Chapter 230: A Wish Foreshadowed the Heartbreak
In the south of the city, a new household had recently moved into a courtyard.
Pedestrians often couldn’t help but cast glances inward as they passed by. The courtyard was serene and secluded, and in the sweltering summer heat, the coolness emanating from within offered a refreshing, soul-soothing escape.
What drew the most curiosity, however, were the two large trees that had seemingly grown overnight and the young man who could occasionally be glimpsed. The trees’ names were unknown, but their elegant forms and lush foliage rustled with a soothing sound whenever the wind blew. Two cloth strips, one green and one red, hung from branches extending along the courtyard wall, serving as decoration.
Initially, there were rumors that the courtyard was inhabited by spirits, explaining these peculiar sights. The matter even reached the authorities, causing unease among the neighbors and townsfolk. Fortunately, the courtyard’s inhabitants were not difficult to approach. Anyone brave enough to visit could see for themselves, and the rumors of “monsters” gradually faded away on their own.
“It’s raining again…” Chen An murmured, standing in the courtyard and watching the large raindrops on the ground gradually merge into larger patches of wetness. This was the third rain since the beginning of summer. He didn’t turn to go inside or seek shelter under an umbrella, but simply stood in place, gazing at the two tall trees. The red ribbon hanging from the treetops swayed gently with the rain. The rain was light, and falling on his face, it felt rather cool. However, Chen An’s moment of leisure was soon interrupted.
A soft patter, patter sound echoed as fine rain fell on an umbrella. Chen An turned his head and saw a smiling girl. She seemed like the red ribbon magnified and brought to life, walking beside him. Holding the umbrella, she met Chen An’s gaze and glared back defiantly. It was clearly not Mu Sanniang who would make such a “childish” gesture. *No, sometimes Older Sister can be quite childish too…* Chen An mused.
“What are you looking at?” Jiang Qiuchi scoffed, “Older Sister is only doing this for your own good, so you don’t catch a cold from the rain.” Chen An averted his gaze and replied casually, “We are cultivators, not so fragile.”
“I don’t care!” The girl mumbled, a flash of inexplicable anger in her eyes. She lifted her bare foot and kicked him, “You really are a dullard who doesn’t understand romance.” Chen An thought to himself that if he were truly a dullard, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing. At least he wouldn’t be troubled like this. With that thought, he suddenly asked, “By the way, what’s going on between you and Sanniang?” After that particular day, Jiang Qiuchi had disappeared again for a while, leaving him no chance to ask.
Hearing his question, the girl bit her lip, seeming hesitant to speak. Finally, she shook her head. “She doesn’t want me to tell you.” Chen An blinked, then frowned. “What’s there to not tell?” Perhaps annoyed by his persistence, Jiang Qiuchi waved her hand impatiently, “Why don’t you just ask her yourself?” Chen An glanced at her, about to say something more, but the words caught in his throat. In the eaves of the house ahead, a pair of light blue eyes were quietly gazing over.
She was looking at Chen An, and also at the red dress that was sheltering him. Unpleasant memories welled up with the sight before her, and Mu Sanniang slowly lowered her gaze. “Come here,” she said softly. For some reason, being stared at by the girl under the eaves, Chen An and Jiang Qiuchi exchanged a look, both feeling a prickle of unease. It felt like being caught by the main party during a clandestine meeting in the rain. Fortunately, Mu Sanniang’s reaction seemed calm, not as intense as before.
“She’s calling you, hurry up and go,” Jiang Qiuchi whispered, gently nudging Chen An from behind.
Chen An cleared his throat and walked over slowly. Jiang Qiuchi remained rooted to the spot, wanting to turn and leave but feeling it would be too much like admitting defeat, so she fidgeted. To her surprise, the girl’s light blue eyes soon fell on her. After a moment, she said softly, “You too.” With that, Mu Sanniang spoke no further and turned to walk back into the house, leaving the two of them looking at each other, utterly bewildered. Jiang Qiuchi gritted her teeth and followed Chen An. The matter between the three of them would eventually have to be faced; it was only a matter of time. Since Mu Sanniang had brought it up, she had no reason to back down. As she thought this, she felt a warmth in her palm. Chen An had taken her hand. “It’s okay, don’t think too much,” he said. His expression was relatively relaxed, and he even had the presence of mind to comfort her.
…
Three minutes later, Chen An and Jiang Qiuchi returned to the small courtyard. However, both their expressions were odd. Mu Sanniang had done nothing. She had merely scrutinized Jiang Qiuchi from head to toe and then sent them away. What was the meaning of that? A girl’s thoughts were as inscrutable as ever, Chen An mused. He suddenly bent over and coughed several times. He kept his voice low, ensuring his “older sister” in the room couldn’t hear. Only Jiang Qiuchi, standing beside him, cast a worried glance.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” she asked softly, supporting him. Chen An shook his head and smiled at her. “Perhaps, like you said, I caught a cold from the rain.” Jiang Qiuchi was speechless, merely staring at him blankly. The young man’s unkempt long hair fell loosely on his shoulders, a dazzling white. But his profile now seemed even paler than his hair.
“Your older sister was right, you really are a liar,” she murmured, reaching out to caress his cheek. It felt cool to the touch, much like her current mood. Chen An remained silent, letting her. “If you’re going to lie, you might as well see it through.” Perhaps knowing his body was growing weaker, he spoke many things he had kept hidden in his heart today. His voice was light and airy. “Actually, I don’t know what the point of doing this is, when the ending is already decided.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve experienced this. I should have learned my lesson by now. Even if everything seems to be developing for the better now, what about after I’m gone?” “Everything will return to how it was.” As he spoke, he suddenly seemed to realize something, took her hand, and offered a weak smile. “Younger Sister Jiang once asked if I found you shallow.” “To be honest, my initial impression wasn’t great, but as we spent more time together, I could feel Younger Sister Jiang’s sincerity…” The young man paused, then looked up at the sky, watching the threads of rain fall. He reached out, trying to catch them. The raindrops slipped through his fingers, leaving nothing behind.
So he said, “Younger Sister Jiang is an excellent person, and Sanniang is too.” “But I am the one who is not good. It’s because I knew it was impossible, yet I did it anyway, that this situation came about.” As he spoke, a wistful expression flickered in his usually calm eyes. “If life could be lived again, I would rather we had never met.”
(End of Chapter)
