"Time stops for me, whenever you are around me,'' Sheng Li told himself, intently gazing at Ying Lili, who was working to make a bowl. An hour later, Ying Lili successfully made a bowl and put it on the table. She turned to look at Sheng Li, who was lost somewhere.

  She waved her hand in front of his face, bringing him out of deep thoughts. "What were you thinking? Look, I have made one," Ying Lili pointed her finger towards the earthen bowl.

  "How could you be so good at everything?" Sheng Li praised her.

  "Do you want to make one?" Ying Lili asked.

  "No. I do not know how to make it? You can make more since you like this," Sheng Li asserted.

  "I will teach you. Come here," Ying Lili told him. Sheng Li moved the stool, on which he was seated, closer to her. "Fold your sleeves," Ying Lili commanded him.

  "I might break it. I am not good at making things," Sheng Li stated as he folded his sleeves up. Ying Lili put the clay on the wheel and pressed it for a few minutes. She gently pulled it to give it a dome-like shape. Once she was done, she told Sheng Li to dip his hands into the water bowl. Sheng Li did so and brought the hands near the clay. Ying Lili grabbed them and placed them over the clay.

  The wheel was started again while Ying Lili instructed Sheng Li to shape the pot. "I am doing," he shouted as he pulled the clay and it was now in his hands. He looked at Ying Lili, "It is destroyed."

  "No worries. We will make another," Ying Lili calmly said. She picked some more clay and put it on the rotating wheel. "See, you need to first think about the shape you want to make. Then, you need to work from your hands accordingly." Sheng Li carefully listened to the instructions of Ying Lili. He again started making the bowl with the help of Ying Lili. The shape of the bowl was formed soon and later, Ying Lili brought his fingers inside the depth of the bowl, to deepen it further.

  "See, the shape is forming," Ying Lili told Sheng Li, whose eyes were now focused on Ying Lili. He was mesmerized to see the facial expressions on her face that appeared in a span of a few seconds. He leaned closer to her and kissed her cheek.

  Ying Lili tilted her head and found his intense gaze on her. "The bowl is ready," she averted her gaze, thus breaking their eyelock. She removed the bowl from the wheel. "It's almost night. We shall return to the Palace," Ying Lili said when Sheng Li cupped her face. Before Ying Lili could react, Sheng Li kissed her deeply. Ying Lili kissed him back. She placed her palms over the back of his hands, which were cupping her face.

  The two pulled away after a few seconds, gasping for air. Sheng Li stroked her cheeks from the back of his hands. "Did you like this surprise? I could have called him to the Palace but then it would not be this fun," he whispered against Ying Lili's lips, who agreed with him.

  "You give me too many surprises." Sheng Li rubbed his nose against Ying Lili's while his fingers intertwined with hers.

  "I have not given you enough surprises," he replied. After a few minutes, he pulled back and cleaned the clay from her cheeks, which had the impression of his hands. "I will tell him to send these two bowls to the Palace once they are ready," Sheng Li informed Ying Lili.

  Sheng Li called in Ye Haoyu and ordered him the same. He thanked him for letting them use the pottery wheel for almost two hours.

  "Your highness, please do not say thank you for this. This subject is already overwhelmed by your presence. It is my pleasure to have the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess here."

  "Give us water as we need to wash our hands." Ye Haoyu swiftly went towards the left wall and brought the two clean bowls and two clean cotton towels. He placed the bowls on the table and poured water into them.

  Sheng Li and Ying Lili washed their hands in the respective bowls. Then, Sheng Li neatly wiped Ying Lili's hands with the towel and also wiped her cheeks, although he had cleaned them earlier with his handkerchief. After he was done, he took out a pouch full of silver coins and placed that on the table.

  "This is for your family," Sheng Li stated.

  "I do not need it, your highness. It is my duty to serve you and I cannot take money for this," Ye Haoyu humbly requested.

  "Keep it, uncle. Do not refuse it," Ying Lili politely said. Yu Haoyu accepted the money given by the Crown Prince. Sheng Li then helped Ying Lili in wearing the veiled hat. Ye Haoyu bowed as the two left the shop.

  Coming out of the shop, Sheng Li asked Ying Lili if she wanted to buy something for her.

  "No, what can I buy from here? I have everything," Ying Lili replied when her eyes fell on a prosperity fish wall hanging, which was crafted beautifully. "I want to buy that. I will put it in my chamber," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li nodded and took her to the vendor shop that was selling those wall hangings. Sheng Li purchased one for Ying Lili. They both then left the market after picking the kites from the other shop.

  ~~~~

  Hello Dear Readers!

  Hope all of you are doing well. This special chapter I want to dedicate to all my fans who are supporting me from day 1 of the creation of this book. Naming them here would be a little difficult. Thank you for supporting me through Golden Tickets, Gifts, and the Power-stones. Hope you all are enjoying the story.

  THANK YOU

  HAPPY READING