Chapter 296: Mu Sanniang, You Are Truly Beautiful
Sometimes, Chen An felt it would have been better if the people he encountered were not so remarkable. That way, when it came time to detach himself and leave, it wouldn’t feel so difficult to let go.
Knowing that the outcome would be a separation while simultaneously cherishing the present, it was clear that the most hurt would not come to Chen An himself, but to the two girls who deeply loved him.
In recent days, it was evident that his older sister, Mu Sanniang, had been making an effort to set aside her preconceived notions, forcefully giving up a part of her only brother to share with others.
Empathizing with her, Chen An felt he would find it difficult to do the same. This understanding allowed him to experience the torment within the girl’s heart even more profoundly.
Now, as she struggled to convince herself, Chen An was destined to leave her behind. It felt absurd just thinking about it.
“Hoo…”
“Forget it, as long as I’m alive, I’ll never allow Sanniang to become a monster in front of me.”
“As for what happens after…”
Chen An took a deep breath. “Who cares about the floods once I’m gone?”
After saying this, he noticed the girl beside him still staring at him, lost in thought.
So he smiled and said, “Just think of it as me venting after holding it in for too long. Don’t mind it.”
At his words, Jiang Qiuchi’s stillness was broken; her blue eyes flickered. She gently wrapped her arms around Chen An’s waist, her delicate form pressing against him. In a soft voice, she said, “Though I don’t quite understand what you mean, it’s alright. Whatever decision you make, I will support you.”
“Even if you become a little con artist, just make sure you keep it up for a while.”
The wind blew, swirling the rain and lifting the red skirt, which made Chen An feel increasingly heavy-hearted.
It was a sense of powerlessness.
This feeling resembled what he had experienced in his first life, yet it was far more profound.
…
Chen An knew he was probably nearing death.
He had sensed this much earlier.
Fortunately, it wasn’t his first experience with this situation, so he remained calm, carrying on like nothing was wrong, sitting with his sister each day to watch the rain fall and wait for it to stop.
Sometimes, he would take her outside the small courtyard for a stroll beyond Liucheng.
Outside the city, a patch of green thrived.
The makeshift congee shed made of coarse hemp that once stood there was long gone, replaced by something else.
Their small group often expanded with the addition of another.
Jiang Qiuchi’s appearances had become increasingly frequent.
The girl frequently turned her pale blue gaze toward Sanniang and, during some periods, even looked at her more attentively than at her brother.
Chen An didn’t know whether this was a good or bad thing, but it indicated that Sanniang’s emotional state was improving and becoming more stable.
In the southern part of the city, in the small courtyard.
Today, the sky was clear with a vast expanse, and the sun shone brightly.
Beside the two trees in the courtyard stood a young man’s figure.
Under the sunlight, his white hair appeared somewhat dry.
The young man was lost in thought.
He stared vacantly at the ribbons atop the trees.
Since those two trees had been planted, he had developed a habit of doing this.
As time passed, his thinking grew sluggish.
His mind often felt clouded, making it hard to contemplate anything.
It was like those elderly ones nearing the end of their lives—just spacing out felt like a small joy.
The girl clad in a light blue dress squatted under the eaves, quietly watching Chen An.
When he looked at the rain, she watched him.
When he glanced at the trees, her gaze remained fixed on him.
In this regard, Chen An felt Sanniang could take the lead.
“Come here.”
With her delicate features devoid of expression, the young girl called out.
Chen An walked over and sat beside her.
Mu Sanniang extended her hand, brushing against his slightly dry long hair.
She grasped a lock of hair, gently untangling it, strand by strand.
Chen An remained silent; although he had moved to a different place, he was still lost in thought.
Her cool, clear voice broke the silence.
“You’re hiding something from me.”
It wasn’t a question or a doubt; it was a statement.
Chen An pulled back his scattered thoughts and turned to look at her.
“What is it?”
he asked.
“I don’t know.”
Mu Sanniang shook her head and then declared seriously, “But you have something on your mind.”
After saying this, perhaps recalling something, she lowered her gaze.
“Last time, it was because of her…”
“What about this time?”
Chen An hesitated for a moment. Just as he was about to respond, her delicate fingertips halted him.
She looked over, and in her pale blue eyes, a trace of plea flickered.
“It can’t happen, brother.”
“There can’t be another woman…”
So that was it.
He felt a sense of relief inside but saw the young man smile.
That smile appeared especially beautiful under the sunlight.
He said, “Please don’t worry, with you and Qiuchi, I am already very content in this life.”
For some reason, although he had given her an affirmative answer, Sanniang still felt an emptiness inside.
She slightly lowered her head, taking her brother’s hand, and placed it over her heart like she had done many times before.
She pressed her lips together and said, “You’re not allowed to leave me.”
This request was a bit beyond Chen An’s help.
He raised an eyebrow, as if performing a magic trick, and pulled out a clean white skirt from his pocket.
This skirt was none other than the one he had originally given to his sister.
Back then, it had become stained with blood and turned ragged and dirty.
Now, in Chen An’s hands, it had been thoroughly washed and displayed its original pristine whiteness.
“Can you put it on, so I can see?”
the young man requested.
As he finished speaking, he saw Mu Sanniang’s hand resting on the hem of the skirt.
She would never refuse anything her brother asked, whether it was changing skirts or donning something even stranger.
However, her eyes flickered momentarily before her hand fell back down.
A hint of blush appeared on the young girl’s fair cheek.
“Brother, help me change.”
Hearing this, Chen An instinctively glanced around.
Confirming that the girl who loved wearing red skirts was not present, he moved swiftly and skillfully.
Of course, during Sanniang’s unusual moments, he couldn’t count how many times he had forcefully helped her out of clothes…
Soon, under Chen An’s unblinking gaze, the girl had changed into her new outfit.
The pure white dress made her even more lovely.
Her long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, glistening under the sunlight.
“Truly beautiful.”
Chen An was never stingy with his compliments.
Since he was sitting and Sanniang was standing, he had to tilt his head back to look up at her.
In his memory, he had rarely needed to see his sister from such an angle since they grew up.
Back then, Mu Sanniang was still a tomboy, her beauty obscured, almost unnoticed.
Yet Chen An felt that his fondness for Mu Sanniang may have begun back then.
“From now on, Sanniang, you must cherish it and not get the dress dirty again.”
This simple statement contained Chen An’s most sincere request.
He truly did not want to see Mu Sanniang in such a state again.
The girl responded with a soft “Mm,” then moved next to her brother and squatted down.
Thus, the young man was able to lean into her embrace.
Perhaps feeling sleepy or because the sunlight was too bright, he slowly closed his eyes.
Murmuring softly, he said, “Sanniang, you really are beautiful…”
…
Above them, the eaves stirred in the breeze while the skirt gradually became damp.
That was the girl’s unspoken sadness.
It wasn’t out of jealousy; it was the understanding that someone was going to depart.
It was one clear morning.
Mu Sanniang awoke to find the familiar figure of the boy had vanished.
In his place lay a vivid red skirt.
She lowered her head slightly and spoke her first words.
“Do you know? I’ve always envied you.”
“But he told me once.”
“Until now, he truly hasn’t eaten that dreadful biscuit again or seen such great snowfall or such tall city walls.”
(The end of this chapter)
