Sharing a Pavilion With You
Chapter 52: Lotus Lake

Chapter 52: Lotus Lake

"How on earth did you get my parents’ approval to take me out alone?" Meili asked Tan Bowen joyfully, as they bumped along in his carriage.

Her mother had let her know just the evening before that Tan Bowen would be picking her up this morning. She couldn’t be happier.

"It was a long time in the making. I had my father ask your father. Fifth Brother vouched for me ahead of time. Then I had to go and see your father. He gave me a list of ’don’ts’ as long as your arm. And I had to agree to bring Tricky along."

He looked with dissatisfaction at the dog, who growled quietly at him in return. It was like the beast saw him as a love rival. And he really didn’t need any more of them!

"Well thank you for making those efforts. I’m very happy that you did. Where are we going Tan Bowen?"

"It’s a surprise. You’ll see when we get there."

She laughed with delight. Honestly, she didn’t really care where they went. It was such a treat to leave the mansion unchaperoned in the company of Tan Bowen, and through the front door no less!

They came to a stop before very long, and Tan Bowen held the curtain open for her to exit the carriage. As she emerged, she gasped.

Ahead of her lay the most beautiful lake. It shimmered in the early morning sun of a perfect spring day. As far as the eye could see, the lake was covered in lotuses, all in bloom, a beautiful shade of pink, ranging from warm pink when in bud, to a mid-peony pink as they fully opened. The air was filled with a soft scent with a hint of sweetness. Bees hummed lazily, and dragonflies flitted about.

Meili sighed with delight. "Ohhh, Tan Bowen, how beautiful!" she exclaimed. "I’ve never seen anything like this in my life."

"I didn’t think you would have, and I couldn’t bear for you to miss it. That’s why I lobbied your father so hard. I hope it was worth my efforts?"

"It definitely was! More than worth it. Even if you had to climb Wugong Mountain it would’ve been worth it."

"Well thankfully I didn’t have to climb Wugongshan, but I’ve heard it’s pretty spectacular at the top. Maybe we can aspire to climb it together some day."

"Yes, yes, yes!" she clapped. "We must do that together. Start working on it now Tan Bowen."

"Your wish is my command, my Lady," he bowed gallantly.

Tan Bowen led her to a jetty, careful not to touch her, her father’s endless admonitions still ringing in his ears.

There was a flat-bottomed punt waiting for them.

"Young Master," bowed the boat’s owner, "Young Miss... ss... t... tress," he stumbled over his words as he looked into Meili’s face and was dazzled by her beauty.

He tried to help her on board, but he was shaking quite badly with nerves now and kept wiping his sweaty hands on his pants. Tan Bowen brushed his arm aside and supported Meili aboard, before the silly man could tip her into the lake with his antics.

He sighed. He was starting to get used to this effect she had on men. "Off you get," he ordered the shaking man. "I’ve got this now, thank you. You can help the dog on board."

The man looked nervously at Tricky, who growled at him in response. "Here little doggy," he said, with no conviction.

"Wuuf!" Tricky gave him a low bark, and the man jumped backwards in fright.

"I’m sorry Sir," said Meili. "He doesn’t care for strangers. He doesn’t even care for my friends. Tricky, come here," she commanded.

The Chow Chow jumped onto the boat with ease. He stalked up to the prow to take his chosen position for the trip, holding his head high as if to say, ’I don’t need any help from the likes of you!’

Tan Bowen pushed off with the punt.

"G...goodbye Young Miss!" called the man belatedly and with great enthusiasm, waving vigorously at her. "Enjoy the flowers. You’ll be the most beautiful among them!"

She waved back at him, with some reservation.

"No flower can surpass you, Young Miss!" he shouted. His qi was up now, and his confidence was building. "You’re more beautiful than any lotus!"

Tan Bowen tried to punt faster to get away from the man, but the dense lotus blossoms prevented him from putting on much speed.

"The flowers pale in your presence..."

The man was clearly scratching around for more pathetic compliments, thought Tan Bowen.

"Be quiet man!" he shouted back crossly. "Your crass words are spoiling our view!"

Meili looked behind her at the fellow, who was still jumping about waving at her. She wiggled her fingers at him.

"Stop encouraging him, Mei Meili," Tan Bowen said with disgust. "He’ll never stop."

Sure enough, the fellow could still faintly be heard, shouting some enthusiastic words after her.

"What a strange fellow," laughed Meili.

"All fellows get strange around you," muttered Tan Bowen with displeasure.

"What was that?" she asked him.

"Nothing," he said lightly. "There’s an umbrella for you under the seat," he changed the subject.

She reached down and pulled out a pink silk parasol, which, when opened, was beautifully hand-painted with lavender water lilies and white butterflies. She reclined, holding the parasol to shade her face from the sun. It perfectly matched Meili’s floaty pink gown, making her like an image in a painting, with the pink lotus blossoms all around them.

"I thought that umbrella might be the right choice for today," he said with satisfaction. He didn’t expect, nor want, a response. It was more for his own aesthetic pleasure that he had judged which one to pick, and the satisfaction was equally, all his.

He pushed the punt at a leisurely pace now that they’d left the pesky boat owner behind them.

The gentle sound of water lapping against the side of the boat was a pleasure Meili had never experienced until now. She trailed one finger in the water, delighting in the sensory overload of colours, sounds, smells and the light cool touch of the water.

Meili looked up at Tan Bowen, whose handsome face was lightly shaded by his da mao. Her heart swelled with a kind of indescribable happiness. This was a freedom she had never known. And the joy of having a real male friend, who was not her brother or cousin.

"Tan Bowen."

"Hmm."

"I really like you..."