch him that morning.

Chu Lian saw her expression. She was surprised to see him in a mess. The most respected Third brother was wearing improper clothes with his hair like a bird's nest and Third brother Jie never in that lifetime called a servant like that nor he would ever call one.

The woman bowed and raised her head asking. "T-Third brother Jie, what happened—"

Chu Lian waved his hand making her stop from questioning. He doesn't want to deal with answering questions. He knew something like that would happen.

"Third brother woke up a little light-headed this morning. Sorry about this." Chu Lian said and the woman was surprised that she immediately folded her hands and bowed again.

"Third brother shouldn't be sorry. This lowly servant should." She said and Chu Lian tsked, raising the weirded out servant's head up to look at him.

"Anyway, where should I go out? Ayu! I've been living here in this (crazy maze) palace in my entire life and I still lost myself." Chu Lian said in between laughs and the woman even more surprised and there was even a hint of blush in her cheeks.

She was left dumbfounded.

"The exit?" Chu Lian asked again snapping her from her trance.

She stood straight and motioned her whole arm gracefully, pointing to their left side. "Third brother Jie, that way." She finally said and Chu Lian happily tapped the woman's shoulder as a thank you gesture and walked to where she pointed.

The poor maid-servant almost fainted.

Their precious Third brother Yong Jie was acting strange and it was a huge blow when Third brother Jie smiled at Yu Chen, a mere servant of Yong Sect. Third brother Jie never laugh nor smile. He doesn't even show any emotions. Yu Chen suddenly wanted to collapse as her knees turned into jelly.

Yu Chen has to tell her fellow sisters about what happened.

Meanwhile, Chu Lian found himself in a tight situation. He was on his way to the front doors and he forgot to consider the guards roaming around and guarding the door. He was too dumb to think about those simple things.

Even though this Third brother of his had a high position in that palace, he shouldn't be outside walking and looking like he just woke up. They would all be surprised just like that servant.

Chu Lian didn't know how to act since he didn't know what kind of man this Third brother Jie was and what position he holds in that place but Chu Lian was pretty sure that it wasn't that high-level position. Maybe the son of the sect leader.

Chu Lian decided to turn around and search for another route. He didn't want to stay in that quiet palace and getting questioned over what happened to their Third brother Jie. He wanted to escape and explore outside.

"Ahh!" He cried happily when he saw a tree that can be climb on the way up to the top of the roof. He would jump then to the other side. Clever me! Chu Lian thought.

Chu Lian wrapped the annoying long sleeves of the robe and started climbing up to the tree then finally reached the roof. He could already see the outside street, though not that many people since he guessed it was still inside the sect's territory.

He jumped down thanking that it wasn't that high. Chu Lian patted his white robes clean from dust and started walking, feeling his freedom.

The streets looked like those in ancient movies, dusty ground and as he walked farther, the streets were also getting busier with a lot of stalls of different goods being sold.

Chu Lian slipped into the crowd without noticing that almost all the attentions of the town's people were directed to him, a man who was dressed dishevelledly yet still looking so handsome and looked very familiar but of course, they couldn't mistake him as the respected Third brother Jie of Yong sect so the people stopped minding about the young lad and resumed on what they were doing.

Chu Lian happily went to a stall with fresh fruits being sold. From chestnuts to jujubes which he rarely sees in his original timeline. He suddenly felt hungry.

"Young master, what fruit do you want? I guarantee that they're all fresh." The fruit vendor said.

Chu Lian rubbed his chin thinking he doesn't have any money. He looked around and saw people paying with silver and gold coins. He doesn't even have a penny. Where would he have one? Should he consider walking back to the palace and raid Third brother Jie's room for gold coins?

Chu Lian wanted to beat himself. He should have done those things before he went out. So dumb!

"Young master, just take your time." The fruit vendor said and entertained the few other costumers in the stall.

"Sorry, mister." He muttered to himself as he secretly and quickly grabbed one piece of pear that was about to fall off the stall and walked like he wasn't hiding a stolen pear in his sleeve.

"Good thing the sleeves are long." He grinned and looked at the yellow-tan pear then rubbed it on his sleeve. "Stealing turns to be a crime if someone sees you." He muttered feeling mischievous and took a bite only to spit it out.

It was bitter!

Chu Lian glared at the stall where he stole it which was already far from where he was standing.

"Old man! You're pear tastes like your d**k!" He exclaimed earning a few looks from the busy people passing by.

Who could guess that karma would be that quick in ancient times too?

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