The following days went by in a blur. Nothing happened, yet there was a strange tension in the air—something unspoken.
At least Renshu no longer bothered me about Rong Xu. He'd even given him a brief apology, short, awkward, but an apology nonetheless.
"Tonight, we'll reach Wuhan," Rong Xu said one late afternoon, his voice calm as the chilly breeze brushed across my face.
"Hopefully, we won't face any more obstacles," I replied. "That last storm already drained me enough."
"I'm actually surprised you managed to move all that heavy equipment," he said, squinting slightly. "Considering your legs were practically useless and your arms still look weak."
"My arms are fine," I said firmly. "That man made sure to target my legs, probably to stop me from escaping. Hence the crutches. I can walk for a few minutes without them before collapsing, but that's about it."
"Ah, don't push yourself too much," he said sincerely. "It must've been hard. Hey, Aryan, this is probably a personal question but…" He hesitated, then blurted out, "Did he, like, kick you in that area as well?"
I nearly choked on air. I knew exactly what he meant by that area.
"A few times," I said flatly trying to sound honest. "Not much."
If he had, I wouldn't have even noticed, there had been too many blows to my stomach and legs. Still, why was he asking something like that?
"Oh… did it hurt?" Rong Xu asked, his face turning red. "I mean—uh—I've just heard it's extremely painful, so I was wondering if—"
"I can give you a kick if you're that curious." I replied.
"No!" he shouted, laughing nervously. "You're funny. If I ever visit Bharat, I hope to meet more people like you. It'd be entertaining."
"You wouldn't even understand them," I said with a small smile. "We speak a different language."
The bright sky slowly deepened into a darker shade as evening approached. The moon began to glow faintly against the fading sun. When Rong Xu left for his own boat, I stayed behind on deck, letting the wind brush through my hair.
Tonight we'll reach Wuhan.
The thought didn't feel real. How had so many days passed so quickly? Almost two weeks—gone, like smoke in the wind.
I straightened as I heard the familiar creak of the cabin door. Right on time.
"Good evening, Meilina," Renshu said as he stepped out.
"You seem well-rested," I replied.
He nodded. "I made sure to get enough sleep. Wuhan is getting closer and closer now."
"I doubt I can sleep with that thought," I said, watching the horizon.
"Then stay awake," he suggested lightly. "Keep guard with me as we witness our arrival to Wuhan."
"You sound like a storyteller," I said.
He laughed, quietly but genuinely. "Maybe I am. It's dull staying up all night alone. If you stay here, I might be less tempted to fall asleep again."
"Alright then," I said. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Many things," he said, resting his arms on the railing. "I realized we both know very little about each other. Let's play a game—each of us gets to ask one question, and the other has to answer truthfully."
I raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?"
"Completely. You go first."
I thought for a moment before asking, "Why does Wei Fang dislike you so much?"
Even I was surprised at my own question. It had been lingering in my mind for a while, but I hadn't realized how much I wanted to know until now.
He chuckled faintly. "That's a complicated one. He was my father's rival. Before he became General, my father held that title. But after my father was poisoned, Wei Fang took over. Ironically, you could also call him my father figure—he taught me to fight and trained me in strategy."
"What? But why would he—"
"My father ordered him to," Renshu said, cutting me off. "He wanted me trained by someone cunning and intelligent, someone who could teach me how to think like an enemy."
"Then why did Wei Fang step down as General?"
"He was growing old," he said quietly. "And for some reason, he wanted to fulfill my father's wish—to see me take his place. I don't know why." He sighed, his gaze distant. "He's a strange man. He has morals, but you never know what they are."
"So he doesn't hate you, then?" I asked.
"I—wait, that's your fourth question. It's my turn now."
"That's not fair," I muttered.
"It's perfectly fair," he said, smirking slightly. "Let's see… my first question—did you ever love a man?"
I froze. I'd expected him to ask something personal, but this?
"No," I said after a pause.
"Oh, really? Not even once? Like—"
"That's two questions, and no." I interrupted.
He groaned. "Fine. Then for my third question—what's your ideal man like?"
I frowned. "Why are you asking that?"
"You need to answer," he said firmly.
I sighed. "I don't know."
"You have to give a real answer."
"Says who?"
"Me."
His tone was so serious I almost laughed. What was wrong with him and his endless curiosity?
"Fine," I said, exhaling. "A man who's fun to talk to. Someone who listens. Not boring, not rough."
He blinked. "What's that even supposed to mean—'not rough'?"
"My turn," I said quickly, cutting him off. "How do you feel about Wei Fang?"
Renshu's expression shifted instantly. His jaw tightened.
"He's a cunning man," he said quietly. "He acts in ways that make it impossible to tell whether he's being honest or playing a game. To me, he's someone who never shows his true colors."
There was a heavy pause before he continued, voice lower now. "But I have a better question for you."
"Oh no," I muttered. "What now?"
He turned toward me, eyes steady. "How do you feel about me?"
"H—no," I said immediately. "I'm not answering that."
"Why not?" He stepped closer, the space between us narrowing. "I'll accept any answer."
"W—we have reached Wuhan!"
A shout echoed from the deck below, sharp and loud enough to cut through the air. Both of us turned at once.
The shore lights of Wuhan glimmered faintly in the distance.