Something Beautiful and Wicked

When Shi Yen stepped into the living room, Yuan Shun had already returned to the couch. His feet were casually propped on the coffee table as he sat lazily; his head tilted back on the headrest, his eyes closed, listening to the mellow music.

He wore a dark long-sleeve shirt with sweatpants, looking as comfortable and smug as ever.

Without opening his eyes, he said, relaxed, "Are you joining me, Yen?"

Shi Yen glanced around the room, looking for something to keep herself from moving towards the couch he was sitting on. "I came to serve a noise complaint," she said.

Yuan Shun opened his low-lidded eyes, lifting one of his arms over the headrest. "It's not loud," he said.

"I wanted to read something," she countered, picking up a book she picked from a shelf. She chose a translated version of Hesiod's Theogony, a piece of Greek myth and literature.

Instead of joining him on the couch, she decided to sit on a small bench against the wall. Yuan Shun turned down the music slightly, and Shi Yen started reading, ignoring his gaze.

"Eros, who is most beautiful among immortal gods," Yuan Shun quoted as he started to approach her. "Eros that relaxes the limbs, and in the breasts of all gods and all men, who subdue their reason and prudent counsel."

Shi Yen crossed her legs as he stepped towards her, sitting next to her on the bench.

"Eros, the god of love," Shi Yen said.

"And sex," Yuan Shun added.

"How did you know?" Shi Yen questioned.

"I took world mythology," responded Yuan Shun. "The part about Eros is my favourite. What about yours?"

Shi Yen looked at him curiously, wondering why she was bothering to talk to him. Was she that bored? "The part about Hades."

"God of the Underworld," said Yuan Shun. "I thought you'd be more of a Zeus person."

Shi Yen shook her head. "For a nobleman, Zeus was very promiscuous. He had many consorts. Whereas Hades, who had many faults as a wicked man, stayed true to one person."

Yuan Shun smiled—a smile so honest and splendid that it almost seemed pure. Shi Yen couldn't explain it, but she felt her stomach flip into a tight knot. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.

Yuan Shun maintained a smug grin. He shook his head. "Nothing," he answered.

She narrowed her eyes. "Now, are you going to leave me alone so I can read this?" she said.

Yuan Shun raised his hands in surrender. "I will leave you alone," he said, standing. He then trailed across the living room, pulling out a deck of cards. Shi Yen glanced at him, but she didn't want to tear her gaze away from the thin book she held.

But she couldn't help but wonder what he was doing.

He sat down on the floor in front of the small coffee table and started to stack the cards into a tower structure. Shi Yen remembered when she used to play when she was younger. It was a fun and frustrating game, but it taught her self-control.

Yuan Shun was working quickly, without disrupting his structure, and his cards weren't falling out of place.

Shi Yen didn't realize that she was wholly immersed in watching him until he looked at her with a sly smile, finishing his tower.

Shi Yen furrowed her brows. She then stood up and blew the tower down. It was childish, but she knew he wouldn't get angry since he had already completed it.

In fact, all he did was collect the cards and started again.

Shi Yen then sat across him when he stopped. "Yen," he said, not looking at her directly.

"Hm?"

Yuan Shun turned, grabbing something from behind. He pulled out a bottle of red wine and a box of chocolates. He then gave it to her.

Shi Yen's eyes widened.

"It's a house-warming gift," he said.

Shi Yen narrowed her eyes skeptically.

"Don't worry. I didn't poison it," Yuan Shun added.

Despite herself, she laughed. Shi Yen then caught herself smiling, so she composed herself quickly after. "Thank you," she said.

"Do you want to play a game?" Yuan Shun asked.

Shi Yen's eyes glinted. "What game?"

"Speed," he said. "Since it's easy."

"All right," she replied.

Yuan Shun set up the cards on the table as Shi Yen stood up to grab two wine glasses and a corkscrew.

She returned, and Yuan Shun was the one who poured the drinks. They both gulped down the glasses before they began.

Shi Yen paid attention to each card, to each of her moves. But she didn't realize how quickly she was falling behind because of her cards. The objective was to be as quick as she could, and yet, Yuan Shun had won the game before she even realized.

He wore a smug expression, and Shi Yen scowled before she said, "again!"

He then set up the cards, and they kept going for another few rounds.

Shi Yen was absolutely frustrated as she kept losing. How could she lose so badly? Especially to this man?

"Have you accepted your losses?" he questioned.

Shi Yen pursed her lips. "No!" she replied.

They were half of the wine in, going for more rounds of the game when, finally, Shi Yen won.

She raised her arms in victory, slumping on the ground.

"Good game," Yuan Shun said.

Shi Yen smiled from the floor; she could see the chocolates and forgot that she had them. She sat up to open it. There were different flavours in each piece, but she couldn't tell them apart since they looked the same, but the fillings were different.

Yuan Shun shuffled the cards while she ate a caramel-flavoured piece of chocolate, and her eyes sparkled.

Yuan Shun then poured her another glass.

"If you're trying to get me drunk because it will bring down my defences, then I would like to tell you that it wouldn't work. I remember why I dislike you and always will," said Shi Yen.

Yuan Shun changed the subject. "Try this piece of chocolate," he said, picking it up with his fingers.

Flushed, Shi Yen reached out to take it but not with her hand.

Shi Yen took his fingers in her mouth with the piece of chocolate. Her cheeks hollowed, sucking slightly before she removed herself, swirling the citrus-filled piece in her mouth. She then smacked her lips, smiling. "It tastes good," she said. "It was orange?"

Yuan Shun nodded, stunned.

Shi Yen beamed.

He then stood up suddenly. "It's getting late," he said. "Goodnight, Yen." He then quickly left, closing the doors shut behind him.

Shi Yen wondered what was up with him. She shrugged, picking up the wine glasses and bottle to put in her kitchen. Afterward, she went to bed, falling asleep instantly.