Zheng Li The trembling in her hands had yet to subside completely, but Peizhi did feel herself starting to calm, at least as much as possible when she was not alone in a room. The tea ceremony had gone okay despite the trembling of her hands. She did not spill, but she knew Father would be furious nonetheless at how shaky and weak his daughter appeared. She hoped for some mercy since she had even managed to smile at Zheng Shin and his father, but, as ever, she was not optimistic.
But now most of the party had left the parlor in favor of her father's office to discuss the potential of her betrothal to Shin in private. Her Father, Mr. Zheng, and Shin had all gone, leaving behind Wu and Zheng Li. Shin was Li's brother, so Li's opinion, it seemed, played at least a minor factor in the betrothal. That was a nice sentiment, she thought.
The two young purebloods sat alone in an uncomfortable silence for about ten minutes before it was broke. "Well, this is boring," Li said at last.
Peizhi jumped, startled by both the suddenness and the English. Her company noticed her startle and laughed. "Sorry," Li amended. "I didn't mean to surprise you."
"I wasn't aware you spoke English," she offered weakly by way of explanation.
"Yup. My father moved the family to America for business opportunity before Shin and I came along. Born and raised in San Francisco." Peizhi nodded, mentally noting this as a reason for how unaccented Li sounded. When she spoke, she still always sounded so foreign. She rather hated what her accent did to English, but she thought if five years of school in America hadn't made an impact, she was basically stuck with it forever.
"That's nice," Wu tried to be conversational. She had to be a good hostess, and with the opportunity presented now, she needed to try to win Li's favor. "I attend school in America. Sonora Academy. Where did you go?"
"They just brought us tutors," said Li with a hint of sadness. "Mother dearest doesn't trust Americans. But I'd take my lessons in the evenings, which was fun. I got myself enrolled in Muggle school in the day."
Wu gasped audibly. "Your parents allowed that?" She had to take Muggle Studies in secret for fear of her father finding out, and here was Li, brazenly consorting with Muggles!
Or so she thought, but she was immediately corrected. "No, I'd sneak out to do it," Li grinned. "That part was easy. It was the getting enrolled that was a bitch."
"I don't know what that is," Peizhi confessed.
"A bitch?" Wu nodded, and Li chuckled, long hair falling before dark eyes with the movement. "It's a swear word. I'm surprised you haven't heard it in school. Not a lot of Muggleborns?"
"I only know one who might swear," she answered after a moment. It certainly wasn't going to be Laila teaching her new words.
"Huh. Yeah, Muggles are pretty fun. Girls especially. They get really mad when you pull your wand out, though." Peizhi looked at Li, horrified. More laughter erupted. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding! You should learn to lighten up."
"I am," Peizhi insisted. She had definitely learned a lot from her American friends over the last few years.
"Oh, yeah?" Li smiled challengingly, leaning closer on the couch. They stared at one another for a little too long, longer than Peizhi had ever stared at anyone.
"Do you want to go have sex?"
Wu could hardly believe her ears. By no intention means, she knew what that word meant. She was in complete shock, least of all by how casually Li suggested it or how for a split second, something in her stomach thought that was the right thing to do. "Are you in love with me?" She blurted. That was who did that, after all. People who were in love. Right?
Li had been laughing at her a fair bit during the course of this conversation, but all of it paled in comparison to this, with Wu desperately shushing, her face growing red. "Yes, that's it, my darling, my beautiful darling," said Li through tears. "I'm completely in love with you."
"You don't have to make me fun," said Peizhi sadly.
"Oh, but I want to," Li teased, enjoying the slight misspeak. Wu was a cute girl, especially when she got all flustered. "Anyway, that doesn't answer my question," Li added seriously. "Do you want to? I've been along on these betrothal meetings before. They'll be talking for hours." Li's hand rested on hers. We have plenty of time."
Peizhi felt her whole face burning red, but other than that, she felt completely outside her own body. Whoever was piloting it was mumbling something and very weakly nodding yes. And to her most genuine surprise, she felt her hand finally stop trembling as Li took hold of it as they walked to her bedroom.
"You really are beautiful," Li whispered into Wu's hair, pulling the younger witch close. As they sank into one another, her smile grew.